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

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

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Senior Pro Bono Counsel

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

Jennifer K. Brown

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

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Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

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

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

Natalie Kernisant

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

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Pro Bono Counsel

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

Dorothy L. Fernandez

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

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

Rachel P. Williams

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Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to diversity, inclusion, and pro bono work. MoFo+ shares news and thought leadership from our lawyers and their teams who are proud to contribute to the legal profession and the communities we call home.

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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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Editor's note: Read about Masha Miura, who participated in <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/mofo-s-2023-summer-associate-program-fosters-personal-connections-and-professional-growth" target="_self">MoFo’s 2023 Summer Associate Program in our New York office</a>, in this installment of our MoFo Stories series.As a biracial woman of color, finding spaces in which I can be authentically and unapologetically myself has always been difficult. When I began my search for a 1L summer associate position in 2022, I was daunted by the prospect of having to alter how I look and behave in order to “fit in.” However, Morrison Foerster quickly distinguished itself from the seemingly endless list of law firms in New York.During my interview process, I spoke with Nishi Tavernier, an associate who would later become my 1L mentor. I will never forget her response to my question, “Why MoFo?” She discussed how she felt welcomed at Morrison Foerster for who she is, and how she did not feel like she had to change any aspect of herself to thrive at MoFo. Those words prompted me to choose MoFo as my 1L, and later, my 2L firm; MoFo is a place that quickly became my own.At Morrison Foerster, the emphasis and commitment to diversity and inclusion became clear to me from day one. Through the mentorship program as well as formal and informal affinity group meetings, I felt more than just “included”; I felt empowered. Each year, I was also afforded the opportunity to attend the Wetmore Fellows Retreat, a gathering in San Francisco that brings together diverse summer associates, attorneys, and partners from across the country. The retreat allowed for both my own professional development and the growth of my own MoFo community. Morrison Foerster has enabled its diverse summer associates to thrive, unburdened by feeling the need to codeswitch to be a part of the community.Even more, at MoFo, diversity and inclusion go beyond internal efforts to promote belonging, also reaching out to the larger New York community. For example, the legal outreach program brings together summers, associates, and partners to meet with and provide opportunities for local high school students. Further, by proving pro bono opportunities, including helping Afghan refugees apply for asylum and working on anti-discrimination lawsuits, Morrison Foerster has allowed me to interact and work collaboratively with larger efforts to promote anti-racism.Although starting as a summer associate can seem like an intimidating prospect, Morrison Foerster excels at making its summers feel at home. Diversity and inclusion go beyond words at MoFo and are a central part of the firm’s culture, commitments, and community.

Diversity and Inclusion at MoFo – Masha Miura

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Diversity and Inclusion at MoFo – Masha Miura

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As a biracial woman of color, finding spaces in which I can be authentically and unapologetically myself has always been difficult.

Editor's note: Read about Rodrigo Bermudez, who participated in <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/mofo-s-2023-summer-associate-program-fosters-personal-connections-and-professional-growth" target="_self">MoFo’s 2023 Summer Associate Program in our Boston office</a>, in this installment of our MoFo Stories series.As a first-generation immigrant from Colombia, I am passionate about uplifting my community and being present and active in communities that could use a hand. So naturally a firm’s pro bono practice was a major consideration as I searched for my professional home. And I am fortunate to have landed at MoFo, a firm whose commitment to pro bono I’ve now experienced firsthand.While at MoFo, I have been able to work on a broad range of pro bono matters. On my first pro bono case, I worked on a small team—comprised of a partner, an associate, and myself—trying to help a terminally ill veteran access the benefits of his life insurance policy. He had applied for life insurance and was tentatively approved, pending a copy of his medical records to be sent by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). But the VA took an unreasonably long time to send the records, and by the time they sent them, he had been diagnosed with cancer from his exposure to burn pits while in the Middle East. The insurance company promptly rescinded its approval—along with critical financial assistance to him and his family. As a veteran myself, I found it inspiring to see how much the MoFo lawyers cared and how they prioritized the case in their already busy schedules.I also had the opportunity to work with the Elder Law Project, an initiative through the Boston Women’s Bar Foundation that helps educate and prepare end-of-life documents for low-income seniors. We were assigned a Spanish-speaking client who needed help preparing a power of attorney and healthcare proxy. The supervising attorney let another summer associate and me take the lead. We communicated directly with the client, did the initial intake in Spanish, and followed up with an engagement letter. After that, our supervisor even encouraged us to start drafting the documents. It was a rewarding experience and a wonderful way to learn about a new area of the law.Another pro bono project I helped with consisted of researching important questions for nonprofit organizations. For FreeFrom, an organization focused on providing information and resources to victims of domestic violence, I researched the nuances of receiving funding under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) in several different states. That information will be entered into FreeFrom’s Compensation Compass, a comprehensive online resource providing survivors of intimate partner and gender-based violence with information necessary to pursue financial compensation for the harm they have been subjected to. For the second organization, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, I researched state laws to help identify common sense gun regulations that the organization hopes to champion as a way to decrease gun violence.I was proud to see that MoFo is serious about pro bono work. Through my pro bono assignments, I was able to develop useful legal skills while doing meaningful and impactful work. And I hope to continue that work when I return to the firm.

