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 talent with a wide range of experiences and perspectives 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 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

Partner

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

Dorothy 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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Pro Bono Counsel

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 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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Welcome to the Mofo+ Blog

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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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The MoFo+ blog shares news and insights from lawyers who are adding value to the legal profession and making a difference in the communities we call home.

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Dorothy L. Fernandez

Rachel P. Williams

MoFo Celebrates 25 Years in San Diego

MoFo Celebrates Earth Day

Celebrating Black History Month with Maya Wiley, President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Faces of MoFo: Dominick Divine III

MoFo's Women of Color Collective: A Conversation with CCWC’s Laurie Robinson Haden

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MoFo’s LGBTQ+ Affinity Network recently hosted a Town Hall in its San Francisco office, featuring a dynamic presentation led by <a href="https://www.drulevasseur.com/" target="_blank">M. Dru Levasseur, Esq.,</a> Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association.During his presentation, titled “Uncovering Bias in the Legal Profession,” Levasseur provided a comprehensive overview of the various forms of bias that exist within the legal field and offered practical solutions to address these issues. Levasseur drew from his extensive experience in diversity and inclusion work, as well as his personal journey as a trans lawyer, to deliver a powerful message about the importance of authenticity and intersectionality in the workplace.One of the key themes of Levasseur’s presentation was intersectionality, which involves understanding and supporting the full person, including their various identities and experiences. He shared insights from the Williams Institute and Law360, illustrating how diversity provides an edge in navigating complex legal situations and connecting with a broad swath of clients and colleagues. Levasseur stressed that firms must move beyond tokenism and create environments where all employees can thrive and be appreciated for their unique contributions. He emphasized that diversity is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage, as it enables firms to better understand and serve their clients.Levasseur also addressed the pervasive issue of microaggressions and implicit bias in the legal profession that can manifest in the workplace, such as misgendering colleagues or making assumptions about someone’s personal life based on their appearance. By addressing these behaviors head-on, Levasseur argued, firms can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all employees.Following the keynote presentation, attendees participated in a breakout session focused on supporting Shae, a Bi+ attorney of color who has faced numerous challenges due to their gender identity. The session provided a platform for discussing both individual and structural strategies to support Shae and other LGBTQ+ colleagues.Participants discussed the importance of providing mentorship and sponsorship opportunities tailored to attorneys, which are key priorities at MoFo. Creating safe spaces where everyone can express themselves without fear of judgment or retaliation is a crucial step in fostering a supportive work environment.In addition, attendees explored the implementation of bias interrupters that produce measurable change and address systemic issues. By addressing these structural issues, firms can create an environment where all employees, regardless of their background or identity, can thrive and succeed.For more information about MoFo’s diversity initiatives, please visit our <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity" target="_blank">website</a>.We invite you to learn more about how MoFo’s lawyers are committed to championing diversity and inclusion: <a href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/news/240314-40-best-lgbtq-lawyers-under-40" target="_blank">Two Morrison Foerster Lawyers Named Among the 40 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 by the LGBTQ+ Bar Association</a>.<div data-reactroot=""><img class="rich-text-embed-image" alt="Group photo" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blta9a70c85531c8384/66d255e5be3e564fe463119a/240830-together-inclusion.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60"/></div><div data-reactroot=""><img class="rich-text-embed-image" alt="Smiling photo" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt9db9c2f42ba18dd3/66d255f4b91c0f5b53f4694f/240830-together-diversity.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60"/></div>

National LGBTQ+ Bar Association Director, M. Dru Levasseur, Esq., joins MoFo for a collaborative discussion about uncovering bias in the workplace

