Valecia McDowell

In today's complex and highly regulated business environment, organizations and individuals often face the daunting prospect of internal investigations, governmental inquiries, or intricate commercial disputes. Navigating these high-stakes situations requires not just legal acumen, but also strategic insight, discretion, and a deep understanding of corporate conduct and regulatory landscapes. For us, here in North Carolina, especially within the thriving business hub of Charlotte, having access to an attorney who is a recognized national leader in these precise areas is an invaluable asset. This is precisely what you'll find with Valecia McDowell, a distinguished attorney and co-head of significant practice groups at Moore & Van Allen PLLC.

This article is designed to provide you, as a local North Carolina resident, business executive, or legal professional, with a clear, engaging, and informative overview of Valecia McDowell's legal practice. Our goal is to help you understand her unique areas of expertise, her commitment to clients, and how her extensive experience can benefit those operating within the complex realms of corporate investigations, regulatory defense, and civil rights assessments. We’ll delve into her conveniently located office in the heart of Charlotte, the comprehensive types of legal assistance she provides, and what sets her apart as a premier legal and strategic partner in our vibrant Tar Heel State.

North Carolina’s economy is diverse and rapidly growing, attracting businesses of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With this growth comes an increased need for sophisticated legal counsel in areas like financial services regulation, employee conduct risk, and corporate compliance. Valecia McDowell brings over 25 years of experience to these critical areas, offering a candid, pragmatic, and diligent approach that has established her as a go-to attorney in the investigations arena. Her work often involves sensitive, confidential internal investigations and civil rights reviews for major corporations, demonstrating her capacity to handle matters of immense reputational and financial consequence.

Choosing a lawyer for complex investigations or regulatory defense means finding someone who not only understands the legal frameworks but also possesses the strategic foresight to mitigate risk and guide clients through potentially damaging situations. Valecia McDowell embodies this blend of legal expertise and strategic prowess. Her experience representing clients before a wide array of domestic and international authorities, including the Federal Reserve Board, OCC, CFPB, DOJ, SEC, and more, highlights her capability to manage investigations on a global scale. This breadth of experience is a testament to her standing as a national thought leader in conduct risk management.

As we delve deeper, you'll discover the specific services Valecia McDowell offers, her exceptional accessibility within Charlotte, and why her practice is particularly well-suited to the needs of North Carolina businesses and organizations seeking to navigate the most challenging internal and governmental legal inquiries. Our aim is to empower you with the information necessary to make an informed decision when seeking specialized legal support right here in our state.

For clients across North Carolina requiring high-level legal counsel, particularly in complex areas like internal and governmental investigations, the strategic location and accessibility of their law firm are paramount. Valecia McDowell practices at Moore & Van Allen PLLC, conveniently located in the very heart of Charlotte, North Carolina. This prime location ensures exceptional accessibility for clients throughout the region and beyond.

You can find Valecia McDowell at:

100 N Tryon St #4700, Charlotte, NC 28202, USA

This address places Moore & Van Allen PLLC within the iconic Bank of America Corporate Center, a prominent and easily recognizable skyscraper at the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets in Uptown Charlotte. Being in the definitive center of Charlotte's financial and business district offers significant advantages for local clients. For those traveling by car, Moore & Van Allen PLLC provides practical parking solutions by offering validation in several nearby decks, including the Bank of America Corporate Center Parking Deck, the Wake Forest University Parking Garage, and the Seventh Street Station Parking Deck. This thoughtful provision greatly simplifies visits for clients driving into Uptown, reducing the typical stress associated with downtown parking.

Furthermore, Uptown Charlotte boasts an exceptionally well-developed public transportation system. The LYNX Blue Line light rail system has multiple stations within comfortable walking distance of the Bank of America Corporate Center, efficiently connecting various parts of Charlotte to the city center. Numerous bus routes also converge in Uptown, offering extensive coverage for residents commuting from diverse neighborhoods and surrounding areas. This robust public transit network significantly enhances accessibility for clients who prefer not to drive or are coming from areas outside the immediate city center. The central location also benefits from easy access to major interstate highways, facilitating travel for clients from other North Carolina cities and even neighboring states. This combination of central placement and excellent transportation links truly underscores Valecia McDowell's commitment to being readily available to her diverse client base across North Carolina and beyond, particularly those whose high-stakes matters necessitate convenient and discreet access to legal counsel.

Valecia McDowell's legal practice is highly specialized, focusing on critical areas of corporate and governmental oversight, investigations, and complex litigation. As co-head of Moore & Van Allen's White Collar, Regulatory Defense & Investigations group, and co-head of the firm's DEI Advice, Legal Compliance & Assessments team, her services are designed for entities navigating intricate regulatory frameworks and sensitive internal matters.

