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.

Social

Search

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.

brown_jennifer_blog_150x150.png

brown_jennifer_common_640x280.jpg

brown_jennifer_heroretina_2700x1160.jpg

brown_jennifer_mobileretina_750x1040.jpg

brown_jennifer_social_600x600.jpg

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>.

kernisant_natalie_blog_150x150.png

kernisant_natalie_common_640x280.jpg

kernisant_natalie_heroretina_2700x1160.jpg

kernisant_natalie_mobileretina_750x1040.jpg

kernisant_natalie_social_600x600.jpg

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.

fernandez_dorothy_blog_150x150.png

fernandez_dorothy_common_640x280.jpg

fernandez_dorothy_heroretina_2700x1160.jpg

fernandez_dorothy_mobileretina_750x1040.jpg

fernandez_dorothy_social_600x600.jpg

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.

williams_rachel_blog_150x150.png

williams_rachel_common_640x280.jpg

williams_rachel_heroretina_2700x1160.jpg

williams_rachel_mobileretina_750x1040.jpg

williams_rachel_social_600x600.jpg

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

favicon.ico

favicon-16x16.png

favicon-32x32.png

apple-touch-icon.png

MoFo Favicons

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.

Welcome to the Mofo+ Blog

240920-mofo+-header.jpg

Welcome to the Mofo+ Blog

240920-mofo+-header

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.

Welcome to the MoFo+ Blog

MoFo Women

MoFo Pro Bono

MoFo Life

MoFo Diversity

MoFo Community

Blog - Terms of Use

Blog - Privacy Policy

Blog - Blog Disclaimer

Blog - Attorney Advertising

morrison-foerster-blog-logo.png

Provides a data-driven look at the Federal Circuit.

Federal Circuitry

Brings together legal insights and in-depth analyses on trends and complex issues shaping the global technology industry.

MoFo Tech

Equips our clients with the most up-to-date and relevant information on employment and labor law issues.

Employment Law Commentary

In-depth analysis of developments and trends impacting government contracting.

Government Contracts Insight

Government Contracts Insights

Provides insights and reports on the most current class actions lawsuits and product liability issues that affect consumer-facing companies.

Class Dismissed Blog

Class Dismissed

The MoFo+ blog shares news and insights from lawyers who are adding value to the legal profession and making a difference in the communities we call home.

MoFo+

  Linkedin

MoFo LinkedIN

Together Blog - RSS

Stay Connected

Never miss a post from MoFo Together. Enter your email below to stay up-to-date.

