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

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

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Senior Pro Bono Counsel

Staff

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

Jennifer K. Brown

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

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Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

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

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

Natalie Kernisant

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

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Pro Bono Counsel

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

Dorothy L. Fernandez

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

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

Rachel P. Williams

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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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MoFo Wins Asylum for Cameroonian Political Refugee

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During the month of May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and honor the many contributions AAPI individuals and communities have made throughout history. The theme this year is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” In recognition of AAPI Heritage Month, we honor Haima Marlier, a partner in our New York office and co-chair of the Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White Collar Defense group. Haima has served as an AAPI Affinity Network Liaison, helping to launch the firm’s first AAPI Mentoring Circle initiative, and was recently named a co-chair of MoFo’s Diversity Strategy Committee.Haima came to the firm in 2020 after nine years at the New York office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is responsible for regulating the largest concentration of SEC‑registered financial institutions in the nation. While at the SEC, Haima served as lead counsel on several prominent enforcement litigations and investigations involving public companies, registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, banks, and individuals in matters arising under the federal securities laws. She has also worked closely with foreign securities regulators, numerous U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.Haima also currently serves on the board of trustees of the SEC Historical Society, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the knowledge and history of financial regulation; mentors Penn State students of color who aspire to become lawyers; and is a member of the board of directors of, and a volunteer running coach for, Girls on the Run New Jersey, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring girls to recognize their inner physical and emotional strength.To learn more about the firm’s Diversity Strategy Committee and our commitment to advancing diverse lawyers, please visit our <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity" target="_blank">diversity page</a> on <a href="https://mofo.com/" target="_blank">MoFo.com</a>.

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Partner

Haima Marlier is co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White Collar Defense Group and of its Fintech practice.

Haimavathi V. Marlier

Haima Marlier, a former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Senior Trial Counsel, is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Securities Litigation, Securities Enforcement, and Investigations + White Collar Defense groups.

Haimavathi Marlier

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Partner Spotlight: Haima Marlier

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During the month of May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and honor the many contributions AAPI individuals and communities have made throughout history. The theme this year is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” In recognition of AAPI Heritage Month, we honor Haima Marlier, a partner in our New York office and co-chair of the Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White Collar Defense group. Haima has served as an AAPI Affinity Network Liaison, helping to launch the firm’s first AAPI Mentoring Circle initiative, and was recently named a co-chair of MoFo’s Diversity Strategy Committee.

