McNees Wallace & Nurick announced on Sept. 11 that 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 through Tuesday, Sept. 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 www.mcneesleap.com. 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.

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.