Subscribe

Making a Positive Impact Together

Morrison Foerster - Footer

Blogs -  Home Button

Home

Blog - Topics

Topics

Blog - Editors

Editors

Blog - About

About

Blog - Subscribe

More

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

Morrison Foerster has always valued the differences among people within our firm while recognizing our similarities. This year, MoFo was proud to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to bring awareness to and celebrate the unique experiences and many contributions of employees with disabilitiesAs part of MoFo’s observance of NDEAM, David Cross—chair of the firm’s Antitrust Litigation practice, Disability Affinity Network liaison, and an active member of the Diversity Strategy Committee—shared his personal experience navigating the legal industry as an attorney with a disability.What does Disability Employment Awareness Month mean to you?When I started my career 20 years ago, I had two friends who were both gay men. One was not open about it; one was. And I remember we would discuss with the one who was not open about why he wasn’t. He was open with his family, so it wasn’t that; his concern was that the industry hadn’t fully embraced tolerance and that being open about his sexuality could affect his career opportunities.Twenty years later, I think we’ve made a lot of progress on that front. However, I think people with disabilities are still concerned that there continues to be a stigma and are worried about self-identifying. If you were to ask the people who interviewed me when I came here seven years ago, I imagine some of them would say they had no idea that I had any disability until deep in the process, because I know that, in that context, consciously and unconsciously, I’m going to hide it. My concern is that people sitting in the room, no matter how decent they might be, will have unconscious biases. And we’ve learned that we justify unconscious biases in conscious ways. We’ve learned that people who may not want to hire someone because they’re a woman, or because they’re a person of color, will find a qualitative distinction to say, “Well, this person wasn’t qualified.” That's always my fear, that someone’s going to be put off or distracted by my disability.Even now, there are people that I cannot have a conversation with without them pretty frequently staring at my arm. That’s a very marginalizing feeling, that people you respect, people you consider very sophisticated, people you would consider very open-minded and fair and equitable, are still human, and at some level, to them you’re almost a circus freak. The reason I think it’s important to talk about this is because there are a lot of folks who probably feel the same and aren’t comfortable identifying as disabled.In 20 years of practice, 20 years of interacting with thousands of lawyers, I can’t think of another lawyer with a physical disability whom I’ve ever come across. That is an extraordinary statistical improbability, when you consider the number of disabled people in the country. I think there are two things that drive that. One is unconscious bias, which makes it harder for folks with disabilities to get hired and get into leadership positions, particularly at our level of practice. And the second is that there are probably a lot of us out there, like me two years ago, who didn’t talk about it. Who just wanted to pretend it didn’t exist and wanted to keep our hands in our pockets. I finally decided a couple years ago that’s not healthy for me or for others. I spent a lot of time thinking about it and paying psychologists to help analyze and think about that.I would like to give people more comfort that, no matter how you are different or diverse, whether it’s color, sexuality, gender, disability, or anything else, everybody struggles in a different way. But everybody should feel open about that and not feel like they must mask their struggle.What are some of the biggest challenges that Disabled individuals face in society today? What changes have you seen starting to take shape to ease or eliminate these challenges?I can remember a partner telling me he was not going to include me in a pitch; it was an in-person pitch. He said he was going to talk about my experience and sell me to the client, that I was perfect for the assignment, but he was concerned the client may have an adverse reaction to someone with a disability. The client might think, “Oh, how’s a judge or jury going to react to this?” So, the partner said, let’s get hired, they’ll get to know your work, and by the time they’re aware of your disability, it won’t be a concern. The irony of it is, in the moment, I remember thinking, “Oh, there’s total logic to that.” But there’s something insidious about it, too. No one would ever say, “We’re not going to include a person’s color on a pitch because we think our prospective client might be racist.” We would just not work with that client.One of the challenges that people with disabilities have combating discrimination—whether conscious or unconscious—is that people justify ableism more, because the reality of being disabled is there are certain things you cannot do. I’m never going to juggle. It’s not going to happen. And so, I think people will justify it. When we think about things like skin color, gender, or sexuality, that does not have any impact on your performance. It is just pure unmitigated bigotry to judge someone or assess their value based on that.I think people look at those with disabilities and say, “If you’re in a wheelchair, or you have some other physical or mental disability, it actually affects your performance.” So, people will justify ableism to say things like that partner said, which is, “What if a jury is put off or distracted by you giving an opening statement with a disability?” And my response is: “Well, there was a time when people would say the same about people of color and women.” I think we’ve made a lot of progress in other categories, but there’s still more progress to be made on the disability side.How have you seen the legal industry shift in recent years with respect to Disability inclusion?It dawned on me that I was approaching 20 years of practice, and in all that time, I had never seen anyone else with a disability. But at the same time, I had seen the profession make great strides in other diverse areas. It’s started to feel like those of us with disabilities are falling behind in the diversity and inclusion efforts. And again, I don’t think that’s for insidious reasons; there are certain unconscious things that are in play there.The president of the United States at the time commented on the Special Olympics; I wrote a piece on this. And he had people in who had won medals. He went from praising them to saying, “I tried to watch it, but I couldn’t watch it too much.” That is like code in the community of the disability, which is “I couldn’t watch these people; it’s like a trainwreck watching these people do what they do.” There’s all the spin that came on it, but it’s clear to me and many others what he meant. You can’t watch this in the same way that you can watch normal people excel at the Olympics. If that sort of mindset is at the highest levels of leadership, then something is wrong, and there needs to be a voice about that.How has being Disabled made you a better lawyer?I think in the way I serve clients, with creativity, problem-solving, and relentlessness. I get a lot of feedback from clients that they like those positive traits. Because I have such an acute sense of what it feels like to be marginalized or left out, I find myself very empathetic to that. At my prior firm, whenever associates were struggling, I’d always be the one who got the call: “Can you come in and help this person?” One of the associates who came over with me from my prior firm used to joke that I would put myself on the island of misfit toys; I took this as a compliment, which was how she meant it. Everybody struggles in some way. I think everyone probably feels a little left out sometimes. For me—being empathetic—I find myself gravitating to people who are struggling and trying to help.What advice would you give to encourage more individuals with disabilities to pursue a career in law?There is not a great third-party organization in the legal community for people with disabilities. There have been a couple attempts at it, but not in the way that we have bar associations for other diverse groups. That’s part of the challenge: there’s not a great networking organization and that’s one of things I would like to see develop. But I do think that the diversity organizations are important, and folks should get involved, as I have.The other thing I’ll say is that it’s important to find advocates who can at least relate to your experience, people who suffer similar discrimination, whether on race, gender, or sexuality. One of my closest friends from law school is Black, and I remember him coming back from his first-year class saying he was the only Black person in his entire summer class 20 years ago. We talked about how marginalizing that was. I can never fully appreciate what it’s like to be a victim of racism, even implicitly, just like he can’t fully appreciate my experience. But we can relate. That’s where I think we can find advocates and sponsors.<iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/mO7HXBwRQu8?rel=0" title="Video: Making Disability a Part of the Equity Equation in the Legal Industry" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="1" title="iframe"></iframe>

Making Disability a Part of the Equity Equation in the Legal Industry

221116-disability-employment-awareness-month.jpg

Making Disability a Part of the Equity Equation in the Legal Industry

221116-disability-employment-awareness-month

Morrison Foerster has always valued the differences among people within our firm while recognizing our similarities.

Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series and in honor of Veterans Week, Will Baker, an incoming associate in the firm’s Litigation Department, discusses his service in the Coast Guard and why he chose to begin his legal career at MoFo.I was born in Chicago and grew up in San Diego, where I learned to love the ocean, surfing, and Padres baseball. I also grew up in a mixed-race family, with my younger brother and sister having been adopted from South Korea. Visiting Seoul as a second grader was my first experience outside the U.S. and something I’ll never forget!I left sunny San Diego after high school and, on my eighteenth birthday, I took my oath of office on the parade field of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. The next four years involved navigating the rigors of cadet life: sailing the tall ship “Eagle” through a hurricane, survival suit swimming in the Bering Sea, marching in President Obama’s inaugural parade, and surviving multivariable calculus as a public policy major.After graduating from the Academy, I served as an officer in the Coast Guard specializing in federal law enforcement and maritime security. I was stationed in Portland, Maine and Portsmouth, Virginia, with duties taking me everywhere from the northern most inhabited village in Labrador, Canada to Key West, Florida. During that time, I got to jump on fishing boats, fly in helicopters, coordinate hurricane recovery operations, and conduct congressional investigations.After five years of active-duty service and learning to love legal work, I decided to pursue a legal career independently and headed back to southern California for law school at UCLA. After attending a MoFo recruiting event in L.A., I was thrilled to learn that MoFo had a San Diego office, spurring my unlikely journey back to my hometown.I joined MoFo because every lawyer I met in the firm had a clear commitment to integrity and ethics that resembled the core values of “Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty” within the Coast Guard. MoFo’s attorney veterans and the “MoFo Vets” affinity group have made me feel welcome and valued at the firm, and I can’t wait to continue that experience as part of the San Diego office. The picture below is from 2009, with me standing watch for the first time on the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle. While I’m a bit older and wiser than the kid in the picture, I bring the same values and commitment to integrity that the Coast Guard instilled in me over a decade ago. Semper Paratus!<div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt7d5b48c9cbc6aaa1/636e398fbbf71c312ab22261/221111-faces-of-mofo.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="faces of mofo"/></div>

Spotlighting our Veterans: Will Baker

221107-mofovets.jpg

Spotlighting our Veterans: Will Baker

221107-mofovets

I was born in Chicago and grew up in San Diego, where I learned to love the ocean, surfing, and Padres baseball. I also grew up in a mixed-race family, with my younger brother and sister having been adopted from South Korea. Visiting Seoul as a second grader was my first experience outside the U.S. and something I’ll never forget!

Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series and in honor of Veterans Week, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/matthew-blum">Matt Blum</a>, an associate in the firm’s Technology Transactions Group, discusses how his experience as an active duty U.S Army veteran and now Major in the U.S. Army Reserve influences his practice at MoFo.As far back as I can recall I always had a desire to serve in the military, despite the fact that the closest tie I had to the service was limited to stories about both of my grand-uncles and my paternal grandfathers serving in World War II or Korea, and all of whom passed before I was born. My path began to take shape beginning in college when I joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Northeastern University. After graduation and my commission as an active duty officer, I received a service deferment to attend law school. Three years later—and about one week after finishing the bar exam—I was off to the U.S. Army’s Military Intelligence school.After five years of active duty service as a military intelligence officer, including assignments in Kansas and a combat deployment to Afghanistan with the U.S. Army’s storied 1st Infantry Division—Big Red One—followed by two years in Germany at the headquarters of U.S. Army Europe, I decided to transition to the Army Reserve so that I could move back to Boston to pursue my legal career. After working for a period of time as in-house counsel at a technology company and then as a technology transactions associate at my prior firm, I was offered an incredible opportunity to join the MoFo team and pursue the further broadening and development of my legal skills.MoFo appealed to me because of its reputation of excellence in the legal profession, which clearly is driven by the dedicated individuals who are a part of the organization. The impression I quickly formed of the attorneys and staff at the firm while I was learning about MoFo was the critical factor that ultimately led to my decision to join the firm. From my perspective, MoFo’s greatest strength is that it is a collaborative and learning environment of very talented and motivated professionals who place total emphasis on upholding our core values and doing what is right at all times for our clients, the firm, the legal profession, and—perhaps most critically as the glue for these other components—each other.My time in the Army has allowed me to travel the world, build lifelong and irreplaceable relationships (including the most important of all, my wife, who is a fellow service member), and gain invaluable personal and professional values and life lessons. I am fortunate to reap the benefit of these unique experiences, which I apply every single day: The Army Values of Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, and Integrity, among others, are completely applicable to my work and professional philosophy at MoFo. I also appreciate (and always have), first and foremost, organizations that emphasize a team-based approach and that value their people. The phrase “Mission First, People Always” is an often-used phrase I have heard throughout my time in the service, and I have found that this concept works extremely well in the legal profession. This concept is consistently applied by my mentors in the Army and at MoFo, and I always aim to use this same approach as a coach and mentor in my own capacity. Lastly, the Army motto, “This We’ll Defend,” signifies constant readiness to preserve and defend our country—a motto that can be similarly applied to the legal profession in the context of upholding our duties to client service.For all these reasons, I am incredibly thankful for the opportunities that my Army service and time at MoFo have afforded me. The picture below is from a recent nine-month mobilization to the Middle East, during which time I had to take a leave of absence from MoFo to support aspects of the final year of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.  <div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt68287490c30c561f/636ad6f935d2ed777db286c2/221108-matt-blum.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="matt blum"/></div>

