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

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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 talent with a wide range of experiences and perspectives 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 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

Partner

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 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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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 Celebrates Earth Day

Celebrating Black History Month with Maya Wiley, President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Faces of MoFo: Dominick Divine III

MoFo's Women of Color Collective: A Conversation with CCWC’s Laurie Robinson Haden

MoFo Wins Asylum for Cameroonian Political Refugee

MoFo pro bono lawyers pour their hearts and souls — and hours — into a variety of worthy projects. And, no matter the result, our attorneys always leave behind a mark on the clients we serve and the causes that we share a passion for.Matters That Matter looks at some of the most significant recently opened matters and developments in our global pro bono efforts, from staffing legal clinics and advising nonprofits on their legal needs to advocating for individuals who would otherwise be denied equal access to justice. Below are a few examples of the many ways our lawyers are living out our proud pro bono tradition every day.Promoting Cost-Effective Watershed ConservationA team of MoFo tax, finance, and corporate attorneys have been advising The Nature Conservancy on the creation of a groundbreaking “pay-for-success” water fund designed to dramatically increase the pace, scale and efficiency of water-quality conservation for the city of Newark, Delaware. The city, along with the Revolving Water Fund, recently announced the closing of the first-ever pay-for-success transaction, which will fund on-farm agricultural restoration activities to reduce nutrients and sediment flowing into surrounding waterways.The project was a partnership between The Nature Conservancy and i2 Capital and is part of a pilot program to examine whether investment in agricultural best management practices on farms can achieve cost-effective pollution reductions that meet regulatory compliance requirements under the Clean Water Act, while also achieving watershed conservation goals.Providing Tax & Trademark Advice to “Girls Crushing It”San Francisco tax attorneys are providing tax advice to <a href="https://www.girlscrushingit.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Girls Crushing It</a> and also assisting the organization with general trademark matters. Girls Crushing It is an entrepreneurship organization that teaches leadership, marketing, and public speaking to girls. The “girlpreneurs” learn the skills necessary to run a business and run a functioning market where they sell their products to shoppers. Even if the girls do not all become small business owners, they will have the opportunity to learn valuable skills and be well equipped to take on more leadership roles.Mentoring Legal Fellows From Justice Without BordersA group of Singapore attorneys are mentoring the legal fellows of our pro bono client <a href="http://forjusticewithoutborders.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Justice Without Borders</a> (JWB), a nonprofit dedicated to helping migrant and foreign domestic workers in Southeast Asia enforce their rights to compensation. The mentoring program is designed to teach the legal fellows useful skills, such as legal drafting, analysis and research, fact gathering and interviewing, and communication skills that the legal fellows can then put to use in support of JWB mission. MoFo is one of 21 local and international law firms that have partnered with JWB to help serve migrant workers from Indonesia and the Philippines who have faced employment difficulties in Hong Kong and Singapore.Advising a Filipina Guest Worker in Hong Kong Hong Kong litigation attorneys are representing a Filipina domestic helper in a labor claim against her employer in Hong Kong. In the matter, referred by JWB, our client filed claims with the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board, asserting she was constructively dismissed from her employment by adverse job conditions and that her employer forged her signature on a supposedly voluntary resignation letter.The Board, however, has stayed the action while police investigate the client’s forgery allegation. The police investigation has so far lasted four months, and our client, who now has no income and lives in a shelter, wishes to return to the Philippines. We have been asked to advise the client on how her civil claim may survive her departure from Hong Kong and whether an additional claim should be added to her case.Defending New York Students Subjected to Illegal SearchesMoFo, in partnership with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, filed a lawsuit on behalf of parents whose 12-year-old daughters were subjected to illegal strip searches at a middle school in Binghamton, New York. School officials escorted four Black and Latina girls, who were talking and laughing in the hallway during their lunch period, to the health office because of what the officials considered “unusual behavior.” At the direction of the principal and assistant principal, the school nurse conducted an intrusive and demeaning search of each girl without properly notifying or obtaining consent from the girls’ parents. The legal complaint — filed after the school district failed to rectify the situation, including a refusal to issue an apology for the girls’ mistreatment — alleges that the strip searches were motivated by the school officials’ racial bias.Increasing Support for Children in New York’s Foster Care SystemA recent ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is helping to move forward a decade-old suit that MoFo filed on behalf of the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York (formerly the New York State Citizens Coalition for Children). The suit seeks to bring New York’s foster care reimbursement rates into compliance with the federal Child Welfare Laws, which require states that accept federal child welfare funds to provide foster parents with monthly payments that “cover the cost (and the cost of providing)” of basic necessities, such as food, clothing, and shelter. Thanks to the ruling, the prospect of increased support for New York State’s children in foster care is on the horizon.Ensuring Equitable Space Exploration and LivingA team from Palo Alto and Northern Virginia is advising <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-frontiers-institute/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Future Frontiers Institute</a>, a nonprofit whose mission is to expand human presence across the solar system and ensure that the frameworks that govern space exploration and future life in space are as equitable as they can be. The organization has sought MoFo’s help with corporate governance and partnership agreements that will be critical to their goal of ensuring the benefits of going to space can be enjoyed by everyone, not just a select few. Ensuring Legal Representation for Foster Children MoFo is representing a class of foster children in a suit against the state of Indiana for violating their constitutional right to legal representation in dependency proceedings, also referred to as Children in Need of Supervision proceedings. The suit contends that failure to provide these children of abusive and/or neglectful parents with adequate legal representation often results in decisions about their fate being left to the mercy of the system. Indiana is behind the rest of the nation in making it mandatory to appoint counsel to children in such proceedings. The lawsuit seeks certification of a class of more than 5,000 children and seeks declaratory and injunctive relief that would require appointment of licensed attorneys to represent children in court proceedings.Assisting a Food CharityHong Kong attorneys are providing a broad range of legal assistance to Bo Charity Foundation Ltd., a.k.a. <a href="http://www.foodangel.org.hk/index.php?l=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Food Angel</a>. To date, Food Angel has asked us to advise it on sponsorship, service, and other agreements, as well as other legal issues arising from its day-to-day operations. Food Angel, which was launched in 2011, is a food rescue and food assistance program that rescues edible surplus food from various sectors of the food industry that would otherwise be disposed of as waste. Following strict safety protocols, the rescued food items are prepared as nutritious hot meals in Food Angel’s central kitchen and to be redistributed to underprivileged communities in Hong Kong.Read more about MoFo Pro Bono on our <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/pro-bono/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">newly updated website</a>.

