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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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

<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>.

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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

Dr. Mingda Hang is a litigation associate in MoFo’s Washington, D.C. office. He focuses his practice on white-collar criminal defense and internal investigations, representing companies and individuals facing a wide range of allegations involving securities and accounting fraud, corruption and briberies, economic espionage, and money laundering. Mingda has worked with and defended both corporate clients in high-profile cross-border investigations, and a number of individual clients in resolving potential and actual criminal charges.In addition to his experience, Mingda draws strength from a diverse background. He was born and raised in China, and came to the United States at 23 for graduate school. Prior to his legal career, Mingda studied regulatory mechanisms of how DNAs are transcribed in eukaryotic cells and received his doctorate degree in molecular genetics and microbiology from the School of Medicine at University of Virginia. Since graduating from Virginia Law in 2014, Mingda has helped a number of Chinese clients to navigate through the U.S. government enforcement landscape, and the significant cultural challenges that it presents. Mingda’s ability to seamlessly understand clients’ needs and provide counsel, on both a linguistic and cultural level, has proven to be uniquely effective.What was it that initially drew you to this area of law?Two things. First, white‑collar crimes, either on a corporate level or an individual level, are invariably studies of human nature. I am drawn to that. Second, I was a molecular geneticist by training, so getting to the bottom of things is very attractive to me.Do you have any examples of interesting work you’ve performed in this space?In 2018, Chuck Duross and I represented a Chinese environmental engineering company and its managing director in a World Bank sanctions proceeding. The World Bank alleged that our client, with the help of a local consultant, colluded with an Indonesian government official, and subsequently used the insider information to secure a World Bank-financed project. Our client was facing a four-year debarment, meaning that they would be ineligible to apply for funding from any multilateral development banks for four years. This would have been an effective death sentence for many companies operating in this sphere.Our client believed in its innocence and decided to fight the charges all the way to the World Bank’s Sanctions Board, which is the highest tribunal within the Bank. It was a tall order: more than 98% of petitioners have lost their cases in front of the Sanctions Board. This is understandable: at the end of the day, the Bank must vigilantly protect its integrity. Long story short, we beat the odds and successfully persuaded the Board that the severe penalty was unwarranted in light of the factual record. In the end, the Board issued a letter of reprimand in place of the four-year debarment, a dramatic turn of events and probably the best result possible for our client.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career, or perhaps why you are driven to mentor others?I have been exceedingly fortunate to apprentice under several former federal prosecutors. In September 2017, I joined MoFo for the specific purpose of seeking mentorship by Chuck Duross and James Koukios. The white-collar practice, while exhilarating and rewarding, is also fraught with risks and pitfalls for our clients, the firm, and ourselves. Some of the most critical skills in this area of law, including being a disciplined communicator and risk manager, are intangible and can only be learned by shadowing the masters and waxing the car.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: Dr. Mingda Hang

Meet MoFo’s Investigations + White-Collar Defense Lawyers: Dr. Mingda Hang

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Dr. Mingda Hang is a litigation associate in MoFo’s Washington, D.C. office. He focuses his practice on white-collar criminal defense and internal investigation