MoFo Diversity

Morrison Foerster recently hosted its 2024 Diversity and Inclusion (D+I) Fellowship Retreat, a multi-day event designed to support the successful integration and professional development of summer associates in the firm’s diversity-related fellowship programs.The retreat’s programming included a teambuilding cooking class and substantive sessions featuring MoFo attorneys and business professionals, and an outside consultant. One of the highlights of the retreat was the “Ask Me Anything” panel with Wetmore and SEO Law Fellowship alumni Jamis Barcott, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/malika-moore">Malika Moore</a>, and <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/nishi-tavernier">Nishi Tavernier</a>. The panelists shared valuable insights on how to effectively navigate law firm life including managing work assignments, succeeding with clients, and developing strategies for success during their pre-law, 1L, and 2L summers.In addition, we hosted a session on <a href="https://www.discprofile.com/what-is-disc">DiSC</a>, a personal behavioral assessment tool that helps people understand and improve their working styles. Following this session, Tasneem K. Khokha from GrowthPlay provided a comprehensive framework on how to approach collaboration in the workplace. Her session covered essential skills such as soliciting and utilizing feedback, communicating clearly, and managing expectations, all of which are crucial for building relationships across lines of difference and developing a successful legal career.We concluded the day with a discussion among our Diversity Strategy Committee leaders, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/alexis-amezcua">Alexis A. Amezcua</a>, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/purvi-patel">Purvi G. Patel</a>, and <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/mark-whitaker">Mark L. Whitaker</a>. Moderated by Morrison Foerster general counsel <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/philip-besirof">Philip T. Besirof</a>, this session allowed the fellows to learn more about their respective backgrounds, practice leadership responsibilities, mentorship, and the culture here at Morrison Foerster.The D+I Fellowship Retreat is just one of the many ways Morrison Foerster invests in the next generation of legal professionals, ensuring they are well equipped to contribute to and thrive in the legal industry.Thank you to all participants who made the 2024 Fellowship Retreat a memorable and impactful event.

Morrison Foerster Hosts 2024 Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship Retreat

Morrison Foerster Hosts 2024 Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship Retreat

Morrison Foerster recently hosted its 2024 Diversity and Inclusion (D+I) Fellowship Retreat, a multi-day event designed to support the successful integration and professional development of summer associates in the firm’s diversity-related fellowship programs.

MoFo Life

Editors’ Note: Read about Patrick Keeler, a New York associate in the firm’s Transactions Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.﻿From my earliest memories, I had a desire to explore, understand, and connect with the world around me. My upbringing in a seaside town in Nova Scotia first sparked this curiosity, which has been invaluable in my life and career, ultimately leading me to my current role as a finance associate at MoFo.I was particularly curious about people when I was growing up. This drew me to acting, which is all about getting to understand a character and figuring out how to communicate their story in a compelling way. As a young adult, I trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, an acting conservatory in England, and then worked as an actor throughout both the UK and Canada for several years. I came to develop a particular affinity for stage combat and voice work. In the video game and voiceover industries, the whole process of understanding a character often needs to be completed within minutes in the studio. This challenge of efficiently delivering top-quality work to a client—from inquiry through to completion—is one I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed.My work in the HIV field grew as a natural extension of the same curiosity in people. One of the first professional experiences I had was supporting underserved individuals living with HIV in Montreal. Through this work, I got to know many people who faced immense barriers to meeting their basic healthcare needs. Over time, intrigued by the complexities of their experiences, I began to notice chronic gaps in support systems, particularly for migrants living with HIV who lacked access to healthcare. Against this backdrop of inquiry, I saw an opportunity to create a solution, and “Le Cercle Orange” was born. This award-winning project has brought cost-free HIV care to hundreds of individuals living with HIV by harmonizing resources in a vast, streamlined, and accessible network. I have since supported integrating the same strategy in South America and Europe, and the project is continuing to expand.While managing Le Cercle Orange, I began to inquire what makes a solution to a problem a good solution. This introduced me to the research field—first to implementation science (a domain aimed at integrating evidence-based health interventions into practice), then to legal research—and, ultimately, to the practice of law.As a finance attorney at MoFo, I am motivated by the same ethos of curiosity. I’m drawn to finance law because, in many ways, understanding debt and finance is akin to understanding how much of the world operates. Every financial transaction is a narrative shaped by both the currents of the market and the needs of a client, and understanding how to best meet these needs is key. This also fuels my pro bono practice at MoFo: I am currently developing a pro bono project that builds on my work with Le Cercle Orange, creating a network of support in tandem with a consortium of organizations in Latin America to empower vulnerable populations in navigating the complexities of HIV care across the U.S.For me, curiosity isn’t just a trait, but a motivator. And while my trajectory has perhaps been a bit unconventional, it has laid the groundwork for a fulfilling and exciting legal career!

