Our deeds and shared values define our culture. As a firm, we are equally passionate about delivering legal excellence and making a difference in the world. MoFo+ shares news and thought leadership from our lawyers and their teams who are proud to contribute to the legal profession and the communities we call home.<h2>About Morrison Foerster</h2>Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm that transforms complexity into advantage for its clients. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, banks, consulting and accounting firms, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. Highlighting the firm’s commitment to client service, leadership in market-changing deals and impact litigation, and values-based culture, Morrison Foerster has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top 10 firms on The American Lawyer’s A-List. Year after year, the firm receives significant recognition from Chambers and The Legal 500 across their various guides, including Global, USA, Asia‑Pacific, Europe, UK, Latin America, and FinTech Legal. Our lawyers passionately care about delivering legal excellence while living our values. Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment. The firm has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of successfully reaching at least 30 percent women, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community and society through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education and fostering the wellbeing of children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, enforcing the right to asylum, and safeguarding the environment.

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Jennifer K. Brown is Senior Pro Bono Counsel at Morrison & Foerster LLP, with responsibility for the overall direction of the firm’s pro bono program. Ms. Brown also develops pro bono opportunities and promotes lawyers’ participation in the firm’s offices on the east coast of the U.S. as well as in China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.Before joining Morrison Foerster, Ms. Brown was vice president and legal director of Legal Momentum, the nation's first women’s rights legal organization, originally known as the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund. There, she directed cutting-edge litigation and policy advocacy focused on employment discrimination, domestic violence victims' rights, and sexuality and family rights. Previously, she served as the reproductive rights director with the Civil Rights Bureau of the Office of the New York Attorney General and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.Ms. Brown brings to the firm her deep knowledge of public interest legal organizations and the most pressing civil rights issues of the day. She has, as well, a rich array of litigation experience, having represented individuals as well as federal agencies and the public, from both the plaintiff and defense positions, in trial and appellate courts. As Senior Pro Bono Counsel, she applies this knowledge and experience to multiple goals: encouraging the firm's attorneys from all practice areas to bring pro bono projects to the firm; easing the way for attorneys to undertake meaningful pro bono service; and working with legal service and public interest organizations to identify creative ways to tap the passion and intellect of the firm's lawyers to pursue the public good. Recent achievements include collaborating with a legal services organization to represent individuals whose claims for unemployment insurance benefits are challenged, and forming a project to represent disabled individuals who are seeking federal disability benefits.Ms. Brown received her J.D. from Yale Law School in 1993, where she was essays editor of the Yale Law Journal (1992-1993) and was awarded the Benjamin Scharps and Israel H. Peres prizes for outstanding writing. Ms. Brown’s publications include, "The Nineteenth Amendment and Women's Equality," 102 Yale Law Journal 2175 (1993) (student note), and "Life and Death with Joan," in AIDS: The Women, Cleis Press, 1988.

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Senior Pro Bono Counsel

Staff

As senior pro bono counsel, Jennifer manages and promotes the pro bono participation of lawyers on the East Coast.

Jennifer K. Brown

Natalie Kernisant is Morrison Foerster’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.Natalie provides strategic leadership to advance recruiting and retention of diverse talent at the firm, as well as providing client development support in the area of diversity and inclusion. She works closely with the firm’s Diversity Strategy Committee co-chairs Alexis Amezcua, Purvi Patel, and Mark Whitaker, and Women’s Strategy Committee co-chairs Carrie Cohen, Julie Park, and Stacey Sprenkel.Natalie joined Morrison Foerster in November 2013. She was appointed to the newly created role of Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer in December 2020, having previously served as the firm’s Global Director of Diversity and Inclusion.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Natalie served as Human Resources Manager for Risk Management within Global Banking and Markets at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Before that, she practiced trademark and copyright law and then served as the Special Projects Manager in the Office of Institutional Policy & Planning at Harvard Medical School overseeing the school’s 2011 accreditation process.In 2021, Natalie was named by Crain’s New York Business to its list of Notable Black Leaders & Executives 2021. The special section recognizes black men and women who have impacted New York City in major ways and sets out to honor their professional, civic, and philanthropic achievements. In 2023, Natalie was recognized as one of Savoy Magazine’s 2023 Most Influential Executives in Diversity & Inclusion. She was also selected to Law360’s Diversity & Inclusion Editorial Advisory Board, whose goal is to provide feedback on Law360’s coverage as well as expert insight on how to shape future coverage. Additionally, she was recognized in the Financial Times 2023 North America Innovative Lawyers report as one of seven individual “Change Makers” in the legal industry for her strategic leadership of the firm’s efforts to interrupt unconscious bias and advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In 2024, Natalie was named as a Change Driver in the Annual Diversity Awards of World IP Review (WIPR). The annual Diversity Awards recognize those who have made exceptional contributions to diversity and inclusion in the field of intellectual property.During Natalie’s tenure at MoFo, the firm has received multiple <a href="/culture/diversity#page-section-4" target="_self">diversity and inclusion awards and recognitions</a>.

