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

MoFo was recently recognized by Working Mother as one of the 2019 “Best Law Firms for Women.” The firm has received this annual honor 10 times and every year since 2014, highlighting the firm’s commitment towards creating a culture of opportunity for women.In addition to this accolade, MoFo was one of 17 firms named to Working Mother’s first-ever Hall of Fame, designed to recognize the firms who have appeared on the list for 10 years or more.Working Mother’s methodology includes a survey that asks more than 300 questions regarding attorney representation at varying levels, retention of women, and parental leave policies such as paid time off. The publication specifically praised MoFo’s Parents’ Resource List, which offers attorneys the chance to speak about their experiences as working parents at the firm. Attorneys becoming parents can be also paired with a mentor who can be a resource before, during, and after leave.MoFo’s practices and policies also garnered the firm recognition earlier in the year by Yale Law Women, which named MoFo one of its 2019 Top 10 Firms for both Gender Equity & Family Friendliness. MoFo was regarded as one of the highest achieving firms for percentage of women associate and equity partners, the number of days offered for caregiver leave following the birth of a child, and the percentage of attorneys who have worked part-time schedules in the last five years and were promoted to equity partner in 2018.Additionally, MoFo was named a “Ceiling Smashing” firm for Women Partners in Law360’s annual Glass Ceiling Report. The award ranked MoFo fifth on the list of law firms with 600+ attorneys, highlighting that women make up more than a quarter of equity partners.And in June, MoFo was awarded U.S Gold Standard Certification by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) for the eighth consecutive year—a recognition MoFo is proud to have received every year the certification has been given. This recognition is awarded to firms who meet objective criteria relating to the number of women that are equity partners, in firm leadership positions, and in the ranks of their most highly compensated partners.

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MoFo Earns Several Prestigious Recognitions for Women’s Policies and Representation

MoFo Earns Several Prestigious Recognitions for Women’s Policies and Representation

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MoFo was recently recognized by Working Mother as one of the 2019 “Best Law Firms for Women”. The firm has received this annual honor 10 times and every year si