Faces of MoFo: Patrick Keeler

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Associate

Patrick Keeler is an associate in the Finance Group in Morrison Foerster’s New York office.

Patrick William Keeler

Patrick Keeler

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Faces of MoFo: Patrick Keeler

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﻿From my earliest memories, I had a desire to explore, understand, and connect with the world around me. 

Editors’ Note: Read about Chelsea Kehrer, a Palo Alto associate in the firm’s Litigation Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.I have never shied away from advocating for what I believe in. On my first day of high school, I confidently marched down to the principal’s office and pitched the idea that I should be allowed to homeschool myself. I came prepared with a bullet point list on the advantages it would give me—mostly centered around finishing high school one year early—and a prepared rebuttal argument to any anticipated disadvantage that he may suggest. To my surprise, Mr. Yoho did not back me up later when I presented the homeschooling option to my parents. As I matured, my advocacy became stronger, more targeted, and largely shaped by the experiences of folks in rural West Virginia. Growing up in Sistersville, West Virginia (a town with one stop light, no major grocery stores, and a lot of natural resource extraction), during a time when the opioid epidemic was at its peak, gave me a unique perspective on criminality, the law, and the need for more social support systems. As a teenager, I first learned about housing instability on a visit to the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Before this visit, I had never seen anyone sleeping on the street, or being criminalized for doing so. I loudly protested until my dad agreed to buy them some food from a nearby McDonalds, and I spent the rest of my teenage years imploring my family and friends (and anyone else who would listen) to carry spare snacks, water bottles, and some cash to hand out when they went into the city.In college, I gave a three-part presentation to a class of petroleum engineering students on climate change and the effects of natural resource extraction on the land and the people who live on it. In law school, I presented research conducted by myself and other members of the Global Human Rights Clinic on police use of force policies and practices that violate international law at the UN-mandated International Commission of Inquiry on Systemic Racist Police Violence Against People of African Descent in the United States. Nowadays, I volunteer at harm reduction organizations in the city and try to find ways to advocate for folks struggling with substance abuse.MoFo was a natural fit for me after law school because of the firm’s commitment to pro bono work, particularly for causes that I believe in. The mentorship and hands-on experience that I’ve received since I started have only confirmed what I already knew. On one of my first days at the firm, I was staffed on a pro bono case about students who did not have equal access to education during the COVID-19 pandemic (<a href="/topics/mofo-secures-2-billion-for-california-students" target="_self">the Cayla J. case</a>). It was important to me that I provide the most rigorous legal advocacy for these students that I could. I was surprised that a law firm would not only allow, but fully support, me in spending so much time on a pro bono matter. But MoFo did, and all of the partners and other associates on the team gave the case as much care and time as any other. I was quickly given the opportunity to draft and argue motions, lead meet and confer calls, take depositions, and manage the day-to-day case. Almost every step of the process—from discovery to trial preparations—was entirely new to me, and so many times I felt in over my head. But there was always someone with the experience and know-how that I could turn to for advice or help. I will never forget how supported I felt, even in times of uncertainty. And I now feel more confident in the written and oral advocacy skills that I bring to my other cases.In my free time, you can find me making homemade veggie stock, taking photos of my three cats (Luna, Huey, and Shallot), hiking with my partner Maura, plotting to end the single-use plastic industry, and trying to get someone (anyone) to listen to me talk about food waste.