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Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Natalie Kernisant is Morrison Foerster’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.

Natalie Kernisant provides strategic leadership to advance recruiting and retention of diverse talent at Morrison Foerster, as well as providing client development support in the area of diversity and inclusion.

Natalie Kernisant

Dorothy L. Fernandez is Pro Bono Counsel based in the Denver office of Morrison & Foerster LLP. She is responsible for managing and promoting the participation of lawyers in the firm’s extensive pro bono program which includes, among other things, providing free legal services to low-income individuals, advising nonprofit organizations and assisting in other matters that serve the public interest. Dorothy’s primary focus is on working with lawyers in the firm’s Austin, Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver and Tokyo offices.In 1999, Dorothy joined Morrison & Foerster as an associate in the Securities Litigation, Enforcement and White-Collar Criminal Defense Group. She was elected a partner of the firm in 2004. Dorothy handled complex litigation at the state, federal and appellate levels and was responsible for drafting key dispositive motions in some of the firm’s largest securities litigation matters. In addition, she had an active pro bono practice and represented clients in individual matters, as well as cases addressing the treatment of children in foster care and the rights of LGBT individuals.A dedicated advocate for the LGBT community, Dorothy has served as co-chair of the board of directors of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and she also served on the board of the Pride Law Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to law students working on issues related to the equal rights of LGBT citizens and people living with HIV/AIDS.Dorothy currently serves on the board of directors of Centro Legal de la Raza, a nonprofit based in Oakland.Dorothy graduated from Stanford University in 1992 with a B.A. in psychology. She earned a J.D. in 1996 from Harvard Law School, where she was a member of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review and co-chair of HLS Lambda. She has taught as an adjunct instructor at both Golden Gate University Law School and Santa Clara University Law School.

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Pro Bono Counsel

Dorothy works with lawyers in our Denver, Los Angeles, and San Diego offices on various pro bono initiatives.

Dorothy L. Fernandez

Rachel Williams is pro bono counsel based in Morrison & Foerster’s San Francisco office. She is responsible for managing and promoting the participation of lawyers in the firm’s extensive program of providing free legal services to low-income individuals, to nonprofit organizations, and in matters that serve the public interest. Rachel works primarily with lawyers in the firm’s San Francisco, Palo Alto, London, Berlin, and Brussels offices. She is an active member of the Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative and the board of directors of OneJustice. Rachel joined the firm in 1999. Prior to becoming a pro bono counsel, Rachel was a litigation associate in the firm’s Palo Alto office and worked on attorney training and development initiatives. Before law school, Rachel worked for various nonprofit organizations, was an investigator for the public defender’s office in Seattle, and served as a Coro Public Affairs Fellow in New York City.

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Rachel is responsible for managing and promoting the participation of lawyers in the firm’s extensive program of providing free legal services to low-income individuals, to nonprofit organizations, and in matters that serve the public interest.

Rachel P. Williams

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Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to diversity, inclusion, and pro bono work. MoFo+ shares news and thought leadership from our lawyers and their teams who are proud to contribute to the legal profession and the communities we call home.

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Welcome to the Mofo+ Blog

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Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to diversity, inclusion, and pro bono work. MoFo+ shares news and thought leadership from our lawyers and their teams who are proud to contribute to the legal profession and the communities we call home.