In this edition of Matters that Matter, we honor the many lawyers who have dedicated their time to important pro bono causes. This month highlights a variety of worthy projects, such as building sustainable food systems, safeguarding the freedom of art, protecting the rights of immigrants, and advocating for global women’s rights. Below are a few examples of the many ways our lawyers are living out our proud pro bono tradition every day.Structuring a More Sustainable Food System San Francisco corporate partner <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/susan-mac-cormac.html">Susan Mac Cormac</a> is helping <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.stonebarnscenter.org/about/">Stone Barns Center</a> with structuring and strategic advice so that it can better leverage its business relationships and have a wider impact on global food systems. The center is seeking to put new agreements in place that will accentuate its partnership with for-profit restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns, located in Pocantico Hills, New York. The Stone Barn Center’s mission is to create a healthy and sustainable food system and farming techniques that benefit citizens and the planet. A major cornerstone in the center’s vison to build a resilient ecosystem is paying living wages to farm workers.Protecting the Freedom of Art in Germany Berlin TTG partner <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/christiane-stuetzle.html">Christiane Stuetzle</a> and senior associate <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/patricia-ernst.html">Patricia Ernst</a>, along with Berlin litigation partner <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/julia-schwalm.html">Julia Schwalm</a>, are representing German painter Martin Eder in an appeal related to a copyright dispute. Mr. Eder recently had a solo show at the Newport Street Gallery, a privately financed museum by UK artist Damien Hirst. Following the show, an individual who specializes in computer graphics sued our client, claiming that an image of a blossoming cherry tree referenced in one of our client’s collages was his creation, and that our client was infringing his copyright.The team successfully represented the artist in the lower court, persuading the court to agree that the use of the cherry tree image in the oil painting was a permitted free use covered by the “freedom of the art” law guaranteed by the German Constitution. The Court also shared our view that there was no urgency to initiate a preliminary injunction as the plaintiff himself made copies of the work in question for use on his social media pages, including an Instagram video, in an effort to garner press attention. The decision has an impact beyond the facts of this individual case because it takes a stand for important artistic expressions that would otherwise be prohibited.Ensuring Appropriate Medical Treatment for the LGBTQ Community New York litigator James Hough and San Francisco litigator Andre Fontana, along with summer associate Justin Young and SEO intern Eli Ashenafi, are helping the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="http://www.nclrights.org/">National Center for Lesbian Rights</a> (NCLR) on amicus briefs before the Ninth and Fourth Circuits in cases involving the Title X gag rule. Title X of the Public Health and Service Act provides federal funding for family-planning services. The federal government’s recently issued gag rule restricts the information that health care providers can give to patients, particularly individuals seeking reproductive health care assistance. NCLR took the lead on an LGBTQ-organizations brief, which now has been joined by organizations such as Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign.There are currently three related cases before the Ninth Circuit, as well as one before the Fourth Circuit. Each district court — the District of Oregon, the Northern District of California, the Eastern District of Washington, and the District of Maryland — granted preliminary injunctions to the rule’s enforcement, all on grounds that the rule violates the Affordable Care Act and requirements in Title X’s appropriations funding that pregnancy counseling be “nondirective.” A panel for the Ninth Circuit ordered the injunctions be stayed pending resolution of the merits, but the Ninth Circuit is now reviewing that stay order en banc. Briefing in the 4th Circuit will be completed in August 2019.Helping Legal Permament Residents Become Citizens A number of New York attorneys are taking on eight separate naturalization matters. They will be assisting clients with completing applications for naturalization to become U.S. citizens and, if applicable, for a waiver of the application fee. The attorneys will submit the applications, respond to any requests for additional information from USCIS, and will prepare and accompany the client to the naturalization interview when it is scheduled.Seeking to Free an Innocent Man San Francisco litigator George Harris and San Diego litigation attorney Christian Andreu-von Euw are assisting the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_self" href="https://ncip.org/">Northern California Innocence Project</a> (NCIP) with proceedings on a petition for habeas corpus that seeks to free an individual who has served 28 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. There was a two-day evidentiary hearing in Solano County Superior Court in April. The post-hearing briefing was recently completed and final arguments are set to take place in late July.Supporting Women’s Voices Now Palo Alto corporate associate Jennifer Ta and Tokyo technology transactions associate <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/daisuke-gatanaga.html">Daisuke Gatanaga</a>, with assistance from corporate partner <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/mike-krigbaum.html">Mike Krigbaum</a>, are advising Women’s Voices Now on governance and regulatory compliance. Palo Alto summer associate Michael Andrews and corporate paralegal Marie Liu are also assisting the team. They are working with California-based nonprofit <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="http://www.womensvoicesnow.org/our-mission">Women’s Voices Now</a> to draft a checklist of legal obligations for their newly-registered charity, as well as amending governing documents. Women’s Voices Now is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity which uses film to advocate for global women’s rights through an annual online film festival, a free streaming archive of international films relating to women’s rights, educational programs, screening events, and multimedia workshops.Galvanizing Support for Immigrant Teens’ Reproductive Rights Washington, D.C. litigation partner Roxann Henry, Los Angeles litigation associate Neil Tyler, and senior pro bono counsel <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/jennifer-brown.html">Jennifer Brown</a> represented Asylum Access and four other organizations that advocate for immigrants’ rights in an amicus brief to support access to abortion services for a class of teens in government custody. The brief, filed in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Garza v. Azar, brought by the ACLU, was cited twice in the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.acludc.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/2019_06_14_dc_cir_panel_opinion_on_merits_appeal.pdf">appellate decision upholding access rights</a>.The purpose behind the brief is to end government interference in access to abortion for pregnant immigrant minors who are in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The case, now a class action, began with representing a single minor who was barred by ORR from obtaining an abortion, despite having won a Texas judge’s permission to obtain one under that state’s judicial bypass procedure. Her ultimately successful battle to obtain the care she sought was widely publicized.The MoFo team, in support of the lower court class action ruling enjoining the ORR’s interference, conducted extensive outreach to gain support and advice from organizations that work with migrant teens on both sides of the border, as they travel through Latin America and once they are released from ORR shelters in the U.S. The brief documents the sexual violence migrating teens often encounter during their trip, such as rapes that leave many pregnant. Then, once they are here, they are often challenged with trying to find sponsors who can get them out of government custody and explain the legal processes.xxxMatters That Matter looks at some of the most significant recently-opened matters and developments in our global pro bono efforts, from staffing legal clinics and advising nonprofits on their legal needs to advocating for individuals who would otherwise be denied equal access to justice. For more examples of MoFo’s global pro bono efforts, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/pro-bono/">visit our website</a>.

