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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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

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<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/purvi-patel.html#overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Purvi G. Patel</a> is a litigation partner in MoFo’s Los Angeles office. Her practice is a unique blend of Privacy + Data Security and Class Actions + Mass Torts. Purvi represents a wide-range of clients spanning the retail and e-commerce space, among others, in privacy, advertising, unfair competition, and consumer fraud matters. She is a recognized leader in defending lawsuits involving the collection, use, and disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII). Purvi is the firm’s expert regarding California’s Song-Beverly Credit Card Act and analog statutes in other states, and she is at the forefront of the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018.Her experience advising household names on various privacy compliance issues and defending them in complex and class action litigation in federal and state courts across the country, has earned her a solid reputation among both her peers and clients. She is recommended as a Key Lawyer: Privacy and Data Protection by Legal 500 US and as a leading lawyer by Best Lawyers in America. Additionally, the Los Angeles Business Journal named Purvi to its list of Most Influential Minority Attorneys.As well-known as she is for her legal capabilities, she is equally renowned for her commitment to the community and diversifying the legal profession. She has held several influential positions within the firm, contributing to the mentorship and advancement of diverse, LGBTQ+, and women attorneys. She is co-chair of MoFo’s <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity#diversitystrategycommittee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Diversity Strategy Committee</a>, hiring partner for the Los Angeles office, and a member of the Women’s Strategy Committee.Purvi is also actively engaged in the community and has taken on leadership roles with a number of organizations. She is a member of the founding board of <a href="https://www.legalpipeline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Legal Education Access Pipeline</a>, a fellows program dedicated to increasing access to legal education for underrepresented populations. Since its launch, she has also served on the steering committee for Just the Beginning’s Los Angeles Summer Legal Institute, a one-week legal immersion program for diverse high school students. Finally, Purvi is a past co-president of the South Asian Bar Association of Southern California (SABA-SC) and, in 2019, was named <a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/kudos-to-purvi-patel-on-being-named-saba-scs-2019-mentor-of-the-year-award/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SABA-SC’s Mentor of the Year</a>.What was it that initially drew you to Privacy + Data Security law?While no area of the law is really stagnant—after all, that’s the beauty of our system—Privacy + Data Security law is rapidly and constantly evolving due to changes in technology and social norms, resulting in “first of their kind” legal issues. I wanted to be on the frontlines of those issues. As I had hoped, partnering with clients to navigate the gray areas, which regularly crop up, has proven to be very rewarding. It’s a dynamic practice, where past experience certainly informs our thinking, but equally or more important is the need to think practically and be nimble. Having the ability to hone these types of skills is also what drew me to this practice years ago.Do you have any examples of interesting work you’ve performed in this space? Too many! The most recent has been my work on the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). It is the most comprehensive piece of privacy legislation in the United States, and no doubt will be the model for other laws in other states. I started working on the CCPA before it was passed into law and, as those who work in this space know, it’s been a wild ride from the beginning. As a result, I developed an early expertise in the Act’s nuances. It’s been amended several times since it was passed in 2018, and California is not yet “done” with it, so the challenges it poses for compliance will definitely continue. These challenges, however, are exactly why I love being a privacy lawyer. Every day I am fielding hard questions from clients who are trying to comply with a law that has many gray areas, and I’ve enjoyed working with these companies to come up with practical solutions to these questions. My counseling practice has and will continue to inform my litigation practice, and I’ve already seen the advantages of the deep knowledge I’ve built as I defend clients in cases asserting CCPA claims.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career, or perhaps why you are driven to mentor others?As a South Asian woman, I am still too often the only woman or the only person of color in the room, so I feel a deep and abiding obligation to mentor diverse, LGBTQ+, and women attorneys. A large part of that is due to the fact that I’ve benefited from dedicated mentors throughout my career—attorneys who saw my potential, gave me opportunities, pushed me to stretch, and were trustworthy confidants. No one succeeds in this career alone. Having experienced firsthand the impact mentorship can have and wanting to see others like me succeed (and change the makeup of the room) motivates me to take the extra time to invest in younger lawyers.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse and women attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

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Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Purvi G. Patel

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Purvi G. Patel

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Purvi G. Patel is a litigation partner in MoFo’s Los Angeles office. Her practice is a unique blend of Privacy + Data Security and Class Actions + Mass Torts. P