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/sandeep-nandivada.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sandeep Nandivada</a> is a litigation associate in MoFo’s Washington, D.C. office. His practice focuses on civil litigation and complex internal investigations, as well as government contracts compliance. Sandeep’s civil litigation experience includes litigating high-profile bid protests across an array of subject matters, from cloud computing and space launches to professional services and healthcare.He also has significant experience conducting investigations with False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, Procurement Integrity Act, and suspension and debarment implications. He has advised clients regarding procurement fraud, anti-corruption, procurement integrity, defective pricing, and export control issues, and has assisted clients with mandatory disclosures required under the Federal Acquisition Regulation.The National Law Journal recently named Sandeep to its list of D.C. Rising Stars and Best Lawyers included him on their 2020 “Ones to Watch” list. He has also appeared on Law360’s list of Rising Stars for Government Contracts. Additionally, Sandeep is engaged in the firm’s pro bono efforts and was part of the legal team that represented nearly 50 faith-based organizations in filing amicus briefs in the United States Courts of Appeal in the Fourth and Ninth Circuits and the U.S. Supreme Court, in opposition to the Executive Order prohibiting refugees from around the world—including citizens of six predominantly Muslim countries—from entering the United States.What was it that initially drew you to this area of law? Investigations are like puzzles; to get to the solution, you have to find all the pieces and fit them together to see the big picture. I was drawn to the idea of working hand in hand with clients to put the pieces together. Investigations also present unique opportunities to learn more about clients and how they operate internally. Having been seconded as in-house investigations counsel, I know firsthand how helpful it is when your counsel knows your company inside and out.How does the Investigations + White Collar Defense practice intersect with, or improve upon, similar practice areas?Investigations work is a central aspect of my government contracts practice. Government contracts is a highly-regulated field replete with disclosure requirements. For example, government contractors must submit disclosures to agency inspector generals whenever they have credible evidence of certain Title 18 violations or violation of the civil False Claims Act. Contractors also face data breach disclosure requirements. And, in many cases, voluntary disclosures may be prudent. Conducting prompt and thorough investigations is critical to making such disclosures and complying with legal obligations.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career, or perhaps why you are driven to mentor others?I have had several mentors invested in me and my career. They have encouraged my professional growth and offered opportunities to hone my skills and develop expertise in investigations work. Recognizing the positive impact that mentorship has had on my career, I feel a sense of duty to pay it forward for more junior attorneys. We can all help each other succeed.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: Sandeep Nandivada

Meet MoFo’s Investigations + White Collar Defense Lawyers: Sandeep Nandivada

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Sandeep Nandivada is a litigation associate in MoFo’s Washington, D.C. office. His practice focuses on civil litigation and complex internal investigations, as 

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/nicole-serfoss.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nicole Serfoss</a> is a litigation partner in MoFo’s Denver office. Her practice focuses on representing clients in SEC enforcement matters, corporate internal investigations, and securities class actions. With over a decade of experience, she is well-versed in representing companies, board committees, officers, and directors in a wide range of matters involving accounting and disclosure issues.Nicole has tried over a dozen cases as a special prosecutor in the Denver City Attorney’s Municipal Court Trial Advocacy Program and has been recognized as a Colorado Rising Star by Super Lawyers. In addition to her regular practice, she is highly dedicated to pro bono service, receiving the Wiley W. Manuel award for Pro Bono Legal services. In addition, Nicole is an active member of the Colorado legal community, including being a member in the Minoru Yasui Inn of Court, the Women’s White Collar Defense Association, and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association.What was it that initially drew you to this area of law? My first matter as a junior associate at Morrison & Foerster in 2006 was an options backdating internal investigation, where I discovered that I enjoy the challenge of digging deeply into the facts, identifying potential issues, and piecing together the puzzle. Each investigation presents its own unique issues, facts, and challenges. Almost 15 years later, I continue to enjoy assisting audit committees and special committees with complex internal investigations.Is there any evidence that you’ve seen indicating that diversity and inclusion is becoming more of a priority in your practice group, or suggestions on how it can do so in the future? MoFo’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is increasingly reflected in our Investigations + White‑Collar Defense practice group. In recent years, the practice group has made several outstanding hires, including Jina Choi (former Director of the SEC’s San Francisco Regional office), Haima Marlier (former SEC Senior Trial Counsel), and Christine Wong and Joshua Hill, Jr. (both former AUSAs in the Northern District of California). At both the partner and associate level, the diverse backgrounds and experiences of attorneys in our practice group contribute to the quality of services that we provide to our clients. We likewise see our clients placing increased emphasis on the importance of diversity.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career, or perhaps why you are driven to mentor others?Mentors have been a huge part of my professional development as a lawyer. Having someone to talk through issues with and who champions your work to others is invaluable. I feel a responsibility to pay that forward and to mentor and teach younger associates.