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Matters That Matter: July Pro Bono Roundup

Matters That Matter: July Pro Bono Roundup

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In this edition of Matters that Matter, we honor the many lawyers who have dedicated their time to important pro bono causes. This month highlights a variety of

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/arturo-gonzalez.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Arturo González</a> is chair of MoFo’s Commercial Litigation & Trial Group and is well known for his bet-the-company, high-profile trial victories. He has been as successful at defending companies in $1 billion dollar lawsuits as he has been at securing head-turning verdicts for plaintiffs, including in Waymo v. Uber which resulted in a highly favorable settlement for Uber after only four days of trial. In addition to operating a leading business litigation practice, he has a strong personal commitment to social justice, recently working on several police-brutality civil rights cases, including a wrongful death/excessive force case against the City of Fresno.How do you feel having a diverse practice group benefits the clients and/or industries you serve?The ultimate factfinders are jurors — homemakers, teachers, mechanics, college students, and maybe an engineer. Those factfinders are increasingly and remarkably diverse. Most of our cases are tried in our largest cities and counties, and those urban areas are especially diverse. Indeed, in many of the jurisdictions where our clients’ cases are tried, you can expect at least a third of the jury pool to be diverse. California and Texas are two states where racial “minorities” have become the majority. How will those jurors view your clients or your case? Having a diverse trial team allows you to view your case through the lens of the diverse jurors who will decide it. MoFo understands that.What words of wisdom do you have for the next generation of aspiring diverse lawyers?Always be prepared, never cease learning, and listen to your clients. Whether attending a court hearing, a client meeting, or an internal meeting with your trial team, think about the purpose of the meeting and ask yourself, “What can I contribute.” Your opinions are valued, but you have to prepare.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career or perhaps the reasons why you are driven to mentor others?When I first started at the firm, I was the only Latino lawyer. This was at a time when big firms weren’t hiring many Latinos, so I knew I needed to practice at the highest level possible. First, so that I didn’t let down those who mentored me, but also to not let down the Latino community and those who are seeking role models. I am glad to be in a position today where I can take the lessons I’ve learned to help the next generation of diverse lawyers who deserve a chance to represent their community the same way I have.<a href="https://together.mofo.com/?p=3952&preview=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read more</a> from MoFo’s team of diverse IP litigators.

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Meet MoFo’s IP Litigators: Arturo González

Meet MoFo’s IP Litigators: Arturo González

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Arturo González is chair of MoFo’s Commercial Litigation & Trial Group and is well known for his bet-the-company, high-profile trial victories. He has been as s

