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 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

Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/caitlin-crujido.html">Caitlin Crujido</a>, an associate in the firm’s Government Contracts practice, discusses her career path and what led her to call MoFo home.Like others featured in Faces of MoFo, I had a somewhat unconventional and unexpected journey to MoFo. I don’t remember feeling like I was destined to become a lawyer and, once I decided to go to law school, I didn’t go with the intention of practicing government contracts.Growing up, my family moved around every few years: California to Illinois to Arizona to Maryland and back to Arizona. Despite all of these moves, I consider Arizona my home. I spent the majority of my formative years in Prescott, a small mountain town in Northern Arizona, home to the world’s oldest rodeo and Arizona’s oldest saloon. As much as I loved growing up in Prescott, I always knew I’d leave. After high school, I went to the University of Arizona, where I majored in political science and quickly immersed myself in all things politics. Over the course of a few semesters, I interned for my congressional representative, campaigned for candidates throughout Southern Arizona during a contentious midterm election, and volunteered with <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="http://2020americabook.com/organizing-for-america/">Organizing for America</a>.During one of those semesters, I took a Chicano studies class. The course provided an overview of a history that, to my knowledge, had not been disclosed completely despite years of American history and civil rights lessons. I found this both surprising, considering I grew up in the Southwest, and disappointing because I was deprived of a history I felt entitled to. I learned that earlier in the year, the Arizona state legislature passed a bill prohibiting public schools from teaching ethnic studies courses. This bill targeted a popular high school program, known as Raza studies, that provided the predominately Mexican American student body with courses designed to teach them about their ancestral and cultural history. My utter disbelief that this piece of legislation could unravel a program proven to increase graduation rates, together with what felt like a logical next step given my major, led me to consider attending law school.After graduation, I moved to Phoenix and began working at a small law firm as a paralegal. There are no lawyers in my family and I needed to make sure a legal career was something I wanted. Fortunately, I had the privilege of working with some wonderful attorneys who provided lot of guidance and a lot of support. After two years, I left Arizona for law school in Washington, D.C.During law school, I grappled with the type of law I wanted to practice. It wasn’t until my 2L summer that I stumbled into government contracts. I interned with the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) and became intrigued by the subject matter of the cases. I continued to explore government contracts during my 3L year, working for a law firm in their government contracts practice group. By then, I was hooked and returned to the CBCA following graduation for a year-long clerkship.<img sizes="(max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px" height="300" width="213" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltef3d761867a00746/6287fd20ce671353d5081608/cc-213x300.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="alignleft wp-image-4824 size-medium" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">When it came time to interviewing with law firms, I looked for a few things: a top-tier, tightknit government contracts practice group, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and an active pro bono practice. MoFo ticked all of those boxes and more. Having just hit my two-year anniversary with MoFo, I am reminded of how much I’ve learned from my colleagues, the opportunities I’ve had to work with clients from all over the world, and the fascinating matters I’ve had the privilege of litigating.I am also incredibly proud of my pro bono work, particularly our most recent challenge to the U.S. Department of Education’s Title IX regulations. I appreciate that MoFo consistently encourages its attorneys to engage in pro bono efforts because, as the late <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Bader_Ginsburg#:~:text=Ruth%20Bader%20Ginsburg%20%28%2F%20%CB%88be%C9%AAd%C9%99r%20%CB%88%C9%A1%C9%AAnzb%C9%9C%CB%90r%C9%A1%20%2F%3B%20born,1993%20and%20has%20served%20since%20August%2010%2C%201993.#:~:text=Ruth%20Bader%20Ginsburg%20%28%2F%20%CB%88be%C9%AAd%C9%99r%20%CB%88%C9%A1%C9%AAnzb%C9%9C%CB%90r%C9%A1%20%2F%3B%20born,1993%20and%20has%20served%20since%20August%2010%2C%201993.#:~:text=Ruth%20Bader%20Ginsburg%20%28%2F%20%CB%88be%C9%AAd%C9%99r%20%CB%88%C9%A1%C9%AAnzb%C9%9C%CB%90r%C9%A1%20%2F%3B%20born,1993%20and%20has%20served%20since%20August%2010%2C%201993.">Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a> once said, “If you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself, something to repair tears in your community, something to make life a little better for people less fortunate than you.”

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Faces of MoFo: Caitlin Crujido

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Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series, Caitlin Crujido, an associate in the firm’s Government Contracts practice, discusses her career path

