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

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

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Senior Pro Bono Counsel

Staff

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

Jennifer K. Brown

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

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Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

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

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

Natalie Kernisant

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

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Pro Bono Counsel

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

Dorothy L. Fernandez

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

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

Rachel P. Williams

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

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

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MoFo Wins Asylum for Cameroonian Political Refugee

MoFo Sponsors the 2024 NAPABA Convention

Navigating Justice and Disability: A Conversation with Judge David Tatel

The MoFo Foundation Supports Pro Bono Partners

MoFo Sponsors the Black Counsel Forum 2024

MoFo has been a pioneer of LGBTQ+ equality in the legal profession for more than 30 years. Our commitment to providing an inclusive environment where differences are celebrated is among the firm’s shared values and continues to define our culture. To that end, MoFo’s Hong Kong office helped to lead the way in celebrating Pride season this June with various events and initiatives, which are highlighted below, in support of the LGBTQ+ community.Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging: Unconscious Biases and Impact Training SessionOn June 15, 2022, all Hong Kong employees were invited to attend a training session on diversity, inclusion, and belonging that covered topics including self-awareness, identity, unconscious biases, and ways to be an LGBTQ+ ally. The training was led by diversity and inclusion advocate Mônica Zionede Hall.Panel Discussion: “Success in Promoting LGBTQ+ Initiatives”Approximately 40 attendees joined the MoFo AmCham LGBTQ+ panel discussion and networking event on June 14, 2022, in Hong Kong. Moderated by MoFo partner Chen Zhu, panelists included Li Yen Fong (Citi), Amit Raheja (Johnson & Johnson), and Mike Kung (Goldman Sachs), who shared their personal experiences and success stories in implementing LGBTQ+ initiatives in their organizations. Key takeaways included creating an inclusive work environment; support from senior level management; cultivating a culture of listening, mutual respect, and empathy; engaging non-profits and external parties to implement LGBTQ+ best practices; leveraging innovative events that eliminate unconscious bias; and carrying the LGBTQ+ conversation beyond Pride Month to build allyship across the organization.Hong Kong Office Pride ReceptionOn June 24, 2022, lawyers, staff, and summer students came together in the Hong Kong office to celebrate Pride with MoFo. Photos from various Hong Kong Pride events can be found below.Panel Discussion: “Making Progress for LGBTQ+ Rights in Asia – Keys to Success from Advocates on the Front Lines”On July 7, 2022, public interest and private practice lawyers who have handled some of the most significant LGBTQ+ rights litigation across Asia—including in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea—discussed major challenges and keys to success for and around their work. The discussion was moderated by MoFo Singapore partner Dan Levison, and speakers included:<ul><li>Chen Zhu, MoFo Hong Kong partner</li><li>Evan Wolfson, Director, Freedom to Marry</li><li>Victoria Hsu, Co-founder and Director, Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights (TAPCPR)</li><li>Minhee Ryu, Korean Lawyers for Public Interest and Human Rights</li><li>Makiko Terahara, Tokyo Omotesando Legal & Accounting LPC, Representative Director, Marriage for All Japan</li></ul>In the Hong Kong Landmark LGBT Rights Case – QT v. Director of Immigration – MoFo was part of a 31-member-strong coalition of international financial institutions and law firms that took part in an effort to revise the Hong Kong Immigration Department’s policy to permit the granting of dependent visa/entry permits to non-local, same-sex spouses. MoFo partner Chen Zhu acted as pro bono counsel to organize a group of financial institutions and law firms to support this case, which resulted in a unanimous victory in the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal that required the Immigration Department to grant a spousal visa to an expatriate same‑sex couple, as requested.Other InitiativesIn addition to the various events and activities highlighted above, MoFo Asia mailed three editions of its Pride Newsletter to all employees across Asia during Pride Month, which included promotion of MoFo’s Diversity + Inclusion (D+I) policies as well as an email from Hong Kong Managing Partner Timothy Blakely reminding everyone of the importance of Pride and supporting D+I policies.To commemorate and further support Pride season, all Hong Kong employees received various MoFo Pride swag, and all were encouraged to use a special Zoom background for virtual meetings during the month.<div data-reactroot=""><img class="rich-text-embed-image" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt4452b40106eb8bb6/62e0449d57ac0577de0baa50/220706-collage-pride-month.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60"/></div>