<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/shaelyn-dawson.html">Shaelyn Dawson</a> is an associate in MoFo’s San Francisco office. Her practice focuses on representing clients in copyright and patent cases in the electronics, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical industries. She has coordinated fact and expert discovery, taken and defended fact and expert depositions, drafted motions in multiparty litigation in federal courts across the country, participated in trial preparation, and questioned witnesses at trial.Are you an active member of any diverse legal organizations or industry groups? If so, how do you leverage that experience in your practice?I am an active member of both the Justice and Diversity Center, which provides legal services to low income and under-represented communities, and Equal Rights Advocates, which focuses on equality for women and girls. My time with both of these organizations has led to the tangible benefit of lasting client relationships, as many nonprofit boards and diversity and inclusion groups are staffed (and events attended) by in-house counsel, perhaps by our future clients. Second, being part of these organizations provides a persistent and useful reminder about the value of varied life experiences and perspectives.How does having a diverse practice group benefit the clients and/or industries you serve?MoFo’s IP Group is known for its cutting-edge and creative representation of clients in fields ranging from life-saving drugs and self-driving cars to complicated software applications. In order to provide the innovative and creative representation that clients expect in complex cases, it’s essential to have a diverse team working on the case. This includes everyone from the most senior partner to the most junior associate and staff. By insisting on the inclusion of diverse and underrepresented populations on our legal teams — and encouraging people to be themselves and not a cookie-cutter mold of an attorney — we are able to provide our clients with innovative solutions and varied perspectives.Can you tell us about any specific situations in which you felt the diversity of your legal team contributed to a positive result?I am currently working on one case with a diverse team of all women that includes working mom attorneys, LGBTQ+ attorneys, and a Latina American attorney. Our team is incredibly supportive of each other and are able to step in for each other if anything comes up, whether that’s juggling our to-do lists, taking a vacation, or taking care of a sick child. Not only does this provide the best results and coverage for our clients, but it also enables our team to offer the client multiple perspectives and ideas from a cross-section of the community.<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://together.mofo.com/?p=3952&preview=true">Read more</a> from MoFo’s team of diverse IP litigators.

Meet MoFo’s IP Litigators: Shaelyn Dawson

Meet MoFo’s IP Litigators: Shaelyn Dawson

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Shaelyn Dawson is an associate in MoFo’s San Francisco office. Her practice focuses on representing clients in copyright and patent cases in the electronics, se

Chanwoo Park is an associate in MoFo’s New York office. His practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, including patent, trade secret, and copyright disputes in federal courts and before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). He has represented clients in intellectual property matters involving a broad range of technologies, including semiconductors, consumer electronics, software as a service, automotives, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals.How has being a diverse lawyer affected your career or personal development?My decision to become a litigator was largely impacted by my experience as a first generation Korean American. My parents immigrated to the United States speaking very little English, but because of the generosity of others and the educational and career opportunities in this country, they were able to have successful careers and raise a family. From a young age, I was taught the importance of standing up for others, particularly those who are most vulnerable and need representation. My parents have always emphasized that their journey would not have been possible without the many people, including strangers, who supported and advocated for them along the way. Those lessons led me to initially become a public school teacher and, later, a litigator.Why do you feel MoFo’s IP Litigation Group stands out from similar practices at other firms?I think MoFo’s IP Litigation group is truly a global practice. We represent clients from around the world, across a broad range of industries, to solve their most complex and challenging intellectual property matters. Our IP litigators are rooted in Asia, North America, and Europe, and come from diverse technical and professional backgrounds. This allows us to assemble teams of IP litigators who are uniquely suited to address our clients’ needs. While my practice focuses on intellectual property litigation in U.S. federal court and before the ITC, I routinely work with colleagues in our Asia, West Coast, and East Coast offices on my intellectual property matters and we each bring different perspectives and skill sets to our practice.Can you tell us about any specific situations in which you felt the diversity of your legal team contributed to a positive result? I represented an elderly Asian American woman who lived in public housing in New York City’s Chinatown neighborhood and who spoke only Mandarin Chinese. Despite her repeated complaints for years about the conditions in her apartment, the city consistently failed to provide adequate heat and hot water in her apartment, in addition to committing other housing violations. Our team was able to help our client navigate the New York City’s housing court system and bridge the language barrier she was facing as a Mandarin speaker, to fully understand the scope of the housing violations and demand that the city fix them, which they did.<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://together.mofo.com/?p=3952&preview=true">Read more</a> from MoFo’s team of diverse IP litigators.