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Matters That Matter: June Pro Bono Roundup

Matters That Matter: July Pro Bono Roundup

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MoFo pro bono lawyers pour their hearts and souls — and hours — into a variety of worthy projects. And, no matter the result, our attorneys always leave behind 

Matters That Matter: June Pro Bono Roundup

On Saturday, June 1, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/offices/boston.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MoFo Boston</a> participated in the 20th annual Best Buddies Challenge, which supports individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Every year, individuals and organizations team up in support of Best Buddies’ mission — to make the world a more inclusive place, one friendship at a time.MoFo’s Sarah Mackin, Greg Bilton, Ethan Kenerson, David Ephraim, Will Gerber, and Ian Hohmeister joined Team Silicon Valley Bank (Team SVB) to cycle, run, and walk their way across a scenic route from Boston to Hyannis Port.Team SVB brought together clients, employees, friends, and families to raise awareness and nearly a quarter of a million dollars that will support the organization’s 2020 initiative. The plan, created in 2011 with the goal of opening offices in all 50 states by 2020, includes training 4,000 new Buddy Ambassadors, developing 1,000 jobs for people with IDD around the world, and increasing the number of school-based chapters to 2,500.David Ephraim, who recently joined MoFo as managing partner of the Boston office, stated, “Our team has been involved with Best Buddies for seven years and we couldn’t be happier to be a part of it. The Hyannis Port event was a great success and we look forward to many more to come.”For more information on Best Buddies International, visit their <a href="https://www.bestbuddieschallenge.org/hp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a>.<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3789" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blta2a4bff2f2e278a7/6287fe706f81705517a1c9e7/img_0696-1024x768.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" width="685" height="514" sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">Gearing up to start, (L to R) partner Greg Bilton, associate Ethan Kenerson, Boston managing partner David Ephraim, and associates Will Gerber and Ian Hohmeister<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3791" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt4d015ca6bf2cec0a/6287fe70bd980555189d73bc/img_0712-1024x768.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" width="685" height="514" sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">Celebrating at the finish line, (L to R) Ethan Kenerson, senior paralegal Sarah Mackin, David Ephraim, Will Gerber, and Ian Hohmeister