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Chelsea received her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. While in law school, Chelsea worked in the International Human Rights Clinic, where she drafted a report for the International Labo

Chelsea Caylin Kehrer

Chelsea Kehrer

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I have never shied away from advocating for what I believe in. On my first day of high school, I confidently marched down to the principal’s office and pitched the idea that I should be allowed to homeschool myself.

Faces of MoFo: Chelsea Kehrer

MoFo Women

Editors’ Note: Read about Victor Lopez, a New York associate in the firm’s Litigation Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.My legal career began through a fluke. I started undergrad fully convinced I was going to study psychology. Nobody could tell me otherwise. They were wrong; I was right. (In hindsight, perhaps my stubborn conviction that I was right was the first red flag indicating that I was destined for a career in law. After all, what lawyer doesn’t think they’re always right?) One small problem: I hated my first psych class (cognitive psychology). I didn’t enjoy—and actually somewhat loathed—the readings, lectures, and class discussions. So much so, that I failed my first exam (oops!). Needless to say, my psychology career was short-lived.That same semester, I was taking a political science course, but merely to fulfill a degree requirement (i.e., not because I wanted to). In stark contrast, I found this class engaging, the readings profoundly interesting, and the class discussions (more like heated debates) exciting. This was especially true for the unit on the judiciary. I was hooked. The next opportunity I had, I signed up for a constitutional law course. Through this course I was able to explore legal writing, oral arguments, the use of precedent, and more fundamentally, the law. I found my calling!It also helped that I had an excellent professor. Funnily enough, before this professor made the leap into academia, he was an associate at a law firm . . . Morrison & Foerster. Like I said, fluke. Today, I have the good fortune of working at MoFo, representing some of the biggest companies in complex disputes. In my time at MoFo, I’ve had the opportunity to present before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, conduct an opening statement before a federal jury in the Eastern District of New York, travel to Mexico and Switzerland, and best of all, work alongside my ridiculously talented colleagues who make this job enjoyable. Since my first day as a summer associate, everyone at the firm (from the partners, associates, paralegals, e-discovery managers, assistants, recruiting specialists, docket team members, legal document services folks, business development managers, IT support, the printing and mailing department, and many more) has taken me under their wing, offering indispensable guidance and support. From answering my dumb questions (“What are talking points?”), to covering for and fixing my mistakes (without letting the partners know), and helping me sort through existential career decisions, the folks at MoFo have stepped in and offered their wisdom. Fortunately, we do not do our work alone; everything that we do on behalf of our clients, we do as a team. Because my entire legal career has been at MoFo, I only know what it’s like to work alongside a MoFo team. However, I can confidently say that I have no interest in finding out how other teams operate. I have a great team.  Looking back, I’m glad my first psych class was a disaster. If I had enjoyed it, I don’t know that I would have discovered or pursued my interest in the law, or gotten the opportunity to live in New York City, which has been a dream. Outside of the law, I enjoy exploring the city, trying new restaurants, going to local drag shows, catching new productions at the Metropolitan Opera, listening to the New York Philharmonic, and spending quality time in my apartment. It all worked out in the end. The journey thus far has been thrilling. I’m excited for what’s to come.

Faces of MoFo: Victor Lopez

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Victor is an associate in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s New York office. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation and cross-border internal and government-facing investigations, with particular experience in matters involving Latin America.

Victor Lopez

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Faces of MoFo: Victor Lopez

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My legal career began through a fluke. I started undergrad fully convinced I was going to study psychology. 

