Minority & Women's Business Enterprises

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Certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs) can benefit from government programs that enable them to access market opportunities and implement effective growth strategies. Dickinson Wright’s corporate attorneys recognize the importance of helping MBEs and WBEs achieve certification and form relationships with the business community.

Our firm is a long-standing leader in representing MBEs and WBEs and helping them form, finance, and operate successful business ventures. We define success by our clients’ metrics, delivering personalized legal solutions for each of our clients, wherever their businesses take them.

Our Services

At Dickinson Wright, we assemble the best teams across multiple markets within the firm to help address and mitigate potential points of concern that may emerge when establishing and certifying an MBE or WBE, including:

• Banking & Finance	• Environmental
• Construction	• Immigration
• Corporate	• Intellectual Property
• Corporate Finance	• Labor & Employment
• Data Privacy & Cybersecurity	• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprises	• Nonprofit Organizations
• Emerging Businesses	• Real Estate
• Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation	• Taxation

MBE and WBE Certification

We focus the majority of our Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise practice on assisting clients throughout the process of MBE and WBE certification. Based on our extensive experience helping organizations attain certification, Dickinson Wright understands the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) requirements and other organizations involved in the certification process. Our work includes:

Counseling on certification requirements and pitfalls
Structuring deals
Preparing and reviewing applications and supporting materials

Additionally, our team also works with organizations seeking minority and women business partners for private and public sector business opportunities, helping explore relationships for specific business opportunities.

Representative Matters

–Counseled a woman in the oil and gas industry on establishing a WBE in Texas. The WBE is co-owned with men and the firm supported all aspects of the negotiation of the corporate documents and structure as well as preparation for the certification process.

–Counseled minorities and non-MBE corporations in connection with joint venture arrangements and co-owned MBEs.

–Serve as chair of the certification committee for an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).

–Assist MBEs in Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia based on the NMSDC certification standards.

–Assisted transportation industry rail consultant with WBE certification, capital and governance structure, and qualification with various Federal and state organizations.

–Handled registration for a combined MBE/WBE entity as well as many governmental RFP and bidding applications in the nursing and home care industries.

–Devised and implemented strategy for WBE/MBE architect client to obtain government funding and project-specific grants.

–Negotiated and successfully closed numerous loans on behalf of a community-based not-for-profit lender. Loans were made to disadvantaged borrowers and structured as asset-based and real estate secured.

–Represented a Tribally-owned holding company in the asset acquisition of a manufacturing company. Drafted and negotiated the Asset Purchase Agreement and ancillary documents, and performed due diligence ahead of the deal.

Related Services

Practice Contacts