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/mercedes-samavi.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercedes Samavi</a> is an associate in MoFo’s London office. As a member of both the Technology Transactions Group and the Global Privacy Group, she focuses on advising domestic and international clients on matters related to B2B and B2C data protection issues, e-privacy and direct marketing strategies, contract law, intellectual property, outsourcing, and public procurements.Her clients range from early-stage startups to large multinational corporations, covering a wide assortment of industries. Additionally she’s spent significant time on client secondments, helping businesses with both commercial and privacy matters.Mercedes is also actively involved with the firm’s pro bono efforts, working with a variety of clients, including UK and international charities, third-sector organizations, and social impact businesses. In 2019 she was awarded the Kathi Pugh Award for her dedication to pro bono service.What was it that initially drew you to Privacy + Data Security law? I initially worked solely for MoFo’s Technology Transactions Group. Within a few months, I became aware that I’d have to have at least a basic level of privacy law to be able to fully understand clients’ questions and concerns and give truly helpful advice. In practice, whether you’re dealing with an app, a piece of software, or a new device, clients’ issues don’t always fall neatly into the “privacy” bucket and the “contractual” bucket.  Additionally, learning about privacy law is like pulling a piece of loose yarn on a jumper: the more you pull, the more you realize that there’s still so much you need to know. So I’ve stuck with it ever since! The Privacy + Data Security Group itself contains such a fantastic set of individuals with so much talent and experience, and my dual practice has really benefited over the years from being able to work closely with them on a variety of deals and regulatory matters.Do you have any advice for the next generation of aspiring diverse lawyers who might be interested in the field?We need you! Privacy is not an issue that’s going to get “resolved” any time soon, either by this generation or the next generation. If anything, the more we increase our personal and corporate reliance on technology, the more interesting legal and ethical privacy dilemmas we’ll have for lawyers to consider and advise on. To solve these dilemmas, having a diverse set of voices (both by background and by experience) consult on the underlying principles is not just nice to have; it’s a necessity. A fundamental principle of privacy is that personal information should be handled in a fair and justified way; enshrined in this is the requirement to strip out bias and anti-discrimination. Consider the last time you read in the news about an AI algorithm that unlawfully discriminated against a certain gender, race, or sexual orientation. Could this have been avoided if the company’s legal advisers comprised a wider range of individuals who could, from a privacy perspective, spot the red flags in time? For sure, this responsibility should not be placed on the shoulders of lawyers alone, but substantive privacy laws are still being figured out, and we need diverse representation in the room to help companies avoid making the same mistakes.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career, or perhaps why you are driven to mentor others?Originally, mentorship represented to me the idea of having one special person that will guide you through your career—much like a guardian angel—from the start until the end. Now, I appreciate that it’s so much more than that and that mentors come in all shapes and sizes. I’ve really valued having a trusted set of people, within law and other professions, who play different roles—a listening ear, a sounding board, or a sponsor—depending on what the situation requires. Having benefited so much from this, I’m keen to provide mentorship to junior associates and trainees, again adjusting my role to what they need. Often, the most helpful thing that I’ve been able to offer to someone is the opportunity to check that what they’re going through is not unheard of or unique to them. I know, firsthand, that it can be a great comfort to know this.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse and women attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Mercedes Samavi

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Mercedes Samavi

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Mercedes Samavi is an associate in MoFo’s London office. As a member of both the Technology Transactions Group and the Global Privacy Group, she focuses on advi

Nancy Thomas is litigation partner in MoFo’s Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on consumer class actions and regulatory enforcement, representing clients in high-stakes litigation matters in addition to arbitration and administrative proceedings. She has extensive experience representing clients on a variety of complex matters, including data breach investigations and class actions, as well as other privacy matters.Nancy’s practical approach and winning strategies have gained her recognition as a top financial services litigator by Legal 500 US and Benchmark Litigation. She was also named a leading California litigator by Benchmark Litigation California and earned a place on Benchmark Litigation and Euromoney Media Group’s Top 250 Women in Litigation lists.Nancy is editor-in-chief and contributing author of the firm’s award-winning <a href="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/assets/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltbaff9cb034390a01/6273ef590cffdf1eb136b54a/200714-financial-service-report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Financial Services Report</a>. She is actively engaged in her community, sitting on the board of directors and the executive committee of the <a href="https://www.crf-usa.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Constitutional Rights Foundation</a>, a nonprofit, bipartisan organization dedicated to teaching students how to participate in the democratic process.What was it that initially drew you to Privacy + Data Security law?What could be better than assisting clients with some of their most difficult challenges, including data security and data breach issues, and representing clients in high-profile and high-stakes privacy class actions? Privacy + Data Security is a relatively new area of the law, so my work in this space gives me the opportunity to make creative arguments to win cases and shape how the law develops.How does the Privacy + Data Security practice intersect with, or improve upon, similar practice areas?Winning privacy class actions requires a deep, substantive knowledge of the privacy laws. Every day brings a new challenge and another opportunity to collaborate with my colleagues on our privacy regulatory and compliance teams. We work together to develop winning defenses on the merits. I also work closely with my colleagues in the Consumer Class Action Practice Group as we develop roadmaps to victory to meet our clients’ goals and brainstorm arguments to defeat class certification and win dispositive motions.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career, or perhaps why you are driven to mentor others?Mentorship is part of the ethos of this firm; I’ve seen what a difference it made when senior lawyers took an interest in my development as a lawyer and I now want to pay it forward by mentoring junior lawyers. Teaching associates, listening to their ideas and concerns, encouraging them to find their own work-life balance, and giving them opportunities to develop both personally and professionally are critical and rewarding parts of my job. The time and energy spent come back to me in spades when I watch my colleagues become strong team members, define their own views of personal and professional success, and work toward achieving those goals.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse and women attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Nancy Thomas

