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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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/beth-tunstall.html">Beth Tunstall</a> is a finance partner in MoFo’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/offices/boston.html">Boston</a> office. Her practice focuses on representing banks and other financial institutions on all aspects of secured lending, including venture debt, asset-based financing, second lien financing, mezzanine financing, acquisition finance, and international financing transactions.What does International Women’s Day mean to you?With shared intentions, women have the ability to act together on a global scale, in a collaborative and coordinated effort, to achieve their collective goals. International Women’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to reflect, refocus, and renew our resolve and personal behavior towards the advancement of gender balance in the workplace, our communities, and our professional practice.What advice would you give to the next generation of women who want to pursue a career in the legal industry?The practice of law is demanding and challenging, but you should be optimistic and inspired by all of the women who have successfully navigated this career. The women who have come before you are pioneers who are and will be your biggest advocates and resources. Look for opportunities to actively participate in committees and organizations at your firm. By being present and connected to a community of like-minded women, you will have the chance to be a decision-maker about future policies, practices, and solutions to combat gender inequality.How do you try to influence, join the conversation, or take action to build a gender-balanced world?I look for opportunities to create and encourage my teammates to create a workplace environment that respects different perspectives and provides an opportunity for both women and men to thrive, aspire, advance, and develop. With the opening of the new Boston office, we are all thrilled to continue MoFo’s long history of supporting women and look forward to the chance to partner on women’s initiatives in our community.Read more Q&As from our global community of MoFo Women <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-women/mofo-celebrates-international-womens-day-2019/">here</a>.

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#BalanceforBetter: Beth Tunstall

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In the spirit of this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #BalanceforBetter, we invited MoFo women lawyers from differing backgrounds to discuss what Intern

#BalanceforBetter: Beth Tunstall

Suzy Marinkovich is a litigation associate in MoFo’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/offices/san-diego.html">San Diego</a> office. Her practice focuses on product liability and commercial litigation. She has experience managing challenging cases from inception to mediation and trial. What advice would you give to the next generation of women who want to pursue a career in the legal industry?Although it’s challenging, working in law is stimulating and fulfilling in ways that other professions fall short. I’ve found it invaluable to have strong friendships with women who are also attorneys. As I learn to balance the challenges of a demanding caseload and motherhood, I’ve come to rely on those friends more than ever. Befriend your law school classmates and your attorney colleagues and try to break out of existing silos and be vulnerable as much as possible, because we excel when we feel supported by a community that can relate to us.Tell us about a female role model in your life who inspires you. How has she played a part in the movement to achieve better balance for women?My mom had four children while working as a physician in a male-dominated practice in the 1980s. Four kids! It was significantly harder back then than it is now. Leave benefits were non-existent, and hospital breast pumping accommodations consisted of a broom closet. I often find myself thinking of the struggles she faced and believing in myself a little more. My siblings and I have all thrived in our own professional careers, and I think we are proof that mothers who work outside the home are great for kids, too.How do you try to influence, join the conversation, or take action to build a gender-balanced world?I serve as an associate on MoFo’s Women’s Strategy Committee and chair WSC’s Work-Life Balance Committee. I have always been action-oriented and try to avoid letting a goal or initiative fall by the wayside for simple lack of follow-up. It is incumbent upon all of us — regardless of gender identity — to come up with ideas that better balance our workplace so that we can better serve our clients.We have to share those ideas with one another. There is always the fear of being ignored or shot down but, in practice at MoFo and beyond, I’ve found that fear to be unfounded. Staying quiet feels easier in the short term, but progress only happens when we step out and affirmatively try to move the ball forward.Read more Q&As from our global community of MoFo Women <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-women/mofo-celebrates-international-womens-day-2019/">here</a>.

#BalanceforBetter: Suzy Marinkovich

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#BalanceforBetter: Suzy Marinkovich