Hong Kong Supports Equality in Celebrating Pride

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Hong Kong Supports Equality in Celebrating Pride

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MoFo has been a pioneer of LGBTQ+ equality in the legal profession for more than 30 years. Our commitment to providing an inclusive environment where differences are celebrated is among the firm’s shared values and continues to define our culture. To that end, MoFo’s

MoFo’s New York Litigation partner Katie Viggiani recently hosted a discussion with Amy Schneider, the first transgender contestant to qualify for the Tournament of Champions, who collected the second highest number of consecutive wins in the show’s history.Since the show, Amy has become a cultural icon and visible role model to many. Though her life has changed quite drastically from her pre-transition life working as a software engineer, Amy acknowledges that her entire experience on Jeopardy! was incredible. She has loved the show since childhood and never expected to make it as far as she did. Amy became comfortable wagering more aggressively as the show progressed, but one thing that did not change was Amy’s commitment to remaining true to herself. Witnessing transgender people occupy places and positions previously inaccessible inspired Amy, and her success in excelling on Jeopardy! opened her eyes to her own impact. Amy did not expect that her appearance on the show would help so many people, but she is glad that it did.“Jeopardy! has taught me that so much of people’s resistance to transgender people isn’t because of morality or religion; it is because people find transgender people weird,” said Amy. “Jeopardy! is a mainstream gameshow, and because of that, people watched me week after week and were able to truly see me as a normal individual.”Not only was Amy able to successfully express her true self in representing the transgender community as a smart, confident woman on a national stage, because of her experience, and the receptiveness of her time on the show, she now feels more optimistic about the future for the transgender community as a whole.“The opposition faced by the transgender community is much weaker than it looks and is one-sided,” stated Amy. “My hope is that we can decrease the salience of gender going forward as there are very few occasions where gender actually matters.”Amy’s 40-game winning streak earned her the ranking of the 11th highest earning contestant of all time across all American game shows. She will compete in the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions, which will air in November 2022.To learn more about MoFo’s commitment to LGBTQ+ equality, visit our <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/">Diversity</a> page.

Celebrating Pride with Jeopardy! Champion Amy Schneider

Celebrating Pride with Jeopardy! Champion Amy Schneider

MoFo’s New York Litigation partner Katie Viggiani recently hosted a discussion with Amy Schneider, the first transgender contestant to qualify for the Tournament of Champions, who collected the second highest number of consecutive wins in the show’s history.

The MoFo Senior Associate Leadership Forum is a dynamic series created in partnership with DueCourse, providing associates with direct access to personal and professional development coaching. The Forum includes a range of leadership topics designed to guide senior associates as they build their practice and map their path forward with intention.<div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt8d2d6c8807eaffcf/62d82964929e6c100ecd96cf/220708-senior-associate-leadership-infographic.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Senior Associate Leadership Infographic"/></div>

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MoFo Senior Associate Leadership Forum

The MoFo Senior Associate Leadership Forum is a dynamic series created in partnership with DueCourse, providing associates with direct access to personal and professional development coaching. The Forum includes a range of leadership topics designed to guide senior associates as they build their practice and map their path forward with intention.