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MoFo Boston Takes on the 2019 Best Buddies Challenge in Hyannis Port

MoFo Boston Takes on the 2019 Best Buddies Challenge in Hyannis Port

On Saturday, June 1, MoFo Boston participated in the 20th annual Best Buddies Challenge, which supports individuals living with intellectual and developmental d

MoFo is thrilled to unveil its updated pro bono web pages in concert with our new spotlight video, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/pro-bono/pro-bono-in-action.html">Imagine: New Beginnings Made Possible Through Pro Bono</a>. The reimagined web pages invite you to explore MoFo’s long history of helping pro bono clients all around the globe, our commitment to protecting the environment, recent accolades and awards, and videos that bring to life some of our most memorable matters.The Imagine video highlights the vital pro bono work our lawyers have taken on to make the world a better place in communities near and far. It is an inspiring message from our lawyers who had the heart to ask, “Can you imagine?” and then set their sights on making new beginnings possible for those who needed them most.MoFo lawyers fought for more <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/pro-bono/explore-pro-bono.html">hospitable conditions for border detainees</a>, protected small business owners from eviction, and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/community/fall-2018-california-wildfires-helping-handbook.html">published a helping handbook</a> to aid the victims of the California wildfires. These are just a few of the many examples of what pro bono can accomplish when we put our imaginations to work.<iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/mLZ8RQ_6jQs?rel=0" title="Video: Imagine New Beginnings Made Possible Through Pro Bono" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="1" title="iframe"></iframe>View MoFo’s new pro bono web site <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/pro-bono/">here</a>.

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MoFo Pro Bono: Imagine New Beginnings

MoFo is thrilled to unveil its updated pro bono web pages in concert with our new spotlight video, Imagine: New Beginnings Made Possible Through Pro Bono. The r