Doing Meaningful Work: Pro Bono at MoFo – Rodrigo Bermudez

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Doing Meaningful Work: Pro Bono at MoFo – Rodrigo Bermudez

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As a first-generation immigrant from Colombia, I am passionate about uplifting my community and being present and active in communities that could use a hand. So naturally a firm’s pro bono practice was a major consideration as I searched for my professional home.

Editor's note: Read about Nina Worth, who participated in <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/mofo-s-2023-summer-associate-program-fosters-personal-connections-and-professional-growth" target="_self">MoFo’s 2023 Summer Associate Program in our Washington, D.C. office</a>, in this installment of our MoFo Stories series.Prior to choosing a law firm, I knew good mentorship was a vital element in considering where to start my legal career. As a first-generation attorney and woman of color navigating this industry, finding quality mentorship was crucial in developing personal and professional growth. At Morrison Foerster, I believe I have found just that at all levels of the firm.Even before arriving at MoFo, I was fortunate to receive informal mentorship from Joseph Palmore and Crystal Kaldjob. Their guidance and confidence in my abilities allowed me to take on challenging tasks from the beginning. During my first summer at MoFo, I was given the opportunity to be seconded to a client and work on complex issues that arise in the day-to-day for in-house attorneys. There I drafted internal memos and presented my findings in front of other attorneys. The opportunity, while initially daunting, instilled a level of assurance I feel grateful to have so early on in my career. Thanks to the guidance of my mentors, I recognized that they not only can provide skills-based training but also can instill conviction in one’s abilities. As I returned to MoFo this summer, I was able to build upon this confidence when I was entrusted with other substantial projects, by partners like Demme Doufekias, who ensured I was set up for challenging and substantive assignments throughout the summer.Mentorship goes beyond partners at MoFo as first- and second-year associates often rise to the occasion, occupying similar roles in mentorship to help develop a young lawyer’s skills-based training. I was fortunate to be paired with Joe Toth, my work coordinator this year, who pushed not only myself but other summer associates to improve our work product in a tangible and efficient way in anticipation of becoming a first-year associate. Joe consistently provided guidance and in-depth feedback on assignments, often encouraging us all to move outside of our comfort zones—critical for any young lawyer. The same can be said for mid-level attorneys, be it Kerry Jones advising me how to fix my time notes or Anthony Carral counseling me on how to maximize my credit card points. At MoFo, the culture of mentorship is pervasive and comforting, allowing one to feel safe asking the necessary questions.Now as I reflect on both summers at MoFo, I feel lucky to have had a chance on three separate occasions to sit down with Eric McCrath, chair of MoFo. Having several opportunities to put substantive and personal questions to the chair of a law firm of this caliber is seemingly unique, demonstrating that MoFo places great emphasis on mentorship from all levels of the firm and manifests that commitment daily in both promise and practice.After spending two summers with Morrison Foerster, I can say I have mentors at all levels of the firm, across practice groups, and throughout different offices. Mentorship sits at the cornerstone of professional growth. While I still have much of my legal career ahead of me, I feel confident that my summers at MoFo have provided me the tools necessary to succeed in this industry through a culture of robust mentorship from all levels of the firm.

Mentorship at MoFo: A Commitment in Both Promise and Practice – Nina Worth

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Mentorship at MoFo: A Commitment in Both Promise and Practice – Nina Worth

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Prior to choosing a law firm, I knew good mentorship was a vital element in considering where to start my legal career.