MoFo Senior Associate Leadership Forum

In celebration of Pride Month, all MoFo employees were given the opportunity to watch CURED, an award-winning documentary that recounts the battle to remove homosexuality from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1973. The film includes original footage and features activists who helped lead the fight.Following the screening, San Francisco partner Fredo Silva moderated a virtual discussion with the film’s directors, Patrick Sammon and Bennett Singer, and a civil rights activist featured in the film, Rev. Magora Kennedy.The inspiration for the documentary came to Patrick in late 2014, when a friend asked him to review his screenplay about the life of American gay rights activist Frank Kameny. Included in the screenplay was a scene that “jumped off the page at [Patrick],” which portrayed the notorious speech made by Dr. Henry Anonymous at the 1972 America Psychiatric Association (APA) Annual Meeting. That scene detailed the moment when Dr. John Fryer, who had disguised his appearance using a Richard Nixon mask and a voice-changing microphone, declared to the room filled with attendees: “I am a homosexual. I am a psychiatrist.” Though Patrick was already familiar with the story of Dr. Anonymous, “there was something about the telling that really connected with me and I thought this would be an incredible documentary.” Patrick then recruited his friend Bennett Singer to join him in telling the story of how activists took a stand against the APA’s classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder.Early on, the duo quickly realized how pivotal this battle was in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality. “As long as gays and lesbians were classified as mentally ill, then business and government were going to use that as an excuse to discriminate,” Patrick explained.The film includes first-person documentation of some of the treatments LGBTQ+ people were subjected to, such as electro-shock therapy and lobotomies. Patrick and Bennett felt it was vital to include archival visual materials, despite the difficulties in tracking them down, in order to convey the very real dangers presented by the DSM’s classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder. “This wasn’t just some words in a dusty medical manual on a shelf,” Bennett remarked. “These are really life and death issues, and we wanted to make that clear by documenting and showing what people were subjected to.”As they continued their search for visual materials, they came across a segment of The David Susskind Show that, according to Bennett, most likely hadn’t been viewed in over 50 years. That footage would lead the duo to one of the film’s central storytellers: Rev. Magora Kennedy.In 1971, Rev. Kennedy and six other lesbian activists—including Barbara Gittings—appeared on Susskind’s talk show, where they argued against the APA’s classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder. Rev. Kennedy recounted her experience on the talk show to Fredo, explaining Susskind’s disrespectful and bigoted behavior toward the group of women. During the segment, Rev. Kennedy asked Susskind, “Does it make you feel good to say we are sick?”Bennett added that Susskind’s attitude was very indicative of the opposition’s view of homosexuality. The talk show host’s “deep-seated belief” was legitimized “because that is what the psychiatrists are telling us and that’s what’s in the DSM.”When asked what lessons she hopes viewers will draw from the film regarding the process of bringing about lasting social change, Rev. Kennedy said she hopes people will realize that we are all human. “It’s not anybody’s fault that anybody is gay,” she said. “These are your children; love them, love yourself.”Though the DSM battle was won, the fight for LGBTQ+ equality still continues. Not long after the APA board voted to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder, the first conversion therapy organizations began to form. Therapists realized they could no longer “hide behind the imprimatur of the APA,” Patrick explained. “They had to justify this so-called treatment in other ways.” Although the pseudoscientific practice has been proven to increase rates of depression and suicide in young adults, conversion therapy is still practiced in the United States today.One considerable difference between 50 years ago and the present day, Bennett noted, is that the APA is now “leading the charge against conversion therapy.” What’s more, the organization is now led by an openly gay psychiatrist. “As a symbol of the way change can happen institutionally, I think that’s very striking,” Bennett said.When asked how lessons from the film can be applied to activism today, particularly in regard to new legislation such as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Florida, the three explained that it’s important for everyone to come together and humanize the issues. “If you look at the history of our movement—and this is true with most social change movements—there needs to be both the ‘Insiders’ and the ‘Outsiders,’” Patrick explained. “You need the anger in the streets—creating that energy—but if you don’t have people within the halls of power to translate that energy into changes and policy and law, then the ‘Outside’ energy doesn’t do any good.”