Faces of MoFo: Caitlin Crujido

Morrison & Foerster has a long and successful history of working with VMware Senior Litigation Counsel and MoFo alumna Danielle Coleman on matters related to intellectual property, patents, and employment law, to name a few. So, we were not surprised to receive news that Danielle was named a 2020 Rising Star by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA). As a strong supporter of equity and systemic change, we are proud to highlight the achievements, efforts, and shared commitment of our valued partners, VMware and Danielle, as they lead the charge for greater diversity and racial equity within their communities and workplaces.MCCA’s Rising Stars list features attorneys whose accomplishments and dedication to the legal profession and to their community have earned them the reputation as “attorneys to watch.” Each attorney on the list exhibits great ambition and a love of the law, but also compassion for those in need and a strong desire to give back to others.Before joining VMware, Danielle was an associate in MoFo’s IP Litigation practice and a member of the firm’s Black Affinity Group, where she formed valuable relationships with other diverse lawyers, such as partners <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/bita-rahebi.html">Bita Rahebi</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/eric-tate.html">Eric Tate</a>, whom she credits with being mentors to her. Advocating for change and racial justice is a passion that Danielle brought with her to VMware as global co-lead of the Black@VMware Power of Difference (ERG) Group, an internal affinity group dedicated to supporting allyship and diversity and inclusion initiatives.As part of Black@VMware, Danielle was instrumental in the creation of the #WeHearYou campaign, launched this summer in response to the heightened focus on racial injustice. The goal of the campaign is to inspire people to take time out, listen, educate themselves, and be empathetic and resilient. The group also created a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.brightfunds.org/funds/black-vmware-social-justice-fund">social justice fund</a> to raise money for organizations such as the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://eji.org/">Equal Justice Initiative</a>, and leads ongoing meetings through its Culture Club, where VMware leaders and colleagues share their own stories in an effort to bring home the ideal outcome of ending police brutality and racial injustice. The hope is to encourage those who view the recent news events as isolated incidents to become allies and advocates after hearing from their own peers.MoFo and VMware, along with Danielle, have also teamed up on several pro bono-related matters, such as the recent Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project, aimed at building a public database of COVID-19-related elections litigation that can help advocates and policymakers design procedures for a safe and inclusive election amidst the pandemic. Danielle and several lawyers from VMware also joined the firm’s pro bono team to conduct Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) clinics to assist “dreamers” who came to the United States as children with legal matters related to immigration policies.As an associate at MoFo, Danielle had the opportunity to work on the Blue Ribbon Panel on Transparency, Accountability, and Fairness in Law Enforcement alongside MoFo trial partner <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/arturo-gonzalez.html">Arturo González</a>, resulting in 81 recommendations to the City of San Francisco for policy changes, including use of force, and internal and external oversight. She co-led the working group assembled to investigate stops, searches, and arrests by the San Francisco Police Department in response to reports that several of the department’s officers sent numerous racist and homophobic text messages.Danielle remains optimistic and states, “I’m hopeful that we can continue to work with MoFo, not only on the active litigation matters that we’re working on together or within the patent and employment law space, but on other pro bono projects that will positively impact the community as it relates to racial injustice, immigration, women’s rights, and other similar areas.”MoFo and VMware’s professional relationship goes back a number years. Recently, a team of MoFo lawyers—led by <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/richard-hung.html">Rich Hung</a>, Michael Jacobs, Bita Rahebi, and Diek Van Nort—took over a patent litigation case from another firm that resulted in a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/news/200824-vmware-granted-million.html">fantastic outcome</a>, obtaining summary judgment of non-infringement for VMware in litigation brought by Route1, Inc. and securing a $1.6 million award of attorneys’ fees.Danielle notes that “I’ve worked closely with [the team] and what has struck me about them when I was at the firm—and even now in-house—is how the team is not only knowledgeable, but they are also very driven and think outside of the box to come up with creative solutions.”VMware is a member of the MCCA, which is committed to advancing the hiring, retention, and promotion of diverse lawyers in law departments and law firms by providing research, best practices, professional development, and training; and through pipeline initiatives. Danielle and the other 2020 Rising Stars will be honored during MCCA’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mcca.com/events/pathways/pathways-2020/">Creating Pathways to Diversity Virtual Conference</a> on October 27, 2020.Read more about <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/about/alumni">MoFo Alumni</a>.

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Kudos to VMware’s Danielle Coleman on Her MCCA Rising Star Recognition

Kudos to VMware’s Danielle Coleman on Her MCCA Rising Star Recognition

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Morrison & Foerster has a long and successful history of working with VMware Senior Litigation Counsel and MoFo alumna Danielle Coleman on matters related to in

