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

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

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Senior Pro Bono Counsel

Staff

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

Jennifer K. Brown

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

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Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

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

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

Natalie Kernisant

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

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Pro Bono Counsel

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

Dorothy L. Fernandez

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

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

Rachel P. Williams

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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

On Earth Day, and every day, MoFo is proud to undertake initiatives to advance environmental sustainability and conservation, including our unwavering commitment to providing pro bono legal services to organizations that advance this mission. Highlighted below are just a few organizations, among many, with whom we partner to drive impact and create a more sustainable world for everyone.<div data-reactroot=""><span class="rich-text-component-embed" data-component-info="{&quot;uid&quot;:&quot;blt5a1a81fc9b32b74f&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Ceros - MoFo Celebrates Earth Day&quot;,&quot;table_source&quot;:&quot;&lt;div style=&#x27;position: relative;width: auto;padding: 0 0 153.42%;height: 0;top: 0;left: 0;bottom: 0;right: 0;margin: 0;border: 0 none&#x27; id=\&quot;experience-6627f0b67eb37\&quot; data-aspectRatio=\&quot;0.65178571\&quot;&gt;&lt;iframe allowfullscreen src=&#x27;https://view.ceros.com/mofo/earth-day-pro-bono-2024-1?heightOverride=1120&#x27; style=&#x27;position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;bottom: 0;right: 0;margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0 none;height: 1px;width: 1px;min-height: 100%;min-width: 100%&#x27; frameborder=&#x27;0&#x27; class=&#x27;ceros-experience&#x27; title=&#x27;Earth Day Pro Bono 2024 Copy&#x27; scrolling=&#x27;no&#x27;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;script type=\&quot;text/javascript\&quot; src=\&quot;https://view.ceros.com/scroll-proxy.min.js\&quot; data-ceros-origin-domains=\&quot;view.ceros.com\&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;&quot;,&quot;locale&quot;:&quot;en-us&quot;,&quot;_version&quot;:1,&quot;publish_details&quot;:{&quot;time&quot;:&quot;2024-04-24T20:30:57.063Z&quot;,&quot;user&quot;:&quot;blt02c6960575474003&quot;,&quot;environment&quot;:&quot;bltf4674cd9142c5020&quot;,&quot;locale&quot;:&quot;en-us&quot;,&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;publish_details&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;publish_details&quot;},&quot;_fetched&quot;:true,&quot;_content_type_uid&quot;:&quot;table_content&quot;,&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;key&quot;}" data-component-type="table_content" data-component-inline="false"></div>

MoFo Celebrates Earth Day

On Earth Day, and every day, MoFo is proud to undertake initiatives to advance environmental sustainability and conservation, including our unwavering commitment to providing pro bono legal services to organizations that advance this mission.

MoFo Celebrates Earth Day

Morrison Foerster recently secured at least $2 billion in funding to support California students who fell behind during the COVID-19 pandemic—one of the largest education-related settlements in U.S. history. The funding settles a lawsuit brought on behalf of low-income students in Black and Latinx communities over the state’s failure to provide children with adequate access to remote education during pandemic school closures, and its subsequent failure to offer services necessary to overcome these children’s disproportionate learning losses.Under the settlement agreement in <a href="https://publiccounsel.org/our-cases/cayla-j-v-california/" target="_blank">Cayla J. v. the State of California</a>, local education agencies will allocate a minimum of $2 billion from the existing Learning Emergency Block Grant Funds toward programs that are proven to improve student performance. The funding must be directed to the lowest‑performing students in the school district, who will be identified using a data-driven “needs assessment” process that incorporates academic performance in math and English language arts, as well as absenteeism rates. School districts will be required to measure and report on the effectiveness of these programs for the populations they serve.Notably, the proposed legislation marks a first for California by enabling funds to be directed to community organizations with documented success in improving student achievement. Each local education agency will devise a plan and evidence-based programs tailored to the students it serves as part of the annual Local Control and Accountability Plan, with obligatory reporting on program success using measurable outcomes. Moreover, the public will have recourse to file complaints related to these plans under the Uniform Complaint Procedure, recognizing that the education of the next generation is a matter that impacts every resident of California.“MoFo is proud to have worked with Public Counsel, Oakland REACH, and Community Coalition to achieve this historic settlement for the students of California whose education was most severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Michael Jacobs, who led MoFo’s pro bono team for Cayla J. v. State of California before his recent retirement from the firm. “This case is yet another example of the firm’s commitment to quality education for all in our State.” In addition to Jacobs, the MoFo team was comprised of Palo Alto partners Lily Li and Erik Olson, Los Angeles partner Purvi Patel, San Diego partner John Lanham, Palo Alto associates Chelsea Kehrer and Max Levy, and San Francisco associate Ian Bennett.MoFo co-counseled the case with <a href="https://publiccounsel.org/" target="_blank">Public Counsel</a>, a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice. <a href="https://oaklandreach.org/" target="_blank">The Oakland REACH</a> and <a href="https://cocosouthla.org/" target="_blank">Community Coalition</a>, who were also plaintiffs in the lawsuit, have continued their involvement as supportive partners.<a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/pro-bono" target="_blank">Learn more</a> about MoFo’s commitment to pro bono work.