Meet MoFo’s Investigations +White-Collar Defense Lawyers: Nicole Serfoss

Meet MoFo’s Investigations +White-Collar Defense Lawyers: Nicole Serfoss

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Nicole Serfoss is a litigation partner in MoFo’s Denver office. Her practice focuses on representing clients in SEC enforcement matters, corporate internal inve

At age 97, Betty Reid Soskin is not only the oldest National Park Ranger, she’s a powerful voice for the African-American wartime experience. When visitors come to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/rori/index.htm">Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park</a>, they are eager to find Betty and get a photo with this national treasure, who still works five days a week presenting her unique perspective on American history to packed theaters at the park. Before joining the National Park Service at the age of 85, Betty was an entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, community activist, and legislative representative, and also played an integral role in planning the park.The WWII Home Front National Historical Park was founded in the year 2000 to honor the many heroes who worked on the home front to support the war. With a shortage of white male workers who were sent into service, the United States Government began to actively recruit women and, later, minorities to war industry jobs. “Rosie the Riveter” became an iconic symbol for the nearly six million women who entered the workforce during WWII.The great granddaughter of slaves and a former file clerk for the Boilermakers Union A-36, a Jim Crow all-Black union auxiliary, Betty’s life has been filled with challenges and painful moments, yet she remains hopeful that the next generation will benefit from the history lessons of those who paved the way for them. She first caught the attention of the public during the government shutdown of 2013, when she, as the oldest furloughed National Park Ranger, told the media that gridlocked legislators were wasting her precious time to do important work.A team of MoFo lawyers from the San Francisco office has partnered with the Rosie the Riveter Trust—a nonprofit formed to support the national historical park—to ensure that Betty’s important work is remembered through a documentary film by Carl Bidleman titled No Time to Waste. Partner Paul Jahn has been advising the Trust on IP and commercial issues relating to film production for some time. More recently, MoFo corporate associate <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittaniojoghofields/">Brittani Ojogho-Fields</a> did a content clearance review on the film with the help of summer associates <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidknabe/">Reid Knabe</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-manny-p%C3%A9rez-45744299/">Manny Perez</a>. Paul and Brittani also prepared an agreement with the Bay Area NBC affiliate to air the film on television, which received over 28,000 household views.No Time to Waste explores the life of this legendary National Park Ranger, her reflections on her role in the park’s planning, and her recollections of the African-American woman’s experience working in a segregated environment while supporting the war effort. Betty recalls that often, she “was the only person in the room who had any reason to remember that … what gets remembered is a function of who’s in the room doing the remembering.”Brittani summarizes what working on this project has meant to her, stating “I am extremely honored to be working with the Trust and assisting in sharing the inspiring story of Betty’s life and work with the world. Her lifelong commitment to social justice, even in the face of many obstacles, sets such a motivating example of how we all should dedicate ourselves to creating positive, lasting change in our own communities.”MoFo will continue to work with the Rosie the Riveter Trust as it further promotes No Time to Waste and raises the money needed to enable broader distribution of it. Until then, the film is available for rent for a limited time here: <a href="https://www.notimetowastefilm.com/">https://www.notimetowastefilm.com/</a>.

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The World’s Oldest National Park Ranger Betty Reid Soskin Has No Time to Waste

The World’s Oldest National Park Ranger Betty Reid Soskin Has No Time to Waste

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At age 97, Betty Reid Soskin is not only the oldest National Park Ranger, she’s a powerful voice for the African-American wartime experience. When visitors come