For many of us, it’s easy to take everyday things for granted; things like a roof over our head, a floor under our feet, a safe place to sleep, or clean-running water. But for people living in emerging countries or natural disaster zones, these seemingly commonplace things aren’t always guaranteed. Two innovative nonprofits — Build Change and Every Shelter– are working to change that.Build Change MoFo began working with Build Change in 2009, when the group came to us seeking advice on how to best protect its intellectual property. Build Change designs disaster-resistant houses and schools in emerging nations and trains builders, homeowners, engineers, and government officials to build them. We have also assisted the international nonprofit with corporate governance and employment advice.Today, MoFo’s relationship with Build Change continues as it expands its international efforts. Corporate finance associate Rose Zukin Pierson has worked closely with Build Change, reviewing and updating its bylaws to reflect its current operations and ensure they are aligned with best practices for California nonprofits. MoFo of counsel Justin Haan and associate Jill Tellioglu from the firm’s Technology Transaction Group recently advised Build Change regarding a potential partnership with a private company and prepared and revised non-disclosure agreements for use by Build Change in future engagements.Build Change was formed in 2004, shortly after founder Dr. Elizabeth Hausler traveled to India as a Fulbright Scholar to study the way people rebuilt their homes after major disasters, such as the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Gujarat, India in 2001. What she discovered was that the homeowners, whose homes had been rebuilt by international relief agencies, often feared the construction wouldn’t hold up over time, especially if another natural disaster were to test its strength.Elizabeth also discovered that homes built by these agencies in developing countries may not be culturally appropriate or sustainable, given local construction sector resources. To address this challenge, the Build Back Better program was established to ensure that homeowners are actively involved in the decision-making and construction process. This homeowner-driven reconstruction and retrofitting approach enables vulnerable families to live in safer houses because they are trained to manage the purchase of good-quality construction materials and to oversee construction. Additionally, the program works to connect homeowners with financing options to support rebuilding their homes.By using materials and skills that are available through the local private sector, Build Change has been helping communities not only to rebuild, but also to stimulate local demand for materials and services, creating jobs and the capacity to apply the home-building process to other critical structures, such as schools and cultural institutions. Over the last 15 years, the organization has constructed nearly 80,000 safe buildings, creating nearly 30,000 jobs and training 54,000 people in its sustainable building processes. Rose notes that “working with Elizabeth has been a pleasure. She’s always responsive to our advice when it comes to regulations and other matters. You can tell how passionate she is about running the organization effectively, so it’s no surprise what she’s been able to accomplish. I look forward to working with her and her team for years to come.”Every Shelter Another innovative organization that MoFo has been proud to partner with is <a href="https://everyshelter.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Every Shelter</a>, a nonprofit dedicated to developing low-cost, high-impact products geared towards improving the lives of refugees living in shelters. Every Shelter’s best-known product, the Emergency Floor system, provides families living in shelter encampments with quickly deployable, lightweight, and insulated flooring that is easy to install and requires no tools.There are currently millions of refugees living in shelters, which are intended to be temporary but oftentimes end up being not so temporary. Many live in these makeshift shelters for upwards of 12-17 years, most with no flooring. In crowded camps, this often means a dirt floor with poor drainage, flooding issues, and no barriers against sewage and human waste. As noted in an article by Every Shelter Co-Founder Nicole Iman, titled <a href="https://everyshelter.org/what-difference-can-a-floor-make/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What Difference Can a Floor Make?</a>, a study on the impacts of a social program in Mexico called Piso Firme (Firm Floor) found that by replacing dirt floors with a clean floor surface, parasitic infections in children can be decreased by as much as 78%, diarrhea by 49%, and anemia by 81%. The study also found an increase in childhood cognitive development by up to 96%. Adults responded to solid flooring with lower rates of depression and stress and higher satisfaction in their quality of life.Our first project for Every Shelter engaged a New York litigation team, London associate Harriet Sassoon, and trainee solicitors Ziqi Qi and Matthew Rodin to develop a statement of supply-chain principles and expectations for Every Shelter’s suppliers. The statement covered slavery, child labor, and safe working conditions.Beijing corporate senior counsel Sherry Yin was poised to assist Every Shelter with its next request: negotiating contracts with potential Emergency Floor manufacturers in China.  However, the Covid-19 epidemic and other developments led the group to move its manufacturing to Turkey instead.  While advising on contracts in Turkey was beyond our capacity, we succeeded in connecting Every Shelter to pro bono counsel there through the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation.Most recently, Every Shelter has sought our help to engage with the Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to ensure that its shipments of Emergency Floor products to organizations that house refugees in Syria would not violate U.S. sanctions. Washington, D.C. litigation of counsels Aki Bayz and Michael Dobson, as well as co-head of the firm’s National Security practice John Smith, are leading this effort. On the importance of this work, Aki notes, “Given the refugee crises in Syria, it is rewarding to assist Every Shelter in supporting its humanitarian efforts to relieve suffering.”<a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/pro-bono" target="_self">Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to pro bono</a>.

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Meet the Innovative MoFo Clients That Are Working to Improve Living Conditions for Displaced Individuals

Meet the Innovative MoFo Clients That Are Working to Improve Living Conditions for Displaced Individuals

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For many of us, it’s easy to take everyday things for granted; things like a roof over our head, a floor under our feet, a safe place to sleep, or clean-running