Morrison Foerster recently secured at least $2 billion in funding to support California students who fell behind during the COVID-19 pandemic—one of the largest education-related settlements in U.S. history.

MoFo Secures $2 Billion for California Students

Morrison Foerster has long championed the advancement of women. The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization struck down 50 years of precedent that MoFo lawyers, on behalf of our clients, had fought to defend in nearly 20 cases since 1989, including Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2016 that reaffirmed a woman’s constitutional right to abortion.While the Dobbs decision unleashed chaos in the legal status of abortion, it has not dampened the commitment of many MoFo lawyers to preserving women’s access to reproductive health care through legal support inside and outside the courtroom.In the immediate aftermath of the Dobbs decision, Litigation partner Jamie Levitt was one of the first to endorse a call to action published in The American Lawyer, which was later signed by more than 2,650 women partners from 190 law firms and outlined a personal commitment to continue “offering pro bono legal services to organizations that defend and support women’s rights to autonomy, equality and safe access to reproductive care, including abortion.” MoFo’s Privacy team, led by New York Privacy + Data Security partner Miriam Wugmeister, quickly developed and issued <a href="https://view.ceros.com/mofo/tips-protecting-privacy/p/1" target="_blank">MoFo Privacy Tips for Protecting Reproductive Rights</a> to offer guidance to the public on how to safeguard their personal health information.On another front, Jamie Levitt and senior pro bono counsel Jennifer Brown spent months working closely with several public interest organizations to develop the <a href="https://abortiondefensenetwork.org/" target="_blank">Abortion Defense Network</a> (ADN), bringing together lawyers from top law firms and reproductive rights organizations to offer a nationwide resource for abortion-related confidential legal advice. Dozens of lawyers have attended trainings offered by ADN and, since its inception one year ago, MoFo lawyers have advised more than 25 abortion providers and support organizations who were referred by ADN or similar regional networks, helping these clients untangle the web of contradictory state laws that now govern this field of medicine. MoFo lawyers, led by New York Litigation partners Jamie Levitt and J. Alexander Lawrence, are continuing to work with the Center for Reproductive Rights on critical litigation as well.Since March 2023, MoFo lawyers and the Center have been fighting in several cases to establish that medical emergency exceptions to state abortion prohibitions must be interpreted so that women’s lives are not jeopardized when they face severe and dangerous complications during pregnancy. In a Texas case, MoFo litigators are representing lead plaintiff Amanda Zurawski and other women who were denied urgently needed abortions as their health deteriorated drastically because doctors could not risk criminal punishments of up to 99 years in prison and $100,000 in fines if a prosecutor disagreed with the doctor’s determination that a medical emergency justified an abortion.  As Jamie Levitt explains, “We are representing women who have all faced serious pregnancy complications, and the issue with the current law is the statutes have standards that are very unclear, so our lawsuit is seeking clarity.” After two days of riveting testimony, the Texas trial court hearing the case issued an order in August 2023 clarifying that “emergent medical conditions” – meaning conditions that, without an abortion, threaten the pregnant woman’s life or health – come within the medical emergency exception to the Texas abortion bans, and there is no need to wait for a patient to be in crisis before offering treatment. The court’s ruling, however, was immediately stayed when the state appealed the case to the Texas Supreme Court. That court heard argument in November 2023 and has not yet issued its decision.Meanwhile, when a Texan named Kate Cox, whose pregnancy with a non-viable fetus threatened her health and her future fertility, heard about the Zurawski case, she bravely came forward to ask for legal help to end her pregnancy. She, her husband, and her OB-GYN became plaintiffs in a case that was urgently litigated by MoFo lawyers and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Women and men across the country followed the case closely as the trial court held that an abortion was permitted under the Texas medical emergency exception. Before Cox could get treatment, however, the Texas Supreme Court issued a stay of the trial court’s order and within the week, it ruled against her, her husband, and her doctor. (Cox left the state to obtain an abortion.)MoFo lawyers are also partnering with the Center for Reproductive Rights in the case Blackmon v. Tennessee, being heard in Tennessee state court. As in the Texas litigation, the goal of this case is clarification from the court that the medical condition exception to Tennessee’s abortion ban allows a doctor to provide abortion care when a pregnant woman has a physical emergent medical condition that poses a risk of death or a risk to the woman’s health, including her future fertility. The state’s motion to dismiss that case is scheduled for argument in early April 2024. MoFo lawyers remain undaunted. “As long as women’s reproductive rights are threatened, our pro bono team remains on the front lines and will continue to marshal the time, talent, and resources needed to zealously advocate for our clients in Texas and beyond,” said Jamie Levitt. The dozens of MoFo lawyers who have collectively contributed more than 3,000 hours to these efforts since the Dobbs decision surely agree.

