Alexis Amezcua is a litigation partner in MoFo’s San Francisco office. Her practice focuses on representing both plaintiffs and defendants in class actions and other complex commercial litigation.
What advice would you give to the next generation of women who want to pursue a career in the legal industry?
Have a squad. Have a group of women with whom you cultivate relationships — personal and professional — and hold each other up. I have a close group of girlfriends, some lawyers, some entrepreneurs, some in tech, many of them moms like me. We share business opportunities, we talk each other up to higher-ups and peers, and we encourage each other when the going gets rough.
Tell us about a female role model in your life who inspires you. How has she played a part in the movement to achieve better balance for women?
My mom inspires me every day. She raised three daughters, and held two and three jobs at a time, while studying at night for her degrees. As a Latina and a single mother, she faced many obstacles, but she always persevered. She is the eternal optimist, puts family and education first, and reminds me every day to seek balance, even though it was a luxury she did not have when she was raising her children. I would not be where or who I am without her.
How do you try to influence, join the conversation, or take action to build a gender-balanced world?
As a partner at Morrison and Foerster and the hiring partner for the San Francisco Litigation Department, I have the duty and privilege to bring considerations of gender parity and diversity to hiring, staffing, and retention conversations on a daily basis. I have been very fortunate to work with clients who are equally committed to these issues and who not only insist on diverse teams, but also work with me to provide substantive development opportunities for our women and diverse lawyers.
Read more Q&As from our global community of MoFo Women here.