Meet MoFo’s IP Litigators: Chanwoo Park

Meet MoFo’s IP Litigators: Chanwoo Park

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Chanwoo Park is an associate in MoFo’s New York office. His practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, including patent, trade secret, and copyright 

<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/richard-hung.html">Richard Hung</a> is co-chair of the firm’s IP Litigation Group and the cross-disciplinary Intellectual Property Group. He leads complex technology matters for clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts, including both high-stakes patent litigation and litigation against non-practicing patent holders. We recently spoke to him about his experience as a diverse attorney.Are you an active member of any diverse legal organizations or industry groups? If so, how do you leverage that experience in your practice? I am on the Board of the Asian Law Alliance (ALA), which helps the disadvantaged with housing, immigration, and civil rights issues. I also serve as a neutral Commissioner on the San Francisco Rent Board.My participation in both activities acts as a constant reminder that legal services are about much, much more than corporate law. ALA’s clients invariably cannot afford legal fees and rely on pro bono legal services for representation. And people appear before the Rent Board precisely because they believe that some aspect of rent is unjust, whether real or perceived. Both also remind me that jurors — the ultimate factfinders in all of our litigation matters — often approach issues with a very different mindset. Why do you feel MoFo’s IP Litigation Group stands out from similar practices at other firms?Many firms have litigators but no technologists. Other firms have technologists but few real litigators. MoFo has both litigators and technologists. For three decades, our strong IP Litigation Group has teamed with our strong Patent Group to deliver outstanding results to clients in IP litigation matters.How does having a diverse practice group benefit the clients and/or industries you serve?Clients want diverse teams — teams that mirror them and, likely, the jury pool. Industries want diversity for a diversity of perspectives.<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://together.mofo.com/?p=3952&preview=true">Read more</a> from MoFo’s team of diverse IP litigators.

Meet MoFo’s IP Litigators: Richard Hung

Meet MoFo’s IP Litigators: Richard Hung

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Richard Hung is co-chair of the firm’s IP Litigation Group and the cross-disciplinary Intellectual Property Group. He leads complex technology matters for clien