On June 15, 2020, 126 talented law students representing 34 of the nation’s top law schools joined MoFo for the Summer Associate Program. Even though no one could have predicted that we would have our largest summer class attend the program completely online, it couldn’t have gone better, thanks to the Recruitment team who worked so diligently to ensure their experience was as engaging as it would have been in-person.The six-week Summer Associate Program is designed give students the chance to learn about the lawyers, staff, and clients who make MoFo such a special place, and to learn from them in every capacity, from classroom lessons and workshops to researching and drafting briefs for real-life cases. Each week, a new theme was introduced to provide the associates with technical and soft‑skill training in areas such as written and oral communication, legal problem-solving and creative analysis, and teamwork and client service.Rather than traditional lectures, the summers were invited to join a number of panel discussions and forums where they heard from and interacted with MoFo lawyers and a variety of special guest speakers, such as author and historian Dr. William Meinecke, Legal Writing Works founder Kiko Korn, and leadership development trainer and improv coach Jessica Hoffman.In addition, a number of MoFo partners from varying practice groups took the time to discuss some of their biggest cases and lessons learned throughout their careers and give practical advice. Some of the “Meet the Experts” sessions addressed practical skills, such as interpersonal communication, strategic negotiation, persuasive written advocacy, and contract writing. The partners also shared their own MoFo Stories regarding landmark cases they worked on, such as Doe v. Wolf, which ordered an overhaul of the way U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detains people in its custody in the Tucson Sector of Arizona, and Waymo v. Uber, in which MoFo litigators won a favorable settlement after just four days of jury trial and defeated a motion for preliminary injunction that sought to bar Uber’s autonomous vehicle program.Summer associates receive a broad mix of assignments, including writing briefs, motions, contracts, and client memoranda; assisting in drafting and negotiation sessions; helping with depositions and witness preparation; and performing due diligence in corporate transactions. They are also encouraged to volunteer for pro bono assignments. The goal is to provide a variety of substantive projects in which to demonstrate their writing, research, and analytical skills, and get a realistic perspective on what it’s like to be a lawyer at MoFo. This year, we invited some of the associates to write about their experiences from the program and tell us a little more about themselves.Read their MoFo Stories here:<a href="https://together.mofo.com/pro-bono/my-mofo-story-building-legal-practice-skills-through-state-survey-of-election-audits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Building Legal Practice Skills Through State Survey of Election Audits</a> – Megan Smith, Washington, D.C.<a href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-life/my-mofo-story-gaining-a-new-perspective-on-career-path-possibilities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gaining a New Perspective on Career Path Possibilities</a> – James Dionne, Washington, D.C.<a href="https://together.mofo.com/pro-bono/my-mofo-story-kacyn-fujii-on-exploring-how-mofos-pro-bono-program-makes-a-difference/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How MoFo’s Pro Bono Program Makes a Difference</a> – Kacyn Fujii, Palo Alto<a href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-life/my-mofo-story-haley-paloutzian-on-learning-there-is-no-right-or-wrong-way-to-partnership-only-your-way/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Learning There Is No Right or Wrong Way to Partnership, Only Your Way</a> – Haley Paloutzian, Palo Alto<a href="https://together.mofo.com/pro-bono/my-mofo-story-kevin-brown-on-helping-an-important-pro-bono-client-gain-tax-exempt-status/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Helping an Important Pro Bono Client Gain Tax-Exempt Status</a> – Kevin Brown, Boston<a href="https://together.mofo.com/pro-bono/my-mofo-story-navigating-the-path-to-relicense-dams-on-the-tuolumne-river/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Navigating the Path to Relicense Dams on the Toulumne River</a> – Ian Bennett, Palo AltoThe Summer Associate Program wasn’t all training and assignments though. The Recruitment team planned several virtual networking events, including a mixology class, paint night, and a Cyber Sleuths exercise. The virtual social events helped the participants connect with fellow summer associates and attorneys through throughout the summer and resulted in some pretty funny moments.MoFo Chair Larren Nashelsky addressed the summers for one final virtual meeting, where he took questions from the group. He closed by noting that “No one expected this summer to turn out the way it did, so I was especially impressed by the professionalism, patience, and enthusiasm of this class. Our recruiting team went above and beyond to make sure this year’s program went off without a hitch. I thank each and every one of you who took part in the Summer Associate Program for your flexibility and positivity. It was certainly one to remember.”