Spotlighting our Veterans: Matt Blum

blum_matthew_blog_150x150.png

blum_matthew_common_640x280.jpg

blum_matthew_heroretina_2700x1160.jpg

blum_matthew_mobileretina_750x1040.jpg

blum_matthew_social_600x600.jpg

Associate

Matt Blum is an associate in the Technology Transactions Group, where he represents and advises clients across a wide range of sectors including life sciences; healthcare and pharmaceuticals; software

Matthew Blum

Spotlighting our Veterans: Matt Blum

Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series and in honor of Veterans Week, Matt Blum, an associate in the firm’s Technology Transactions Group, discusses how his experience as an active duty U.S Army veteran and now Major in the U.S. Army Reserve influences his practice at MoFo.

Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series and in honor of Veterans Week, Marcelo Pendleton-Moreno, an attorney in the firm’s Litigation Department, discusses how the skills he learned in the Army Judge Advocate Corps help him better serve his clients at MoFo.My journey to MoFo was unconventional. After graduating from law school, I commissioned into the United States Army Judge Advocate Corps. As a Judge Advocate, I advocated for soldiers on both military and civilian matters in legal assistance. I advised commanders on civilian labor and employment disputes. I provided legal analysis on the Army’s environmental impact on Native American lands. I held a special appointment as a Part-Time Military Magistrate. In this role, I issued law enforcement search-and-seizure warrants and held pre-trial confinement hearings.I developed dozens of skills and traits while serving in the military. The military taught me adaptability. I was constantly introduced to new practices of law with which I had little-to-no experience. In fact, the Judge Advocate career model requires one to be “broadly skilled” early in one’s career. When I wasn’t changing practice areas, I was being reassigned to a new geographical location, through a permanent change of station or deployment.The military also taught me decisiveness. My commander looked to me for swift and sound legal advice. Often I was asked whether a case should settle or litigate.Most notably, the military taught me strong collaboration skills while working across multidisciplinary teams like intelligence, logistics, and civil-military operations to advance the Army’s military objectives.Outside of work, I perform videography at my church in Brooklyn and do community service with my fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. I love traveling, trying new foods, seeing performances on Broadway, and rooting for “America’s Team,” the Dallas Cowboys. You can also find me exploring New York City with my family and taking random photos like the one below.Working at MoFo provides the opportunity to sharpen those soft skills I acquired in the military by now zealously advocating for clients in a commercial space. MoFo’s strong sense of collaboration and opportunities for leadership and responsibility earlier in one’s career make the firm a unique place. At MoFo, one can bring one’s authentic self to work, and diversity and inclusion are celebrated. I am a proud Army veteran and a proud face of MoFo.<div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt4340017a0a0b54bd/6369498c4acbcc466ea8e253/221107-marcelo-pendleton-moreno.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="marcelo pendleton moreno"/></div>

Spotlighting our Veterans: Marcelo Pendleton-Moreno

Spotlighting our Veterans: Marcelo Pendleton-Moreno

Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series and in honor of Veterans Week, Marcelo Pendleton-Moreno, an attorney in the firm’s Litigation Department, discusses how the skills he learned in the Army Judge Advocate Corps help him better serve his clients at MoFo.

In recognition of Latinx Heritage Month, MoFo partner Claudia Vetesi recently hosted a webinar with Efrén C. Olivares, a leading immigration lawyer currently serving as the Immigrant Justice Deputy Legal Director at the Southern Poverty Law Center, and author of My Boy Will Die of Sorrow.Early on, after working in Big Law, Efrén was focused on civil rights, doing legal work near the Texas border where his family was located. It wasn’t until April 2018, as a result of the Trump administration’s “Zero Tolerance” policy on unauthorized immigration, that Efrén became much more involved in immigration rights. Under this “no tolerance” policy, all migrants—including asylum seekers—attempting to cross the U.S. border anywhere other than an official port of entry were to be detained and criminally prosecuted. This resulted in thousands of children being separated from their parents at the border.As a result of this separation policy, Efrén got involved on the frontlines and started visiting the families at the border. He and his paralegal would take down the individuals’ information in order to track separated families since the government failed to do so.“In this case, cruelty met incompetence, with very poor documentation and no process in place by the government,” stated Efrén.In addition, parents often didn’t realize immediately that their children were separated from them; they were told that they would meet their children back at border patrol when they returned. Efrén informed parents of the reality that no one knew exactly when or where they would see their children again. The greatest concern was that parents would be deported, and children would be placed in a shelter or in foster care with no record. Still, through Efrén’s human rights work, he interviewed 380+ separated families and was able to place the majority with pro bono lawyers.Further complicating matters, in March 2020 the Trump administration invoked Title 42—part of the Public Health Service Act of 1944 that aimed at preventing the spread of communicable diseases in the country—for the first time since its creation as a means to stop the spread of COVID-19. The policy, according to Efrén, was unjustly used as an immigration tactic rather than as a public safety measure. Many more migrants were expelled because of Title 42, even when evidence lacked showing that the policy would slow the virus’ spread in the United States.Twenty-five years earlier, Efrén was separated from his own father for several years when he migrated to the United States to work. Efrén’s memoir, My Boy Will Die of Sorrow, combines his clients’ enthralling stories with stories of his own childhood, and also reflects on the history of U.S. immigration policy.Inspiration for the title of his memoir is attributed to Efrén’s first day in court visiting detained families, when he interviewed one of the fathers separated from his children. When asked what he thought his son would think when finding out reunification with his father was unknown, the father said to Efrén, “My boy will die of sorrow.”While it shines a light on the persecution and hostility faced by immigrant families, his book also provides deep perspective to the power of empathy and compassion for fellow human beings and the effect it has on public opinion. Shortly after an audio file of young children crying incessantly for their separated parents was leaked and made public, the “Zero Tolerance” policy changed, no longer allowing families to be separated at the border.“In hearing the audio file, no one could see the color of the children’s skin, and this allowed people to feel their pain at a visceral level and express empathy towards this cruelty,” explained Efrén.