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Nancy Thomas

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Nancy Thomas is litigation partner in MoFo’s Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on consumer class actions and regulatory enforcement, representing clients

On September 17, 2020, MoFo partner and co-chair of the firm’s Employment and Labor Group <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/eric-tate.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eric Akira Tate</a> spoke on a panel entitled, “Stepping Up for Justice and Being a Good Ally,” in which leaders in the legal community discussed this important subject. The panel was one of three live virtual roundtable discussions hosted by the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) of the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) as part of the 16th Annual JDC Gala. This lively discussion was moderated by Catherine Ongiri, Judicial Council of California and member of JDC’s Board of Directors. Other panelists included: Kelly Dermody (Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein); Judge Laurel Beeler of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California; and Monica Oca Howell (Justice & Diversity Center).The discussion began with a simple question: What does it mean to be an ally? Eric kicked off the conversation, citing as an example an anecdote about when he attended a meeting of the governing Council for the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Section of Labor and Employment Law the day after the killing of George Floyd. Eric recalled how late into the meeting, the topic of George Floyd had not been raised, but Kelly Dermody, a white woman and fellow Council member, spoke up and asked if the meeting was going to conclude without anyone bringing up the topic. The ensuing conversation ultimately led to a commitment by the Council of the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law to participate in a <a href="https://www.americanbar.org/groups/labor_law/membership/equal_opportunity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge</a>. Many law firms and other organizations, including MoFo, also participated in the Challenge.The panel discussion provided many practical tips for those in the legal profession to recognize their own privilege, and how to use that privilege to become an effective ally to marginalized and historically underrepresented communities. Some key takeaways include:<ul><li>Being an ally is about taking action to empower others. Even comparatively small gestures such as offering to call the police on a stranger’s behalf because the stranger is being harassed for being of a certain race or ethnicity, or amplifying a colleague’s contribution when she is talked over in a meeting, can be effective ways to be an ally.</li></ul><ul><li>Being an ally is not easy or comfortable. To the contrary, being an ally at its core involves delving into uncomfortable situations. But an ally can generally assume that whatever level of discomfort he or she may encounter or feel as an ally, is dwarfed by the discomfort and pain felt by those persons for whom the ally is seeking to come alongside.</li></ul><ul><li>Being an ally is recognizing that, even if the negative impacts of issues like racial injustice do not directly affect you as part of your everyday experience, they affect the greater societal structure in which you operate and thus, ultimately do impact you.</li></ul><ul><li>It is crucial to have an open heart and develop a growth mindset, which can be achieved as you immerse yourself in learning about other’s lived experiences. It was noted that in this process, the goal is not reach a destination, but rather to embark on a lifelong journey of self-education.</li></ul><ul><li>Being an ally is understanding that your role is not to “save” other people or advocate for your own agenda, but rather to stand side by side with marginalized groups and support them as they see fit. One cannot be an effective ally by assuming and displacing leadership of these communities—even with good intentions—without actually listening to or understanding their needs, or acknowledging the entirety of the circumstances leading to their current experience. Talk a little and listen a lot.</li></ul><ul><li>Words have power, and those aspiring to be effective allies must be prepared to have difficult conversations in a variety of situations, whether it is in responding to a racial slur used in casual conversation among friends, or standing up to someone in the street. It takes courage to do so, and you can better position yourself to be an ally by understanding what your priorities and limits are.</li></ul>If you would like to access a recording of the panel discussion, please watch <a href="https://vimeo.com/459118493">BASF’s video</a>.In this Allyship Is Action video, Eric discusses the challenges of talking to your children about issues of race at an early age, reminding us that listening is also an important part of communicating with them.<iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/v_1WU7mRnbw?rel=0" title="Video: Allyship in Action with Eric Akira Tate" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="1" title="iframe"></iframe>

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Allyship Is Action: MoFo Partner Eric Akira Tate on Being a Good Ally – It’s Not Easy, But It’s Worth It