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MoFo’s 2020 Summer Associate Program Is a Virtual Success

MoFo’s 2020 Summer Associate Program Is a Virtual Success

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On June 15, 2020, 126 talented law students representing 34 of the nation’s top law schools joined MoFo for the Summer Associate Program. Even though no one cou

One thing that struck me when I interviewed with Morrison & Foerster last year was the firm’s commitment to pro bono work. When I spoke to partner Colette Reiner Mayer during my interview, I was impressed to learn that MoFo had sued the government for inhumane conditions at an Arizona detention center in Doe v. Wolf. So, I was excited when we were given the chance to hear more about the case during the summer program.The Doe v. Wolf team described the appalling conditions in the center and showed us some shocking images unearthed during the case. They shared their stories from the case, including how they dealt with the destruction of video evidence and how everyone on the team fell ill with a bad flu right before trial. This was the first major lawsuit challenging conditions in detention centers, and its successful outcome paved the way for future litigation in other detention centers. From listening to this story, it was clear to me that MoFo attorneys can make a real difference with their pro bono work.Even the firm’s smaller pro bono projects can help the community and teach us how to be better lawyers and advocates. This summer, I worked on a conservatorship case for a local couple with a disabled child. The couple was seeking conservatorship to make medical decisions for their son, who has a learning disability. I was given the task of preparing the clients’ conservatorship application, with assistance from Palo Alto partner Rudy Kim and associate Albert Rugo.While on this case, I learned the most by observing Rudy and Albert during our client meetings. It stood out to me how well they were able to explain the application process and answer the clients’ questions. Watching them also showed me how important it is to view things from the clients’ perspective. Once, when I was reviewing a form with the client, I asked a series of questions about the client’s financial situation. Sensing some discomfort at these questions, the attorneys reassured the client that the court only considers these questions to get a fuller picture of their financial situation. Past financial hardship would not disqualify them from obtaining conservatorship. By anticipating the clients’ concerns and viewing it from their perspective, the attorneys were able to put the client at ease. This experience taught me that, no matter the size of the case, building rapport with clients and understanding their point of view is paramount to our work.From cases like Doe v. Wolf to smaller ones like the conservatorship, pro bono gives us the opportunity to develop our legal and interpersonal skills and give back to the community. I left my previous career as a software engineer in part because I wanted to help people more directly with legal skills rather than programming skills. Learning about the Pro Bono program was one of the highlights of my MoFo experience so far, and I know it will continue to be part of my life as an attorney.xxx<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacynfujii/">Kacyn Fujii</a> is a Wetmore fellow in the Palo Alto office. She is a rising 2L at Michigan Law School interested in IP litigation. Kacyn got her M.S. in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University and her B.S. in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College. She likes to dabble in various instruments like melodica and ukulele (she bid on steel drum lessons in the Michigan Law auction for the next time she’s in Ann Arbor).

My MoFo Story: Kacyn Fujii on Exploring How MoFo’s Pro Bono Program Makes a Difference

My MoFo Story: Kacyn Fujii on Exploring How MoFo’s Pro Bono Program Makes a Difference

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One thing that struck me when I interviewed with Morrison & Foerster last year was the firm’s commitment to pro bono work. When I spoke to partner Colette Reine