220915-latinx-heritage-month.jpg

Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month: A Conversation with Efrén C. Olivares

220915-latinx

In recognition of Latinx Heritage Month, MoFo partner Claudia Vetesi recently hosted a webinar with Efrén C. Olivares, a leading immigration lawyer currently serving as the Immigrant Justice Deputy Legal Director at the Southern Poverty Law Center, and author of My Boy Will Die of Sorrow.



Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month: A Conversation with Efrén C. Olivares

Countless studies suggest that eating fresh fruits and vegetables is not only good for our physical well-being but also for sustaining a healthier society. In spite of this, there are many areas around the world, including in the United States, where healthy, fresh food is not readily available. Low-income urban areas, in particular, are too often “food deserts” where fresh produce can be almost impossible to find. In many cases, the lack of adequate food resources is directly traceable to the structural racism that has deprived low-income neighborhoods populated by people of color of both public and private investment. The resulting toll on individual and community health is a heavy burden, and in our nation’s capital, it falls especially hard on Black communities living east of the Anacostia River.  Since 2009, DC Greens has set out to transform that reality, pursuing a mission to advance food justice and health equity for underserved residents living in the metro Washington D.C. area by building a just, resilient and equitable food system. The organization strives to address structural inequalities in the city’s food system and shift power and knowledge to members of the local community, so they can get access to high quality, fresh foods.Morrison Foerster’s history with DC Greens goes back to its founders, who initially sought our pro bono assistance to set up a nonprofit corporation and obtain tax-exempt status so it could operate a farmers’ market. Today, DC Greens creates cross-sector collaborations in solidarity with marginalized communities that are experiencing poverty and food insecurity.  It partners with an array of public and private organizations, including local farmer’s markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, health providers, and corporations, to develop, fund, and roll out innovative programs that increase access to healthier food for residents in these communities.Washington, D.C. corporate partner Ali Connaughton and associate Maggie Bradley recently worked with DC Greens on an exciting new project, The Well at Oxon Run. Located within an existing park in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Ward 8, in Southeast D.C., The Well is an intergenerational farm and community wellness space that was envisioned alongside residents of the community with the goal of ensuring that neighbors have what they need to define and create wellness on their own terms. The Well includes an urban farm, a farm stand, an orchard with chickens, a greenhouse, an outdoor classroom, and a large pavilion for community events.   Ali and Maggie were pulled in to help DC Greens prepare for the opening of The Well, including drafting agreements with DC Greens’ private sector partners. According to Ali, The Well is a shining example of a public-private venture that was built out of meaningful investment by community stakeholders. “It has been so exciting to be a very small part of the planning for this program. In addition to being a working agricultural and educational space, The Well will host local artists and will empower local community members to lead on new initiatives and projects.”Maggie added, “I was proud to play a role in the launch of The Well, a project that is so important to the community and advances DC Greens’ vision of making the District a city where health equity is a core value and healthy food is available to all.”Whether advising DC Greens with respect to partner agreements, governance or policies and procedures for The Well, Ali notes that the longstanding and productive partnership between MoFo and DC Greens comes down to mutual respect, excellent communication and professionalism.“DC Greens is a terrific and well-run organization with an incredibly thoughtful, enthusiastic and motivated team,” adds Maggie.  Ali concurs, noting, “they are very good at communicating their vision in a way that facilitates our ability to deliver work product that advances their goals, and that great collaboration continues to be what makes our partnership so successful.”Visit <a href="https://www.dcgreens.org/about">DC Greens</a> to learn more.

mofotogether-probono-thumb.jpg

MoFo Lawyers Help DC Greens Carry Forward its Mission of Health Equity

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

mofotogether-probono-thumb

Countless studies suggest that eating fresh fruits and vegetables is not only good for our physical well-being but also for sustaining a healthier society. In spite of this, there are many areas around the world, including in the United States, where healthy, fresh food is not readily available. Low-income urban areas, in particular, are too often “food deserts” where fresh produce can be almost impossible to find. In many cases, the lack of adequate food resources is directly traceable to the structural racism that has deprived low-income neighborhoods populated by people of color of both public and private investment. The resulting toll on individual and community health is a heavy burden, and in our nation’s capital, it falls especially hard on Black communities living east of the Anacostia River.  