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MoFo Wins Asylum for Cameroonian Political Refugee

MoFo Sponsors the 2024 NAPABA Convention

Navigating Justice and Disability: A Conversation with Judge David Tatel

The MoFo Foundation Supports Pro Bono Partners

MoFo Sponsors the Black Counsel Forum 2024

During the month of May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and honor the many contributions AAPI individuals and communities have made throughout history. The theme this year is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” In recognition of AAPI Heritage Month, we honor Haima Marlier, a partner in our New York office and co-chair of the Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White Collar Defense group. Haima has served as an AAPI Affinity Network Liaison, helping to launch the firm’s first AAPI Mentoring Circle initiative, and was recently named a co-chair of MoFo’s Diversity Strategy Committee.Haima came to the firm in 2020 after nine years at the New York office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is responsible for regulating the largest concentration of SEC‑registered financial institutions in the nation. While at the SEC, Haima served as lead counsel on several prominent enforcement litigations and investigations involving public companies, registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, banks, and individuals in matters arising under the federal securities laws. She has also worked closely with foreign securities regulators, numerous U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.Haima also currently serves on the board of trustees of the SEC Historical Society, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the knowledge and history of financial regulation; mentors Penn State students of color who aspire to become lawyers; and is a member of the board of directors of, and a volunteer running coach for, Girls on the Run New Jersey, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring girls to recognize their inner physical and emotional strength.To learn more about the firm’s Diversity Strategy Committee and our commitment to advancing diverse lawyers, please visit our <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity" target="_blank">diversity page</a> on <a href="https://mofo.com/" target="_blank">MoFo.com</a>.

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Partner

Haima Marlier is co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White Collar Defense Group and of its Fintech practice.

Haimavathi V. Marlier

Haima Marlier, a former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Senior Trial Counsel, is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Securities Litigation, Securities Enforcement, and Investigations + White Collar Defense groups.

Haimavathi Marlier

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Partner Spotlight: Haima Marlier

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During the month of May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and honor the many contributions AAPI individuals and communities have made throughout history. The theme this year is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” In recognition of AAPI Heritage Month, we honor Haima Marlier, a partner in our New York office and co-chair of the Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White Collar Defense group. Haima has served as an AAPI Affinity Network Liaison, helping to launch the firm’s first AAPI Mentoring Circle initiative, and was recently named a co-chair of MoFo’s Diversity Strategy Committee.

Partner Spotlight: Haima Marlier

Editors’ Note: Read about Evangeline Phang, a San Francisco associate in our Transactions Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.I did not always dream of becoming a lawyer (instead, a young me thought I was going to be an archeologist à la Indiana Jones). At some point, however, I became captivated by the amount of agency that a legal education could provide and the potential downstream impact of my work on my family and community. The path to this white-collar profession was not a straight one and I learned from many mistakes. Being a first-generation immigrant, college student, and professional is a unique experience that comes with its own set of challenges. I lacked the financial resources, social connections, and professional role models growing up, and feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome were not uncommon. Even so, these experiences also instilled in me a strong work ethic and an unwavering determination to succeed. Along the way, I was also fortunate to encounter moments of luck, serendipity, and invaluable support from others, which all played a significant role in my journey. While perseverance and grit were crucial in overcoming these early challenges, I also recognize the importance of the support and opportunities provided by those who believed in my potential.Upon joining MoFo, I was immediately drawn to the Technology Transactions practice because of the outstanding colleagues, mentors, and opportunities to work on cutting-edge technology with innovating clients. I quickly discovered that the practice was truly one-of-a-kind, offering me the chance not only to develop my legal skills by dissecting complex issues and develop creative solutions to problems, but also to explore the intersection between law, technology, and business. In hindsight, I had traded in my fascination with the past, as embodied in historical artifacts, for a keen interest in the future, as embodied in technological growth. What I see in technological innovations is similar to what others previously saw in me: potential.In my role as a Technology Transactions attorney, I have had the privilege of advising and interacting with clients at different levels, including in-house counsel, business stakeholders, and technical teams. I see much of my role as helping to put the puzzle pieces together in product development and commercial transactions and IP transactions. Striving to better understand the clients’ businesses and products and their unique challenges, and working together to bring innovative solutions in a rapidly evolving technological landscape, bring me immense professional satisfaction. My colleagues and mentors not only have supported me as I hone my legal skills but have also been invaluable sources of guidance and encouragement throughout my time at the firm. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue contributing to the growth and advancement of the technology transactions practice at MoFo.I am also particularly proud to have grown alongside the firm ever since I started as a summer associate at MoFo, knowing that I was intentionally choosing to be part of an organization that values diversity, inclusion, and the unique perspectives that individuals from different backgrounds bring to the table. I have also found that these values are reflected in many of our clients, as I have had more than one opportunity to participate in a client-led professional development and mentorship program, collaborate with clients on pro bono projects to provide assistance in our shared communities, and come together to celebrate our shared cultures and diversities. I am at my happy place when I am constantly learning, adapting, and growing, and I am appreciative of the supportive and collaborative environment that MoFo provides, not only in the initiatives that are made available but also in the quality of clients with whom I get to work.My story is just one example of the many diverse narratives that make up the AAPI community. AAPI Heritage Month is a time for us to celebrate our unique experiences, honor our ancestors, and embrace the cultural richness that we bring to the American tapestry. In reflecting on my journey, I realize that my personal identity as a first-generation Asian American has played a significant role in shaping my career and outlook on life. As an Asian American attorney, I recognize the importance of representation and visibility in the legal profession and continue to strive to be a role model and mentor for others who may be facing similar experiences, offering guidance and support as they navigate their own journeys. My experiences have taught me the importance of resilience, adaptability, hard work, and luck—all qualities that have served me well in the legal profession. In short, I am proud of my heritage and grateful for the opportunities that have come my way, as they have allowed me to contribute to the rich tapestry of AAPI experiences in America.