For over 40 years, MoFo has been committed to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment where everyone’s contributions are valued. That’s why we’re proud to announce the achievement of “Mansfield Certification Plus” status for 2020, making us one of 25 firms to receive the honor consecutively for three years. To continue moving the needle forward, the firm is also joining a number of the country’s leading law firms for version 4.0 of the <a href="http://www.diversitylab.com/pilot-projects/mansfield-rule/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mansfield Rule</a>, set to run from July 2020 to July 2021.The Rule is one of the winning ideas of the inaugural 2016 Women in Law Hackathon event, hosted by Stanford Law School. The Mansfield Rule was designed to explore new ways to close the gender gap and increase diversity in law firms.MoFo legal teams participated in the high-energy <a href="http://www.diversitylab.com/diversity-in-law-hackathons/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hackathon</a> two years in a row, with San Francisco Litigation partner<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/anna-white.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Anna Erickson White </a>and her team taking third place in 2017 during the pilot session, and <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/bradley-wine.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brad Wine</a>, co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Department, and his team securing first place the following year.Inspired by the NFL’s “Rooney Rule,” which requires all teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coach positions. The Mansﬁeld Rule measures whether law ﬁrms have considered historically underrepresented lawyers for signiﬁcant governance roles, lateral openings, and promotions. The Mansﬁeld Rule is named for Arabella Mansﬁeld, the ﬁrst woman lawyer admitted to the practice of law in the United States.The rule measures a firm’s commitment to considering a diverse group of candidates for leadership and governance roles, with women, LGBTQ+, and attorneys of color accounting for at least 30 percent of those roles. Every year, Diversity Lab continues to expand upon the original criteria; new to version 3.0, for example was the addition of attorneys with disabilities in the populations considered. Due to growing interest from firms, Version 4.0 will launch a category for Midsize Law Firms and expand into the UK in September 2020.By successfully demonstrating its adherence throughout the year and earning the distinction of “Mansfield Certification Plus,” MoFo will be given the opportunity to send newly hired diverse partners to one of several two-day client forums where they will be able to pitch innovative ideas, seek mentorship, and network with a variety of in-house council.This past year, the firm sent five partners to the <a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/five-mofo-partners-attend-diversity-labs-mansfield-client-forums/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">client forums</a> held in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. The partners were invited to attend both days of the forums in each city. The first day was filled with intriguing TED-style talks interspersed with small-group, professional networking breaks to facilitate business connections. The second day was dedicated to small-group pitch meetings with select in-house counsel. The client forums present a unique opportunity to network with other diverse attorneys and meet with high-level in-house counsel representing companies such as CBS, Lincoln Financial Group, Pfizer, BASF, MassMutual, and PepsiCo, among others.We are excited to have been a successful participant in Mansfield 3.0 and look forward to once again partnering with Diversity Lab and completing Mansfield 4.0.Learn more about our participation in the Mansfield Rule <a href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/news/200915-mofo-earns-mansfield-certification.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

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MoFo Achieves “Mansfield Certification Plus” Status for 2020

MoFo Achieves “Mansfield Certification Plus” Status for 2020

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For over 40 years, MoFo has been committed to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment where everyo