MoFo Lawyers Lead Pro Bono Advocacy for Reproductive Justice in a Post-Dobbs Era

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 an

Jennifer Brown

Pearlstein v. Blackberry Limited 

Global Transportation Company and Its Board of Directors 

FutureSelect Portfolio Management Inc. v. Ernst & Young 

Residential Capital, LLC 

In re NOVAGOLD Resources, Inc. Securities Litigation

Nicholas Skiadas v. Acer Therapeutics, Inc.

In re WorldSpace Securities Litigation 

Canadian Superior Energy Inc. Securities Litigation

Altayyar v. Etsy, Inc.

JPMorgan Chase/SouthEdge 

Menaldi v. Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC

Parker v. United Industries Corp.

Veeco Instruments, Inc.

In re Metromedia Fiber Networks, Inc. Securities Litigation

Metromedia Fiber Networks, Inc. (MFN) Audit Committee Chair Investigation (SEC)

American Home Mortgage

Chobani LLC

Alcon Vision, LLC. v. Lens.com and Alcon Vision, LLC v. Allied Vision Group, Inc

Bradley Pharmaceuticals Investigations (SEC)

Johnson v. Glassman

Staehr v. Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

Metropole v. RemoteReality

CFLP v. Market Data Corporation

Outside Directors and Audit Committee of Take Two Interactive Software, Inc.

Interpool Audit Committee

Financial Institution Executive Compensation Investigation

Viatel Audit Committee

First Bank v. Silverman

ICS Travel v. Cheap Tickets, Inc.

Verified Identity Pass, Inc. v. Fischer

TouchTunes Musical Group 

Hortonworks Shareholder Lawsuits

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Partner

Jamie Levitt is a trial lawyer and managing partner of the New York office. She is also the former head of the New York Litigation Department.

Jamie A. Levitt

Jamie A. Levitt | Commercial + Securities Litigation

Jamie is co-chair of MoFo’s Commercial Litigation & Trial Group and the former head of New York Litigation. She has served as chair of The Morrison Foerster Foundation since 2015.

Jamie Levitt

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MoFo Lawyers Lead Pro Bono Advocacy for Reproductive Justice in a Post-Dobbs Era

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Morrison Foerster has long championed the advancement of women. 

The MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel held in February 2024 in Brooklyn, NY brought together over 200 women leaders in the legal industry for a day filled with substantive panels and breakouts, professional development sessions, networking opportunities, and an inspirational keynote discussion.We are thankful to our co-chairs, Carrie H. Cohen and Crystal Kaldjob, for their work and unwavering dedication in spearheading the event. We are also appreciative of our MoFo panelists and guests who made this year’s event an enormous success.<a href="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/assets/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt3b3fb4b54bb65e7c/240321-2024-mofo-womens-summit-agenda.pdf" target="_blank">View the agenda for a full list of speakers and panels</a>. Our panelists explored a variety of relevant topics, such as:<ul><li>Artificial Intelligence Compliance Challenges – A Double-Edged Sword</li><li>Navigating the Evolving Regulatory Landscape: Digital Assets and FinTech in Today’s Climate</li><li>Understanding and Preparing for Emerging Global Anti-Money Laundering & Sanctions Risks</li><li>Parallel Government Enforcement Actions and Class Actions: 2023 Trends and Best Practices</li><li>The SEC’s Cyber Disclosure Regime – Best Practices for Disclosures and Enforcement Risk Mitigation</li><li>Hot Topics in the Life Sciences Industry</li></ul>We were also honored to welcome Jill Ellis, renowned soccer coach and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, as our keynote speaker. Her inspirational discussion with MoFo partner Carrie H. Cohen, global co-chair of the Investigations + White Collar Defense Practice Group, resonated with attendees as she shared her personal journey of leadership, perseverance, and how she defined success in her career.As part of MoFo’s commitment to making a meaningful impact in our communities and for our clients, charitable donations were made by MoFo on behalf of the Women’s Summit to the organizations listed below. During the Summit, attendees had the opportunity to help decide how funds were distributed among these entities, which not only enriched our event, but also ensured a lasting impact on the lives of women and girls. This year’s selection of charitable organizations that received donations from MoFo are as follows:  <ul><li><a href="https://reproductiverights.org/" target="_blank">Center for Reproductive Rights</a>: Advocating for reproductive rights worldwide; </li><li><a href="https://www.federalbarcouncil.org/foundation/when-there-are-nine/" target="_blank">When There Are Nine Scholarship Project</a>: Empowering women through education, mentorship, and opportunity;</li><li><a href="https://www.tahirih.org/" target="_blank">Tahirih Justice Center</a>: Protecting immigrant women and girls fleeing violence; and</li><li><a href="https://volsprobono.org/projects/incarcerated-mothers/" target="_blank">Volunteers of Legal Services Incarcerated Mothers Project</a>: Providing free legal advice and advocacy to mothers in prison.</li></ul><div data-reactroot=""><span class="rich-text-component-embed" data-component-info="{&quot;_version&quot;:3,&quot;locale&quot;:&quot;en-us&quot;,&quot;uid&quot;:&quot;blt563c08ffd590936e&quot;,&quot;card_information&quot;:{&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel &lt;/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;card_information&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;card_information&quot;},&quot;description&quot;:{&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;description&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;description&quot;},&quot;display_title&quot;:{&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel &lt;/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;display_title&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;display_title&quot;},&quot;page_meta&quot;:{&quot;open_graph_meta&quot;:{&quot;og_type&quot;:&quot;website&quot;,&quot;og_site_name&quot;:&quot;Morrison &amp; Foerster&quot;,&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;page_meta;open_graph_meta&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;open_graph_meta&quot;},&quot;twitter_card&quot;:&quot;summary_large_image&quot;,&quot;social_share&quot;:{&quot;hashtags&quot;:[&quot;MoFo&quot;],&quot;related_accounts&quot;:[&quot;MoFoLLP&quot;],&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;page_meta;social_share&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;social_share&quot;},&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;page_meta&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;page_meta&quot;},&quot;title&quot;:&quot;2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;/video/230321-2024-mofo-summit-for-women-in-house-counsel&quot;,&quot;video_id&quot;:&quot;2024-mofo-summit-for-women-in-house-counsel&quot;,&quot;youtube&quot;:&quot;https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/L3_8TRZzoCU&quot;,&quot;publish_details&quot;:{&quot;environment&quot;:&quot;bltf4674cd9142c5020&quot;,&quot;locale&quot;:&quot;en-us&quot;,&quot;time&quot;:&quot;2024-03-21T13:15:09.884Z&quot;,&quot;user&quot;:&quot;bltb8dfc2c109d32f0d&quot;,&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;publish_details&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;publish_details&quot;},&quot;_fetched&quot;:true,&quot;_content_type_uid&quot;:&quot;video_content&quot;,&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;key&quot;}" data-component-type="video_content" data-component-inline="false"></div>

2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel 

2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel

The MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel held in February 2024 in Brooklyn, NY brought together over 200 women leaders in the legal industry for a day filled with substantive panels and breakouts, professional development sessions, networking opportunities, and an inspirational keynote discussion.