Editors’ Note: Read about Lulu Sun, a New York associate in the firm’s Transactions Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.The most exciting experience I had during college was volunteer teaching. I started by joining one of the largest student organizations at Tsinghua University and assisting with organizing volunteer teaching programs. Our department was mainly collaborating with primary schools for children of migrant workers in Beijing, and right after I was elected as department leader, I started a semester-long program from scratch to provide more opportunities for communication between students and volunteers. After this, I decided to become a volunteer teacher myself in a three-week summer program organized by Peer Experience Exchange Rostrum (PEER), a non-profit organization in Beijing. That experience totally expanded my horizons.The core curriculum of the PEER program encouraged students to research issues they cared about within their local community and bring changes in a thoughtful way. Through this process, students had a chance to develop their core abilities, including communication, public speaking, teamwork, and critical thinking and analysis. They also had the opportunity to attend different kinds of seminars, which we prepared extensively in advance alongside weeks of other training sessions. I also had a great time working with and making connections with fellow Chinese volunteers who came from different colleges and workplaces across continents. The most important theme throughout this experience was that we were peers, not teachers, of all the students and fellow volunteers, and we could freely exchange ideas and learn from each other. After this summer program, I continued to contribute my time and effort to PEER’s endeavor through various roles, as an intern, mentor, interviewer, and committee member for the summer program.My enthusiasm for education prompted me to participate in the Child Advocacy Clinic at Harvard. In this clinic, I worked with an attorney at the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts and helped advocate for the rights to special education for students with disabilities. I often had a strong sense of accomplishment during this externship since I could see the real impact of my work, and I enjoyed tackling a wide range of legal issues and developing more knowledge about special education law every day.I was able to continue this journey as I joined MoFo. As a Corporate associate, I am now capable of assisting clients from a brand new perspective. One of the first pro bono projects I took on at MoFo was helping in a review of the corporate governance documents for Urban Assembly, a non-profit organization that supports schools in New York City. Even though I am not directly involved in the education work myself, I am now providing professional service that is valued and important for the long-term development of the organization. I also get the chance to learn about the different goals of the pro bono clients and help them with their social causes. This has been a great experience for me, and I would love to help with more pro bono projects in the future.

Faces of MoFo: Lulu Sun

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Lulu Sun is a corporate associate in the New York office of Morrison Foerster.

Lulu Sun

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Faces of MoFo: Lulu Sun

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The most exciting experience I had during college was volunteer teaching. I started by joining one of the largest student organizations at Tsinghua University and assisting with organizing volunteer teaching programs.

Editors’ Note: Read about Soo Park, a Los Angeles associate in the firm’s Litigation Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.I love words. Their sounds. Their cadence. How they hum and they sing. I love the way they roll off my tongue. The way they glide across a page. How so many can say so little. How so few can say so much. I love the way they change over time. The way they pack a punch. Oh, and how they test me at times. I just love them. Growing up in Seoul, it was mal (말). Word, or speech—or horse. (Aren’t words so fascinating?) Grown-ups often told me, mal manta, which figuratively means that I talk too much. Literally, the phrase means there are lots of words. Everywhere I went, there were lots of words, and I felt at home. When I was twelve, my family moved to the United States, and there were lots of words that I did not know. I still remember spending three hours on a single-page worksheet, looking up every single word in my paper dictionary (it was the ‘90s). I remember writing the word “Renaissance” over and over to memorize it. I remember sitting in ESL class trying to understand the difference between watch, look, and see. Everywhere I went, there were lots of words, and I felt lost. But it was not long before I fell in love with words all over again. Four years later, I was in college studying American poetry. Another four years later, I was in New Orleans teaching teenagers English Language Arts. Three years later, I was in law school rediscovering the power of . . . you guessed it—words! I learned about how words can hold clarity and ambiguity. How reasonable people could disagree on what they mean. How they can grant rights and take them away.  People often ask me how I got into patent law. The truth is that I think patent law is for word lovers (and grammar nerds). Of course, the idea and the invention lie at the heart. But the words define the confines of that legal right to exclude. Many times, how the patent describes the invention and what words it uses end up making all the difference in patent litigation. How does the word the change the scope of the claims? Is the phrase such as limiting? What is the “plain and ordinary meaning” of the word connection? Every day, I have the privilege of spending the day with words, my love.I am lucky because when work ends, I am home with my other loves—my husband Lucas and our daughters, JoJo and Emme. Last week, my five-year-old told me an elaborate story about a trip that her dolls, Evelyn and Cena, took on the magic school bus. I turned to her and said, ow mal manta. JoJo said, “mal? Isn’t that a horse?” “Yes, JoJo,” I said. “Yes.”