Allyship Is Action: MoFo Partner Eric Akira Tate on Being a Good Ally – It’s Not Easy, But It’s Worth It

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On September 17, 2020, MoFo partner and co-chair of the firm’s Employment and Labor Group Eric Akira Tate spoke on a panel entitled, “Stepping Up for Justice an

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/dario-avram.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Darío Avram</a> is a partner in MoFo’s Finance and Private Equity Buyouts & Investment Group. His practice focuses on representing private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in a variety of complex U.S. and cross-border financing transactions, including leveraged buyouts, refinancings, and restructurings. Darío has led transactions covering a range of industries, including technology, financial services, industrials, professional services, and consumer products.Briefly describe, in two or three sentences, your practice.I am a private equity / finance partner based in our San Francisco office, and my primary focus is on working with private equity sponsors. I represent these sponsors in all types of transactions, from leveraged buy-outs to portfolio company financings and restructurings.Why did you choose to make MoFo your professional home?I chose to make MoFo my professional home because of the opportunity to help build the firm’s West Coast private equity practice. MoFo offered so many great things that drew me here; part of it was the name and brand in Northern California, and another part is certainly the value that’s placed on culture. The amount of emphasis placed on diversity and inclusion impressed me. Ultimately, it is not just the people who work here but also the clients and the practices—MoFo checks all the boxes.How do clients benefit from having diverse teams of lawyers working for them?Diversity is important for many reasons, but I think the most important benefit is that diversity of thought brings a level of creativity to each transaction that might not otherwise exist. Having a group of people who come from different backgrounds, genders, races, ethnicities, and religions all working together in one group fosters a much more imaginative and collaborative process to advising clients. Clients appreciate (and, increasingly, expect) diversity, but more importantly, it helps us create a cohesive working environment with all of these different voices coming together into one melting pot.What does Latinx heritage month mean to you?Latinx Heritage Month is important because it creates a forum for a shared discussion of Latinx culture and the recognition of a rich vibrant history; it is a real celebration of diversity. In this sense, I identify very closely with this month; it is an acknowledgement of all of the people who came to the United States before us and dreamed of a better life, just like my parents did.If you could have dinner with any pioneer of Latinx rights, who would it be and why?José de San Martín. My parents emigrated from Argentina and my first language is Spanish (or Castellano, as it is called by the Argentines). I have always felt extremely attached to the culture and history, and being able to share a meal with San Martin would be an interesting evening. San Martin was one of the principal leaders of Argentina’s independence from Spain; meeting him, and learning about what it was like to live and fight in the early 1800s, this would be an incredible opportunity to learn some Argentine history and about the fight for independence.How have you seen the legal industry shift in recent years with respect to Hispanic inclusion?Over the last 15 years, I have seen tremendous growth in the number of Latinx individuals deciding to attend law school and working in BigLaw. There is still a lot of room for improvement, but I think there is a remarkable opportunity for growth in the legal industry regarding partnership opportunities for Latinx lawyers. MoFo places a considerable emphasis on achieving these goals through our diversity and inclusion efforts, and I am more confident than ever—especially after working with some of our recent summer associate classes—that there will be more Latinx leaders than ever before. Given the strides Latinx attorneys have made over the last couple of decades, I am hopeful for the continued growth and representation that is to come for this community.

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Partner Spotlight: Darío Avram

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Darío Avram is a partner in MoFo’s Finance and Private Equity Buyouts & Investment Group. His practice focuses on representing private equity sponsors and their