Editors’ Note: MoFo’s Women’s Strategy Committee (WSC) comprises both male and female partners and associates who strive to foster women attorneys’ development and professional success. In a recent program hosted by the WSC, San Francisco-based Securities Litigation, Enforcement + White Collar Defense (SLEW) associate Lauren Navarro interviewed New York-based partner and co-chair of the firm’s Investigations + White Collar practice <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/ruti-smithline.html">Ruti Smithline</a> and San Francisco-based partner, leader of the firm’s Global Ethics and Compliance practiceand co-chair of the WSC <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/stacey-sprenkel.html">Stacey Sprenkel</a>. In this 18th installment of the MoFo Women Spotlight series, Ruti and Stacey discuss how they grew into their roles and what has helped shaped their careers.Lauren: Ruti and Stacey, could you both give us a quick introduction and tell us a little bit about your practice and how you came to the firm?Ruti: I’ve been at MoFo for 15 years, which every time I say that, I feel a bit shocked because I don’t know how 15 years have gone by so fast. I’m in SLEW and my practice is focused on “EW” side of SLEW, so the enforcement and the white collar side. I also do a lot of cross-border investigations with a particular focus on Latin America.Stacey: I lead the firm’s Global Ethics and Compliance practice, but I am also a member of the SLEW practice. Like Ruti, I’m on the “EW” side. I do a wide range of internal investigations and compliance counseling, helping companies develop and test their compliance programs. I’ve also done a lot of anti-corruption and compliance-related diligence for cross-border transactions, and some litigation, as it turns out. I have also been here for 15 years, and Ruti and I have been working really closely together for many years—more than a decade at this point.Lauren: Stacey, can you tell us a little bit about how you got into ethics and compliance work and how your practice has developed over the 15 years you’ve been here?Stacey: It was sort of fortuitous and organic the way that it all developed, but when I first started at MoFo, the only thing I thought I knew about my practice was that I didn’t want to be in the SLEW Group. When I first started at the firm, I was working on a securities litigation case and an internal investigation and I loved them both, but I was sort of stubborn. I tried a whole lot of other things and, relatively quickly, came to the conclusion that I actually loved working on the SLEW team, I really liked the people, and I thought the matters were really interesting.I would say that I got kind of lucky because I was working on some anti-corruption focused matters right around the time that the Department of Justice started to enforce the FCPA. I developed this area of expertise, and that was really valuable, although we didn’t know at the time that it would be. I started working on M&A diligence, anti‑corruption-related issues, and compliance issues, and started helping companies that were just starting to realize they needed a compliance program, develop their programs. As a result of that, I ended up having a lot of experience with these issues and, as it became a much bigger area of focus for clients, for the government, and for the firm, my practice just kind of grew.Lauren: Do you have any advice for a junior attorney who’s looking to get into this kind of work? Stacey: My advice on that would be the same advice that I would give to anyone about any area of the law, which is to actively pursue things that interest you and teams that you want to work with. I think you come to a firm like MoFo and there are so many interesting things going on that it’s really easy to sit back and have matters come your way and roll with what you’re given. But I think the more that you actively engage in trying the things that seem interesting to you, whether that’s the FCPA or something else, talking to the partners that do the kind of work you’re interested in, even if it’s not a billable matter, you can really play a pretty active role in steering your career the way that you want to steer it. When you find the right team in the right area of practice for you, it just clicks and you know.Lauren: Ruti, did you know coming into the firm that you were interested in white collar investigations, or did it happen more organically?Ruti: I joined the firm as a third-year associate. The firm I was at before MoFo didn’t have a white collar practice. It was frustrating to me that we wouldn’t handle the type of cases with a criminal component and that they would go to a different firm. I was like, “I want to be doing that piece of it.” So, when I was looking to lateral, I was specifically looking for a white collar practice. When I started at MoFo, I was given the opportunity to work—only about a year into my joining MoFo—on one of the very first big FCPA investigations that the firm handled.Lauren: Now that you’ve been doing this work for about 15 years, does something stand out as your favorite part of your practice, or the thing that you enjoy the most about your day-to-day?Ruti: I would say there’s not one thing, but a couple of things. One, I think, is our team. I really do think we have a phenomenally good team. And, that’s a team that’s across all offices around the globe. The second thing I would say is that, at least on the internal investigation side, you’re constantly learning something new about a company or a different industry. So, I have found myself in these situations where I’m like, “How is a lawyer in New York here?” I was in a windmill farm three hours outside Oaxaca, Mexico, a pineapple farm in Costa Rica, and a mail facility in the Philippines and wondered, “How is this my job?”Lauren: Stacey, is there anything that stands out as your favorite part about our practice or your day-to-day?Stacey: I agree with both of the things that Ruti said. For me personally, it would be really hard to be on a team that was competitive. Ruti and I came up together as associates, and then Ruti became a partner the year before I did. I can’t imagine working in an environment where Ruti and I felt like we had to compete with each other. We talk all the time and constantly give each other ideas about how to approach something. I feel like our team is so cohesive, even though we are spread around the globe, and so supportive of each other. I went out on a maternity leave, and it was completely seamless to just hand my matters off to Ruti and Dan Levison. It’s really good to be at a place where we’re all just trying to get the right result for the client and we’re having some fun doing it. I also agree that, at least once a week something happens in my job where I’m like, “How is this what I do?” or “Do I get paid for this?”The other thing I would add is, in my compliance practice, a lot of what I do is work with clients as things come up, day to day. I love that because on the investigation side of the practice or as a litigator, you’re typically dealing with things that happened in the past and you’re reactive. So, there’s something really beneficial and interesting about having that proactive element to your practice where you’re trying to not just figure out what happened in the past, but to  mitigate risk. It’s nice to be involved in helping clients figure out how to build in a way that is consistent with their ethical values and in a way that minimizes their legal and compliance risk.Lauren: Ruti, is there anything that you know now as a partner that surprises you, or that you wish that you could tell your former, junior attorney self?Ruti: Some advice I got from Paul Friedman a while back—who mentored both Stacey and me—was to look at your career in the sense that it’s really not a sprint and it’s certainly a marathon; that there are points in your life where you’re going to be all in on your job and there are points in your life that your personal life or particular circumstances are going to call on you to drop back a little bit, and that’s okay. When I came to the firm, my plan was originally to stay here for a few years and then apply to be a prosecutor. Then I had my daughter as a fifth year associate, and it seemed like the wrong time to be changing jobs. Ten-plus years passed and here I still am. I think what really made me want to be a partner, particularly at MoFo, was the ability to have and raise my daughter, while not compromising any of the things that I wanted for my family.Lauren: Stacey, is there anything that you know now that surprises you, or something you wish you could tell your prior self? Stacey: I think that it’s easy to have an image in your mind of what your career is going to look like, and to feel like you need to sort of plow straight ahead. I would say just to be open. Be open to the different things that come your way and the opportunities to work with different people on different kinds of matters. Never stop learning because there might be that new area of the law that becomes really interesting and significant over time. Another thing that surprised me is how dedicated the partners are to mentoring the associates on their teams and getting behind them in the evaluation process, putting their team members forward to speak on panels or speak internally on panels at the firm. Take advantage of people who are trying to mentor you. Ask partners that you’re working with to lunch. Tell them what your career goals are. Ask them questions about how they got to where they are. Ask them for constructive feedback.Lauren: Do you think that this is unique to MoFo or something that sets MoFo apart?Ruti: I do think that’s part of the MoFo difference. I think it’s the culture that I found that fit really well for me. There’s a number of reasons why the firm is set up the way it is. For example, if you look at partner compensation, there’s a lot of recognition for how much you are helping others. So Stacey’s success is my success, too. MoFo itself is structured to encourage and really give priority to this culture.Stacey: I think because we have a reputation of having this kind of collaborative culture that we attract people that are attracted to that. I would definitely say that there are structures in place at the firm that encourage that. I feel like I’ve always had a really good team. They’re not just smart lawyers.  They’re not just really good lawyers. They’re really good people, and that, I think, makes the job so much more rewarding.Learn more about the Women’s Strategy Committee and Morrison & Forester’s commitment to the advancement of women in the <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/women-of-mofo">legal profession here</a>.