MoFo Pro Bono: Imagine New Beginnings

On Wednesday, April 24, 2019, MoFo hosted a WE Legal pro bono legal clinic for entrepreneurs, sponsored by <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://we.nyc/">Women Entrepreneurs NYC</a> (WE NYC), an initiative created by the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www1.nyc.gov/site/sbs/index.page">New York City Department of Small Business Services</a> to help women start and grow their businesses. WE Legal clinics offer entrepreneurs one-on-one, free legal advice across the five boroughs of New York City in multiple languages.MoFo partners Ron Aizen, Tracy Bacigalupo, Dario de Martino, and Spencer Klein—with the support of eight corporate, finance, and tax associates—met with clients for one-hour sessions to address their particular business legal needs. The clients submitted legal questions before the meetings, and MoFo lawyers provided helpful advice regarding their biggest business concerns, such as whether to incorporate, how to choose a corporate structure, preparing contracts, and understanding sales tax obligations.“The entrepreneurs we met were very savvy,” recalls Tracy. “However, much of their legal information was derived from Google searches which can often be misapplied, much to a business owner’s legal detriment. We were able to unravel applicable legal issues and to help steer these entities into a better direction.”Clinics like WE Legal are designed to help entrepreneurs start, operate, and grow their businesses. The clients who attended the MoFo event represented a wide range of industries, from event planning and professional consulting to wellness services, equipment maintenance and safety, home health care, travel planning, e-commerce, and more. Although the main mission of the program is to increase the number of women entrepreneurs in NYC, it supports both women and minority-owned businesses, from pre-startup through early operating years.MoFo’s pro bono team is proud to take part in important initiatives, like WE NYC, that empower women and diverse entrepreneurs by providing access to the right resources to start and grow their businesses.For more information about WE NYC, visit: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://we.nyc/we-legal/">https://we.nyc/we-legal/</a>.<img sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" height="500" width="685" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt258c90ad81c3898c/6287fe7d6f81705517a1c9ef/img_0335-e1556732335943-1024x747.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="aligncenter wp-image-3706 size-large" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">Visiting International Finance Attorney Sophie Jensen<img sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" height="457" width="685" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltca5a4ebd1507f46d/6287fe7d3b65ce548fba0ed5/img_0338-1024x683.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="aligncenter wp-image-3707 size-large" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">Corporate Associate Jenny Wang<img sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" height="457" width="685" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt21b2a8f1fe6ba4ac/6287fe7e0457495358474e15/img_0340-1024x683.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="aligncenter wp-image-3708 size-large" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">Corporate Associate Ryan Farha<img sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" height="457" width="685" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt7022cb52e9e0a4fd/6287fe7e3b65ce548fba0ed9/img_0341-1024x683.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="aligncenter wp-image-3709 size-large" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">Tax Partner Ron Aizen and Corporate Partner Spencer Klein

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Providing Pro Bono Legal Advice to NYC Entrepreneurs

Providing Pro Bono Legal Advice to NYC Entrepreneurs

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On Wednesday, April 24, 2019, MoFo hosted a WE Legal pro bono legal clinic for entrepreneurs, sponsored by Women Entrepreneurs NYC (WE NYC), an initiative creat

In celebration of National Volunteer Month and Earth Day, Morrison & Foerster partnered with the San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department for a community service day at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park.On Saturday, April 27, 2019, nearly 50 attendees—including MoFo lawyers, staff, and clients—worked together on a beautification project at the Conservatory of Flowers. The morning kicked off with breakfast and an orientation by members of the San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department before volunteers hunkered down on the service project, which included the removal of all winter season flowers and plants for a fresh spring planting the following week.Families and children of all ages worked together to clear the beds using hoes, pitchforks, and rakes. In a period of two hours, volunteers were able to clear all of the beds and finished the day with a delicious BBQ lunch.This was the first time a volunteer group has worked the main conservatory flower beds, so it was a special treat in Golden Gate Park. Golden Gate Park operates 356 days a year and the cost of upkeep is tremendous, so the work we did to help out the Park in just a few hours will have a huge impact. Members of the MoFo San Francisco office remarked that it was a great day and a wonderful opportunity to get together with friends of the firm to connect and give back to the community.<img sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" height="480" width="640" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltad2b9cc24d1c07d1/6287fe883b9b8554904a43ea/img_0580.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="wp-image-3691 size-full aligncenter" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download"> <img sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" height="480" width="640" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltd932602007e6a98d/6287fe89bd980555189d73c8/img_0604.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="size-full wp-image-3692 aligncenter" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download"> <img sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" height="480" width="640" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt2b7c3726c79ee124/6287fe896f81705517a1c9f3/img_5810-1024x768.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="wp-image-3694 aligncenter" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download"> <img sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" height="438" width="640" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt01e0cef8b21981e3/6287fe8a1cd65960bcff0636/img_5833-e1556730308356-1024x701.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="wp-image-3695 aligncenter" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download"> <img sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" height="480" width="640" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blta4cfb0cd4e4b09e7/6287fe8b0457495358474e1d/img_5877-1024x768.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="wp-image-3696 aligncenter" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download"> <img sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" height="480" width="640" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt1503e2cfa0d3db91/6287fe8c0457495358474e21/img_5887.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="wp-image-3697 aligncenter" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download"> <img sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" height="480" width="640" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt4980e479ed38f870/6287fe8d3b65ce548fba0ee1/img_5889.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="wp-image-3698 aligncenter" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">

