Law firm opens expanded program for businesses in MD, PA

McNees Wallace & Nurick, a law firm with practices throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio, announced the expansion of its Legal Equity Advancement Program, an investment that gives underrepresented businesses access to legal services and business development opportunities.

The program, founded in 2020, has opened the 2026 application cycle. McNees will accept applications for LEAP until Sept. 30, according to a release.

LEAP supports businesses from economically disadvantaged communities and backgrounds in parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland that McNees regularly serves. Since its inception – and through its gradual expansion – the program has aided nearly three dozen small, underrepresented businesses.

McNees plans to continue expanding LEAP in 2026, desiring to help more businesses from a wider range of economically disadvantaged communities and backgrounds, the company said.

“The businesses we work with through LEAP are making a significant impact in their communities,” said Adeolu Bakare, McNees attorney and LEAP co-chair. “This program is about more than just legal services; it’s about empowering entrepreneurs who likely would not otherwise have access to counsel with the tools and knowledge they need to grow sustainably.”

LEAP awardees get access to McNees’ core legal services and guidance on Minority Business Enterprise certification. They’re also given access to educational workshops, business development seminars and networking opportunities with industry professionals and McNees attorneys, the company said.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of LEAP is seeing the confidence it instills in business owners,” LEAP co-chair Benjamin Ward said. 

“With legal guidance and practical support, entrepreneurs can make informed decisions, grow their operations, and pursue new opportunities with clarity.”