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Associate

Evangeline Phang is an associate in the Technology Transactions Group of Morrison & Foerster’s San Francisco Office.
Her practice focuses on transactional matters involving intellectual property and t

Evangeline Phang

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Faces of MoFo: Evangeline Phang

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I did not always dream of becoming a lawyer (instead, a young me thought I was going to be an archeologist à la Indiana Jones). At some point, however, I became captivated by the amount of agency that a legal education could provide and the potential downstream impact of my work on my family and community. The path to this white-collar profession was not a straight one and I learned from many mistakes.

Faces of MoFo: Evangeline Phang

Editors’ Note: Read about Jeff Xu, a New York associate in our Transactions Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.I have been with MoFo for six and a half years, joining the Finance & Projects Group after graduating from Fordham Law School. My practice generally focuses on representing lenders and borrowers in all types of debt financing transactions, with a particular focus on private credit. As the first generation of my family to be born in America, I was raised with an emphasis on family and cultural values, values that I plan to continue with my own family, as my daughter Lucy was born earlier this year. I try to bring similar ideals to the workplace, serving as a guide and mentor to new and junior associates in my group, including by running a training program for the junior associates. As an inevitable function of the position, junior associates receive much of their training from deal work, but I have found, and I hope the junior associates in my group agree, that having an informal space to share ideas and talk about common issues and problems we face is useful secondary training. Many of my clients focus on investing in the life sciences, healthcare, and pharmaceutical fields, providing financing to growth and/or middle-market companies with potential for innovation and technological breakthrough in an important space. While my role is to help negotiate and execute on deals, I have found that more meaningful relationships come with clients that view us as true advisors, useful for more than simply documenting the transaction and instead providing structural and comprehensive advice on all aspects of the deal and the markets generally. My time at MoFo has shown me that the firm is perfectly situated to fill that advisor-partner role, and I’m grateful to the firm for the opportunity to do so. In addition to my finance work, I have focused my pro bono efforts to help low-income and elderly New Yorkers with their wills, powers of attorney, and other life-planning documents by working with the <a href="https://volsprobono.org/projects/seniorlaw/" target="_blank">Volunteers of Legal Service – Senior Law Project</a> (VOLS). I have had the fortune of helping many New Yorkers with these important documents and have also been honored to serve on VOLS’s inaugural Pro Bono Advocates Council, which brings together those in the private bar with a commitment to pro bono legal services with the mission of empowering New Yorkers to attain dignity, security, and opportunity through access to legal services. I view my pro bono work as a key aspect of my practice and find it deeply rewarding. Outside of work, I picked up sourdough bread baking during the COVID pandemic and have maintained this hobby to date, providing homemade carbs to friends and colleagues and maintaining an Instagram account (@city_sourdough) with the help of my social media manager (my wife).

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Jeff Xu is a member of the Firm’s Finance Group. He represents financial institutions, private credit funds, public and private companies and other borrowers and lenders in financing transactions, 

Jeff Xu

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Faces of MoFo: Jeff Xu

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I have been with MoFo for six and a half years, joining the Finance & Projects Group after graduating from Fordham Law School. My practice generally focuses on representing lenders and borrowers in all types of debt financing transactions, with a particular focus on private credit.