Partner Spotlight: Darío Avram

Harvard Kennedy School professor and former president of the NAACP Cornell William Brooks paid a virtual visit to MoFo to speak about recent incidents involving police brutality, the Black Lives Matter movement, and how the protests of today differ from those of the past. MoFo partner Josh Hill moderated the discussion, which touched upon the protests and police response following the Ahmaud Arbery case and the killing of George Floyd, in addition to the more broad subjects of systemic racism and the civil rights movement.Professor Brooks opened the conversation by recalling the words of MoFo chair Larren Nashelsky, who stated that “We will not be casual observers to injustice. We will do more and we will do it together.” He noted that words such as this truly resonate in the moment in which we find ourselves; one in which activism has been at the forefront of calls for change more than ever.Professor Brooks spoke about two recent, troubling incidents: that of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, who was killed by the self-deputized George Zimmerman, triggering the Black Lives Matter movement, and that of Ahmaud Arbery, who was also killed by two self-deputized citizens while out jogging. He made the case that, although these two tragedies might seem disconnected, both of these incidents are, in fact, connected by the deep and profoundly tragic American history of lynching. In the context of extrajudicial punishment, or punishment applied without judicial authority, both of these men’s lives were taken without ever having the right to go before judge and jury.What is different about the lynching and police brutality incidents of today from those of the past, is that the lives and memory of these victims are presented as “hashtag biographies,” which become subjected to post-mortem justification and character assassination. One hundred years ago, vigilante justice was acceptable for only slightly more trivial reasons than being in the wrong place at the wrong time, such as mistaken identity, insulting a white person, having a bad reputation, violating a contract, or even frightening a child by shooting rabbits, as noted in Ida B. Wells’ “The Red Record.”So the question is, “Why now?” Why today are we seeing this high level of response and activism? According to Professor Brooks, a lot of it has to do with our exposure to these sorts of injustices. Whereas today we see a video recording of George Floyd’s life being taken, decades ago it was highly unusual to have access to such graphic images. One exception was the publication of a post-mortem photograph appearing in JET Magazine of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after being accused of offending a white woman. Just as the video of George Floyd’s murder inspired and ignited a movement, so too did Emmett Till’s photograph animate a generation of activists.What makes these visual representations so significant, is that “all of us, when we viewed the George Floyd video were drawn in, not as moral observers, but as moral participants in a story that played out in our Democracy, in real time,” according to Professor Brooks. However, these recent media stories also raise an important question that we must ask ourselves about why we only know the names of victims such as Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, and Breonna Taylor, when there have been so many others.In this moment of unprecedented activism, we have to ask ourselves, “What is different about this movement?” For one, according to Professor Brooks, “The people who believe that we are in a moment of racial reckoning are as diverse as the country, are as diverse as ‘We the People.’”Following Professor Brooks’ remarks, litigation partner and member of MoFo’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity#diversitystrategycommittee">Diversity Strategy Committee</a> Josh Hill asked the professor for his thoughts on the vast response to the more recent police brutality incidents, and whether today’s movement is more of a response to the long history of injustice, rather than the more recent individual incidents alone, and how micro-aggressions factor into the equation that is systemic racism.He also asked how police killings compare to extrajudicial killings, to which the professor remarked, “In the same way that we cannot separate lynching from the slave patrols, who were the institutional predecessor in the South of police departments, those who were deputized, who had the authority to capture and detain black bodies then, are not unrelated to those who assume the authority today.” He also pointed out that, “When we have police officers who are acting beyond their authority, acting beyond the bounds of the Constitution, acting beyond any conceivable authority to serve and protect, they are not unrelated to people who take the authority upon themselves.”Closing out the webinar, the firm presented a short reading from civil rights icon and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/opinion/john-lewis-civil-rights-america.html">Congressman John Lewis’ final op-ed</a>, published on the day of his funeral. In this op-ed he writes about how the movement inspired him in his last days, stating “You’ve filled me with hope about the next chapter of the great American story when you used your power to make a difference in our society. Millions of people motivated simply by human compassion, laid down the burdens of division. Around the country and the world, you set aside race, class, age, language, and nationality to demand respect for human dignity.”Congressman Lewis also reminded us that “Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself. Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting into what I call good trouble, necessary trouble.”

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D+I Spectrum Speaker Series: Former NAACP President and Harvard Prof. Cornell William Brooks on George Floyd and Black Lives Matter

D+I Spectrum Speaker Series: Former NAACP President and Harvard Prof. Cornell William Brooks on George Floyd and Black Lives Matter

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Harvard Kennedy School professor and former president of the NAACP Cornell William Brooks paid a virtual visit to MoFo to speak about recent incidents involving