<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/tushna-gamadia.html">Tushna Gamadia</a> is a finance of counsel in MoFo’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/offices/new-york.html">New York</a> office. Her practice focuses on all aspects of commercial real estate, with a particular emphasis on joint ventures, acquisitions and dispositions of properties, and real estate finance.What advice would you give to the next generation of women who want to pursue a career in the legal industry?Be yourself — work hard and strive to be the best you can be, but stay true to yourself and not to someone else’s idea of what an excellent lawyer, advocate, or person should be. Learn to listen carefully to everyone and let fairness and empathy guide your responses. In the end, being a lawyer is a privilege that comes with a great deal of responsibility and commitment to your community, the legal profession, your industry, and yourself. Do the best job you can every time for every client and consider working with as many pro bono clients as you can.Tell us about a female role model in your life who inspires you. How has she played a part in the movement to achieve better balance for women? My mother is an accomplished and compassionate doctor, nurturing mother, wife, and family member. She is a generous volunteer of her time and resources and became a successful entrepreneur at a time before women had the support and encouragement to take on all those roles at once and strive to excel at them. She has always been honest and fair, and she has never given up on her determination to not let gender bias or unequal treatment limit her capabilities. She is always seeking to learn and grow from every new experience and is always trying to help, heal, or nurture in any way she can.How do you try to influence, join the conversation, or take action to build a gender-balanced world? By being supportive of other women — whether they are co-workers, clients, friends, or family members — and by making other women feel heard, encouraging them, and providing them with whatever they need to help them on their journey forward. That means being there to lift them up when things are hard and don’t go the way they hoped and constantly learning from those around us, whether women or men.Also, by continuing to participate and doing what you do without letting any negativity or challenges ultimately discourage or dissuade you. Challenges are inevitable and unavoidable, and it is your responses to these challenges and your refusal to give up that ultimately help you learn and grow, know yourself, and make any success worthwhile.Read more Q&As from our global community of MoFo Women <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-women/mofo-celebrates-international-womens-day-2019/">here</a>.

#BalanceforBetter: Tushna Gamadia

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#BalanceforBetter: Tushna Gamadia

<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/christine-wong.html">Christine Wong</a> is a litigation partner in MoFo’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/offices/san-francisco.html">San Francisco</a> office. Her practice focuses on investigations, white-collar criminal defense, and cross-border compliance matters. She utilizes her unique background as an internal advisor and a federal prosecutor to anticipate roadblocks, devise strategies, and confidently advise her clients through complex, and often, bet-the-company situations.What does International Women’s Day mean to you?International Women’s Day is an opportunity to pause and recognize what we have done successfully to achieve gender parity and think of ways that we can do more.What advice would you give to the next generation of women who want to pursue a career in the legal industry?Early in your career, get as much experience as you can for a variety of clients and take on a wide range of projects. This will not only help you figure out what you want to do, but will give you more opportunities in the future.How have you seen MoFo embrace gender balance as a business priority?MoFo really has made it a priority in all facets of its business. MoFo ensures that women associates are assigned mentors from the very beginning of their careers and also encourages the types of casual interactions that result in organic development of mentoring relationships.Cultivating talent from the beginning has resulted in gender balance in our partnership classes as those associates develop in their careers. MoFo doesn’t stop there — we host a women’s partner meeting every 18 months, which allows our women partners to share business strategies and personal experiences. The firm also hosts a Women’s Summit, providing an opportunity for our clients to do the same.Read more Q&As from our global community of MoFo Women <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-women/mofo-celebrates-international-womens-day-2019/">here</a>.

#BalanceforBetter: Christine Wong

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Christine Wong is a litigation partner in MoFo’s San Francisco office. Her practice focuses on investigations, white-collar criminal defense, and cross-border c

#BalanceforBetter: Christine Wong

Catherine Chapple is a litigation associate in MoFo’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/offices/washington-dc.html">Washington, D.C.</a> office. Her practice focuses on advising industry-leading companies in high-stakes matters and complex civil litigation. She represents clients in the aerospace, health care, defense, security, and information technology industries.What does International Women’s Day mean to you? It’s a day to appreciate the incredible progress women have made. Some of the things women couldn’t do as late as the 1970s are shocking to us now because we’ve assumed the right so completely. Some examples: getting a credit card without a male cosigner, serving on juries in many states, and running in marathons. But, it’s also a great time to ask what’s left to do. How will we tackle the challenges that still remain and effect change for the next generation of women?What advice would you give to the next generation of women who want to pursue a career in the legal industry?Sometimes you won’t feel 100% ready when a great opportunity comes along — say yes anyway. Many of the best experiences in my career (and life!) have happened when I’ve stepped up to take on something I wasn’t sure I could do. Find mentors — male or female — who will push and support you (and it doesn’t have to be the same mentor who both pushes and supports). Be confident in your ability to figure it out and ask for the help you need.How do you try to influence, join the conversation, or take action to build a gender-balanced world?I have been so fortunate over the years to have fantastic sponsors and mentors, both men and women. In different ways, each has pushed me to take on new challenges and supported me to help me succeed. When you’re a young lawyer and the partner says you’re ready to argue a motion yourself, prepare an important witness, or run all or part of a case, you believe them and then you step up to make it happen. Now that I am more senior, I look for opportunities to give that kind of responsibility and mentorship to younger attorneys.Read more Q&As from our global community of MoFo Women <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-women/mofo-celebrates-international-womens-day-2019/">here</a>.