MoFo Lawyers Help DC Greens Carry Forward its Mission of Health Equity

From September 15 to October 15, Morrison Foerster is pleased to take part in Latinx Heritage Month as part of the annual celebration of the history and culture of the Latinx community. Throughout the month, MoFo took time to honor the contributions and experiences of our Latinx lawyers, including presentations and entertainment sponsored by the Diversity + Inclusion Group and the Latinx Affinity Network.In honor of Latinx Heritage Month, we asked some of our Latinx lawyers to share their thoughts on the month-long celebration, which Latinx individuals they admire most, and how their identities have shaped their careers.Meredith Angueira is an associate in the Litigation Department in MoFo’s San Francisco office. She was previously a summer associate at the firm for two summers, one of which as a Wetmore Fellow, and received her J.D. from Harvard Law School.Q: How has being Latinx made you a better lawyer?A: By virtue of being Latina, I bring a unique perspective to corporate law. My perspective as a Cuban‑American was born out of the sacrifice, resilience, and hopes of those closest to me. When I was growing up as a daughter and granddaughter of Cuban exiles, topics of law and righteousness were everyday themes. My family impressed upon me from a very young age the significance of education and advocacy as tools to empower ourselves and those around us. These experiences and lessons allow me to bring a different outlook to problem-solving and decision-making. They also continue to shape my character and integrity as a lawyer.<span class="embedded-entry redactor-component inline-entry" type="entry" data-sys-entry-uid="bltb71a106271792f94" data-sys-entry-locale="en-us" data-sys-content-type-uid="image_content" sys-style-type="inline"><img class="dangerously-set-container__img-left" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltf11f1e470305184a/627342534d9f89297129112f/ascarrunz_veronica_blog_150x150.png?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Veronica Ascarrunz" data-reactroot="">Veronica Ascarrunz is of counsel in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s Washington, D.C. office. She is an intellectual property litigator with more than a decade of experience litigating patent, trademark, and trade secret matters in federal courts, at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).Q: What advice would you give to encourage more Latinx individuals to pursue a career in law?A: A career in the law offers endless areas and opportunities to work on issues that you are passionate about. Latinx attorneys have a powerful voice, deep passion, and richness of experience that can contribute greatly and make a legal career personally rewarding.<span class="embedded-entry redactor-component inline-entry" type="entry" data-sys-entry-uid="blte0cf00bfe78b14c0" data-sys-entry-locale="en-us" data-sys-content-type-uid="image_content" sys-style-type="inline"><img class="dangerously-set-container__img-left" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt6b9d7aeea75396e6/6273e8467198441d81b3bc6b/mendell_nate_blog_150x150.png?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Nate Mendell " data-reactroot="">Nate Mendell is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Boston office and a member of the firm’s Investigations + White Collar Defense Practice Group. He is a former acting U.S. attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. He represents companies, financial institutions, boards, and executives through all phases of investigation and litigation involving allegations of corporate healthcare fraud, securities and other financial fraud, public corruption, criminal intellectual property theft, and international money laundering.Q: Is there a Latinx individual you admire that you know personally or professionally whose achievements within the Latinx community you would like to recognize?A: A Latina whom I know personally and whose achievement I’d like to recognize: my own mother. She came here as a Cuban Exile and followed my father to—of all places—Buffalo, New York. Not the easiest climate for somebody from Cuba. Also not the easiest place to live if you have a heavy Cuban accent. But, facing that adversity, she became a leader in the Hispanic community and at the college where she was a professor of Spanish. She mentored many people who went on to professional careers—some to elected office. That’s an achievement worth recognizing, and I’m proud to be her son.Q: How has being Latinx made you a better lawyer?A: Being Hispanic has helped me as a lawyer because, by virtue of being bilingual and bicultural, and having to navigate some class and socioeconomic differences, I’ve learned an adaptability and a flexibility that are very useful in analyzing problems. I’ve also learned that the assumptions people make—the assumptions we all make from time to time—are often incorrect, so they’re worth challenging, and that kind of thinking is at the heart of being a good lawyer.<span class="embedded-entry redactor-component inline-entry" type="entry" data-sys-entry-uid="blta8e6967d6441becd" data-sys-entry-locale="en-us" data-sys-content-type-uid="image_content" sys-style-type="inline"><img class="dangerously-set-container__img-left" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blta4d48eff062bd1ac/62732ef87198441d81b3ad29/navarro_lauren_blog_150x150.png?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Lauren Navarro" data-reactroot="">Lauren Navarro is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s San Francisco office. She is a member of the firm’s Investigations + White Collar Criminal Defense Group and the FCPA + Global Anti-Corruption practice. Lauren’s practice focuses on complex white-collar criminal matters, including defending clients facing U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement proceedings and conducting internal investigations with and without parallel government investigations.Q: What advice would you give to encourage more Latinx individuals to pursue a career in law?A: To any Latinx individual looking to pursue a career in law, my advice is to dive in and believe that you belong. This month we celebrate the strength of the Latinx community and the diverse experiences and viewpoints that our Latinx attorneys bring to the table; know going into it that the legal profession is better off with your participation and your voice and opinions matter.<span class="embedded-entry redactor-component inline-entry" type="entry" data-sys-entry-uid="blt0d1971782e354bb2" data-sys-entry-locale="en-us" data-sys-content-type-uid="image_content" sys-style-type="inline"><img class="dangerously-set-container__img-left" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltb9521c58e17f1494/6273420d4d9f892971291113/glazer_samantha_blog_150x150.png?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Samantha Rose" data-reactroot=""><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/samantha-rose">Samantha Rose</a> is an associate in the San Francisco office of Morrison Foerster and a member of the firm’s Corporate Department. Her practice focuses on advising clients on domestic and cross-border corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, minority investments/venture financings, and corporate governance.Q: How has being Latinx made you a better lawyer?A: As a Latina, I bring a unique viewpoint to solving problems and leverage my background to implement creative and innovative solutions for our clients.<span class="embedded-entry redactor-component inline-entry" type="entry" data-sys-entry-uid="bltf9aab4e62342ae4c" data-sys-entry-locale="en-us" data-sys-content-type-uid="image_content" sys-style-type="inline"><img class="dangerously-set-container__img-left" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt973918efebcdc007/6273343823c6cf2a1c3afeec/tapernoux_camila_blog_150x150.png?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Camila Tapernoux" data-reactroot="">Camila Tapernoux is an associate in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s San Francisco office. Her practice focuses on complex litigation with an emphasis on class action and commercial litigation.Q: What does Latinx Heritage month mean to you?A: For me, celebrating Latinx Heritage month at MoFo provides an opportunity to recognize the contributions of our Latinx attorneys and staff, as well as reflect on where we are succeeding and where we need to continue to work to improve our D+I efforts, from recruiting and retention to pro bono activities in our community.To learn more about MoFo’s commitment to diversity, please visit our <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/">Diversity page</a>.

Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month 2022

From September 15 to October 15, Morrison Foerster is pleased to take part in Latinx Heritage Month as part of the annual celebration of the history and culture of the Latinx community. Throughout the month, MoFo took time to honor the contributions and experiences of our Latinx lawyers, including presentations and entertainment sponsored by the Diversity + Inclusion Group and the Latinx Affinity Network.



 Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month 2022

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/nathaniel-mendell">Nathaniel (Nate) Mendell</a> is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Investigations + White Collar Defense Practice Group and was the former Acting U.S. Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. He represents companies, financial institutions, boards, and executives through all phases of investigation and litigation involving allegations of corporate healthcare fraud, securities and other financial fraud, public corruption, criminal intellectual property theft, and international money laundering. After almost two decades of service in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Nate offers deep experience and insider perspectives in white collar defense, internal investigations, and government enforcement actions.In two to three sentences, describe your practice.My practice is focused on internal investigations and criminal matters, with an emphasis on healthcare fraud statutes, including the False Claims Act and the Anti-kickback Statute. I represent clients in federal criminal investigations and counsel them on compliance, and I also represent clients in all types of matters brought in the District of Massachusetts – including civil litigation.Why did you choose to make MoFo your professional home?MoFo is a positive and supportive firm where teamwork and good humor are rewarded. The prospect of building the criminal litigation practice in Boston is especially appealing to me after all my work in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston.How do clients benefit from having diverse teams of lawyers working for them?Diversity of experience, perspective, and thinking tends to foster creativity and ingenuity. For that reason, diverse teams yield better decisions and better outcomes.<iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/VpdHPmEjKFg?rel=0" title="iframe"></iframe>

Partner Spotlight: Nate Mendell

mendell_nate_blog_150x150.png

mendell_nate_common_640x280.jpg

mendell_nate_heroretina_2700x1160.jpg

mendell_nate_mobileretina_750x1040.jpg

mendell_nate_social_600x600.jpg

Partner

Nathaniel (Nate) Mendell is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Investigations + White Collar Defense and Privacy + Data Security practice groups and was the former Acting U.S. Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. 

Nathaniel Mendell

Nathaniel R. Mendell

220920-partner-spotlight-nate.jpg

Partner Spotlight: Nate Mendell

220920-partner-spotlight-nate

Nathaniel (Nate) Mendell is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Investigations + White Collar Defense Practice Group and was the former Acting U.S. Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