Here's a detailed look at the key services offered by Valecia McDowell:

• Governmental and Internal Investigations: This is a cornerstone of her practice. Valecia has extensive experience leading large-scale, sensitive, and confidential internal investigations for Fortune 500 companies and managing investigations initiated by government agencies. Her work covers a broad spectrum, including consumer finance, financial crimes, employee conduct risk, practice, and company-wide reviews. She has conducted investigations across the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America.
• Conduct Risk Management: Valecia is a national thought leader in this area, advising clients on establishing and maintaining robust systems and policies to identify, assess, and mitigate risks related to employee conduct, corporate ethics, and compliance with various laws and regulations.
• Regulatory Defense: She represents clients in disputes, investigations, and negotiations involving a wide range of domestic and international authorities, including the Federal Reserve Board, OCC, CFPB, DOJ, SEC, HUD, FINRA, CFTC, DOA, OIG, Congress, State Attorneys General in the United States, as well as international authorities like the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
• Civil Rights and Racial Equity Assessments: As co-head of the firm's DEI Advice, Audits & Assessments team, Valecia leads and performs privileged reviews into civil rights considerations, including those relating to discrimination, harassment, disparate impact, and corporate ethics. She recently led the team that published a racial equity audit report for CoreCivic.
• Commercial Litigation: Valecia possesses significant trial, arbitration, and regulatory defense experience in complex, high-stakes commercial disputes, particularly within the financial services, healthcare, securities, manufacturing, and telecommunications industries.
• Financial Services Regulation & Litigation: She has particularized investigative knowledge in complex financial services investigations relating to alleged market misconduct, consumer finance violations, and wealth management inquiries. She is also recognized for Litigation - Banking and Finance.
• Arbitration and Securities Litigation: Valecia is recognized for her work in Arbitration and Litigation - Securities, indicating her expertise in resolving disputes through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and handling complex securities-related lawsuits.
• White-Collar Criminal Defense: Her practice includes advising and defending clients facing white-collar criminal allegations, often in conjunction with governmental investigations.

Valecia McDowell possesses an impressive array of features and highlights that firmly establish her as a top-tier legal professional, particularly for complex and sensitive corporate matters in North Carolina and beyond:

• National Thought Leader and Recognized Expert: Valecia is widely recognized as a national thought leader in governmental and internal investigations, conduct risk management, and civil rights and racial equity assessments. Her insights are featured in national publications like Bloomberg, American Banker, Corporate Compliance Insights, and Inside Counsel.
• "Lawyer of the Year" Recognition: She has been named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for Arbitration in Charlotte (2025) and Litigation - Securities in Charlotte (2023). This prestigious honor signifies exceptional peer and client respect in her specialized fields.
• Multiple Top Rankings and Recognitions: Valecia is consistently ranked in Chambers USA for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Band 1) and Litigation: General Commercial. She is also recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Litigation - Banking and Finance, and Litigation - Securities. Lawdragon also listed her as one of the Top 500 Lawyers in America for governmental investigations and civil rights.
• Strategic Leadership Within Moore & Van Allen: As co-head of the firm's White Collar, Regulatory Defense & Investigations group and co-head of the DEI Advice, Legal Compliance & Assessments team, she holds significant leadership positions within a large and reputable regional law firm. This indicates her influence and the depth of resources available to her clients. She also serves on the firm's Management Committee and is co-chair of the firm's Diversity Committee.
• Extensive Global Investigation Experience: Her experience conducting internal and governmental investigations across the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America, and representing clients before various domestic and international authorities, highlights her capability to handle matters of immense complexity and global reach.
• Practical and Pragmatic Approach: Clients and peers laud her for her candor, pragmatism, and diligence. Testimonials from Chambers USA describe her as an "awesome attorney" who gives "really good advice" and is "very insightful" and "incredible." This client-centric approach ensures effective and tailored legal strategies.
• Academic Contributions and Industry Speaking Engagements: Valecia has served as a guest instructor at Duke University School of Law, teaching a course on internal investigations, and frequently speaks on conduct risk management at significant industry seminars (e.g., SIFMA C&L Annual Seminar). This engagement demonstrates her commitment to legal education and thought leadership.
• DEI and Civil Rights Assessment Expertise: Her pioneering work in leading civil rights and racial equity audit reports for major corporations, including CoreCivic, positions her at the forefront of a crucial and evolving area of corporate compliance and social responsibility.

As a highly distinguished and specialized attorney at a leading law firm like Moore & Van Allen PLLC, Valecia McDowell, consistent with the standards of top-tier legal professionals, does not typically offer traditional "promotions" or "special offers" in the consumer retail sense. Her services are bespoke, highly complex, and priced based on the immense value of her strategic counsel, her extensive experience in high-stakes investigations and litigation, and the significant resources of a major law firm. The value she provides lies in her ability to navigate incredibly intricate legal and regulatory challenges, protect client interests, and mitigate substantial risks.