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MoFo Celebrates National Volunteer Month with a Community Service Day

MoFo Celebrates National Volunteer Month with a Community Service Day

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In celebration of National Volunteer Month and Earth Day, Morrison & Foerster partnered with the San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department for a community s

MoFo pro bono lawyers, along with organizations like the <a href="https://equalrightscenter.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Equal Rights Center</a> (ERC) and the <a href="https://www.washlaw.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs</a> (WLC), are trying to put an end to housing discrimination in all its forms. They are fighting on behalf of tenants seeking necessary repairs, holding landlords responsible for housing code violations, protecting low-income families from unlawful eviction, and assisting subsidy recipients with securing safe and affordable housing.In October 2018, a MoFo pro bono team—led by senior counsel <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/g-brian-busey.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brian Busey</a> and associate Timothy Gallivan, along with co-counsel from the WLC—were successful in winning a motion for summary judgment on behalf of the ERC in its housing discrimination claim against Belmont Crossing Apartments, LLC and Oakmont Management Group, LLC (“Defendants”).  The claim was based on Defendants’ refusal to allow prospective tenants to use temporary subsidies for rent and security deposit payments.The <a href="https://ohr.dc.gov/protectedtraits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">District of Columbia Human Rights Act</a> (DCHRA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of “source of income.” Temporary subsidies are one source of income that individuals rely on to pay for housing costs and, for many who receive them, are a means to avoid homelessness. One such temporary subsidy is the <a href="https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/index.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Supportive Services for Veteran Families</a> (SSVF), which assists low-income veterans and their families in seeking safe and affordable housing. In a city like D.C.—where the rate of homelessness is more than double what it is in many major U.S. cities—subsidies like SSVF are critically important.Defendants previously stated to an ERC tester and a Housing Counseling Services employee that they did not accept temporary subsidies, including SSVF, and argued that the policy was motivated by business interests, not discriminatory animus. Washington, D.C. Superior Court Judge John Campbell ruled the management companies’ policies were in direct violation of the D.C. Human Rights Act, D.C. Code § 2.1401.01, et seq. and noted that “the Defendants’ motive is irrelevant ‘when a policy is discriminatory on its face.’”Judge Campbell’s ruling cited guidance issued by the D.C. Office of Human Rights in 2016 stating that “short term rental subsidies” are a protected source of income under the DCHRA. Judge Campbell found that “[t]here is no rational argument . . . that the [DCHRA] would explicitly include Section 8 vouchers, yet not cover other kinds of housing vouchers or housing subsidies.” Judge Campbell also ruled that vouchers, regardless of their source or duration, are to be treated as a source of income that is protected from discrimination pursuant to the DCHRA.Brian Busey summarized the importance of the case, noting that “ensuring housing access for everyone is critical to safeguarding human rights in the District of Columbia. Judge Campbell’s ruling that temporary subsidies and short-term vouchers must be accepted as forms of rental payments and security deposits is an important step towards reducing homelessness and ensuring individuals and families are not barred from housing opportunities by discrimination.”In resolving the suit, both parties entered into a consent agreement and injunction, requiring that: (1) the Defendants cease discriminatory practices on future tenants based on source of income, (2) signage must be displayed on all of the Defendants’ D.C. properties, notifying prospective tenants that they accept short-term vouchers/temporary subsidies as payment for all or part of rental fees, and (3) the Defendants pay monetary remedies in the amount of $310,000 to the ERC to cover all damages and attorneys’ fees.Read more about the ERC and the case decision<a href="https://equalrightscenter.org/source-of-income-subsidies-judgment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> here</a>.