Faces of MoFo: Jeff Xu

MoFo Litigation partner Alexis Amezcua recently conducted a fireside chat in our San Francisco office with author and executive coach <a href="https://michaelmelcher.com/" target="_blank">Michael Urtuzuástegui Melcher</a> titled “Your Invisible Network: Achieving Your Professional Potential by Investing in Relationships – and How to Do This in 20 Minutes a Day.”A lawyer by training, Michael practiced law for several years before starting an executive coaching and leadership development company. Over the past 20 years, he has worked with business and legal professionals, from people at the beginning of their careers to senior executives.During the session, Michael shared insights and practical tools from his recently published book, Your Invisible Network, and from his years coaching leaders of all backgrounds. “In my experience coaching, about 70 percent of what I do relates to communications and relationship-building,” he said. Relationship-building and networking are practices that most people are somewhat familiar with, but often don’t know how to successfully navigate. Michael knew he had the ability to write about these topics with greater nuance.In his book, he singularly focuses on the importance of relationships and how they can transform a person’s career. During his conversation with Alexis, Michael noted that while merit and skill are necessary components of success, “Relationships are what connect your value to the world.” Networking is often viewed as something done to get a job; however, he explained that it is also something we must continue to do to add richness and depth to our jobs every day.To start building relationships, Michael advised first assessing the health of your existing relationships to determine where you would like to see growth. From there, compartmentalize your goals into manageable actions that can be achieved in 20 minutes a day. Ultimately, smaller, consistent actions over time are more effective than one grand gesture.“It’s actually very human,” Michael explained. Professional relationships are just like any other relationship. “It’s based on learning about somebody and sharing about yourself and finding opportunities to do things together and talking about things of mutual interest.”To those eager to see immediate results, Michael encouraged an attitude of perseverance. “You are going to put time in before you will see results,” he explained. He acknowledged that investing in relationships may detract from other goals or obligations. “The flipside is that relationships can be a little bit magical,” he said. “You don’t know what you will discover.”

City of Richmond

Phoenix Technologies v. VMware 

Arbitration of Breach of Contract Claims

International Manufacturer Product Defect Class Action Litigation

Processing Speed Class Action Litigation

Automatic Renewal Law Class Action Litigation

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Class Action Litigation

Personal Injury and Class Action Multidistrict Litigation Involving Supplement

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Alexis is a skilled class action and commercial litigator, and practices in a variety of high-profile areas, including: Breach of contract, Complex consumer class actions, False advertising, Federal banking law










Alexis Amezcua

Alexis’ practice focuses on a variety of substantive areas, including breach of contract, wrongful termination, trade secret theft, unfair competition, product liability, federal banking law, complex consumer class actions, and wrongful death. Alexis has represented both plaintiffs and defendants, and her practice includes substantive arbitration experience, as well as trial experience in state and federal courts. She is a frequent speaker and author on topics related to arbitration, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, consumer class actions, and consumer product safety.What do you like best about your work? I love the “chess game” of litigation. As a litigator, my job is to be steps ahead of my opponent and think strategically about where the other party is going, why, and how we can best outmaneuver him or her. It means brainstorming with my whip-smart team members and clients, understanding our goals, and, of course, jumping into the ring (figuratively) at hearings, depositions, and, ultimately, at trial.What do you enjoy doing in your free time? In my free time, I most enjoy spending time with my 3-year-old daughter, husband, and extended family, usually during outdoor or travel excursions. What is your favorite thing about living in your current city? We live in Burlingame, mid-way between San Francisco and Palo Alto. I love its walk- and bike-ability. We bike almost everywhere on the weekends, including to parks, restaurants, and the library. It sure beats having to wrestle a toddler into a car seat.

Alexis A. Amezcua

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Building Professional Relationships: A Conversation with Michael Melcher

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MoFo Litigation partner Alexis Amezcua recently conducted a fireside chat in our San Francisco office with author and executive coach Michael Urtuzuástegui Melcher titled “Your Invisible Network: Achieving Your Professional Potential by Investing in Relationships – and How to Do This in 20 Minutes a Day.”