Partner Spotlight: Haima Marlier

Editors’ Note: Read about Evangeline Phang, a San Francisco associate in our Transactions Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.I did not always dream of becoming a lawyer (instead, a young me thought I was going to be an archeologist à la Indiana Jones). At some point, however, I became captivated by the amount of agency that a legal education could provide and the potential downstream impact of my work on my family and community. The path to this white-collar profession was not a straight one and I learned from many mistakes. Being a first-generation immigrant, college student, and professional is a unique experience that comes with its own set of challenges. I lacked the financial resources, social connections, and professional role models growing up, and feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome were not uncommon. Even so, these experiences also instilled in me a strong work ethic and an unwavering determination to succeed. Along the way, I was also fortunate to encounter moments of luck, serendipity, and invaluable support from others, which all played a significant role in my journey. While perseverance and grit were crucial in overcoming these early challenges, I also recognize the importance of the support and opportunities provided by those who believed in my potential.Upon joining MoFo, I was immediately drawn to the Technology Transactions practice because of the outstanding colleagues, mentors, and opportunities to work on cutting-edge technology with innovating clients. I quickly discovered that the practice was truly one-of-a-kind, offering me the chance not only to develop my legal skills by dissecting complex issues and develop creative solutions to problems, but also to explore the intersection between law, technology, and business. In hindsight, I had traded in my fascination with the past, as embodied in historical artifacts, for a keen interest in the future, as embodied in technological growth. What I see in technological innovations is similar to what others previously saw in me: potential.In my role as a Technology Transactions attorney, I have had the privilege of advising and interacting with clients at different levels, including in-house counsel, business stakeholders, and technical teams. I see much of my role as helping to put the puzzle pieces together in product development and commercial transactions and IP transactions. Striving to better understand the clients’ businesses and products and their unique challenges, and working together to bring innovative solutions in a rapidly evolving technological landscape, bring me immense professional satisfaction. My colleagues and mentors not only have supported me as I hone my legal skills but have also been invaluable sources of guidance and encouragement throughout my time at the firm. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue contributing to the growth and advancement of the technology transactions practice at MoFo.I am also particularly proud to have grown alongside the firm ever since I started as a summer associate at MoFo, knowing that I was intentionally choosing to be part of an organization that values diversity, inclusion, and the unique perspectives that individuals from different backgrounds bring to the table. I have also found that these values are reflected in many of our clients, as I have had more than one opportunity to participate in a client-led professional development and mentorship program, collaborate with clients on pro bono projects to provide assistance in our shared communities, and come together to celebrate our shared cultures and diversities. I am at my happy place when I am constantly learning, adapting, and growing, and I am appreciative of the supportive and collaborative environment that MoFo provides, not only in the initiatives that are made available but also in the quality of clients with whom I get to work.My story is just one example of the many diverse narratives that make up the AAPI community. AAPI Heritage Month is a time for us to celebrate our unique experiences, honor our ancestors, and embrace the cultural richness that we bring to the American tapestry. In reflecting on my journey, I realize that my personal identity as a first-generation Asian American has played a significant role in shaping my career and outlook on life. As an Asian American attorney, I recognize the importance of representation and visibility in the legal profession and continue to strive to be a role model and mentor for others who may be facing similar experiences, offering guidance and support as they navigate their own journeys. My experiences have taught me the importance of resilience, adaptability, hard work, and luck—all qualities that have served me well in the legal profession. In short, I am proud of my heritage and grateful for the opportunities that have come my way, as they have allowed me to contribute to the rich tapestry of AAPI experiences in America.

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Associate

Evangeline Phang is an associate in the Technology Transactions Group of Morrison & Foerster’s San Francisco Office.
Her practice focuses on transactional matters involving intellectual property and t

Evangeline Phang

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Faces of MoFo: Evangeline Phang

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I did not always dream of becoming a lawyer (instead, a young me thought I was going to be an archeologist à la Indiana Jones). At some point, however, I became captivated by the amount of agency that a legal education could provide and the potential downstream impact of my work on my family and community. The path to this white-collar profession was not a straight one and I learned from many mistakes.

Faces of MoFo: Evangeline Phang

Editors’ Note: Read about Jeff Xu, a New York associate in our Transactions Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.I have been with MoFo for six and a half years, joining the Finance & Projects Group after graduating from Fordham Law School. My practice generally focuses on representing lenders and borrowers in all types of debt financing transactions, with a particular focus on private credit. As the first generation of my family to be born in America, I was raised with an emphasis on family and cultural values, values that I plan to continue with my own family, as my daughter Lucy was born earlier this year. I try to bring similar ideals to the workplace, serving as a guide and mentor to new and junior associates in my group, including by running a training program for the junior associates. As an inevitable function of the position, junior associates receive much of their training from deal work, but I have found, and I hope the junior associates in my group agree, that having an informal space to share ideas and talk about common issues and problems we face is useful secondary training. Many of my clients focus on investing in the life sciences, healthcare, and pharmaceutical fields, providing financing to growth and/or middle-market companies with potential for innovation and technological breakthrough in an important space. While my role is to help negotiate and execute on deals, I have found that more meaningful relationships come with clients that view us as true advisors, useful for more than simply documenting the transaction and instead providing structural and comprehensive advice on all aspects of the deal and the markets generally. My time at MoFo has shown me that the firm is perfectly situated to fill that advisor-partner role, and I’m grateful to the firm for the opportunity to do so. In addition to my finance work, I have focused my pro bono efforts to help low-income and elderly New Yorkers with their wills, powers of attorney, and other life-planning documents by working with the <a href="https://volsprobono.org/projects/seniorlaw/" target="_blank">Volunteers of Legal Service – Senior Law Project</a> (VOLS). I have had the fortune of helping many New Yorkers with these important documents and have also been honored to serve on VOLS’s inaugural Pro Bono Advocates Council, which brings together those in the private bar with a commitment to pro bono legal services with the mission of empowering New Yorkers to attain dignity, security, and opportunity through access to legal services. I view my pro bono work as a key aspect of my practice and find it deeply rewarding. Outside of work, I picked up sourdough bread baking during the COVID pandemic and have maintained this hobby to date, providing homemade carbs to friends and colleagues and maintaining an Instagram account (@city_sourdough) with the help of my social media manager (my wife).