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MoFo Women Spotlight: Ruti Smithline and Stacey Sprenkel

MoFo Women Spotlight: Ruti Smithline and Stacey Sprenkel

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Editors’ Note: MoFo’s Women’s Strategy Committee (WSC) comprises both male and female partners and associates who strive to foster women attorneys’ development 

What do you get when you combine some of the world’s most talented government regulators, former prosecutors, privacy experts, fraud examiners, trial lawyers, international trade specialists, and forensic accountants? You get a powerhouse legal team that can tackle almost any challenge that organizations might face when finding themselves in the crosshairs of an investigation.MoFo’s <a href="https://www.mofo.com/capabilities/investigations-white-collar-defense.html#overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Investigations + White Collar Defense</a> practice group has been consistently recognized by Chambers, Legal 500, and GIR 100 for its capability and expertise in the areas of corporate investigations and anti-corruption, white collar criminal and government investigations, FCPA and corporate crime investigations, and white-collar criminal defense.When it comes to getting ahead of potential compliance and regulatory issues, their multidisciplinary, holistic approach to advising boards responding to suspicions of wrongful conduct has served clients well. By providing clients with a full picture of the legal framework, the team is able to help minimize, and often eliminate, their exposure to future liability and damages claims.Addressing the complex issues that their clients face in today’s rapidly-changing legal and regulatory climate, requires a team that is as varied and dynamic as the industries it represents, which range from banking and consumer products to technology and healthcare. And, no matter the size of the investigation or where it takes place, our Investigations + White Collar Defense Group is strategically positioned to offer its global perspective to clients in over 65 countries on six continents.Our Diverse in Practice series highlights some of the many inclusive practice groups that are leading the way for MoFo. In this installment, we take a closer look at the lawyers whose unique voices and perspectives are driving outstanding client outcomes for our Investigations + White Collar Defense Group. Read their stories here:<a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-investigations-white-collar-defense-lawyers-saqib-alam/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Saqib Alam</a><a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-investigations-white-collar-defense-lawyers-monica-chan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Monica Chan</a><a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-investigations-white-collar-defense-lawyers-carrie-h-cohen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Carrie H. Cohen</a><a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-investigations-white-collar-defense-lawyers-sheryl-george/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sheryl George</a><a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-investigations-white-collar-defense-lawyers-dr-mingda-hang/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dr. Mingda Hang</a><a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-investigations-white-collar-defense-lawyers-sandeep-nandivada/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sandeep Nandivada</a><a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-investigations-white-collar-defense-lawyers-nicole-serfoss/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nicole Serfoss</a>Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

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Diverse in Practice: Investigations + White Collar Defense

Diverse in Practice: Investigations + White Collar Defense

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What do you get when you combine some of the world’s most talented government regulators, former prosecutors, privacy experts, fraud examiners, trial lawyers, i

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/saqib-alam.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Saqib Alam</a> is a litigation of counsel in MoFo’s London office. His practice focuses on white collar defense, compliance and investigations. Based in London for the last 12 years, he has carried out white-collar investigations covering more than 30 countries. Saqib’s expertise has been sought by companies with global operations to investigate matters ranging from alleged bribery, money laundering, antitrust, sanctions violations, and fraud.In addition to guiding companies on handling regulatory investigations, Saqib has also represented clients in complex commercial litigation and international arbitration matters. He advises clients on cross-border litigation strategy and helps them navigate contentious matters in unfamiliar jurisdictions. His litigation and arbitration experience (LCIA, ICC, SIAC) spans a broad range of industries and geographies, with a particular focus on Asia.In 2020, Saqib was recommended by Legal 500 UK, for his experience with civil crime, fraud, and licensing matters; white-collar crime and corporate investigations; and risk advisory and dispute resolution. He was also named a “Future Leader for Investigations” by Who’s Who Legal in 2019. In addition to his practice, Saqib is a frequent speaker on anti-bribery compliance and dispute resolution.What was it that initially drew you to this area of law? I have a naturally inquisitive and curious mind. Investigations are like solving a complex puzzle that does not always paint the picture you think might be there. To get to the true picture, you have to find all the pieces of the puzzle (the facts) and use those to build the story (what happened). There is no room for reverse engineering. It involves studying data points, speaking to people and understanding your clients’ business inside and out. Collaboration with your clients is vital; after all, they are the ones who know their business best. This is great for me, since I’ve always preferred collaborative learning over self-study.How does the Investigations + White Collar Defense practice intersect with, or improve upon, similar practice areas?Investigations work is a central aspect of my litigation, regulatory enforcement, and corporate compliance practices. When things go wrong, conducting prompt and thorough investigations is critical to understanding what happened and making sure it never happens again. In doing so, you also want to ensure you have not violated any laws or exposed yourself to any litigation risk from anyone. Having a strong compliance framework and ensuring that you’re doing the right thing allows you to avoid these risks in the first place.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career, or perhaps why you are driven to mentor others?I have had many mentors and sponsors in my career. They have included Supreme Court Judges, current and former Attorneys-General, senior lawyers, academics, siblings, and peers. They have come from the most diverse backgrounds in gender, age, race, and sexual orientation. I have always believed that no one should be deemed unqualified to teach you something you do not know yet. Realizing the significant impact that diverse mentorship has had on my career, I am grateful to be in a position today to be able to advocate for more junior attorneys, particularly those who have been historically underrepresented in the law profession. As a team, the varied opinions and points of view that these lawyers bring positively impact our group and our clients notice it, too.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s Investigations + White Collar Defense Lawyers: Saqib Alam