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Read about Soo Park, a Los Angeles associate in the firm’s Litigation Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.

Faces of MoFo: Soo Park

Editors’ Note: Read about Joyce Li, a San Francisco associate in the firm’s Litigation Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.In my first year as an associate, someone told me that to succeed in this job you have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Wise words. But I’ve also come to see that discomfort doesn’t necessarily mean being without guidance. In fact, when I think about the experiences that have led me to find joy in this job, they’ve all had elements of both discomfort and support. Much (perhaps too much) of my character was shaped by sports—specifically, gymnastics. Gymnastics is an odd sport in that it is undeniably physical, yet obsessed with aesthetics. The result is that the average person only sees the shiny parts—the few minutes spent performing. In reality, the sport is mostly about falling—literally thousands of times—and getting back up. Somewhere in the endless cycle of falling, I came to believe that failure is only permanent if you don’t try again. But I could have never been motivated to get back up so many times without the support of my teammates and coaches, who always expected more of me than I did of myself. The same can be said for my experiences in litigation. I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who are not only phenomenal lawyers but also wonderful humans. They’ve encouraged me to take on uncomfortable experiences and provided support while allowing me to struggle—and that’s when I’ve grown the most. For example, in my first year of practice, I worked on a pro bono trial involving novel issues related to the unauthorized practice of law. We started the case with four associates, but by the time we got to trial, it was just me and one other. We split the opening and closing presentations and witnesses. I had no idea what I was doing! Or so I thought. With the support of our team—partner advisors and seasoned staff—we were able to secure a full victory for our client. And even more remarkably, we put on a trial, which is something I didn’t know I was capable of doing until I had done it. I hope to be able to pay it forward.

Faces of MoFo: Joyce Li

Joyce Li is a trial lawyer with an emphasis on intellectual property.

Joyce C. Li

Joyce Li

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Faces of MoFo: Joyce Li

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In my first year as an associate, someone told me that to succeed in this job you have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. 

Editors’ Note: Read about Bethany Bengfort, a San Francisco associate in the firm’s Litigation Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.Some of my favorite memories from growing up are of lazy Sunday evenings spent with my family, eating popcorn and watching the science fiction or fantasy program du jour (Star Trek was a perennial favorite, although we often ventured into the lesser-known realms). On one such evening, I heard a quote that really resonated with me: “True progress is the product of curiosity and exploration, not achievement or mindless consumption of what is already known.” To me, this meant that if you truly wanted to grow as a person or make an impact on the world, you had to both want to learn new things and actively engage with the process of discovery.Although my life has changed in many ways since that lazy Sunday evening, I’ve tried to take that lesson to heart—both at MoFo and outside of it. One of the things I like best about my job at MoFo is how much discovery and exploration I engage in on a daily basis; among the core parts of my job are learning about technology—from deconstructing printers to playing video games to testing exercise devices—and figuring out how to translate how the technology works to a lay audience. Another core part of my job is figuring out legal strategy, exploring the law and the facts to determine how to best position the case and what arguments to bring. MoFo’s support for creativity and deep thinking enabled my teams to pursue some truly innovative and case-winning strategies, while keeping the job fun and fresh. And because of MoFo’s support, I’ve been able to take advantage of some really cool opportunities, from arguing complex summary judgment motions to deposing key witnesses.Before starting my legal career, I worked at a nonprofit that helped people in vulnerable groups develop and maintain small businesses. As part of that job, I traveled to many different parts of the world and learned a ton about the people and cultures there. The job not only helped me develop my curiosity for the greater world, but also gave me greater empathy and understanding of others.Outside of work, my hobbies also entail a lot of curiosity and exploration. I love to travel and hike, to learn about new places and new foods, and to read about everything from the origin of various cocktails to the history of the little black dress. I love to play games—both video and board games—and to figure out strategy (and solve puzzles) in both. And, of course, I still read and watch a lot of fantasy and science fiction, even presenting at conventions on the legal aspects of various science fiction and fantasy franchises.