Editor's note: Read about Sydney Gaskins, who participated in <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/mofo-s-2023-summer-associate-program-fosters-personal-connections-and-professional-growth" target="_self">MoFo’s 2023 Summer Associate Program in our Los Angeles office</a>, in this installment of our MoFo Stories series.When I was first researching MoFo, I came across a pamphlet titled “MoFo Diversity: Trial Lawyers” that consisted of 10 thoughtfully written pages celebrating diverse trial lawyers at the firm. As an aspiring Black trial lawyer, I knew I had found a firm that shared my values. It would be easy in high-stakes litigation to provide representation that is considered “safe,” but my style of advocacy is passionate, and I look different than the lawyers whom judges are used to seeing at the counsel table. I have been competing in mock trial tournaments in front of practicing attorneys and judges for the past eight years. Despite winning two National Championships at the college and law school levels, I have already been challenged by the legal industry with microaggressions, racist comments, and misogyny. At one point, I wondered if the legal industry I love would ever provide me with an equal opportunity to succeed. Now I know identity is intertwined with my legal talent; one cannot exist without the other. I needed a firm that not just hired diverse people, but also invested in me because they knew diverse perspectives provide an invaluable asset to any trial team.I am grateful to be a part of the Wetmore Fellowship, which has provided me with the opportunity to network and build meaningful connections with other diverse summer associates, associates, and partners. After I joined the LA office, the D+I team reached out to connect with me about my experience at the firm and to provide mentorship. At the Wetmore Fellowship retreat, I attended a panel with one of MoFo’s top diverse trial lawyers, Arturo González, who gave advice on how to succeed as an associate. At the retreat, I bonded with other Black and Brown summer associates and SEO Fellows in a deeper way than the office environment allowed. Since then, the Black Affinity Group at MoFo has had the opportunity to connect over lunch, at a Diversity Brunch, and at a game night. I appreciate that the firm is dedicated to providing a network of support for its lawyers.When I asked for trial exposure, MoFo delivered. My first summer I flew to Texas to shadow a post-bench trial hearing for a complex patent case. This summer I was immediately given the opportunity to shadow an attorney in a criminal misdemeanor hearing. Then, when I asked for more, I found myself sitting in the jury box of a post-trial hearing watching trial advocacy at work. Next, I drafted a deposition outline for a third-party witness in a lawsuit against one of MoFo’s biggest clients. The feedback session I had for that deposition with LA partners Purvi Patel and Whitney O’Byrne was the most valuable experience of both of my summers combined. I am returning to law school for my 3L year feeling inspired by MoFo trial lawyers and excited about my future with the firm.Being able to be a part of the diversity and inclusion efforts at MoFo through the Wetmore Fellowship and Black Affinity Group, while being empowered to ask for and receive exposure to trial work, has resulted in two incredible summers at the firm. I am proud to be a part of the MoFo community, and I hope to continue using my trial advocacy and legal skills to contribute to the firm’s celebration of diverse trial lawyers.

Celebrating Diverse Trial Lawyers at MoFo – Sydney Gaskins

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Celebrating Diverse Trial Lawyers at MoFo – Sydney Gaskins

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When I was first researching MoFo, I came across a pamphlet titled “MoFo Diversity: Trial Lawyers” that consisted of 10 thoughtfully written pages celebrating diverse trial lawyers at the firm.