Earlier this year, MoFo released a special edition of its MoProBono newsletter, titled “<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://together.mofo.com/pro-bono/moprobono-womens-advocacy-in-action/">Women’s Advocacy in Action</a>,” highlighting the many efforts our lawyers have made towards the advancement of women and women’s rights. As a follow-up to that, we wanted to give kudos to co-chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Trial Group, Jamie Levitt, and her team for their work in defending women’s reproductive rights and access to care.Jamie was invited to speak on a panel regarding this highly topical subject during Columbia Law School’s “Women in Big Law” forum. The event was sponsored by <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.ifwhenhow.org/">If/When/How Lawyering for Reproductive Justice</a>, a student-run organization that raises awareness about reproductive justice, and co-sponsored by the Office of Career Services (OCS), Columbia Law Women’s Association (CLWA), and Empowering Women of Color (EWOC). If/When/How is one of many organizations that signed on to an amicus brief supporting access to contraception that Jamie and litigation associate Rhiannon Batchelder have drafted and filed eleven versions of to date, with valuable assistance from the Center for Reproductive Rights.More on the BriefsThe amici curiae in the briefs filed by Jamie and Rhiannon represent well over a million women working and studying in a variety of industries and unions, from students and teachers to social workers, lawyers, and more. Those supporting the briefs are united in their belief that no-cost contraceptive coverage plays a critical role in the success of women in the workplace and in higher education.Our amicus briefs are in support of state government efforts to halt the enforcement of the Federal Administration’s contraception exemption rules, which create broad religious and moral exemptions that would allow employers and universities to avoid the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) contraceptive mandate. Currently, the Patient Protection Act and ACA require employer-sponsored health insurance plans to cover certain FDA-approved methods of contraception under the Contraceptive Coverage Benefit. The benefit is intended to lessen the burden of out-of-pocket contraceptive costs for insured women, enabling women to make choices about their family planning so that they may have equal opportunities in the workforce and in higher education.Timeline of EventsIn late 2017, the administration issued interim exemption rules that largely gutted the Contraceptive Coverage Benefit. MoFo filed amicus briefs supporting motions for preliminary injunctions against these rules in the Northern District of California, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the United States Courts of Appeals for the First and Ninth Circuits.  Nationwide preliminary injunctions were issued against the interim rule by United States District Court Judge Haywood Gilliam of the Northern District of California and Judge Wendy Beetlestone of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The Ninth Circuit upheld Judge Gilliam’s preliminary injunction, but limited the scope to the five states that brought the suit: California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Virginia.In late 2018, the administration issued its final exemption rules—rendering the prior litigation moot. Again, MoFo filed amicus briefs supporting the states’ renewed efforts for nationwide preliminary injunctions against the final exemption rules.The final rules are substantially similar to the interim rules and allow virtually any employer or university—including large, for-profit companies—to deny no-cost contraceptive coverage to their employees and students. Beyond religious exemptions currently built into the ACA, the moral exemption clause would allow entities with “sincerely held moral convictions” to deny coverage.The Results so FarThe effort to fight the final rules has also proved successful. Judge Beetlestone issued another nationwide preliminary injunction and Judge Gilliam issued an injunction applicable to the now-eight plaintiff states. Both injunctions were appealed to the Third and Ninth Circuits, where MoFo’s amicus brief was also filed.  On July 12, 2019, the Third Circuit upheld the nationwide preliminary injunction issued by Judge Beetlestone.Now that preliminary injunctions are in place, the focus has turned to permanently invalidating and enjoining the final rules. To that end, MoFo has filed two additional amicus briefs on this issue to support various states’ motions for summary judgment in the Northern District of California and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Our amicus brief argues that the unpredictability of the final exemption rules would affect hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of women who depend on uninterrupted contraceptive care.We stress that virtually any company or university could try to take advantage of the rules, falsely believing that they will save money, including non-religious employers seeking to take advantage of the final exemption rules citing “moral concerns.” Jamie, Rhiannon, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the amici curiae are continuing to support the states’ fight to make sure that access to reproductive care remains in the hands of the women and families who depend on it.

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Kudos to Jamie Levitt and Rhiannon Batchelder for Defending Women’s Reproductive Rights

Kudos to Jamie Levitt and Rhiannon Batchelder for Defending Women’s Reproductive Rights

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Earlier this year, MoFo released a special edition of its MoProBono newsletter, titled “Women’s Advocacy in Action,” highlighting the many efforts our lawyers h

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/john-smith.html">John Smith</a> is co-head of Morrison & Foerster’s National Security practice, and a member of the Crisis Management Group and Investigations + White Collar Defense Group. Prior to joining the firm in July 2018, John served as Director of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), where he played a central role in developing, implementing, and enforcing U.S. government sanctions requirements. His inherent knowledge of economic sanctions, enforcement, and national security brings unmatched value to his clients and to the firm.<ul><li>In two to three sentences, describe your practice. My practice focuses on economic sanctions, such as the U.S. sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea. Our sanctions team advises global financial institutions and corporations on the complex rules surrounding U.S., UN, EU, and other sanctions thereby helping our clients understand what they may and may not legally do and the legal and reputational risks associated with certain commercial activities or lines of business. We also assist individuals and companies when they are the focus of U.S. or other government investigations or enforcement activity with respect to sanctions compliance.</li></ul><ul><li>Why did you choose to make MoFo your professional home? I chose MoFo for a handful of reasons. One, I admire the global scope of the firm, which mirrors my view of the global impact of U.S. economic sanctions. Secondly, the firm has a proven track record of successfully integrating former government officials like me into its practice areas. MoFo also boasts excellent practice areas — such as anti-money laundering (AML) and investigations — that complement my own. I genuinely like the people here (as everyone knows, there is no one nicer than Nick Spiliotes!) and last, but certainly not least, it maintains a well-known and demonstrable commitment to diversity and LGBTQ+ inclusion that I admire and want to support.</li></ul><ul><li>How do clients benefit from having diverse teams of lawyers working for them? Despite today’s political rhetoric, I strongly believe that diversity — of culture, background, religion, nationality, age, language, marital status, and sexual orientation, among others — makes us stronger, as a firm, a nation, and a world community. I bring a certain unique experience to the firm based on my U.S. government career, but also in my experience as a gay man from a blue collar family in the Midwest. And I believe our diversity in experiences makes the firm better able to communicate with and serve our clients.</li></ul>