Morrison & Foerster’s history of advocating for individual victims of police brutality and fighting for sweeping criminal justice policy reform goes back decades. Taking on pro bono cases in this area is part of the fabric of our firm, thanks in large part to MoFo partner and trial titan <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/arturo-gonzalez.html">Arturo González</a>.During his 35-year tenure at the firm, Arturo has worked on more than 100 pro bono cases, many of which have been civil rights cases resulting in meaningful changes to the policies and procedures practiced by law enforcement and government agencies. Because of his vast experience in this area of the law, we wanted to get his thoughts on the current state of policing and civil misconduct in the United States.In this <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/video-audio/200930-mofo-perspectives-civil-misconduct.html">MoFo Perspectives podcast</a>, moderated by MoFo litigation partner Alexis Amezcua, Arturo speaks about his experience handling these cases, in addition to the important policy reforms that he’s pushed for, and what he thinks needs to happen to establish true equality in the eyes of the law.In light of the ongoing events surrounding the #BlackLivesMatter movement, Morrison & Foerster has been mobilizing its resources to help put an end to episodes of police brutality racial injustice, like the police custody killing of George Floyd.In May, MoFo Chair Larren Nashelsky addressed the firm, pledging that “We will not be casual observers to injustice. We will do more, and we will do it together.” Taking up this call to action, MoFo’s Diversity Strategy Committee, Diversity + Inclusion team, and firm leadership created four firmwide engagement committees organized around the areas of need identified in Larren’s message, including education, community action, legal services to support racial justice, and charitable giving through <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/mofo-foundation">The MoFo Foundation</a>.On Monday, June 8, 2020, Larren led over 30 leaders of major New York-based law firms in writing to Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/news/200610-repeal-50-a.html">urging the repeal of Section 50-a</a> of the state’s Civil Rights Law—an immense barrier to police misconduct accountability.Another recent effort with far-reaching consequences was led by San Diego litigators Suzy Marinkovich and Ben Kagel, who were successful in getting their client’s name removed from California’s controversial gang member database managed by the San Diego Police Department—commonly known as “CalGang.” Their petition was one of the first filed under a recently enacted California statute that permits residents to legally contest their entry into this database.Currently, Los Angeles litigators Wendy Ray, Andrew Stanley, Maggie Buckles, and Alison Frost are representing a client in an excessive force action against the Los Angeles Police Department. The client, who was unarmed and was not resisting arrest, was shot several times in his wrist and arm—after being asked to raise his hands—causing permanent nerve damage and scarring. The trial is set to take place in September 2020.These are just a few examples of how MoFo has been actively engaging with the community and our nonprofit partners to fight back against racial and criminal injustice—a fight we plan to continue until we see real and lasting change.Listen to the full podcast:<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/video-audio/200930-mofo-perspectives-civil-misconduct.html">MoFo Perspectives: Arturo González on the State of Policing and Civil Misconduct</a>

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Trial Lawyer Arturo González Addresses the State of Policing and Civil Misconduct for the MoFo Perspectives Podcast

Trial Lawyer Arturo González Addresses the State of Policing and Civil Misconduct for the MoFo Perspectives Podcast

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Morrison & Foerster’s history of advocating for individual victims of police brutality and fighting for sweeping criminal justice policy reform goes back decade

Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/caitlin-crujido.html">Caitlin Crujido</a>, an associate in the firm’s Government Contracts practice, discusses her career path and what led her to call MoFo home.Like others featured in Faces of MoFo, I had a somewhat unconventional and unexpected journey to MoFo. I don’t remember feeling like I was destined to become a lawyer and, once I decided to go to law school, I didn’t go with the intention of practicing government contracts.Growing up, my family moved around every few years: California to Illinois to Arizona to Maryland and back to Arizona. Despite all of these moves, I consider Arizona my home. I spent the majority of my formative years in Prescott, a small mountain town in Northern Arizona, home to the world’s oldest rodeo and Arizona’s oldest saloon. As much as I loved growing up in Prescott, I always knew I’d leave. After high school, I went to the University of Arizona, where I majored in political science and quickly immersed myself in all things politics. Over the course of a few semesters, I interned for my congressional representative, campaigned for candidates throughout Southern Arizona during a contentious midterm election, and volunteered with <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="http://2020americabook.com/organizing-for-america/">Organizing for America</a>.During one of those semesters, I took a Chicano studies class. The course provided an overview of a history that, to my knowledge, had not been disclosed completely despite years of American history and civil rights lessons. I found this both surprising, considering I grew up in the Southwest, and disappointing because I was deprived of a history I felt entitled to. I learned that earlier in the year, the Arizona state legislature passed a bill prohibiting public schools from teaching ethnic studies courses. This bill targeted a popular high school program, known as Raza studies, that provided the predominately Mexican American student body with courses designed to teach them about their ancestral and cultural history. My utter disbelief that this piece of legislation could unravel a program proven to increase graduation rates, together with what felt like a logical next step given my major, led me to consider attending law school.After graduation, I moved to Phoenix and began working at a small law firm as a paralegal. There are no lawyers in my family and I needed to make sure a legal career was something I wanted. Fortunately, I had the privilege of working with some wonderful attorneys who provided lot of guidance and a lot of support. After two years, I left Arizona for law school in Washington, D.C.During law school, I grappled with the type of law I wanted to practice. It wasn’t until my 2L summer that I stumbled into government contracts. I interned with the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) and became intrigued by the subject matter of the cases. I continued to explore government contracts during my 3L year, working for a law firm in their government contracts practice group. By then, I was hooked and returned to the CBCA following graduation for a year-long clerkship.<img sizes="(max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px" height="300" width="213" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltef3d761867a00746/6287fd20ce671353d5081608/cc-213x300.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="alignleft wp-image-4824 size-medium" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">When it came time to interviewing with law firms, I looked for a few things: a top-tier, tightknit government contracts practice group, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and an active pro bono practice. MoFo ticked all of those boxes and more. Having just hit my two-year anniversary with MoFo, I am reminded of how much I’ve learned from my colleagues, the opportunities I’ve had to work with clients from all over the world, and the fascinating matters I’ve had the privilege of litigating.I am also incredibly proud of my pro bono work, particularly our most recent challenge to the U.S. Department of Education’s Title IX regulations. I appreciate that MoFo consistently encourages its attorneys to engage in pro bono efforts because, as the late <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Bader_Ginsburg#:~:text=Ruth%20Bader%20Ginsburg%20%28%2F%20%CB%88be%C9%AAd%C9%99r%20%CB%88%C9%A1%C9%AAnzb%C9%9C%CB%90r%C9%A1%20%2F%3B%20born,1993%20and%20has%20served%20since%20August%2010%2C%201993.#:~:text=Ruth%20Bader%20Ginsburg%20%28%2F%20%CB%88be%C9%AAd%C9%99r%20%CB%88%C9%A1%C9%AAnzb%C9%9C%CB%90r%C9%A1%20%2F%3B%20born,1993%20and%20has%20served%20since%20August%2010%2C%201993.#:~:text=Ruth%20Bader%20Ginsburg%20%28%2F%20%CB%88be%C9%AAd%C9%99r%20%CB%88%C9%A1%C9%AAnzb%C9%9C%CB%90r%C9%A1%20%2F%3B%20born,1993%20and%20has%20served%20since%20August%2010%2C%201993.">Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a> once said, “If you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself, something to repair tears in your community, something to make life a little better for people less fortunate than you.”

