Editors’ Note: Read about Daniel Gonzalez, a Boston associate in our Transactions Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.
I have been with MoFo for four and a half years and joined the Finance Group when the Boston office first opened in 2019. I was born and raised in Boston, by parents who emigrated from Cuba to the United States in the 1960s. Because I am a first-generation college student, my parents have always stressed the importance of education and academic curiosity.
During my sophomore and junior years at Amherst College, I took several classes in the Law, Jurisprudence & Social Thought department. These classes provided a glimpse into the study and theory of law, and ultimately sparked my interest in pursuing a career in the legal field. By the end of my time at Amherst, I knew that law school was the next step. However, before I began my law school journey at Boston University, it was important to me to first invest my time in “Tenacity” – a program that shaped my life in many ways.
Tenacity is a nonprofit organization based in Boston that provides mentorship for inner-city children, as well as a comprehensive curriculum to develop literacy and athletics through tennis. The components of the program also emphasize life skill development, including teamwork, sportsmanship, responsibility, and most importantly, resilience. I joined Tenacity at the age of 11 as one of the program’s first participants. The mentorship I received had a lasting impact and provided significant support during my middle school education (and also introduced me to the game of tennis!).
After graduating from Amherst in 2010, I returned to Tenacity and spent the next several years working at different inner-city schools throughout Boston helping to expand the program. I started at BU in 2013 but remained active in the Tenacity community. I currently serve as a Director on the Alumni Committee and help coordinate alumni engagement – as the program has worked with over 40,000 students since 1999.
At MoFo, my practice is primarily focused on representing banks and other financial institutions in a variety of debt financing transactions. Joining the Boston office at its inception and having the opportunity to help expand the community and shape the collective vision has been a great experience. Over the past three summers, I have particularly enjoyed serving as an associate mentor through the firm’s Summer Associate program.
Outside work, you are likely to find me spending time with family and playing tennis with friends.