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

MoFo Sponsors the 2024 NAPABA Convention

Navigating Justice and Disability: A Conversation with Judge David Tatel

The MoFo Foundation Supports Pro Bono Partners

MoFo Sponsors the Black Counsel Forum 2024

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International Women’s Day—celebrated on March 8, 2023—is a globally recognized day to honor the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is also a day to shine a light on the steps we still need to take to accelerate women’s equality. The theme selected this year is Embrace Equity: Women Leading the Way. A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society’s DNA, and it’s critical to understand the difference between equity and equality. This year’s theme invites us to imagine a gender equal world: a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination; a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive; and a world where differences are valued and celebrated. When we #EmbraceEquity, we embrace diversity, and we embrace inclusion.Morrison Foerster has a long history of supporting and promoting the advancement of women both within the firm and in the legal profession. We are committed to creating a culture of inclusion in which our women lawyers can thrive in both their professional and personal lives. Our Women’s Strategy Committee works closely with firm leadership, including the firm’s chair, the firm’s vice-chairs, and the board of directors, to ensure that the advancement of women is a constant strategic priority.In recognition of International Women’s Day, we honor our newest women partner class, women who are leading the way.<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/brigid-bondoc">Brigid Bondoc</a><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/melissa-crespo">Melissa Crespo</a><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/shaelyn-dawson">Shaelyn Dawson</a><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/aya-eguchi">Aya Eguchi</a>Katherine Erbeznik<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/lily-li">Lily Li</a>Lauren Navarro

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2023

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Partner

Brigid is a food, drug, and medical device lawyer who counsels life sciences companies on a wide range of U.S. Food & Drug Administration pre- and post-market regulatory issues.

Brigid DeCoursey Bondoc

Brigid is a food, drug, and medical device lawyer who counsels life sciences companies on a wide range of U.S. Food & Drug Administration pre- and post-market regulatory issues.

Brigid Bondoc

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Melissa Crespo helps clients navigate a wide range of challenging privacy compliance and data security matters with a focus on the health information and the health care sector.

Melissa M. Crespo

Melissa Crespo

Phoenix Technologies, Ltd. v. VMware, Inc.

 Realtime v. Netapp

ASML Netherlands B.V. and Carl Zeiss AG v. Nikon Corp.

SS&C Technologies, Inc. v. Clearwater Analytics, LLC

GoPro v. C&A Marketing

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Shaelyn Dawson is an attorney in the litigation department, with a focus on intellectual property. Shaelyn represents clients in technical and high-stakes litigation, focusing primarily on patent, cop

Shaelyn K. Dawson

Shaelyn Dawson

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Aya Eguchi is a partner in the Technology Transactions Group.  Her practice focuses on transactions and counseling involving intellectual property and technology.

Aya Eguchi

Confidential Arbitration (ICC)

Innovative Foundry Technologies v. TSMC et al. (District of Delaware; International Trade Commission)

Globalfoundries v. TSMC et al. (International Trade Commission

Cohen v. TSMC & Huawei et al. (Eastern District of Texas; Northern District of California)

Bel Power v. Monolithic Power Systems (Western District of Texas)

Waymo v. Uber (Northern District of California)

CSPC Dophen v. Hu (Eastern District of California)

MPV v. DJI (Central District of California)

Realtime Data v. NetApp (Eastern District of Texas)

GBAS v. Autodesk (District of Massachusetts)

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Lily Li is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Group. She has represented companies in high-stakes patent litigation, trade secret matters, competitor cases, non-practicing entity assertions, and commercial disputes.

Lily Li

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Celebrating International Women’s Day 2023

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International Women’s Day—celebrated on March 8, 2023—is a globally recognized day to honor the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. 