Celebrating Pride with CURED: The Battle for Equality

Celebrating Pride with CURED: The Battle for Equality

In celebration of Pride Month, all MoFo employees were given the opportunity to watch CURED, an award-winning documentary that recounts the battle to remove hom

Celebrating Pride with CURED: The Battle for Equality

June 23, 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the enactment of Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. The law applies to schools in pre-K through 12th grade as well as post-secondary schools.Title IX is widely celebrated for its enormous impact in creating opportunities for female students to participate and compete in sports. It has also proved to be a potent tool in addressing sexual harassment and sexual assault in schools. Over the years, the U.S. Department of Education and the Supreme Court have come to recognize that students who are subject to sexual harassment or assault in school are denied equal access to education. Accordingly, Title IX places an affirmative responsibility on schools to prevent sexual harassment and assault, and to investigate and respond when these offenses occur.MoFo’s lawyers have played an active role in pro bono cases to protect individuals’ rights under Title IX in order to ensure gender equality and equal access to education.In celebration of Title IX’s 50th anniversary, here are a few of those cases.Challenging Title IX RulesMoFo, in concert with the National Women’s Law Center, brought a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education to challenge new Title IX regulations that went into effect in 2020. The new rules significantly narrowed the definition of sexual harassment under Title IX, relaxed schools’ obligations to respond to claims of sexual harassment, and imposed significant burdens on victims of harassment or assault who file complaints under Title IX. In bringing this suit, we represented advocacy organizations as well as individual victims of sexual harassment and assault. The MoFo team was led by Washington, D.C. litigation partner Natalie Fleming Nolen. The case resulted in a partial victory—the only success among several court challenges to these rules—with a court’s determination that procedures created by the rules rendered the hearing on a victim’s complaint “a remarkably hollow gesture.” The Biden administration marked Title IX’s 50th anniversary on June 23rd by releasing its proposal to replace the 2020 rules, beginning the process for new and fairer rules to be adopted.Fighting to End Stereotypes Against Women AthletesIn December 2020, MoFo attorneys led by San Francisco partner Christine Wong filed an amicus brief on behalf of a University of Connecticut (“UConn”) female soccer player whose scholarship was revoked after the university deemed her game-winning celebration to be inappropriate conduct. The brief argued that female athletes are not only offered fewer opportunities than male athletes, but also that perpetuating stereotypes of how women should act means that women athletes are often held to a stricter standard of conduct than their male counterparts. As a result, the UConn female soccer player was disciplined more severely than male athletes who had previously committed far more serious offenses.Letting Girls Wear Pants to SchoolJust last week, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Title IX applies to school dress codes and also held that a public charter school’s policy that bars girls from wearing shorts or pants is unconstitutional sex discrimination. The school’s founder had justified the policy as part of the school’s effort to inculcate “traditional values,” including that girls are fragile vessels who need to be protected by boys. MoFo appellate attorneys Brian Matsui and Aaron Rauh filed an amicus brief in the case representing the Society for Research in Child Development and several other professional groups that focused on the harm of imposing gender stereotypes on children. The court resoundingly endorsed that concern by ruling that “the skirts requirement blatantly perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes” with “potentially devastating consequences for young girls.”  Listen to the MoFo Perspectives podcast, “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/video-audio/210525-keeping-title-ix-protections-play.html">Keeping Title IX Protections in Play</a>,” a special pro bono episode moderated by MoFo’s Caitlin Crujido, featuring partners Natalie Fleming Nolen and Christine Wong, and Equal Rights Advocates senior counsel, Brenda Adams.Learn more about <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/pro-bono/" target="_blank">MoFo’s pro bono program</a>.

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50th Anniversary of Title IX

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

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June 23, 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the enactment of Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in any education program o

50th Anniversary of Title IX

Morrison Foerster was recognized with the inaugural Outside Counsel Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by Northrop Grumman. The award reflects MoFo’s commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment where everyone’s contributions are valued. Our lawyers are united in their passion for what they do and their dedication to our clients and communities.The award was accepted by David Churchill, Natalie Kernisant, and J. Alex Ward on June 17, 2022.

McDonnell Douglas et al. vs. United States

Major Weapon System Contract

Protest of Honeywell International, Inc.