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Partner Spotlight: John Smith

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John Smith is co-head of Morrison & Foerster’s National Security practice, and a member of the Crisis Management Group and Investigations + White 

Partner Spotlight: John Smith

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MoFo Shows That Pride is Universal

Although New York was the city chosen to host the 5th annual WorldPride celebration, MoFo offices all around the world showed that Pride is truly universal. Thi

MoFo Shows That Pride is Universal

MoFo is proud of our LGBTQ+ lawyers and the contributions that they make to the firm and our communities every month of the year, but Pride Month is an especially exciting time for the firm as we come together to celebrate LGBTQ+ history, culture, and politics. During this month-long Q&A series, we’ll hear from a number of MoFo lawyers about what Pride Month means to them.With over 30 years of experience, London partner <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/brian-bates.html">Brian Bates</a> is known as the go-to practitioner when it comes to issuer-side cross-border placement representation. His practice focuses on representing clients in a range of financial transactions, from private debt and equity placements to high yield offerings, bank finance products, and mezzanine and leveraged buyout financings. Brian recently spoke to us about his experience as a diverse lawyer and what Pride Month means to him.***What does Pride Month mean to you? How will you celebrate this year?To me, “Pride Month” reminds me of the great strides that the LGBTQ+ community has made since I was a young professional in the 1980s. Back then, we all lived in a rather constant state of fear of losing our jobs, our livelihood, our apartments, etc., if someone decided that they simply didn’t like us working with them.While we continue to have challenges, we do not experience that deep-seated fear that often wrecked lives and ruined reputations. Pride means respect and acceptance, not merely “tolerance” —one of my most despised words in the English language. I celebrate Pride Month every day of the year simply by being me and not letting others deter me from being the person that I am.If you could have dinner with any pioneer of LGBTQ+ rights, who would it be and why?I would have dinner with a gentleman called Joe Turek. Joe was a member of the IMPACT Illinois Board of Directors, a gay rights political action committee with whom I volunteered in Chicago in the 1990s. Joe was a generation older than me and had lost his job when an Arthur Andersen partner discovered he was gay. Joe went on to form his own accounting service, became independently wealthy and spent his time and resources fighting for human rights in Chicago. I would love to hear his thoughts on the LGBTQ+ issues of today.How, if at all, has being LGBTQ+ made you a better/different kind of lawyer?Particularly, as an LGBTQ+ partner, I have tried my best to constructively challenge my majority peers to not overlook the issues confronting LGBTQ+ lawyers and members of staff within the firm. At MoFo, we are fortune to have LGBTQ+ lawyers in prominent positions, so that we don’t get complacent or forget about the LGBTQ+ perspective when it comes to policy making, unconscious bias training, parental leave issues, as well as many other issues.***<a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/">Learn more </a>about MoFo’s ongoing commitment to championing LGBTQ+ equality in the legal field and beyond.

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MoFo Proud: Brian Bates

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With over 30 years of experience, London partner Brian Bates is known as the go-to practitioner when it comes to issuer-side cross-border placement representati