MoFo recently concluded its 2023 Summer Associate Program, where summer associates were integrated into the firm’s daily operations in all our U.S. offices and Tokyo. The program provided comprehensive trainings, mentorship from partners and associates, meaningful and challenging client and pro bono assignments, constructive evaluation sessions, and social and networking opportunities so that summer associates could experience MoFo’s culture and team environment firsthand.Firmwide learning and development programs, designed to familiarize summer associates with MoFo’s policies, practices, and tools, included a fireside chat with MoFo’s chair and vice chairs, practice area spotlights and best practices, a writing skills workshop, and sessions on contract drafting.Under the guidance of MoFo lawyers, summer associates completed a variety of client and pro bono projects, exposing them to litigation and transactions work and allowing them to demonstrate and develop legal writing, research, and analytical skills. Each summer associate was paired with a mentor and a work coordinator to ensure that they were connecting with lawyers across offices and departments and gaining insights into the type of law they want to practice and what it’s like to be a MoFo lawyer.Summer associates got to know each other and our attorneys through many social outings this summer, including partner-hosted dinners, sporting events, concerts, outdoor activities, museum tours, cooking classes and competitions, paint nights, and community service projects.Multiple summer associates were invited to write about their experiences from the program on topics such as mentorship, pro bono, learning and development, and diversity and inclusion. Read their MoFo Stories here:·  <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/doing-meaningful-work-pro-bono-at-mofo-rodrigo-bermudez" target="_self">Doing Meaningful Work: Pro Bono at MoFo – Rodrigo Bermudez, Boston</a>·  <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/mofo-s-commitment-to-diversity-in-its-pro-bono-practice-meelissa-tapia-cortez" target="_self">MoFo’s Commitment to Diversity in Its Pro Bono Practice – Meelissa Tapia Cortez, San Francisco</a>·  <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/celebrating-diverse-trial-lawyers-at-mofo-sydney-gaskins" target="_self">Celebrating Diverse Trial Lawyers at MoFo – Sydney Gaskins, Los Angeles</a> ·  <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/diversity-and-inclusion-at-mofo-masha-miura" target="_self">Diversity and Inclusion at MoFo – Masha Miura, New York</a>·  <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/mentorship-at-mofo-a-commitment-in-both-promise-and-practice-nina-worth" target="_self">Mentorship at MoFo: A Commitment in Both Promise and Practice – Nina Worth, Washington, D.C.</a>

MoFo’s 2023 Summer Associate Program Fosters Personal Connections and Professional Growth

MoFo’s 2023 Summer Associate Program Fosters Personal Connections and Professional Growth

MoFo recently concluded its 2023 Summer Associate Program, where summer associates were integrated into the firm’s daily operations in all our U.S. offices and Tokyo. 

Editor's note: Read about Meelissa Tapia Cortez, who participated in <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/mofo-s-2023-summer-associate-program-fosters-personal-connections-and-professional-growth" target="_self">MoFo’s 2023 Summer Associate Program in our San Francisco office</a>, in this installment of our MoFo Stories series.As part of MoFo’s Sponsors for Educational Opportunity program, I felt eager to learn everything I could before the summer of my 1L year. I was lucky enough to be placed at MoFo during the summer of ’22, and I have never looked back. While I had done research on the firms I was interested in working for, nothing prepared me for the warm welcome of MoFo’s associates, partners, and business professionals. Aside from having well respected queer employees and a robust Latinx presence on every level, MoFo excels in its commitment to pro bono work. Coming from a nontraditional background, I worked at immigration nonprofits for many years prior to law school, specializing in legal aid for survivors of violence. Due to this prior experience, my expectations for a firm’s pro bono practice were high and, I’m proud to say, MoFo has exceeded them.This summer, I participated in amazing projects—all close to my heart. I had the privilege of working with Root and Rebound, an organization whose mission is reentry advocacy and harm reduction for individuals impacted by mass incarceration. As part of its record expungement clinic, I was able to work directly with a client in need of legal services. The result of the process is imperative, but hearing each client’s story is the most humbling and impactful part for me. As I was perennially reminded in my years of client-facing work, the individuals on the receiving end of criminal justice systems are often victims of systemic injustices in the first place, meaning they need and deserve care and resources rather than punishment. In this way, MoFo’s alliance with Root and Rebound’s mission and practice speaks volumes. As if all that were not enough, I received thorough feedback from Pro Bono Counsel Dorothy Fernandez, whose interest in my development as a persuasive writer was evident, not just for my personal progress but also for our client to receive the best advocacy.I also contributed to an asylum clinic with our partnering organization, Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA). I’ve worked on many asylum cases in the past; they are time-consuming and resource-demanding. The supervising attorneys at CLSEPA provided excellent training, exemplifying devotion to their clients and cause. Even though I was the most junior member of my team, the associate I was partnered with, Rafael Alberto Grillo Avila, allowed me to take the lead in the process. The trust of and respect for my experience were very meaningful and exemplary of MoFo’s respect for its employees with nontraditional backgrounds.In sum, my experience with MoFo’s pro bono practice continues to convince me that MoFo sets the bar for commitment to partnering with progressive organizations, honoring system-impacted clients, and helping develop the skills of its employees to shape us into the best advocates we can be.

