Crain’s New York Business has selected Sarah Ashfaq and Jesse Nevarez as Notable Diverse Leaders in Law for 2022. Individuals selected by Crain’s excel in their practice at New York’s leading law firms across a range of specialties, and stand out for their commitment to pro bono work, community service, philanthropy, professional mentorship and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Ms. Ashfaq is a partner in Goodwin’s Technology Companies and Life Sciences group, where she has extensive experience representing a diverse range of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical device clients with corporate transactions, securities law and a broad array of financing transactions including initial public offerings, follow-on offerings, at-the-market offerings and private placements of equity and debt securities. Well-versed on guiding cutting-edge companies throughout the full range of the corporate life cycle, she has worked with most of her company-side clients since they were private companies.
Beyond her practice, Ms. Ashfaq is a leader at Goodwin dedicated to global initiatives supporting practice management and associate development efforts rooted in Goodwin’s core values. She acts as a mentor to several associates, both through Goodwin’s formal mentoring program and also informally. Active in the firm’s diversity initiatives, Ms. Ashfaq has previously served on the board of the Muslim Bar Association of New York.
Mr. Nevarez represents Technology and Life Sciences companies focused on software, hardware, digital media, advertising, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics and other related specialties. In particular, he regularly advises entrepreneurs, startups, emerging companies and public companies on a variety of matters including company formations, seed, venture and growth equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, SEC compliance, IPOs and other capital markets transactions. He also represents venture capital funds and investment banks focusing on technology and life sciences companies.
Within Goodwin, Mr. Nevarez is a leader on the New York Council of Goodwin’s Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity (CRED), which seeks to recruit, retain and advance lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds at the firm. Recently, Mr. Nevarez has been recognized for excellence by New York Law Journal’s Rising Stars, the National Bar Association’s 40 Under 40 and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) Rising Stars.