Am Law 200 firm Adams and Reese has launched a multidisciplinary practice dedicated to advising historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority serving institutes (MSIs).

Led by partner B. Jeffrey Brooks and special counsel Roy Hadley, the practice advises on a range of matters including federal funding, cybersecurity, government relations, employment, athletics and legal issues relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. Its launch builds on the New Orleans-based firm’s experience over the past 40 years advising more than 100 schools, colleges and universities across the US, including HBCUs and MSIs. 

“HBCUs provide life-changing opportunities for young people,” said Hadley, adding that the new practice was "established to continue to support the missions of these institutions and help ensure the tremendous spirit and energy coming from these universities for generations to come.”

Along with Brooks and Hadley, who specialise in government relations and privacy matters respectively, the practice’s team includes five partners, three counsel, two government affairs advisors and two associates. Many of the team members are themselves graduates of HBCUs, Adams and Reese said.  

The HBCU team will work with the firm's government relations practice to assist clients with governmental programs and funding, including COVID relief funds, to ‘help bolster HCBUs and MSIs, their infrastructure, capital needs and programming’, the firm said. 

“We are excited to bring this team’s diverse skillset to the table and reinforce our support of HBCUs,” said Brooks, who is also chair of the firm's executive committee. “HBCUs continue to be the cornerstone for many communities across our firm’s footprint and we look forward to being of service to them. We are further committed to assisting these institutions to continue to build the foundation of generational education.”

Adams and Reese’s 21 offices are spread across the southern US, with the exception of its bases in Denver, Colorado and Washington DC. Global Legal Post understands its HBCU practice is the first such dedicated practice of its kind. 

Earlier this year top 20 US law firm Goodwin Procter announced that it was partnering with Facebook parent Meta to create a scholarship for students from HBCUs intending to pursue a career in IP or technology law.