Building Professional Relationships: A Conversation with Michael Melcher

During the month of May, we celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month and honor the many contributions AAPI individuals and communities have made throughout history. The theme this year is Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity. By providing advancement opportunities to the unrepresented, we can lower barriers to professional progression and create a more equitable world.AAPI Heritage Month offers all individuals at MoFo the continued opportunity to recognize and honor MoFo’s diverse and unique culture, which truly makes us exceptional.In recognition of AAPI Heritage Month, we honor two longstanding leaders at MoFo, Haima Marlier and Julie Park. Haima is a partner in our New York office, co-chair of the firm’s Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White Collar Defense Group, and a newly appointed co-chair of the firm’s Diversity Strategy Committee.MoFo Affinity Networks are cross-office groups of attorneys and business professionals who share a particular affinity. There are currently six MoFo Affinity Networks: AAPI, Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+, Disability Affinity, and MoFo Vets. These groups meet on a regular basis, both virtually and in person, to network and build community among members. Within each network, the partners meet frequently to help further the firm’s DEIA strategy as it relates to talent development within the affinity, with a particular focus on recruitment, retention, and advancement.The AAPI Affinity Network’s strategic priorities with regard to diversity and inclusion include attracting the most talented diverse attorneys, developing and engaging our diverse talent, enhancing workplace inclusion, and partnering with our clients where possible to further D+I in the legal industry. The AAPI Affinity Network aims to further the firm’s commitment to D+I by focusing our efforts on raising awareness around the unique experience of navigating the professional space as an AAPI attorney/employee and by actively supporting the recruitment, engagement, retention, development, and advancement of our AAPI attorneys/employees across the firm.

An orthopedic implant company

A children&rsquo;s monthly subscription service product

A fertility company

A major technology company

A smart fitness equipment company

Fitbit

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Julie Park provides analytic and strategic counsel for issues in product life cycle, product liability and defective products, consumer class actions, and more.

Julie Park

Julie Park | Product Liability Lawyer

Julie Park protects her clients’ products no matter what kind of product issue they face—whether it is planning for new product development, recalling an existing product, or defending clients against product liability or consumer class actions. Drawing on her deep technical and legal expertise, Julie counsels clients on consumer product safety regulation and pharmaceutical and medical device preemption while also managing complex and multijurisdictional litigation both in state and federal court.

Julie Y. Park

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Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month 2023

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During the month of May, we celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and honor the many contributions AAPI individuals and communities have made throughout history. The theme this year is Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity. By providing advancement opportunities to the unrepresented, we can lower barriers to professional progression and create a more equitable world.

Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month 2023

After a decade-long fight for justice, MoFo recently secured a $15.5 million verdict, including $11 million in punitive damages, for our Haitian clients in the 2017 lawsuit <a href="https://cja.org/what-we-do/litigation/boniface-v-viliena/" target="_blank">Boniface v. Viliena</a>. The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/01/world/americas/haiti-politics-violence.html?_r=1" target="_blank">high-profile</a> human rights case holds former Haitian mayor and defendant Jean Morose Viliena responsible for extrajudicial killing and torture committed against David Boniface, Nissandère Martyr, and Juders Ysemé, and their families. The MoFo pro bono team was led by partner <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/bonnie-lau.html" target="_blank">Bonnie Lau</a> and included associates Christina Ademola, Sarah Vandervalk, Emani Oakley, and Jack Haisman.In 2013, Bonnie first partnered with the <a href="https://cja.org/what-we-do/litigation/boniface-v-viliena/" target="_blank">Center for Justice and Accountability</a> (CJA) to investigate Viliena’s brutality and human rights violations. Since then, a team of lawyers from MoFo, CJA, and Dentons US LLP have served as co-counsel for the victims, with assistance from the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI), a Haitian human rights organization.In July 2007, David Boniface’s brother, Eclesiaste Boniface, was lured out into the street by Viliena’s armed militia, shot, and his head smashed with a cinder block in reprisal for David Boniface speaking out against Viliena’s abuses of power. A year later, Viliena and his militia destroyed the first local radio station in Les Irois in order to silence dissent and political opposition, and beat, pistol-whipped, shot, and nearly killed Nissage Martyr and Juders Ysemé during the radio station attack.The verdict was a major victory for MoFo and our clients, and one that is especially meaningful to Bonnie Lau, who has devoted considerable time to the case for nearly a decade.“It is one of the most emotionally impactful cases that I have had the privilege of working on,” states Bonnie. “The clients have been so brave throughout the process, despite the ongoing threats, intimidation, and being forced to live in hiding. They have remained hopeful and committed in their belief that they would ultimately hold the defendant accountable for his abuses and obtain justice for what they have suffered.”A human rights activist and natural leader, David Boniface has always been a bright light, so it was sobering to witness him retreat into himself as a result of his years-long suffering and isolation. “But after he finally testified at trial and had the opportunity to tell his story, a huge weight was lifted off of his shoulders,” says Bonnie, “and we saw him smile and joke around for the first time in years. He never lost faith, and when the verdict was finally read, everyone in the courtroom cried.”The team’s dedication to this case also exemplifies the power of volunteering and collaborating for an important cause. April is Volunteer Month, and volunteering and mentoring go hand-in-hand. For Bonnie, the opportunity to be in the trenches with our talented associates was one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.“I was fortunate to work with and offer mentorship to Christina and Sarah and hope that the skills that they developed through this pro bono trial serve as a catalyst for their own careers,” says Bonnie. “We had the opportunity to strategize together about all aspects of trial preparation, including hours of practice developing the testimony of our fact and expert witnesses, direct and cross-examination strategy, and framing our closing arguments and demonstratives. And the hours of practice in the hotel war room paid off, as Christina and Sarah each skillfully presented their respective witnesses at trial.”Volunteering time through pro bono work often presents lawyers with some of the most gratifying experiences in their careers. “What we are able to accomplish for a person of little to no means is very impactful and can truly change someone’s life, which is amazing,” Bonnie stresses. “It also offers lawyers an opportunity to learn skill sets that will further their abilities as a lawyer for their billable clients.”To learn more about volunteering time through pro bono work, visit MoFo’s <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/pro-bono" target="_blank">Pro Bono</a> page.