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Editors’ Note: Read about Bethany Bengfort, a San Francisco associate in the firm’s Litigation Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.

Faces of MoFo: Bethany Bengfort

On April 30, 2024, MoFo partner and global co-chair of the Investigations + White Collar Defense practice group <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/carrie-cohen">Carrie H. Cohen</a> and associate <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/sabreena-khalid">Sabreena Khalid</a> in MoFo’s Finance Group spoke with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-rosenthal-3b334412/">Lesley Rosenthal</a>, president of the Friends of Afghanistan National Institute of Music (“ANIM”) and Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary at Juilliard, as part of an event sponsored by MoFo’s Women’s Strategy Committee and the Middle Eastern North African (MENA) network in our New York office.ANIM was founded in 2010 by Dr. Ahmad Sarmast. It was the first and only school of music in Afghanistan where talented Afghan children of all backgrounds were trained in a co-ed program in traditional and western classical music. They also obtained high-quality academic education and there was a special focus on supporting disadvantaged children, including orphans and child laborers. Boys and girls, from all ethnic backgrounds and communities, were welcome.Event attendees had the opportunity to watch Symphony of Courage, a 30-minute documentary about ANIM. Challenging the Taliban’s ban on secular music and women’s and girls’ education, Dr. Sarmast joined forces with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma to evacuate students of the music school, including Afghanistan’s first all-female orchestra, Zohra. ANIM successfully airlifted its 273 students, faculty, and staff and has since reconstituted in Braga, Portugal.  After the film screening, Lesley shared her first-hand experience with supporting this humanitarian effort.The event had special significance as MoFo’s assistance to helping Afghan refugees obtain United States citizenship is among the largest pro bono undertakings in firm history. Sparked by an in-house webinar about Afghan refugees in 2021, nearly 200 lawyers and staff volunteered to conduct detailed intake interviews for Afghans, whose urgent calls to the refugee assistance agency Human Rights First had overwhelmed the organization’s resources—assistance the group called “a literal lifesaver.” These MoFo volunteers conducted 150 screening interviews. Nearly 50 firm lawyers were so moved by the stories they heard that they began representing Afghan refugees seeking asylum or other routes to permanent resettlement. Summer associates joined in by filing 50 green card applications for additional clients referred by Human Rights First. Lawyers in our London and Berlin offices began helping Afghan refugees as well. To date, the firm is representing 14 Afghans and their many family members in their quest for legal status in the United States. While some applications are still pending, most of these clients have been granted asylum.MoFo has also assisted these refugees through shorter-term clinics sponsored by Project Afghan Legal Assistance. With our help, a number of refugees have been able to file robust asylum applications even without being fully represented by an attorney. We have also begun full representation of several families in this second wave of Afghan asylum-seekers. To learn more about MoFo Women, please visit our <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/women-of-mofo">MoFo Women’s</a> page. <a href="https://www.mofo.com/sign-up">Sign up</a> to receive MoFo News, Events, and Publications.

Empowering Voices: The Story of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music

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Carrie H. Cohen, partner, has deep experience in white collar defense, FCPA compliance, federal prosecutions, workplace misconduct, and securities enforcement.

Carrie H. Cohen, partner, has deep experience in white collar defense, FCPA compliance, federal prosecutions, workplace misconduct  and securities enforcement.

Carrie H. Cohen

Carrie H. Cohen | White Collar Crime + FCPA Lawyer

Carrie H. Cohen has a distinguished record of success in the courtroom handling high‑stakes litigation, with a particular focus on white-collar and securities cases. She is the co-chair of the Women’s Strategy Committee.