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Faces of MoFo: Caitlin Crujido

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Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series, Caitlin Crujido, an associate in the firm’s Government Contracts practice, discusses her career path

Faces of MoFo: Caitlin Crujido

Morrison & Foerster has a long and successful history of working with VMware Senior Litigation Counsel and MoFo alumna Danielle Coleman on matters related to intellectual property, patents, and employment law, to name a few. So, we were not surprised to receive news that Danielle was named a 2020 Rising Star by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA). As a strong supporter of equity and systemic change, we are proud to highlight the achievements, efforts, and shared commitment of our valued partners, VMware and Danielle, as they lead the charge for greater diversity and racial equity within their communities and workplaces.MCCA’s Rising Stars list features attorneys whose accomplishments and dedication to the legal profession and to their community have earned them the reputation as “attorneys to watch.” Each attorney on the list exhibits great ambition and a love of the law, but also compassion for those in need and a strong desire to give back to others.Before joining VMware, Danielle was an associate in MoFo’s IP Litigation practice and a member of the firm’s Black Affinity Group, where she formed valuable relationships with other diverse lawyers, such as partners <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/bita-rahebi.html">Bita Rahebi</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/eric-tate.html">Eric Tate</a>, whom she credits with being mentors to her. Advocating for change and racial justice is a passion that Danielle brought with her to VMware as global co-lead of the Black@VMware Power of Difference (ERG) Group, an internal affinity group dedicated to supporting allyship and diversity and inclusion initiatives.As part of Black@VMware, Danielle was instrumental in the creation of the #WeHearYou campaign, launched this summer in response to the heightened focus on racial injustice. The goal of the campaign is to inspire people to take time out, listen, educate themselves, and be empathetic and resilient. The group also created a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.brightfunds.org/funds/black-vmware-social-justice-fund">social justice fund</a> to raise money for organizations such as the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://eji.org/">Equal Justice Initiative</a>, and leads ongoing meetings through its Culture Club, where VMware leaders and colleagues share their own stories in an effort to bring home the ideal outcome of ending police brutality and racial injustice. The hope is to encourage those who view the recent news events as isolated incidents to become allies and advocates after hearing from their own peers.MoFo and VMware, along with Danielle, have also teamed up on several pro bono-related matters, such as the recent Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project, aimed at building a public database of COVID-19-related elections litigation that can help advocates and policymakers design procedures for a safe and inclusive election amidst the pandemic. Danielle and several lawyers from VMware also joined the firm’s pro bono team to conduct Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) clinics to assist “dreamers” who came to the United States as children with legal matters related to immigration policies.As an associate at MoFo, Danielle had the opportunity to work on the Blue Ribbon Panel on Transparency, Accountability, and Fairness in Law Enforcement alongside MoFo trial partner <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/arturo-gonzalez.html">Arturo González</a>, resulting in 81 recommendations to the City of San Francisco for policy changes, including use of force, and internal and external oversight. She co-led the working group assembled to investigate stops, searches, and arrests by the San Francisco Police Department in response to reports that several of the department’s officers sent numerous racist and homophobic text messages.Danielle remains optimistic and states, “I’m hopeful that we can continue to work with MoFo, not only on the active litigation matters that we’re working on together or within the patent and employment law space, but on other pro bono projects that will positively impact the community as it relates to racial injustice, immigration, women’s rights, and other similar areas.”MoFo and VMware’s professional relationship goes back a number years. Recently, a team of MoFo lawyers—led by <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/richard-hung.html">Rich Hung</a>, Michael Jacobs, Bita Rahebi, and Diek Van Nort—took over a patent litigation case from another firm that resulted in a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/news/200824-vmware-granted-million.html">fantastic outcome</a>, obtaining summary judgment of non-infringement for VMware in litigation brought by Route1, Inc. and securing a $1.6 million award of attorneys’ fees.Danielle notes that “I’ve worked closely with [the team] and what has struck me about them when I was at the firm—and even now in-house—is how the team is not only knowledgeable, but they are also very driven and think outside of the box to come up with creative solutions.”VMware is a member of the MCCA, which is committed to advancing the hiring, retention, and promotion of diverse lawyers in law departments and law firms by providing research, best practices, professional development, and training; and through pipeline initiatives. Danielle and the other 2020 Rising Stars will be honored during MCCA’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mcca.com/events/pathways/pathways-2020/">Creating Pathways to Diversity Virtual Conference</a> on October 27, 2020.Read more about <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/about/alumni">MoFo Alumni</a>.