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MoFo Team Unites as One to Win Decade-Long Case Against Human Rights Abuses in Haiti

MoFo Assists CASE Force with Implementation of US$1 billion California Rebuilding Fund; includes 778 funded loans totaling US$50 million given to small businesses

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After a decade-long fight for justice, MoFo recently secured a $15.5 million verdict, including $11 million in punitive damages, for our Haitian clients in the 2017 lawsuit Boniface v. Viliena. The high-profile human rights case holds former Haitian mayor and defendant Jean Morose Viliena responsible for extrajudicial killing and torture committed against David Boniface, Nissandère Martyr, and Juders Ysemé, and their families. The MoFo pro bono team was led by partner Bonnie Lau and included associates Christina Ademola, Sarah Vandervalk, Emani Oakley, and Jack Haisman.

MoFo Team Unites as One to Win Decade-Long Case Against Human Rights Abuses in Haiti

As part of Morrison Foerster’s ongoing celebration of Women’s History Month, MoFo’s Meghan Poon moderated a conversation with Reshma Saujani, bestselling author, activist, and the founder of Girls Who Code and the Marshall Plan for Moms (now known as MOMS F1RST). Reshma has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and girls’ economic empowerment, working to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and most recently, advocating for policies to support mothers impacted by the pandemic.In response to the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on America’s mothers, Reshma launched MOMS F1RST to advocate for policies that value women’s labor in and out of the home. Reshma has successfully worked with House and Senate leaders to introduce legislation at the federal level and is continuing to act as an outside agitator to change culture through creative awareness campaigns.Though there have been improvements to work-life balance in recent years, women are frequently forced to choose between their careers and families. “For far too long we’ve been trying to fix women and not fix the structure,” she said. “If we created workplaces that worked for working moms, they would work for everybody.”This includes changing attitudes surrounding remote work. Reshma argued that there should be a balance between in-person and remote work. Additionally, she explained that gender neutral paid leave should be incentivized to support men who want to do more. Globally, caregiving work is disproportionately done by women. However, through her work, Reshma has found that most men do want to take paid leave but are often discouraged by their colleagues. “That’s deeply in American culture,” she said. “So how do we change that? And how do we go one step further and incentivize it?” Another contributing factor is economics. “Forty percent of parents are in debt because of childcare,” Reshma said, and on average, women earn less income than men. When the price of childcare is weighed against income, Reshma explained that mothers often leave their jobs because it is more financially beneficial for their families.“Men are fundamental to this,” Reshma added. “We need more dads to start talking about the care work that they’re doing—and not for that pat on the back—but for that real sense that they understand.” She noted that dads of daughters are some of the most passionate funders of her movement. “There’s a lot for them to do, and I think that there’s a lot that they can do and want to do.”However, Reshma explained that it is also important for women to reexamine their own behavior in relation to gender work. “It goes back to why I changed [Marshall Plan for Moms] to MOMS F1RST, because that idea is so radical to us,” she said. “And we need to sit with that and say, ‘Well, why?’ How do you build that muscle of saying I deserve to be put first?”<a href="https://reshmasaujani.com/" target="_blank">Learn more</a> about Reshma and her work.