BOSTON, December 12, 2016: Morgan Lewis has earned the designation of Highly Commended in the Innovation in Social Responsibility: Projects category of the Financial Times’ annual FT North America Innovative Lawyers report.
The report honors the firm for its role as principal pro bono outside counsel in the creation of Microbuild, a groundbreaking microfinance fund established by Habitat for Humanity to help low-income families in developing countries improve and maintain their homes, or build new ones. The designation is notable given the participation in the competition by nearly 70 law firms and the submission of more than 340 nominations.
The team that advised on the most recent debt and equity round to increase the capital from $50 million to $100 million was led by partner Carl Valenstein, an adjunct professor at the University of Michigan Law School's International Transactions Clinic, which collaborated with Habitat for Humanity to establish the fund. Partner Anne Bandes and associate Tasmin Din provided support.