While conducting research on law firm pro bono programs, I found one firm that clearly stood out: Morrison Foerster. Not only are the attorneys at MoFo incredibly brilliant and collegial, they also place a profound emphasis on pro bono work. This summer, I’ve been able to experience first-hand the seriousness with which MoFo handles life-changing matters.It was incredibly important for me, as the son of Guatemalan immigrants, to find a firm that values the different communities that make us special. MoFo provided an opportunity to work on an important asylum matter for an Afghan citizen who worked for international nongovernmental organizations that conducted human rights work. Our client spent much of his life in Afghanistan providing crucial services, advocating for women’s rights, and promoting protections for children. Unfortunately, the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan placed his life in immediate danger. After being evacuated to the United States, our client sought to apply for asylum, and a dedicated MoFo team took on the case. I contributed to the Statement of Facts section of our asylum brief and researched case law that could be helpful for the case. With incredible guidance from the MoFo team, I learned about brief writing and asylum law, while making a difference in someone’s life.MoFo also gave me the opportunity to help an Afghan family of four seek legal permanent residency in the United States. My assignment was part of a larger initiative by MoFo to host an Adjustment of Status clinic, where MoFo attorneys and summer associates assisted refugees that were evacuated from Afghanistan under “Operation Refugees Welcome.” I, and several other summer associates, worked diligently with MoFo attorneys and translators to complete lengthy applications and begin many families’ processes to establish a stable, permanent home.The MoFo attorney helping me with the matter, Joseph Gillman, gave me tremendous agency to handle the case and provided important oversight and tips along the way. From working with the clients, I learned more about the substance of immigration law, and, from working with Joseph, I learned the skills I’d need to excel in the legal profession. His support on the assignment, and throughout the summer, was representative of the support I received from everyone at the Los Angeles office.Being able to learn from MoFo attorneys, while giving back to immigrant communities, led to an overall amazing summer at the firm. As an attorney, I hope to continue employing my legal skills to advocate for important causes and improve people’s lives.

Learning from MoFo Lawyers While Giving Back to Immigrant Communities – Jose Rodriguez

05_16_changefrom_top_li-150x150.jpg

Learning from MoFo Lawyers While Giving Back to Immigrant Communities – Jose Rodriguez

220817-blog-headshots-rodriguez.jpg

220817-blog-headshots-rodriguez

While conducting research on law firm pro bono programs, I found one firm that clearly stood out: Morrison Foerster.

When I joined MoFo’s New York summer associate class, pro bono work was not the first thing on my mind. I came in excited to try my hand at high-stakes corporate work and M&A transactions. Although I definitely wanted to get involved in the community, I did not expect my pro bono work to be particularly substantive or meaningful. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to work on my own since I had not yet passed the bar.I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this was not the case. My most meaningful pro bono experience started when I was introduced to the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project following a passionate conversation with New York associate Nicolas Apter-Vidler. We had discussed the issues haunting the American criminal justice system and what we could do as attorneys to right societal wrongs. Indeed, the Innocence Project laid claim to doing just that: it is an organization dedicated to freeing wrongly convicted individuals who have run out of legal options. Having had no prior exposure to working within the American justice system, I found it an exciting opportunity to get up close and personal. I got my own client and file to review and felt the weight of what I was asked to do. I was entrusted to review and analyze trial documents and draft a memorandum on whether the case was one worth pursuing for the Innocence Project.My client had been accused of one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder in a complicated case involving multiple witnesses with questionable motives. Despite there being no physical evidence tying him to the scene of the crime, the prosecutors had threatened him with the death penalty if he did not plead guilty. As a scared 19 year old and feeling as though he had no choice, he begrudgingly entered an Alford plea, which is a guilty plea in which a person maintains their innocence. He was condemned to a life sentence. As I poured through transcript files and appellate documents of a case that occurred years before I was born, I couldn’t help but be shocked by how my client got railroaded. Though there were apparently photo negatives that showed him at a party in a different state at the time of the crime, his counsel lacked the resources to meaningfully follow up and so the negatives remained unfound by the time of the trial. Even more compellingly, the notes that my client had left describing the situation wholly humanized him. Reading his handwriting and his lived experiences made me realize just how much he had already lost: his children had grown up without him and the world had left him behind. I could easily empathize with the man who had spent longer in prison than out of it. In the end, we decided that this would indeed be a case with enough merits to be worth pursuing.Working on the Innocence Project was a moving experience and highlighted the good work that I would be able to do as an associate at MoFo. It also was congruent with how seriously MoFo lawyers take pro bono work. When I discussed the case with other lawyers at the firm, they were truly appalled at the treatment this poor man had received and provided advice on how to best approach the case. I had an amazing follow-up discussion with Senior Pro Bono Counsel Jennifer Brown where we delved into the intricacies of the American criminal justice system and how this case was an all too common tale; partner Chip Loewenson introduced us to Richard Rosario in-person, a man whose case he had worked on for more than a decade to help free and who further cemented the importance of the work we were doing. Part of the reason I had wanted to join MoFo was due to its dedication to pro bono work and this experience solidified how the firm took this commitment very seriously. This attitude trickled all the way down to the summer associate level and was quite honestly refreshing. Altogether, this experience has left me excited to come back to MoFo and pair high-profile M&A transactions with meaningful pro bono work.

An Opportunity to Get Up Close and Personal with the Innocence Project – Mohand Khouider

An Opportunity to Get Up Close and Personal with the Innocence Project – Mohand Khouider

220817-blog-headshots-khouider.jpg

220817-blog-headshots-khouider

When I joined MoFo’s New York summer associate class, pro bono work was not the first thing on my mind. I came in excited to try my hand at high-stakes corporate work and M&A transactions.