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Jeff Xu is a member of the Firm’s Finance Group. He represents financial institutions, private credit funds, public and private companies and other borrowers and lenders in financing transactions, 

Jeff Xu

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Faces of MoFo: Jeff Xu

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I have been with MoFo for six and a half years, joining the Finance & Projects Group after graduating from Fordham Law School. My practice generally focuses on representing lenders and borrowers in all types of debt financing transactions, with a particular focus on private credit.

Faces of MoFo: Jeff Xu

During the month of May, we celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month and honor the many contributions AAPI individuals and communities have made throughout history. The theme this year is Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity. By providing advancement opportunities to the unrepresented, we can lower barriers to professional progression and create a more equitable world.AAPI Heritage Month offers all individuals at MoFo the continued opportunity to recognize and honor MoFo’s diverse and unique culture, which truly makes us exceptional.In recognition of AAPI Heritage Month, we honor two longstanding leaders at MoFo, Haima Marlier and Julie Park. Haima is a partner in our New York office, co-chair of the firm’s Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White Collar Defense Group, and a newly appointed co-chair of the firm’s Diversity Strategy Committee.MoFo Affinity Networks are cross-office groups of attorneys and business professionals who share a particular affinity. There are currently six MoFo Affinity Networks: AAPI, Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+, Disability Affinity, and MoFo Vets. These groups meet on a regular basis, both virtually and in person, to network and build community among members. Within each network, the partners meet frequently to help further the firm’s DEIA strategy as it relates to talent development within the affinity, with a particular focus on recruitment, retention, and advancement.The AAPI Affinity Network’s strategic priorities with regard to diversity and inclusion include attracting the most talented diverse attorneys, developing and engaging our diverse talent, enhancing workplace inclusion, and partnering with our clients where possible to further D+I in the legal industry. The AAPI Affinity Network aims to further the firm’s commitment to D+I by focusing our efforts on raising awareness around the unique experience of navigating the professional space as an AAPI attorney/employee and by actively supporting the recruitment, engagement, retention, development, and advancement of our AAPI attorneys/employees across the firm.

An orthopedic implant company

A children&rsquo;s monthly subscription service product

A fertility company

A major technology company

A smart fitness equipment company

Fitbit

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Julie Park provides analytic and strategic counsel for issues in product life cycle, product liability and defective products, consumer class actions, and more.

Julie Park

Julie Park | Product Liability Lawyer

Julie Park protects her clients’ products no matter what kind of product issue they face—whether it is planning for new product development, recalling an existing product, or defending clients against product liability or consumer class actions. Drawing on her deep technical and legal expertise, Julie counsels clients on consumer product safety regulation and pharmaceutical and medical device preemption while also managing complex and multijurisdictional litigation both in state and federal court.

Julie Y. Park

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Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month 2023

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During the month of May, we celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and honor the many contributions AAPI individuals and communities have made throughout history. The theme this year is Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity. By providing advancement opportunities to the unrepresented, we can lower barriers to professional progression and create a more equitable world.

Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month 2023

As part of Morrison Foerster’s ongoing celebration of Women’s History Month, MoFo’s Meghan Poon moderated a conversation with Reshma Saujani, bestselling author, activist, and the founder of Girls Who Code and the Marshall Plan for Moms (now known as MOMS F1RST). Reshma has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and girls’ economic empowerment, working to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and most recently, advocating for policies to support mothers impacted by the pandemic.In response to the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on America’s mothers, Reshma launched MOMS F1RST to advocate for policies that value women’s labor in and out of the home. Reshma has successfully worked with House and Senate leaders to introduce legislation at the federal level and is continuing to act as an outside agitator to change culture through creative awareness campaigns.Though there have been improvements to work-life balance in recent years, women are frequently forced to choose between their careers and families. “For far too long we’ve been trying to fix women and not fix the structure,” she said. “If we created workplaces that worked for working moms, they would work for everybody.”This includes changing attitudes surrounding remote work. Reshma argued that there should be a balance between in-person and remote work. Additionally, she explained that gender neutral paid leave should be incentivized to support men who want to do more. Globally, caregiving work is disproportionately done by women. However, through her work, Reshma has found that most men do want to take paid leave but are often discouraged by their colleagues. “That’s deeply in American culture,” she said. “So how do we change that? And how do we go one step further and incentivize it?” Another contributing factor is economics. “Forty percent of parents are in debt because of childcare,” Reshma said, and on average, women earn less income than men. When the price of childcare is weighed against income, Reshma explained that mothers often leave their jobs because it is more financially beneficial for their families.“Men are fundamental to this,” Reshma added. “We need more dads to start talking about the care work that they’re doing—and not for that pat on the back—but for that real sense that they understand.” She noted that dads of daughters are some of the most passionate funders of her movement. “There’s a lot for them to do, and I think that there’s a lot that they can do and want to do.”However, Reshma explained that it is also important for women to reexamine their own behavior in relation to gender work. “It goes back to why I changed [Marshall Plan for Moms] to MOMS F1RST, because that idea is so radical to us,” she said. “And we need to sit with that and say, ‘Well, why?’ How do you build that muscle of saying I deserve to be put first?”<a href="https://reshmasaujani.com/" target="_blank">Learn more</a> about Reshma and her work.

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Dr. Meghan Poon counsels clients on patent preparation and prosecution, portfolio strategy, and IP due diligence in the areas of biotechnology and biologics. She has significant experience in diverse technologies including antibodies, cell therapies, gene therapies, diagnostics, and gene-edited plants. 

Meghan McLean Poon Ph.D.

Dr. Meghan Poon counsels clients on patent preparation and prosecution, portfolio strategy, and IP due diligence in the areas of biotechnology and biologics. She has significant experience in diverse technologies including antibodies, cell therapies, gene therapies, diagnostics, and gene-edited plants.

Meghan Poon

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Celebrating Women’s History Month: A Conversation with Reshma Saujani

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As part of Morrison Foerster’s ongoing celebration of Women’s History Month, MoFo’s Meghan Poon moderated a conversation with Reshma Saujani, bestselling author, activist, and the founder of Girls Who Code and the Marshall Plan for Moms (now known as MOMS F1RST). Reshma has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and girls’ economic empowerment, working to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and most recently, advocating for policies to support mothers impacted by the pandemic.

Celebrating Women’s History Month: A Conversation with Reshma Saujani

In celebration of International Women’s Day, MoFo’s Narges Kahvazadeh moderated a discussion with Shirin Neshat, award-winning Iranian American visual artist and filmmaker. During the program, Shirin highlighted some of her pieces while also sharing her story of immigrating to the United States and how her art is giving voice to the women in Iran (and women around the world) in their fight for equality.Critically acclaimed, Shirin’s art has been featured in numerous solo exhibitions in museums internationally, from Munich and Italy to Los Angeles and Detroit.In addition to her photography, she has directed three feature-length films, Women Without Men (2009), which received the Silver Lion Award for Best Director at the 66th Venice International Film Festival; Looking for Oum Kulthum (2017); and most recently, Land of Dreams, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2021.Her films have received multiple awards, including the Golden Lion Award, the First International Prize at the 48th Biennale di Venezia, the Hiroshima Freedom Prize, the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, and the prestigious Praemium Imperiale Award in Tokyo.Shirin’s parents sent her at age 17 to live in the United States. She would visit home periodically over the next few years but was unable to return following the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and would not see her family again for 12 years. In 1990, she was finally able to travel back to Iran and reunite with her family. Shirin was shocked to discover how the country had changed during her time away. Inspired by her visit and the emotions that accompanied it, she decided to become an artist. “The core of my subjects remains related to Iran. I think part of it was because I really didn’t want to once again lose this connection between myself and my country,” she explained. “Art became this tool to help me keep that relationship alive.”Now a prominent visual artist, Shirin uses her art to evoke issues of power, religion, race, and gender, and the relationship between the past and present, East and West, individual and collective, through the lens of her personal experiences as an Iranian woman living in exile.Her digital art piece, called “Woman Life Freedom,” was on display in London’s Piccadilly Circus and at Pendry West Hollywood in Los Angeles in the Fall of 2022. The photograph is of two hands, one holding bullets and the other with an illustration of a paisley on the palm. Inscribed on the hands is poetry written by women in Farsi.Shirin prefaced her discussion of the piece by explaining her fascination with Iranian identity and the reality that Iran’s culture and history are often overlooked. “The world knows us as this oppressed country that is basically defined as a very backward culture, yet there’s another side of us which is incredibly rich, ancient, lyrical: a powerful culture of mystics, writers, scientists, mathematicians, and poets.” At the core of Iranian identity, Shirin stated, is Iranian women. The piece illustrates how Iranian women have been divided between two different worlds that are in contradiction with one another. “The grief of not only the women but the people of Iran who are coming from such a powerful past and powerful history but have been reduced to this contemporary definition is purely vicious and violent and it’s holding us down.”However, Shirin clarified that there is a distinction between her art and her activism. For her, it is important that art does not determine a viewer’s beliefs. “I like to create and organize certain symbols and allegories, certain narratives and concepts, and put it in front of my audience and let them emotionally and intellectually relate to it and decide for themselves what they think,” she explained.<a href="https://nmwa.org/art/artists/shirin-neshat/" target="_blank">Learn more</a> about Shirin and her art.

