Pictured left to right: Doug Foley, Scott Binkley, Mariam Eatedali, Taylor Gayton, Mona Mohib, John Thompson and Ryan Bernstein
McGuireWoods and McGuireWoods Consulting took part in a Feb. 13, 2020, reception at the U.S. Capitol to commemorate the enactment of the Honoring American Veterans in Extreme Need (HAVEN) Act.
McGuireWoods partners John Thompson and Doug Foley and McGuireWoods Consulting senior vice presidents Mona Mohib and Ryan Bernstein, vice president Scott Binkley, assistant vice president Taylor Gayton and research associate Mariam Eatedali attended the event, along with members of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Task Force on Veterans and Servicemembers Affairs and sponsors of the legislation, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and U.S. Rep. Lucia Kay McBath (D-Ga.).
The HAVEN Act, signed into law Aug. 23, 2019, helps American military veterans shield disability and other Veterans Administration benefits during bankruptcy proceedings. McGuireWoods and MWC worked pro bono to advocate for the legislation to help reverse an inequity in the law that harmed service members facing financial distress.
Thompson played a key role in raising awareness of the need for the legislation and worked with the law firm’s Veteran Lawyers Network, which he chairs, and the ABI’s task force to help craft, advocate for and collect co-sponsors in support of the HAVEN Act. Mohib, Bernstein and MWC vice president Edward Hill played vital roles developing the proposal and helping the ABI task force get the legislation passed in Congress.