2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel

International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the collective efforts to drive women’s equality. It marks a day to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination, and work towards creating a more diverse and inclusive world. The 2024 theme is Inspire Inclusion—inspiring others to understand and value women’s inclusion, thus forging a better world.World-renowned feminist, journalist, and activist Gloria Steinem explained that “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” MoFo has a longstanding commitment to supporting and promoting the advancement of women, which is at the heart of our shared values. Our commitment embodies Steinem’s sentiment of creating an inclusive culture that requires the united effort and dedication of many. We believe that when our women succeed, we all succeed.In recognition of International Women’s Day, we honor our newest women partner class, women who inspire others to understand and value inclusion.<ul><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/kate-driscoll" target="_blank">Kate Driscoll</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/rachel-fiorill" target="_blank">Rachel Fiorill</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/tushna-gamadia" target="_blank">Tushna Gamadia</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/rose-lee" target="_blank">Rose Lee</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/meghan-poon" target="_blank">Meghan Poon</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/shiri-shenhav" target="_blank">Shiri Shenhav</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/alexandra-barlow" target="_blank">Alex Barlow</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/krista-deboer" target="_blank">Krista deBoer</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/chere-see" target="_blank">Chere See</a></li></ul>

International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the collective efforts to drive women’s equality. It marks a day to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination, and work towards creating a more diverse and inclusive world. The 2024 theme is Inspire Inclusion—inspiring others to understand and value women’s inclusion, thus forging a better world.

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2024

MoFo continued its celebration of Black History Month by hosting a fireside chat with Washington, D.C. partner Val Dahiya and guest speaker Anita Hill. A Brandeis University Professor of Law, Social Policy & Women’s and Gender Studies and advocate for equality and civil rights, Anita is perhaps best-known for her 1991 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, accusing then-U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment.Anita’s testimony left millions of Americans who viewed it on television uncertain about the outcome and many doubtful of Anita’s accusations; what remained was the notion that it was nothing more than an “obscene spectacle.” Yet, more than 30 years later, as we reflect on the positive legal and cultural changes around the issue of gender-based violence and racial equality, Anita’s 1991 testimony was the beginning of a diverse effort that changed the way individuals view not only various forms of gender abuse, but diversity and inclusion efforts as a whole.Anita opened with a discussion of the movement against DEI efforts since Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law SB 17, banning DEI offices and programs in public universities and colleges, as well as the Supreme Court’s landmark decision nearly two weeks later ending race-based admissions policies in higher education.Anita explained that, since the Supreme Court’s ruling, its reach appears to be broader than race in admissions, with messaging that signals the end of DEI in workplaces. Whether it is fear of lawsuits or DEI fatigue, companies have been using the Court’s recent ruling as an opportunity to uproot their DEI programs. Yet, as Anita stated, companies should take a more nuanced approach, and they have a fiduciary duty to shareholders to do so for several reasons: many shareholders have called for greater DEI efforts within corporations; boards should consider their commitments already made to DEI; and boards should assess financial consequences of abandoning DEI, including the value proposition showing there is value that comes from diverse workforces. Boards need to treat DEI like any other business commitment.DEI goes beyond the economic impact it has on corporations; it supports the cultural change we are experiencing, a movement that has had impact over time. Looking back since her testimony years ago, Anita acknowledged the progress that has been made. “I know we haven’t solved the problem, but we are more aware and engaged in solving it now than ever before in our country.”She added that people have been given more of a voice to enact legal and cultural change. Since 1991, there has come greater awareness and an understanding that systemic change is needed. Public discourse about harassment, gender, and racial equity and diverse political representation has revealed how systems have failed to ensure that victims receive the protections afforded to them under the law. Anita’s testimony also fueled an increase in women’s political participation, up significantly since 1991, when only two women were represented in the U.S. Senate. These conversations, and several others, have served as a catalyst to drive increased civil rights legislation between 1991 and now.“The point is that the faces of the conversations that brought us here were diverse. As we celebrate Black History Month, let’s not forget that the struggle for social justice has been a common theme,” stated Anita. “The inclusion of diverse perspectives and experiences is what makes human progress possible.”

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Val Dahiya is a partner in the firm’s Capital Markets and Broker-Dealer Compliance + Regulation practice groups.

Val Dahiya

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MoFo continued its celebration of Black History Month by hosting a fireside chat with Washington, D.C. partner Val Dahiya and guest speaker Anita Hill. A Brandeis University Professor of Law, Social Policy & Women’s and Gender Studies and advocate for equality and civil rights, Anita is perhaps best-known for her 1991 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, accusing then-U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment.

