McNees opens 2026 LEAP program for underrepresented businesses
September 8, 2025
Press Releases
Key highlights:
- LEAP Request for Qualifications Portal is now open to interested businesses and will remain open through September 30. Qualifying businesses will then be asked to submit an application for the program.
- Since its inception in 2020, LEAP has supported 34 underrepresented businesses with comprehensive legal services and business development opportunities.
- Eligible businesses include businesses from economically disadvantaged communities and backgrounds located in the areas throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania that are served by McNees.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Sept. 8, 2025) – McNees Wallace & Nurick announced today it has opened the 2026 application cycle for its newly expanded Legal Equity Advancement Program (LEAP), which provides participating businesses with access to legal services and business development opportunities.
McNees is accepting applications for LEAP now through September 30.
The program supports underrepresented businesses from economically disadvantaged communities and backgrounds in areas of Pennsylvania and Maryland that McNees regularly serves.
Interested businesses are asked to submit their information through the LEAP portal at McNeesLEAP.com/2026. Qualified applicants will then be invited to submit detailed applications.
LEAP was launched in 2020 to support underrepresented businesses in the communities served by McNees. The program has continued to evolve and expand, helping a total of 34 small, underrepresented businesses since its inception.
McNees is expanding LEAP in 2026 with a goal of helping even more businesses from a wider range of economically disadvantaged communities and backgrounds.
“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 receive access to McNees’ core legal services, including business formation and corporate governance, labor and employment law compliance, real estate and contract negotiations, intellectual property protection, and guidance on Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification. Awardees also gain access to educational workshops, business development seminars, and valuable networking opportunities with industry professionals and McNees attorneys.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of LEAP is seeing the confidence it instills in business owners,” said Benjamin Ward, LEAP co-chair. “With legal guidance and practical support, entrepreneurs can make informed decisions, grow their operations, and pursue new opportunities with clarity.”
To learn more about LEAP or to apply for the program, visit McNeesLEAP.com.
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McNees is a multidisciplinary law firm founded in 1935 with more than 150 attorneys representing businesses, associations, institutions, municipalities and individuals. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Pittsburgh, Radnor, State College and York, Pa.; Columbus, Ohio; Frederick and Towson, Md.; and Washington, D.C. McNees is a member of the ALFA International Global Legal Network.