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MoFo Takes a Stand Against Housing Discrimination

MoFo Takes a Stand Against Housing Discrimination

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In October 2018, a MoFo pro bono team—led by senior counsel Brian Busey and associate Timothy Gallivan, along with co-counsel from the WLC—were successful in wi

When MoFo general counsel <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/douglas-hendricks.html">Doug Hendricks</a> and associate Melissa Perez received the call in mid–December to assist a Honduran border detainee named Yeimi, who had been separated from her two daughters for two months, they were eager to help. On February 1, 2019, Yeimi was released from immigration custody and reunited with her girls on February 8, 2019, after four months apart and just one day after her daughter’s fifth birthday. The family is now staying together in El Paso while she awaits the adjudication of her immigration application.The announcement was made on Monday, February 11, during a press conference held at <a href="https://annunciationhouse.org/about/" target="_blank">Annunciation House</a>, an  El Paso–based nonprofit focused on sheltering immigrants released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Just as President Trump was touching down in El Paso for his border wall rally, the press conference on <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://annunciationhouse.org/">Truthful Border Narratives</a> was delivering a <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/current/a-message-from-migrants-to-donald-trump-on-the-occasion-of-his-visit-to-el-paso">clear message</a> that refugees are not criminals, shedding light on why immigrants like Yeimi are risking their lives to cross the border.During the conference, Yeimi fought back tears avowing, “If I had to do it all over again I’d do it again because it was for the wellbeing of my daughters. It’s my responsibility to fight for my daughters. I’m going to fight for my daughters no matter what happens.”Yeimi had been living in the United States with her daughters before she was deported back to Honduras — one of the most crime–ridden countries in the world — where she and her daughters faced extreme levels of violence. When she decided to return with her daughters, she was apprehended by ICE Border Patrol agents near El Paso, Texas in mid–October 2018. Her daughters were just three and four years old at the time.Once she was placed in ICE detention, Yeimi had to wait an entire month before speaking to her daughters, who were placed in the foster care system, and then was only allowed to see them for an hour a week. “It is emotionally challenging to work with a client who has been separated from her children,” says Melissa. “Not only do you have to ask them to relive the worst moments of their life, but you have to ask them to rehash these moments over and over. [Yeimi] fought through tears and trauma to share her story but remained strong for her daughters.”Because of her prior deportation, Yeimi cannot seek asylum here. Rather, she is applying for withholding of removal under the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which will protect her from being deported if she can prove there is more than a 50% chance that she will experience persecution in her home country. Unlike full asylum, a withholding of removal order does not open a path to U.S. citizenship. Nonetheless, it would allow Yeimi to raise her U.S. citizen children here.After failing to convince ICE to release Yeimi from detention on humanitarian grounds, the team brought a writ of habeas corpus in the Western District of Texas. That proceeding eventually led to Yeimi’s release, which occurred on the day the government had been ordered to respond to the habeas petition, ICE apparently having decided that it was easier to release her than to attempt to justify her further detention to Judge Guaderrama.But Yeimi’s release from detention was only one of the steps required to reunite her with her children. The children had been taken into the Texas foster care system, and an order from a state judge was required to release them to their mother. “Due to the fact that Yeimi’s daughters were in the foster care system under the state’s authority and that she was in federal custody, it really required a team effort between us [MoFo] and the local team on the ground in El Paso,” notes Doug.The team that worked together to help Yeimi win release from the detention center and reunite her with her daughters included Layne Hilton of Kanner & Whiteley, Taylor Levy of Annunciation House, and solo practitioners Amy Maldonado and Eduardo Beckett.Melissa, who grew up in a mixed–status family noted, “Immigrant rights issues have always been personal for me. Fortunately, this is an issue MoFo also cares about, which meant that the firm was happy to leverage its resources and do everything within its power to help reunite our client with her children.”Ever since MoFo chair Larren Nashelsky signed a pledge to join 34 other law firms in reunifying migrant families and ensuring representation for asylum seekers, the firm has devoted impressive resources to this mission. In addition to helping families suffering separations at the border, MoFo lawyers are fighting to combat horrific conditions at detention centers, counseling detainees in preparation for their credible fear interviews, representing children seeking release from detention, and representing individuals seeking asylum. As the immigration enforcement crisis continues, MoFo attorneys are writing a new chapter in the ongoing story of our pro bono assistance to immigrants.Learn more about MoFo’s pro bono commitments in the latest edition of <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/assets/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt1371a481dba60e56/627311850d4d8e1d7f10f106/moprobono-fall-2018.pdf">MoProBono</a>.

