Featuring Expert Legal Counsel from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Join us on Thursday, October 10th, from 2:00PM – 3:00 PM EST for an information-packed discussion of how to evaluate the growing challenges and uncertainty around investing in diverse founders due to recent changes in the law.
Discussion Points
Understand the current legal landscape and how the recent settlement of the Fearless Fund case may affect investing in diverse founders.
Discuss the issues to help focus your internal conversations about the tension between mission and risk mitigation.
Get practical advice on how to structure and portray your investment strategy to encourage investment in diverse founders while the state of the law is in flux.
Background
The Fearless Fund, which operated a grant program that provided support exclusively to Black female-owned businesses, recently settled a lawsuit by agreeing to discontinue that program. The result of this case may affect investing in diverse founders in the future. This case is part of a broader legal challenge to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives following the Supreme Court’s ruling against race-conscious admissions in the Students for Fair Admissions case.
Please note, this webinar is not providing legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Meet the Speakers
Jennifer Cowan is Debevoise & Plimpton’s Pro Bono Counsel and leads the firm’s award-winning pro bono program, which includes litigation, corporate and tax matters, and involves more than 1000 pro bono matters each year. Jennifer leads teams on a range of pro bono representations including impact litigation, immigration, not-for-profit organization law, and housing matters and mentors and provides strategic guidance to lawyers working on pro bono matters. Her commercial practice includes white collar and regulatory matters, including defense of government investigations, internal investigations and general commercial litigation.
Lorena Rodriguez is an associate in Debevoise & Plimpton’s Litigation Department and a member of the White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group. Her practice focuses on white collar and internal investigations as well as sensitive investigations involving allegations of sexual misconduct, discrimination, and harassment. Lorena represents corporations and individuals in criminal and regulatory enforcement matters.
Sharon Shaji is an associate in Debevoise & Plimpton’s Litigation Department. Sharon primarily works in the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Data Strategy & Security groups. Sharon tracks DEI litigation and developments for the firm’s Litigation Department.