Celebrating Black History Month: A Conversation with Anita Hill

Morrison Foerster is pleased to announce our 2024 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow nominee is New York Transactions partner Tushna Gamadia and our Pathfinder nominees are Whitney Lee, Washington D.C. Litigation associate, and Yuan Xia, Palo Alto Transactions associate.Founded in 2009, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) is an organization of more than 400 members, who serve as either general counsel of major corporations or managing partners of the nation’s leading law firms. Morrison Foerster has been a proud member for more than a decade and is committed to leading by example, taking action, and preparing future generations of talented attorneys for the highest positions of leadership.Each year, Morrison Foerster nominates one outstanding partner and two high-performing associates to be considered for the LCLD Fellows and Pathfinder Programs. These programs provide invaluable networking opportunities and curated professional development experiences designed to help develop practical strategies and critical skills around leadership and business development.Tushna Gamadia, our nominee for partner Fellow, has been with MoFo since 2013. She is a partner in the New York office and a member of the Real Estate Group in the Transactions Department. Tushna has over two decades of experience representing clients in complex commercial real estate transactions, with a particular emphasis on joint ventures, acquisitions and dispositions of properties, and real estate finance. Tushna regularly represents domestic and overseas investors and developers in joint venture projects and in the acquisition, financing, management, development, and sale of these projects. Tushna is also actively engaged in pro bono matters, including corporate and real estate matters, and advising community members in connection with family law and immigration matters. She is the 2020 recipient of Morrison Foerster’s Kathi Pugh Award for Pro Bono Service. In 2022 and 2023, The Legal 500 US named Tushna a Rising Star for Real Estate Finance. Tushna earned her J.D. from Cornell Law School, where she was a symposium editor of the Cornell Law Review, and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Middlebury College. Tushna is a participant in MoFo’s Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Mentoring Program. She is also a member of the firm’s Middle Eastern North African (MENA) and Veterans Affinity Networks.Whitney Lee, one of our Pathfinder nominees, has been with MoFo since 2019. She is an associate in the Washington, D.C. office and a member of the firm’s Privacy + Data Security and Global Risk + Crisis Management Groups. Whitney’s practice focuses on advising clients on significant cybersecurity incidents and other sensitive matters relating to U.S. domestic and international cybercrime, national security, risk, and crisis management, including matters that involve multijurisdictional investigations, congressional oversight, and significant media attention. Whitney also has considerable experience advising clients on the Foreign Agents Registration Act and the Lobbying Disclosure Act. In 2021, Whitney was featured in Bloomberg Law’s “They’ve Got Next” series as a Rising Star in the area of Privacy and Cybersecurity. In 2022 and 2023, Whitney was named to the National Black Lawyers' "Top 40 Under 40" list and received the ABA’s “On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers" Award. Whitney is the founder of CYREIN, a pro bono consulting service addressing the rise of cyberstalking and cyber harassment. During law school, Whitney worked at the New York State Office of the Attorney General in the Public Integrity Bureau, and before law school, she worked at the Center for American Progress. Whitney holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School; an LL.M. in international criminal law with a focus on cybercrime from the University of Amsterdam, where she was an Amsterdam Merit Scholar, and a B.A. in government from Harvard University. Whitney co-chairs the Washington, D.C. Black Affinity Group and is a member of the D.C. Associate Committee.Yuan Xia, our other Pathfinder nominee, has been with MoFo since 2020. She is an associate in the Palo Alto office and a member of the firm’s Executive Compensation Group. Yuan’s practice focuses on the transactional aspects of executive compensation matters in the context of domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, public offerings, and restructurings. She regularly counsels companies on the design and implementation of equity, incentive and non-qualified deferred compensation, change in control, retention and severance, and executive employment agreements. She also has extensive experience advising public companies on executive compensation disclosures. Yuan was recognized by The Legal 500 US as a Rising Star in Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation, and Retirement Plans for 2023. Prior to joining the firm, she was an associate at another international law firm headquartered in New York. Yuan holds a J.D. from University of Michigan Law School, an LL.M. from UCLA School of Law, and an LL.B. from China University of Political Science and Law. Yuan is an active member of the firmwide AAPI Affinity Network as well as the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley, and Chinese American Lawyers of the Bay Area.

Development Joint Venture Project

Residential Condo Development Joint Venture

Development Joint Venture

D.C. Multi-Family Property

Joint Venture Projects

Sale of Malls and Shopping Centers

Development Financing Projects

Sale of Hotel Portfolio

Office Lease

Multi-Family Portfolio Financing

Programmatic Joint Ventures

Multi-Family Joint Venture

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Tushna Gamadia has over two decades of experience representing clients in complex commercial real estate transactions, with a particular emphasis on joint ventures, acquisitions and dispositions of pr