Celebrating International Women’s Day: A Conversation with Shirin Neshat

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Celebrating International Women’s Day: A Conversation with Shirin Neshat

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In celebration of International Women’s Day, MoFo’s Narges Kahvazadeh moderated a discussion with Shirin Neshat, award-winning Iranian American visual artist and filmmaker.

Sponsored by the Mental Health Steering Committee and Women’s Strategy CommitteeMoFo’s 21-Day Happiness Challenge is designed to help the MoFo community discover more happiness in 2023. Scientific studies show that happiness is associated with a host of benefits, including higher productivity, greater creativity, and stronger resilience in the face of stress.In conjunction with the Challenge, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/stacey-sprenkel">Stacey Sprenkel</a>, SF Litigation partner, Women’s Strategy Committee co-chair, and Mental Health Committee member, hosted a Designing a Personal Happiness Toolkit presentation with Rochelle Gapere, a happiness coach and lawyer. Stacey and Rochelle discussed science-backed strategies to increase individual happiness, common “happiness stealers,” happiness hacks, and tips to increase well-being and meaning in the workplace and also provided exercises to improve work-life integration. “What amazed me the most is how far science has come in its ability to measure happiness and identify actions we can do to impact our personal level of happiness and well-being,” Stacey shared after the discussion.During the Challenge, 350+ participants completed short daily activities, curated by the American Bar Association, that are geared towards understanding and developing the tools that can grow and maintain happiness. Small group discussions were held on a weekly basis for colleagues to share thoughts with the goal to glean learnings and provide support to one another as we work toward a more sustained sense of happiness and well-being.

MoFo’s 21-Day Happiness Challenge

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Stacey is a member of Morrison Foerster's ESG + Sustainability, Global Ethics and Compliance, and FCPA + Global Anti-Corruption practices.

Stacey M. Sprenkel

Stacey is a member of Morrison Foerster's ESG + Sustainability, Global Ethics and Compliance, and FCPA + Global Anti-Corruption practices. She regularly advises clients on cross-border investigations and developing and implementing anti-corruption compliance programs.What do you like best about your job? I love helping our clients navigate the complex global anti-corruption landscape as they conduct business around the world. Our clients want to get things right and my job is to help them figure out how to conduct business while at the same time minimizing corruption risks. This means understanding current risks, identifying new corruption risks as clients explore new markets and new acquisition targets, and developing and implementing compliance programs designed to mitigate those risks.What do you enjoy diong in your free time? I love traveling and adventures, big and small. Whether it’s exploring restaurants in San Francisco, a weekend in the wine country, or a trip to a far-flung corner of the earth, I am in. I also love hanging out with my dog and reading a good book.What is your favorite book? There are so many. Two that are at the top of my list are George Orwell’s 1984 and John Steinbeck’s The Winter of Our Discontent.