#BalanceforBetter: Catherine Chapple

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#BalanceforBetter: Catherine Chapple

Sylvia Rivera is a litigation partner in MoFo’s <a href="https://www.mofo.com/offices/los-angeles.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Los Angeles</a> office. Her practice focuses on a diverse range of complex business litigation, with an emphasis on class-action defense and financial services litigation.What advice would you give to the next generation of women who want to pursue a career in the legal industry?Just do it! Young women lawyers are entering the profession during an unprecedented time of opportunity and consciousness. There is a seat at the table for you. Work hard and seek out mentors, and the possibilities will be limitless.Tell us about a female role model in your life who inspires you. How has she played a part in the movement to achieve better balance for women?I’m inspired by my colleagues at MoFo — associates and partners alike — who devote their valuable time to organizing and executing women’s initiatives and mentoring junior associates. They “pay it forward” by helping to create a work environment that’s supportive and nimble when it comes to addressing women’s issues.How have you seen MoFo embrace gender balance as a business priority? I’ve witnessed MoFo’s commitment to gender equity across all areas of the business. From our law school recruiting efforts, in which I’ve participated as an advocate, to our impressive record of promoting women to partner, from which I’ve personally benefitted, it’s both a moral and business imperative that we stand behind.Read more Q&As from our global community of MoFo Women <a href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-women/mofo-celebrates-international-womens-day-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

#BalanceforBetter: Sylvia Rivera

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#BalanceforBetter: Sylvia Rivera

<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/yuka-teraguchi.html">Yuka Teraguchi</a> is a litigation partner in MoFo’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/offices/tokyo.html">Tokyo</a> office. Her practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and counseling, representing clients in complex technology matters in state and federal courts and before the U.S. International Trade Commission.What does International Women’s Day mean to you? International Women’s Day is a day for celebrating the progress the world has made towards gender equality. Laws have changed to advance women’s rights. We have more women in high-ranking government positions and the boardroom, and more girls can choose their career without their gender being a barrier to entry.It is also a day to remind us how much more needs to be done to achieve gender equality worldwide and to encourage ourselves to take that one extra step so that we are closer to achieving that goal.Tell us about a female role model in your life who inspires you. How has she played a part in the movement to achieve better balance for women?Dr. Sadako Ogata has always been one of my role models. She was the first woman to serve as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 1991 to 2000. In that role, she helped save victims of the Gulf War, Yugoslav Wars, the Great Lakes genocide, and other major humanitarian crises. Even when faced with an unprecedented number of victims, she did not shy away. Instead, she skillfully negotiated with political and social leaders to ensure that those victims received the relief they desperately needed.Dr. Ogata is a champion of human rights and women’s rights. One of Dr. Ogata’s many accomplishments is that she broke the stereotype of Japanese women by being independent, making her opinions known, and fighting for her beliefs in a male-dominated world. Her leadership inspires me to do the same in my career and life.How have you seen MoFo embrace gender balance as a business priority?MoFo is deeply invested in training the next generation of women attorneys and in promoting advancement of women in our legal profession. MoFo realizes that we cannot achieve gender equality in the legal profession alone. As a result, MoFo has actively reached out to our clients and other women leaders to help do so together.For example, in Tokyo, we have hosted a series of Women in Business seminars, where industry leaders, in-house counsel, and MoFo attorneys get together to discuss cutting-edge legal issues that affect all of us today. Post-seminar dinners provide a rare opportunity to learn how successful women in our legal profession have paved their own career paths.Read more Q&As from our global community of MoFo Women <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-women/mofo-celebrates-international-womens-day-2019/">here</a>.