Editors’ Note: Read about <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/sheryl-george">Sheryl George</a>, an associate in our New York office, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.I love what I do. What a privilege to be able to say that; that I genuinely enjoy my practice. The joy my field of work affords me came as a bit of a surprise, because I did not set out to be an investigations and white collar lawyer. I set out with a very different plan for my path in the law.I’ve known that I wanted to be a lawyer since I was about 16 years old. I think my family and friends knew it would happen for years before that. In a class picture as a teenager, my class had labeled me “most likely to become a lawyer.” In Singapore (where I grew up), students who aspire to become lawyers pursue a law degree right after high school (quite different to the U.S. route, where law is pursued at the graduate-level). So, at 19, I moved to London for law school. I quickly discovered a particular love for two things—mooting and public international law. I took part in every moot open to me and was elated when I got into my university’s Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition team; the perfect marriage of my two loves. At 22, I thought, “When I grow up, I am going to be like Amal Clooney (then Amal Alamuddin).” (Don’t laugh!) So sure of my aspirations, I enrolled in NYU for my Master of Laws (LL.M.), specializing in international legal studies, right after I received my Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.). Amal received her LL.M. from NYU as well! I continued immersing myself in public international law – I took the classes and I coached the (successful!) NYU Jessup team. I was charting a path for the career I was then planning.I returned to Singapore from New York and joined the government. I so badly wanted to join the International Affairs Division (IAD) of the Singapore Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). Back then, however, fresh graduates could not begin their time in government in IAD. The view was that young lawyers needed to get some basic legal training before taking on the more specialized work of the IAD. I was disappointed, but I figured I would do two or three years of training in a different department, and then transfer to IAD. I (somewhat reluctantly) picked criminal prosecution. I thought—at least I get to do part of what I love: advocacy and being on my feet in court. I may have been reluctant, but I kept an open mind and looked for opportunities to learn. I remember an open call for prosecutors to take on “extra work” (on top of our already heavy caseload) to handle cybercrimes. At the time, AGC was developing a dedicated team of trained prosecutors to handle the increasing number of technology and cyber-related crimes. I volunteered. I knew nothing about computers or cyber hacking, but I told the team’s director during my interview, “The extent of my technological know-how is how to operate my iPhone, but I will learn what I need to learn, and I will become good at this.” I got the job. I worked hard at learning, and eventually, I was part of the team that led the Singapore government’s inquiry into the country’s largest data breach: a foreign state actor perpetrated a cyberattack that saw the theft of 1.5 million personal and medical records of patients in the public health system. A commitment to learning and a willingness to stretch myself continues to serve me well.While in government, I ended up specializing in the prosecution of financial and technology crimes. I handled significant trial and appellate matters. I was surprised to find myself enjoying the investigations work (remember, it was not part of my grand plan!). I discovered the field of investigations to be the exciting work of storytelling: an investigation is an exercise in reconstructing a story; you look back in time to uncover the characters, places, things, motivations, and actions that come together to tell that story. No two stories are the same; they each raise unique (and often unexpected) issues, and I found myself drawn to the problem-solving challenges each presents.A few years into the job, an opportunity arose to ask for a transfer to IAD. I chose not to. I had found an area of practice that had gripped me; one that made the way for the practice I have today. When I was ready to leave government, I knew I wanted to join a firm that had a strong investigations practice, where I could continue to do high-value work and where my experience as a prosecutor would be valued. MoFo was just the place. A chance meeting with a MoFo partner while lifting weights at the gym (a story for another time!) led to my joining the firm. I started in the firm’s Singapore office and am now based in the New York office. Leveraging my former government experience, I advise clients in investigations and white-collar defense matters alleging fraud, corruption, money laundering, sanctions violations, intellectual property theft, and regulatory non-compliance, among other areas.I have been blessed with phenomenal opportunities, perhaps because of a deep commitment to learning and seeking excellence, but more, I believe, because I work with people who have seen potential in me and have made it a priority to develop and champion me. This has been true both in government and at MoFo. My mentors have had immense faith in me, often giving me opportunities to push myself and develop my skill sets—whether by allowing me to lead a difficult trial, or to present to a client in challenging circumstances. Much of who I am as a lawyer, and who I hope to be, is the product of the incredible investment others have made in me.I was speaking on a panel recently when someone asked if I would change my pathway in the law. I would not. I had not planned on this, but I am thankful every day that I do what I do. I may not have grown up to become like Amal Clooney, but I did find my own George, and outside of work I can be found planning our next travel itinerary, exploring a different part of New York city, hosting a dinner party, or taking a golf lesson with my own Mr. George. <div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt4ce0e74f4dd5b3a5/64025514aeefb86bfe4b4afd/230303-sheryl-george-faces-of-mofo.png?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="sheryl george faces of mofo"/></div>

Faces of MoFo: Sheryl George

Associate

Sheryl focuses her practice on internal and government-facing investigations, white collar defense matters, 

Sheryl Janet George

Sheryl George

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Faces of MoFo: Sheryl George

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I love what I do. What a privilege to be able to say that; that I genuinely enjoy my practice.