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Kudos to VMware’s Danielle Coleman on Her MCCA Rising Star Recognition

Kudos to VMware’s Danielle Coleman on Her MCCA Rising Star Recognition

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Morrison & Foerster has a long and successful history of working with VMware Senior Litigation Counsel and MoFo alumna Danielle Coleman on matters related to in

For over 40 years, MoFo has been committed to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment where everyone’s contributions are valued. That’s why we’re proud to announce the achievement of “Mansfield Certification Plus” status for 2020, making us one of 25 firms to receive the honor consecutively for three years. To continue moving the needle forward, the firm is also joining a number of the country’s leading law firms for version 4.0 of the <a href="http://www.diversitylab.com/pilot-projects/mansfield-rule/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mansfield Rule</a>, set to run from July 2020 to July 2021.The Rule is one of the winning ideas of the inaugural 2016 Women in Law Hackathon event, hosted by Stanford Law School. The Mansfield Rule was designed to explore new ways to close the gender gap and increase diversity in law firms.MoFo legal teams participated in the high-energy <a href="http://www.diversitylab.com/diversity-in-law-hackathons/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hackathon</a> two years in a row, with San Francisco Litigation partner<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/anna-white.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Anna Erickson White </a>and her team taking third place in 2017 during the pilot session, and <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/bradley-wine.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brad Wine</a>, co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Department, and his team securing first place the following year.Inspired by the NFL’s “Rooney Rule,” which requires all teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coach positions. The Mansﬁeld Rule measures whether law ﬁrms have considered historically underrepresented lawyers for signiﬁcant governance roles, lateral openings, and promotions. The Mansﬁeld Rule is named for Arabella Mansﬁeld, the ﬁrst woman lawyer admitted to the practice of law in the United States.The rule measures a firm’s commitment to considering a diverse group of candidates for leadership and governance roles, with women, LGBTQ+, and attorneys of color accounting for at least 30 percent of those roles. Every year, Diversity Lab continues to expand upon the original criteria; new to version 3.0, for example was the addition of attorneys with disabilities in the populations considered. Due to growing interest from firms, Version 4.0 will launch a category for Midsize Law Firms and expand into the UK in September 2020.By successfully demonstrating its adherence throughout the year and earning the distinction of “Mansfield Certification Plus,” MoFo will be given the opportunity to send newly hired diverse partners to one of several two-day client forums where they will be able to pitch innovative ideas, seek mentorship, and network with a variety of in-house council.This past year, the firm sent five partners to the <a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/five-mofo-partners-attend-diversity-labs-mansfield-client-forums/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">client forums</a> held in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. The partners were invited to attend both days of the forums in each city. The first day was filled with intriguing TED-style talks interspersed with small-group, professional networking breaks to facilitate business connections. The second day was dedicated to small-group pitch meetings with select in-house counsel. The client forums present a unique opportunity to network with other diverse attorneys and meet with high-level in-house counsel representing companies such as CBS, Lincoln Financial Group, Pfizer, BASF, MassMutual, and PepsiCo, among others.We are excited to have been a successful participant in Mansfield 3.0 and look forward to once again partnering with Diversity Lab and completing Mansfield 4.0.Learn more about our participation in the Mansfield Rule <a href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/news/200915-mofo-earns-mansfield-certification.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

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MoFo Achieves “Mansfield Certification Plus” Status for 2020

MoFo Achieves “Mansfield Certification Plus” Status for 2020

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For over 40 years, MoFo has been committed to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment where everyo