Meet MoFo’s Investigations + White Collar Defense Lawyers: Saqib Alam

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Saqib Alam is a litigation of counsel in MoFo’s London office. His practice focuses on white collar defense, compliance and investigations. Based in London for 

Monica Chan is a litigation associate in MoFo’s New York office. Her practice focuses on securities litigation and investigations, representing clients in both internal and government‑facing investigations before the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the New York State Attorney General’s Office in response to allegations of accounting fraud, corruption, and bribery.Monica’s experience includes advising numerous clients on their compliance programs and matters relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. She has also represented public companies and their officers and directors in securities class actions and shareholder demands.Prior to joining MoFo, Monica practiced at an AmLaw 100 firm. In addition to earning her J.D. with honors from University of Chicago Law School, she received her B.A., cum laude, in psychology with a minor in computer science and legal studies from the University of Rochester. She is also fluent in Mandarin and CantoneseWhat was it that initially drew you to this area of law? I was initially interested in investigations because practically every matter requires me to learn something new pertaining to the client’s work, whether it be the pharmaceutical industry, accounting practices, or the construction industry. I like that investigations do not follow a predictable pattern, and each investigation can branch off and evolve in different directions depending on the findings.Do you have any examples of interesting work you’ve performed in this space? I worked on an individual representation of someone who was facing potential price-fixing criminal charges in connection with his work in the pharmaceutical industry and not only learned a lot about the pharmaceutical industry, but also about the client himself. We were able figure out the client’s strengths and weaknesses in prepping him for proffers with the government and eventually obtained a non-prosecution letter for him.Do you have any advice for the next generation of aspiring diverse lawyers who might be interested in the field? I think it is important to figure out an asset that you can uniquely bring to the table because of your background. For instance, a second language can come in handy in investigations, such as for FCPA matters that reach beyond the United States. I am fluent in Chinese and have in the past been asked to work on investigations involving Chinese and other foreign languages.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s Investigations + White-Collar Defense Lawyers: Monica Chan

Meet MoFo’s Investigations + White-Collar Defense Lawyers: Monica Chan

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Monica Chan is a litigation associate in MoFo’s New York office. Her practice focuses on securities litigation and investigations, representing clients in both 

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/carrie-cohen.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Carrie H. Cohen</a> is a litigation partner in MoFo’s New York office. Her practice focuses on advising and representing corporations, boards, and c-suite executives in sensitive government‑facing investigative and regulatory matters. Carrie has been frequently recognized for her extensive trial experience and success in high-stakes, white-collar defense and securities matters.Before joining the firm, Carrie served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where she investigated and tried public corruption, investment fraud, and securities cases. More recently, she was appointed by the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York as Counsel to the Court’s Grievance Committee.  Prior to serving as a federal prosecutor, Carrie was an Assistant Attorney General in the New York State Attorney General’s Office where she was Chief of the Public Corruption Unit and received the Louis J. Lefkowitz Award for outstanding service.As part of her active practice, Carrie is co-chair of the firm’s Workplace Misconduct Investigations Task Force and serves on multiple bar committees and task forces dedicated to criminal justice reform, including as Chair of the New York State Bar Association’s (“NYSBA”) Task Force on Domestic Terrorism and Hate Crimes, serving on the NYSBA’s Racial Injustice and Police Reform Task Force and its Task Force on Wrongful Convictions.  Carrie also is a Board Member of Volunteers of Legal Service and the Federal Bar Council as well as serving on the Federal-State Judicial Advisory Council.  In addition, Carrie is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School where she teaches a seminar on Public Corruption and the Law.Carrie is an active proponent for the advancement of women in the legal profession, both inside and outside of the firm. As co-chair of the firm’s Women’s Strategy Committee, she works with firm leaders to ensure the advancement of women remains a strategic priority. Carrie also spearheads a professional development program for women attorneys in Latin America and South Africa as a member of the New York City Bar’s Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice.What was it that initially drew you to this area of law?   Investigations and white-collar criminal defense allows me to put my legal and analytical skills to the best possible use helping corporations and individuals navigate extremely high-stakes and complex government inquiries. Being able to apply my former experience in the government to helping my clients is extremely rewarding and satisfying.Do you have any examples of interesting work you’ve performed in this space?  As Special Counsel to the Metropolitan Transit Authority, I reviewed overtime policies and procedures in order to help the MTA and the Board reduce overtime and institute reform of related policies and procedures. In addition, my work on behalf of the New York City Council investigating allegations of misconduct by sitting Council Members and representing the Council at related disciplinary proceedings has been extremely interesting, especially as my work has helped inform the public of certain misconduct of its elected officials.Is there any evidence that you’ve seen indicating that diversity and inclusion is becoming more of a priority in your practice group, or do you have suggestions on how it can do so in the future?  General Counsels and heads of investigation and litigation groups within corporate in-house legal departments are laser focused on diversity. It no longer is sufficient to pitch with a diverse team or have a diverse team work on a matter. In-house counsel are demanding that diverse attorneys perform meaningful work on their matters, which I believe will greatly help move the needle forward.Could you tell us about someone who was a role model to you, either personally or professionally, and why?  Judith P. Vladeck was one of my role models. She was a pioneering women attorney who dedicated her legal career to fighting for the rights of workers and especially for women in the workplace. I was fortunate to have worked with her as a young associate and she taught me how to be tough but fair, compassionate but practical, and how to exercise my best judgment and trust my instinct.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s Investigations + White-Collar Defense Lawyers: Carrie H. Cohen