Trevor James is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Global Tax Group. He has over 30 years of experience providing corporate and international tax advice on a broad range of cross-border transactions, including public and private M&A, debt and acquisition finance, fund formation, and corporate restructuring. He has particular experience advising clients in the technology sector and IP-rich companies.From 2008 to 2015, Trevor served as managing partner of MoFo’s London office—the first partner of color appointed to the role. He is chair of the London Diversity Committee and an active and longstanding member of the firm’s global Diversity Strategy Committee. In addition, Trevor sits on the board of directors of The Morrison & Foerster Foundation—the firm’s charitable foundation.In two to three sentences, describe your practice.My practice involves advising clients on the tax aspects of global M&A transactions, financing, and exploitation of intellectual property assets. I also advise companies on international tax issues and employee equity participation.Why did you choose to make MoFo your professional home?I joined the firm more than 18 years ago for a number of reasons. The firm has a stellar reputation in the technology sector, acting for some of the world’s leading companies. The opportunity to advise such clients was too good to miss! I was also attracted to the values of the firm – diversity, pro bono, and the great work we do via The Morrison & Foerster Foundation.How do clients benefit from having diverse teams of lawyers working for them?Global clients require global lawyers. We advise clients from all over the world on their complex transactions and problems. Having diverse teams and an environment where everyone has a voice, results in us approaching issues from different perspectives, which in turn gives the client better and more creative solutions.

Partner Spotlight: Trevor James

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Trevor has over 30 years of experience in providing corporate and international tax advice. His practice focuses on advising client on the tax planning aspects of international transactions and strat

Trevor James

Trevor L James

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Partner Spotlight: Trevor James

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Trevor James is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Global Tax Group. 

Lawyers of Color has named MoFo's Samantha Rose to their Hot List 2022. The publication recognizes early-to mid-career attorneys who have demonstrated excellence in their respective practice areas. The honorees are chosen by a selection committee that spends months reviewing nominations and researching bar publications and legal blogs. The committee also hand-selects attorneys who have noteworthy accomplishments and were actively involved in diversity pipeline initiatives.Read more about the recognition <a href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/news/230207-lawyers-of-color-samantha-rose-hot-list-2022" target="_blank">here</a>.

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Samantha Rose is a corporate associate in the San Francisco office of Morrison Foerster. Her practice focuses on advising clients on domestic and cross-border corporate matters.

Samantha Rose

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Lawyers of Color Names Samantha Rose to its Hot List 2022

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Lawyers of Color has named MoFo's Samantha Rose to their Hot List 2022. The publication recognizes early-to mid-career attorneys who have demonstrated excellence in their respective practice areas. 

Lawyers of Color Names Samantha Rose to its Hot List 2022

Editors’ Note: Read about Alex Devine, a New York associate in our Transactions Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.As a Millennial coming of age in the 2000s, I always wanted to be an attorney. This was likely the result of my fascination with U.S. history, particularly the great presidents and politicians who all seemed to have previous careers as lawyers. This fascination coupled with my love of legal dramas like Law & Order, White Collar, and Suits made being a lawyer look both thrilling and rewarding. Complex fact patterns, high-rise offices, and the ability to help change lives and make a difference were enough to get me to commit to the answer of “lawyer” when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. However, growing up, I did not know any lawyers, much less any who looked like me.I was raised in New York primarily by my grandmother, a retired domestic worker. Although we did not have much money, my grandparents always instilled in me the importance of education and its correlation to success. Therefore, my then-lofty goal of becoming a lawyer as an economically disadvantaged minority growing up in NYC became one tantamount to becoming educated and successful.My journey to MoFo began on my first day of law school while having a conversation with my friend Sam. Sam—a year ahead of me at the time—enthusiastically described his experience that past summer at the firm. As a summer associate and Wetmore Fellow, he relayed to me that he had been given the opportunity to work on high-profile deals while receiving top-tier mentorship. This conversation led me to solidify MoFo as my top choice when applying for summer associate positions.As luck would have it, I received and accepted an offer from MoFo to join the firm as a summer associate, Wetmore Fellow, and subsequently as an associate in the Finance and Projects Group. Like my friend before, I had the same opportunity to receive exceptional mentorship and interface with our innovative clients and also found MoFo’s camaraderie and collaboration to be unparalleled. At all levels, there’s a dedication to attorney diversity, development, and delivering high-caliber work. The partners and associates I work with are always helping me focus on the types of work I am interested in, from high-profile deals to pro bono initiatives, while providing top-notch technical training and diverse experiences. Although there will always be more work to be done to make law firms more diverse places, MoFo has diversity and inclusion embedded in every scrap and helix of its DNA. The Black Affinity Network, for example, has provided me with caring mentors and friends who share in the experience of navigating a law firm as a Black associate.Outside work, I enjoy being a “foodie” and exploring new restaurants and cuisines, playing and enjoying live music, surfing, running, and attending live sporting events. Given how time-consuming life as an associate can be, I am grateful for MoFo’s commitment to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, which has ensured that I am able to continue enjoying my hobbies and life outside of work.<div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltab5556b496868de9/63dd27888c69354d3e05554b/230203-alex-devine.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="alex devine"/></div>

Faces of MoFo: Alex Devine