#BalanceforBetter: Yuka Teraguchi

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#BalanceforBetter: Yuka Teraguchi

<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/mary-prendergast.html">Mary Prendergast</a> is a litigation associate in MoFo’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/offices/washington-dc.html">Washington, D.C.</a> office. Her practice focuses on intellectual property and commercial litigation, representing clients in the medical devices, pharmaceuticals, electronics, software, semiconductors, and telecommunications sectors.What does International Women’s Day mean to you? To me, International Women’s Day is a chance for us to pause, reflect, and work together to find concrete ways to improve the lives of women. This year’s theme, #BalanceforBetter, is especially relevant to the legal industry — the lack of women in partnership and in leadership positions is a problem shared by all big law firms.What advice would you give to the next generation of women who want to pursue a career in the legal industry?Be fearless. No one cares more about your career than you, so be proactive, and when an opportunity comes, jump on it. Early in my career, an associate left two weeks before a major trial, and I was asked to join the team — made up of some of the greatest trial lawyers in the firm, who I had never worked with or even met — and help prep a key expert witness.It was terrifying, but it turned out to be one of my most rewarding and formative experiences. On the other hand, if you are “doing it all,” and you just need a break, take it. Find women you look up to and make them your allies and mentors. And make sure you look for (and insist upon) an environment and colleagues that encourage you to both advance your career and maintain a healthy balance with the other important things in your life.How have you seen MoFo embrace gender balance as a business priority?As a member of MoFo’s Women’s Strategy Committee and chair of its Marketing Taskforce, I am intimately familiar with the amount of time and money MoFo invests in recruiting, retaining, and promoting talented women.The last few years, in which we have had new partner classes with at least 50% women, are a testament to that effort, and the firm has no plans to slow down. MoFo is always looking at new programs and resources to improve maternity leave, flexible work schedules, and the transition to and from leave, many of which I have personally taken advantage of as a mother of two.Read more Q&As from our global community of MoFo Women <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-women/mofo-celebrates-international-womens-day-2019/">here</a>.

#BalanceforBetter: Mary Prendergast

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#BalanceforBetter: Mary Prendergast

Editors’ Note: This month, in celebration of the pioneers who paved ─ and continue to pave ─ the way for civil rights and equality in America, we are featuring a Q&A miniseries with MoFo attorneys of color to discuss what Black History Month means to them.<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/tiffani-figueroa.html">Tiffani Figueroa</a> is an associate in the Litigation Department of Morrison & Foerster’s New York office.What does Black History Month mean to you?Black History Month is a time when we get to reflect on the stories and experiences of Black people who made, and continue to make, this world a better place. Whether it’s learning about one of the first Black businesswomen, or those involved in the Civil Rights Movement, it’s a reminder of how we got to where we are today. Engaging in this learning process also provides an opportunity for us to empower young people as they think about the ways they can continue to bring about change for people of color, as there is still more work to be done.  I also think this is a special time for members of the Black community to stop, take a moment, and be proud of all the beauty and strength of being Black.Can you share a little about your career/journey? What has driven your success? What do you hope to achieve in the next 5–10 years?I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since I was about seven years old. I tried to take advantage of every opportunity that got me closer to making this my career. For example, I applied to programs such as A Better Chance, which allowed me to attend a top high school through a community school boarding program, and set me on the path to get into Georgetown, then Hofstra Law, and then land at my home — MoFo. To date, I continue to try to take advantage of opportunities that will make me a better lawyer. Clerking, which was one of my top goals, is a recent example. It was the one thing Justice Sotomayor regretted not doing, so I knew it had to be a big deal. When the opportunity presented itself, I jumped on it. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t clerking directly after law school and that I had already practiced law for a couple of years. It was about developing as an attorney in a unique environment, being exposed to a wealth of different laws and lawyering styles, and gaining an invaluable experience. It was a chance for growth, which is important to me at every stage of my career.I’ve always been driven to do my best and to make my family proud, especially as the first college grad and lawyer in my family. That meant, and continues to mean, putting in hard work. But that isn’t a problem for me. I get to do exactly what I thought I wanted to do as a seven-year-old and it turned out to be the right fit. So, in the next 5–10 years, I hope to continue on this path. I hope to continue practicing in Big Law, to further develop my skills as a litigator, to serve as a mentor for young professionals, and hopefully to add to the growing number of women of color in partnership positions.What words of wisdom do you have for the next generation of aspiring black lawyers?Follow through with what you want to do, even if there aren’t many people who look like you in that particular field. As one of my mentors once said: People of color need a seat at every table. And I truly believe that. That’s how we effect change. That’s how diversity of thought, experience, and emotion is put into action. And, that’s how you open the door for the next generation.

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Black History Month Q&A: Tiffani Figueroa Shares Her Perspective

Black History Month Q&A: Tiffani Figueroa Shares Her Perspective

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Editors’ Note: This month, in celebration of the pioneers who paved ─ and continue to pave ─ the way for civil rights and equality in America, we are featuring 

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

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

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

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