Looking back on my time as a member of MoFo’s first-ever class of Boston summer associates, I’m amazed at and grateful for the meaningful opportunities I had to get involved with real work and learn from the firm’s talented attorneys on the job. Although the firm had to pivot to an all-remote program due to the pandemic, I felt welcome, known, and included from the get-go.After our first week of onboarding and initial trainings, Paresh Kumar, an associate from the Boston office, reached out asking if I might help him on an ongoing tax-related matter. He recalled that I’d mentioned an interest in tax on an office-wide welcome call and wanted to include me. I had taken a few tax classes and was enrolled in BU Law’s joint J.D./LL.M. in Taxation, but wasn’t sure how much help I could be. I scheduled some time to talk it over with Paresh and hoped for the best. A pro bono client of his was discussing its tax-exempt status with the IRS, and Paresh was advocating that the group’s activities did not disqualify it from exemption going forward.As it turned out, Paresh felt I could be of significant help. The client was important to him and, without tax-exempt status, it would struggle to continue its charitable, civil rights-related work. Helping this organization remain tax-exempt brought together Paresh’s interest in giving back, advocating for civil rights, and connecting with groups that are making positive changes in Boston. He asked for tax-related authority to support his position that the IRS had granted tax-exempt status to organizations in similar circumstances to our client.We had covered tax-exempt organizations in my federal income class for a few days, but I had never come across the specific issue Paresh had asked me to look into. He gave me full rein to investigate on my own. Soon enough, I found that taking some time to educate myself on the basic area of law and then drilling down into specific issues raised more questions than it answered. Unsure of whether to simply charge ahead, I instead scheduled a follow-up with Paresh. I knew he was busy, but I didn’t want to spin my wheels and then not be able to deliver some kind of answer to him.To my satisfaction, he was more than willing to hop on a FaceTime call, hear me out, and supply some additional background. It’s really helpful that MoFo is the kind of place that supports this approach to summer associate work. Even though I developed confidence in my ability to research and write for the firm’s attorneys throughout the summer, I never hesitated to reach out for clarification or to check in if I needed to. A request for more information or a quick clarification was never met with annoyance, and my work was never characterized as unimportant.Ultimately, the research I completed allowed Paresh to feel confident in supporting his position to the IRS. He drafted a letter that reflected the research I had done and included me in discussions with the client over next steps. Weeks of silence followed as the IRS considered the letter, so it came as a nice surprise that, on my last day as a summer associate, we learned that the client heard back from the IRS and had been granted tax-exempt status.The experience I had with Paresh repeated itself over and over throughout the summer. Initially, I got work from attorneys after reaching out to them and introducing myself. And, as my interest in tax became known, other attorneys reached out to me, enthusiastic about looping me in. Even when I missed the mark or an attorney needed me to look into further questions, the feedback was always given in the spirit of collegial encouragement. What struck me most was their desire not only to give me opportunities to do real work, but to share their expertise and welcome me into the firm as a colleague, albeit one with a lot to learn.This summer has been different and challenging for a variety of reasons, but my time as summer associate in MoFo’s newly opened Boston office has invigorated me. I’m leaving this summer feeling energized to return to school (remotely) and enthusiastic about rejoining the firm next year.xxx<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-brown-bulaw/">Kevin Brown</a> is a rising 3L at Boston University School of Law. Before coming to law school, he taught English literature and earned an M.A. from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English. Kevin is currently enrolled in in BU’s joint degree J.D./LL.M. in Taxation program and intends to focus his practice on federal taxation and financing transactions. He is an avid baker of bread, enjoys reading and writing poetry, and loves drawing and illustrating maps.

My MoFo Story: Kevin Brown on Helping an Important Pro Bono Client Gain Tax-Exempt Status

My MoFo Story: Kevin Brown on Helping an Important Pro Bono Client Gain Tax-Exempt Status

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Looking back on my time as a member of MoFo’s first-ever class of Boston summer associates, I’m amazed at and grateful for the meaningful opportunities I had to