However, clients seeking to engage with Valecia McDowell can find profound inherent value and potential benefits in her approach and the firm's structure:

• Strategic Consultations: For prospective clients, particularly Fortune 100/500 companies or those facing significant governmental or internal investigations, Valecia McDowell or her team may offer initial strategic consultations. These sessions are an invaluable opportunity to critically assess the legal landscape, understand the potential scope and implications of an investigation or dispute, explore strategic options, and determine how her specialized expertise aligns with your organizational needs. While such consultations for high-level corporate matters typically involve a fee, they are a crucial first step in developing a robust legal strategy and can be an efficient investment.
• Risk Mitigation and Reputational Protection: While not a discount, Valecia's expertise in conduct risk management, regulatory defense, and ethics compliance provides significant long-term value by preventing potentially enormous financial penalties, regulatory sanctions, and severe reputational damage. Her proactive and meticulous approach helps clients avoid costly missteps and navigate complex issues with discretion and integrity. This translates into substantial savings and protection for businesses.
• Access to Comprehensive Firm Resources: Engaging with an attorney at Moore & Van Allen PLLC means clients benefit from the extensive resources of a large, full-service law firm. This includes access to a broad network of legal specialists across various practice areas, advanced legal research capabilities, and robust support infrastructure, all contributing to a more comprehensive and effective legal service delivery.

For precise information regarding fees, strategic engagement inquiries, or to schedule a consultation, it is always recommended to directly contact Valecia McDowell's office at Moore & Van Allen PLLC.

For businesses, organizations, and individuals in North Carolina seeking to connect with Valecia McDowell at Moore & Van Allen PLLC, the following contact details are available for their Charlotte office:

Address: 100 N Tryon St #4700, Charlotte, NC 28202, USA

Phone: (704) 331-1188

Mobile Phone: +1 704-331-1188

When you reach out, it is highly advisable to be prepared to briefly explain the nature of your inquiry, particularly if it pertains to internal investigations, governmental inquiries, regulatory defense, conduct risk management, or civil rights assessments. This will assist her office in directing your call or message to Valecia McDowell or the appropriate team member, ensuring you receive timely and highly relevant assistance for your complex and sensitive needs.

For businesses, organizations, and individuals across North Carolina, especially those operating within or interacting with complex regulatory environments and facing high-stakes internal or governmental inquiries, Valecia McDowell at Moore & Van Allen PLLC presents herself as an exceptionally suitable and invaluable legal and strategic resource. Her suitability for locals is deeply rooted in her unparalleled expertise, her prominent position within a leading North Carolina law firm, and her ability to navigate complex issues with both legal precision and strategic foresight.

Firstly, her strategically located office in the iconic Bank of America Corporate Center in Uptown Charlotte offers exceptional accessibility. Being in the very heart of North Carolina’s largest business and financial hub means that clients from diverse parts of the state can easily reach her office, whether by car (with convenient, validated parking) or by Charlotte's robust public transportation network. This central and accessible presence underscores her commitment to serving the North Carolina business community directly and efficiently.

Secondly, Valecia McDowell's profound and nationally recognized specialization in governmental and internal investigations, conduct risk management, and civil rights assessments is a critical advantage for local clients. In an era of heightened regulatory scrutiny and evolving corporate governance expectations, North Carolina entities require legal counsel that is not only expert in the law but also adept at managing reputational risk and ensuring compliance across complex domestic and international landscapes. Her consistent recognition as a "Lawyer of the Year" and her top rankings in prestigious legal directories like Chambers USA and Best Lawyers demonstrate her exceptional capabilities and standing among her peers. This level of specialized expertise ensures that North Carolina clients receive the highest caliber of legal advice tailored to their specific and often sensitive situations.

Furthermore, as a co-head of significant practice groups and a member of the firm's Management Committee at Moore & Van Allen, Valecia operates within a firm that offers comprehensive legal services and extensive resources. This means clients benefit from a collaborative approach and access to a wide array of legal specialists, ensuring that all facets of their complex legal challenges can be addressed. Her ability to handle investigations that span continents further emphasizes her capacity to serve even the most sophisticated local businesses with global reach.

In conclusion, for those in North Carolina seeking sophisticated, accessible, and strategically-minded legal counsel for their most challenging internal or governmental investigations, white-collar defense, or corporate compliance needs, Valecia McDowell at Moore & Van Allen PLLC offers a compelling and truly outstanding choice. She is not just a legal advisor; she is a trusted and highly respected partner dedicated to helping our local businesses and organizations navigate the complexities of corporate governance and regulatory compliance right here in North Carolina.