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MoFo Answers an Urgent Call from the Border, Resulting in an Emotional Reunion

MoFo Answers an Urgent Call from the Border, Resulting in an Emotional Reunion

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When MoFo general counsel Doug Hendricks and associate Melissa Perez received the call in mid–December to assist a Honduran border detainee named Yeimi, who had

On Wednesday, January 16, 2019, federal Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim ordered the Rohnert Park police department to retrain its officers on the proper methods and laws regarding probation searches. This significant ruling stems from a previous decision that held three of the city’s officers responsible for violating the rights of the Barajas family.After police officers from the City of Rohnert Park in California came to Elva and Raul Barajas’ home in November 2014, the family filed a civil suit alleging that the officers conducted an unlawful search of their home despite the “search condition” of their son Edgar Perez’ probation. The case — led by MoFo Commercial Litigation and Trial Practice Group chair <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/arturo-gonzalez.html">Arturo González</a> and litigation partners <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/alexis-amezcua.html">Alexis Amezcua</a> and <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/caitlin-blythe.html">Caitlin Blythe</a> — was based on allegations that Rohnert Park police officers Jacy Tatum, David Rodriguez, and Matthew Snodgrass conducted a ‘suspicionless’ search of the family’s home while seeking out their son.Despite the officers’ lack of a search warrant and the couple stating their son wasn’t home, police officers entered the home without the consent of the Barajas’. One officer entered through a back door with his gun drawn while the other officers were still at the front door seeking permission to enter.In a time of heightened awareness of and resistance to racial profiling by police officers, the Barajas family fought to make sure they didn’t become another statistic. “We brought this lawsuit to help other families,” said plaintiff Raul. “We hope things will change, and that law enforcement officers will respect the rights of all families in our community.”On November 1, 2018, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, a jury determined that the officers entered the home unreasonably under the U.S. and California constitutions. The jury awarded total damages of $75,000 to the Barajas’, and $70,000 in punitive damages against Jacy Tatum, the officer who entered through the back door with his gun drawn.At the end of the day, the decision had everything to do with the family’s rights in their own home. “The jury understood that parents do not forfeit their constitutional rights simply because their child is on probation,” said Alexis.The evidence in the case showing that the Rohnert Police Department engaged in widespread constitutional violations when conducting probation searches led MoFo’s team to file an injunction to stop the department from conducting further illegal searches. The court granted the injunction requiring the police department to adopt a policy governing “probation searches” and to train its officers in the policy.Injunctive relief was deemed necessary by the Court because the testimony given at the trial made it clear that the Defendants believed they did nothing wrong and had no plans to change their practices or provide additional training to officers.Alexis noted that the purpose of the injunction was to bar “defendants from barging into families’ homes simply because one of the residents is on probation,” and added, “We realize that searching probationers is important, but it can be done in a way that respects the rights of other people who live in the home.”Of the decision, Arturo stated, “This is a fantastic order. It’s essentially what we’ve been asking for since the day we filed [the lawsuit]. All this family ever wanted was for the officers and the City to get training. For reasons I don’t understand, the City has been resistant, and now the judge has ordered them to do so.”

From Unlawful Search to Injunctive Relief

From Unlawful Search to Injunctive Relief

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On Wednesday, January 16, 2019, federal Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim ordered the Rohnert Park police department to retrain its officers on the proper methods and