While there were several engaging presentations throughout the MoFo Summer Program, the “Partner Pathways” presentation stood out as my favorite panel discussion. The panel included partners Alexis Amezcua, Jay Gavigan, Christin Hill, Mike Krigbaum, and Alex Yap, each of whom spoke about their individual paths to partnership.What I took away from this session was that there is no one path to making partner and that MoFo celebrates different backgrounds and skillsets. I particularly enjoyed hearing Mike talk about his experience as a corporate partner, as he was someone who recruited me during the on-campus interview process. Mike discussed the challenging nature of his work, which keeps him engaged and motivated. He also shared his insights on finding work-life balance, and how he values producing excellent work for his clients while also finding time to spend with his family.The presentation also highlighted MoFo’s commitment to advancing and supporting women’s paths to partnership, which is something that is important to me. It was really interesting to learn that Alexis was put up for partner while she was on maternity leave, and that the firm supported her when she took a sabbatical to travel with her family. Alexis also emphasized the importance of making long-lasting connections. She shared how a connection she made as a summer associate at MoFo led to her secondment at a major multinational technology company.Christin’s path to partnership was intriguing because she had about 10 years of experience under her belt before she joined the firm. She talked about how she feels fulfilled as a litigation partner at MoFo, where she is able to utilize her written and oral advocacy skills to the fullest extent. Like Mike, Christin emphasized that her work and the general environment at the firm keep her intellectually stimulated and energized. It was fun to hear about her passion for advocating on her clients’ behalf in the courtroom.Jay offered the perspective of someone who thought he knew exactly what type of law he wanted to practice as a young associate, but learned it was beneficial to try out different areas in order to find the practice that suit him best. He advised that the more lawyers can expose themselves to a variety of practice areas and industries, the more confident they will be in advising clients and meeting all their clients’ needs.Alex shared what it was like to take a hiatus from the firm to pursue a career as an administrative patent judge at the USPTO, and how he was able to apply the skills he learned from that experience to his career at MoFo, once he returned. During Alex’s time away from the firm, he built up his expertise in patent law, which greatly contributes and adds value to his current practice.Finally, some of the partners touched upon how to deal with Imposter Syndrome, which—as someone with a background in psychology—I found really fascinating. It was impactful to hear that even some of the most skilled and intelligent attorneys struggle with feeling inadequate at times. I was impressed by the partners’ willingness to be vulnerable and share more personal details. To combat Imposter Syndrome, several partners underscored the importance of surrounding yourself with people who support you, affirm you, and believe in you, and also finding time to reflect on how far you’ve come in your career.From this panel, I felt like I got to know each partner on a deeper level. I learned that every career path at MoFo looks different, but that the partners at the firm are united in their commitment to client service, to making a positive impact on the community, and to supporting one another.xxxHaley Paloutzian is a rising 3L at Santa Clara Law. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Haley is interested in corporate transactional work, particularly mergers and acquisitions. A fun fact about her is that she learned how to play chess during quarantine!

My MoFo Story: Haley Paloutzian on Learning There Is No Right or Wrong Way to Partnership, Only Your Way

My MoFo Story: Haley Paloutzian on Learning There Is No Right or Wrong Way to Partnership, Only Your Way

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While there were several engaging presentations throughout the MoFo Summer Program, the “Partner Pathways” presentation stood out as my favorite panel discussio