Protest of United Defense, LP

Thomson CSF vs. Lockheed Martin Corporation

Norden Systems, Inc. vs. General Dynamics Corporation

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Senior Of Counsel

Dave is a former Co-Chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Government Contracts and Public Procurement practice. His practice includes litigation of disputes involving the award, performance, and termination 

David Churchill

David A. Churchill

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

IAP Worldwide Servs., Inc.

Flight Support, Inc.

DynCorp Int’l LLC

Raytheon Co.

DynCorp International, LLC v. United States

URS Federal Servs., Inc.

DynCorp International, LLC

Planned Sys. Int’l, Inc.

Threat Mgmt. Group, LLC

Vencore Servs. & Solutions, Inc.

Jacobs Tech., Inc.

Cubic, Inc.

American Institutes for Research v. State of New Mexico

CACI-WGI, Inc.

Fluor Intercontinental, Inc. v. IAP Worldwide Servs., Inc.

IAP World Servs., Inc.

Size Appeal of IAP World Servs., Inc.

Al-Ghanim v. IAP Worldwide Servs., Inc.

O’Gara Training & Servs., LLC

IAP Worldwide Servs., Inc. v. Johnson Controls, Inc.

AAR Mobility Sys.

Matt Martin Real Estate Mgm’t, LLC v. United States

Pyramid Real Estate Servs., LLC v. United States

Harrington, Moran, Barksdale, Inc.

Homesource Real Estate Asset Servs., Inc. v. United States

Ocean Ships, Inc.

Keystone Sealift Servs., Inc.

ITT Corp., Sys. Div.

IAP Worldwide Servs., Inc. v. Fluor Intercontinental, Inc.

FedSys, Inc.

Academy Facilities Mgm’t v. United States

Academy Facilities Management -- Advisory Opinion

Evans Security Solutions, Inc.

Contingency Mgm’t Group, LLC and IAP Worldwide Servs., Inc.

Kellogg Brown & Root Services, Inc.

Liberty Power Corp.

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Partner

J. Alex Ward is co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s Government Contracts and Public Procurement group. 

J. Ward

Alex is co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s Government Contracts and Public Procurement practice. His practice covers a full range of government contracts matters, including bid protests, claims, investigations, corporate transactions, and counseling.

J. Alex Ward

Morrison Foerster Honored with the Inaugural Outside Counsel Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by Northrop Grumman

Morrison Foerster was recognized with the inaugural Outside Counsel Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by Northrop Grumman. The award reflects MoFo’s com

Morrison Foerster Honored with the Inaugural Outside Counsel Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by Northrop Grumman

MoFo has long been a frontrunner in advocating for LGBTQ+ equality. Over the years, MoFo has supported LGBTQ+ causes through countless hours of pro bono work and charitable donations to a variety of nonprofit organizations. Internally, the firm promotes equality through diversity and inclusion (D+I) initiatives such as the LGBTQ+ Affinity Network and the Keith Wetmore 1L Fellowship Program, which supports future generations of diverse leaders in the legal profession.Leading the way in some of MoFo’s LGBTQ+ pro bono and D+I initiatives are John Owen, Corporate Finance and Capital Markets partner and lead of the firm’s LGBTQ+ Affinity Network, and Fredo Silva, active affinity group member, partner, and co-chair of the firm’s Social Enterprise and Impact Investing Group.As part of MoFo’s celebration of Pride Month, Kate Driscoll, of counsel in the Investigations + White Collar Defense Practice Group, interviewed John and Fredo in a recent Diversity in Practice podcast episode. The three discuss the work MoFo does to support the LGBTQ+ community—both inside and outside of the firm—and also how they hope to shape the legal industry for future queer lawyers.<a href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/video-audio/220614-diversity-celebrates-pride-month.html" target="_blank">Listen to the full episode.</a>

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Diversity in Practice: MoFo Celebrates Pride Month

Faithful Accommodations: What Employers Should Do When Addressing Religious Accommodations in the Workplace

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MoFo has long been a frontrunner in advocating for LGBTQ+ equality. Over the years, MoFo has supported LGBTQ+ causes through countless hours of pro bono work a