Meet MoFo’s Investigations + White-Collar Defense Lawyers: Carrie H. Cohen

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Carrie H. Cohen is a litigation partner in MoFo’s New York office. Her practice focuses on advising and representing corporations, boards, and c-suite executive

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/sheryl-george.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sheryl George</a> is a disputes and compliance associate in MoFo’s Singapore office. Her practice focuses on investigations and white-collar matters, regulatory and global compliance, including compliance due diligence for corporate transactions, as well as complex commercial disputes. Sheryl has experience working on a broad range of complex matters, with particular expertise in fraud and corruption, money laundering, economic sanctions, as well as cybercrime and cybersecurity. Sheryl works with clients across a range of sectors including technology, e-commerce and private equity.Before joining MoFo, Sheryl was a Deputy Public Prosecutor/ State Counsel in the Criminal Justice Division, Financial and Technology Crime Division, and the Advocacy Group of the Singapore Attorney-General’s Chambers. Serving as lead prosecutor and state counsel, she spearheaded a wide variety of financial crime and regulatory matters, and successfully argued a number of cases before the High Court of the Republic of Singapore.Sheryl has an active interest in pro-bono work and she recently partnered with the International Legal Foundation in a groundbreaking initiative to <a href="https://together.mofo.com/pro-bono/mofo-litigators-deliver-anti-corruption-training-to-afghanistan-based-lawyers-who-defend-the-indigent/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">train public defenders in Afghanistan to handle anti-corruption cases</a>. Sheryl also regularly writes on investigations and white collar issues for leading publications and was a co-author of the chapter on Data Privacy and Transfers in Investigations in GIR’s 2020 Asia-Pacific Investigations Review. She has also written on transactional compliance due diligence for the Ethisphere Institute’s Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA) Asia Pacific Magazine.What was it that initially drew you to this area of law?I began my career as a prosecutor in Singapore, with much of my time spent investigating and prosecuting a wide variety of financial crime and regulatory matters. Much of what drew me to my work also continues to hold true in my practice at MoFo today: an investigation is an exercise in reconstructing a story; you look back in time to uncover the characters, places, things, motivations and actions that come together to tell that story. No two stories are ever the same; they each raise different (and often unexpected) issues and I am drawn to the unique problem solving challenges each presents. An investigations lawyer would be hard pressed to say that any day on the job was “routine.”Besides that, I was also drawn to the diversity of people that an investigations lawyer has the opportunity to interact with—in-house counsel, the client’s employees and various stakeholders, forensic investigators and other professional service providers, regulators and law enforcement agencies. As someone who enjoys working closely with people, investigations are exciting—conducting witness interviews and working closely with clients, colleagues, and experts to develop the right solutions makes for enjoyable and rewarding work.Do you have any examples of interesting work you’ve performed in this space? I spend a significant amount of my time working very closely with one of the firm’s largest global clients. I work on a wide variety of cases with this client, but my work is made most interesting because our close working relationship has afforded me the unique opportunity to really get to know the company and to build a deep understanding of its ins and outs—how they operate internally, what drives their decision-making, and its risk tolerance levels. Understanding the why behind client decision-making is one of the most thought-provoking parts of my job.This insider view has also given me the perspective from which I am able to ask detailed and informed questions about the company’s needs and priorities. This has in turn translated into a more acute understanding of what clients expect from best in class service—solutions that are far from cookie cutter, but which are instead, tailored to their unique circumstances, and anchored in a strong grasp of their particular risk profiles.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career, or perhaps why you are driven to mentor others?Mentorship is absolutely key. I strongly believe that every lawyer’s development is in part dependent on the mentorship they receive, but so often good mentorship is hard to come by. I am thankful that I have had and continue to have great mentors who invest in me, and who champion my career. Over the years, my mentors have had immense faith in me, often seeing in me abilities of which I was not aware and giving me the opportunities to push myself and develop my skillsets as an attorney—whether by allowing me to lead a difficult trial, or to present to a client in challenging circumstances. Having this privilege leaves me with a sense of responsibility to more junior or soon-to-be attorneys—to encourage and to help where I can. I believe it also helps to remember that the standards of excellence in our firms and our profession as a whole benefit when we focus on the betterment of those who join us.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s Investigations + White Collar Defense Lawyers: Sheryl George

Meet MoFo’s Investigations + White Collar Defense Lawyers: Sheryl George

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Sheryl George is a disputes and compliance associate in MoFo’s Singapore office. Her practice focuses on investigations and white-collar matters, regulatory and