As part of Morrison & Foerster’s Summer Associate Program, I had the opportunity to work with Palo Alto partner Bryan Wilson and San Francisco associate Justin Fisch on a pro bono project involving the <a href="https://www.tuolumne.org/">Tuolumne River Trust</a> (TRT). The environmental advocacy organization seeks to protect and restore the Tuolumne River—which flows through Central California, from the High Sierra to the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley—and its watershed for present and future generations.Two dam licensing projects on the Tuolumne are of interest to the TRT: one for the Don Pedro Dam, the tenth tallest in the United States, and the second concerning the La Grange Dam; the two dams combined serve as a source of power, water, and recreation for the Central Valley region. In order to protect the river and its ecosystems, the dams must be licensed in cooperation with state and federal authorities. The current license for the Don Pedro Dam expired in April 2016 after 50 years, and the Irrigation Districts that own it are currently operating on a year-to-year renewal basis until a long-term license is granted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).A 2019 decision in Hoopa Valley Tribe v. FERC by the D.C. Circuit upended licensing procedures elsewhere in the state, and TRT wants to make sure that won’t happen on the Tuolumne. The court rejected a commonly used practice for working around the one-year statutory limit for state certification—withdrawal-and-resubmittal of applications—and found that California and Oregon had waived their water quality certification authority under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) by following this practice.Under Section 401 a federal agency can only approve a project that may result in a “discharge to the navigable waters” once the applicant has obtained water quality certifications from the affected state. However, in several recent cases, the states were determined to have waived their authority under section 401 by “failing or refusing to act on a request for certification, within a reasonable period of time (which shall not exceed one year) after receipt of such request.”The decision also created a cascade of problems for state and tribal certifying authorities, as well as environmental organizations, as states’ and tribes’ right to control water quality standards within their respective jurisdictions came into question. Many project applicants had asked FERC to waive the states’ abilities to condition water quality certification, as permitted under CWA section 401.I was tasked with understanding the differences between state action in denying water quality certification of dam projects and situations where project proponents’ requests for water quality certification were withdrawn and resubmitted to certifying agencies, similar to the situation in Hoopa Valley. I delved into the arguments in Hoopa Valley and the Clean Water Act’s legislative history to answer this narrow procedural question.In my research, I found that the Clean Water Act had two clear, specific intents. First, Congress designed section 401 to allow states to control the water quality of rivers within their own borders. Congress didn’t want to subvert state control. Second, Congress added the one-year limitation to prevent states that didn’t have clean water standards from delaying the federal licensing process. Congress did not implement the one-year limitation to prevent states with rigorous and exigent water quality standards, such as California, from denying applications that didn’t comply with that state’s water quality requirements and standards.I worked closely with Justin, an associate in the firm’s Environmental and Social Enterprise + Impact Investing Groups, to develop a memorandum for the client to deconstruct this complex and critical distinction. I spent my first week on the issue getting an understanding of the setup of the Hoopa Valley decision and the landscape of the Clean Water Act. Justin directed me to MoFo’s Library Services when I felt overwhelmed by the scale of the research. Robyn Bytheway, an incredible MoFo librarian, was able to find a cross-section of cases, legislative history, and State Water Board denials that I was able to work through.We also attended a strategy meeting between several water advocacy organizations, which impressed on me how serious this issue is for so many parties involved. Restricting states’ rights to control water quality within their own borders is only one of many recent federal decisions that weaken water quality protections that states have fought hard for decades to put in place. The Tuolumne River Trust was extremely encouraged by the memo I drafted for them. I’m confident that my work will be useful for the TRT and other water advocacy organizations in the coming months and years as organizations seek to ensure that relicensed dams and energy projects properly abide by state-level environmental standards throughout the remainder of their relicensed term (often 40–50 years into the future, in other words, generations).I have always been someone who cares deeply about the environment. This fall, I will be participating in the Columbia Environmental Law Clinic upon returning from my summer associate position to law school. When I begin my legal career full-time, I plan to practice as an intellectual property litigator. But one of the reasons I joined Morrison & Foerster this summer was for the opportunity to pursue an avid pro bono practice. Bryan, a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property Group, and Justin are perfect examples of how MoFo lawyers are working together to do important work. The combination of Justin’s experience in environmental and social impact law and Bryan’s conservation experience makes them powerful advocates for the Tuolumne River Trust and the environment in the state they call home. I look forward to returning to MoFo and continuing to moonlight as an environmental attorney, fighting for a clean environment.xxxIan Bennett is a rising 2L at Columbia Law School. He graduated on the Dean’s Honor List from McGill University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering. Ian is thrilled to be a part of Morrison & Foerster’s two-summer patent program for patent litigation at the Palo Alto office, as he plans to pursue a career as an IP litigator upon graduation. Fun fact: Ian is an enthusiastic hiker. He once snowshoed up Mt. Garibaldi during the winter and camped overnight as temperatures reached zero degrees.

My MoFo Story: Ian Bennett on Navigating the Path to Relicense Dams on the Tuolumne River

My MoFo Story: Ian Bennett on Navigating the Path to Relicense Dams on the Tuolumne River

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As part of Morrison & Foerster’s Summer Associate Program, I had the opportunity to work with Palo Alto partner Bryan Wilson and San Francisco associate Justin 