MoFo’s Commitment to Diversity in Its Pro Bono Practice – Meelissa Tapia Cortez

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MoFo’s Commitment to Diversity in Its Pro Bono Practice – Meelissa Tapia Cortez

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As part of MoFo’s Sponsors for Educational Opportunity program, I felt eager to learn everything I could before the summer of my 1L year. I was lucky enough to be placed at MoFo during the summer of ’22, and I have never looked back. 

Throughout September, Morrison Foerster’s Environmental Sustainability (ES) Committees focused on climate with several initiatives and activities across the firm.Krista deBoer, associate and co-chair of the San Diego ES Committee, and Cedar Hobbs, associate and member of the San Diego ES Committee, led a two-session training for MoFo attorneys and business professionals on the basics of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. Attendees joined these virtual events from across the firm.  The ES Committees encouraged attorneys and business professionals to share a photo of their favorite place in nature that could be impacted by climate change in a climate photo contest. The winner received recognition through their personal carbon footprint being offset for a year.  The Committees also held in-person events related to the linkages between climate and other environmental topics, like waste, and regional impacts. Photos from the Brussels “Zero Waste Workshop” and San Francisco “Great Highway Project Presentation” are featured below.<a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/sustainability" target="_blank">Learn more</a> about MoFo’s environmental sustainability initiatives. <div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blteb921816594bd927/651f462e5554e9e94a63df06/231003-climate-week-1.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Climate Week"/></div><div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltd51b1b2ce06482a8/651f462e6065f336902294f6/231003-climate-week-2.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Climate Week"/></div>

Partner

Krista deBoer’s practice involves the full range of environmental, climate, and green claims issues. As a partner in MoFo’s Class Actions + Mass Tort practice group, Krista represents clients in environmental and toxic tort litigation, Proposition 65 litigation, and consumer class actions 

Krista S. deBoer

Krista deBoer

Associate

Cedar Hobbs is an associate in MoFo’s Complex Litigation + Advisement Group in the San Diego office. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation and environmental law and regulation.

Cedar Hobbs

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Throughout September, Morrison Foerster’s Environmental Sustainability (ES) Committees focused on climate with several initiatives and activities across the firm.

Climate Week 2023: MoFo Highlights Environmental Sustainability Issues

As part of MoFo’s summer associate programming, MoFo recently welcomed Professor Stephen Vladeck to discuss his New York Times Bestseller book The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic. Joe Palmore, MoFo’s Appellate and Supreme Court practice co-chair and managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office, hosted a fireside chat with Professor Vladeck, followed by a book signing.Professor Vladeck holds the Charles Alan Wright Chair in Federal Courts at the University of Texas School of Law and clerked for court of appeals judges on the Ninth and Eleventh Circuits. He has argued multiple cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as other federal courts, both civilian and military. He is also a co-host of the award-winning National Security Law Podcast and is CNN’s Supreme Court analyst.During the discussion, Vladeck explained that he uses the term “shadow docket” in his book in the same context as legal scholar William Baude, who coined the term in a 2015 article for the New York University Journal of Law & Liberty. In summary, the term refers to everything the Supreme Court does other than rulings it hands down in argued cases on the merits docket. “By volume, those rulings are well less than one percent of what the Supreme Court actually does,” Stephen said. “The Supreme Court does most of its work through unsigned, unexplained orders. And although many of those orders are completely banal, a number of those orders can be important and can have really significant, real world, and sometimes even doctrinal, effects.”Vladeck’s argument mirrors the subtitle of his book: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic. While the phrase “amass power” refers to the Court’s discretion over its docket through certiorari, “undermine the republic” refers to how it has overseen election and other significant disputes outside its merits docket. Vladeck described a number of the Court’s shadow docket actions in election cases as inconsistent and seemingly explicable based only on their partisan valence. “That’s where I think we get to the harshest criticism,” he said. “When there’s no throughline, when there’s no pure and substantive principle that explains why the court is ruling the way it does, now it looks like the justices are playing political favorites.” These behaviors, Vladeck explained, have undermined public perception of the Court’s neutrality.Throughout his book, Vladeck argues that everyone, regardless of partisan alignment, should care about the Court’s actions. “We need a Supreme Court that is at least widely perceived to be legitimate,” he explained. “Not because it’s going to do things we agree with, but because a court that is perceived as legitimate has the ability to serve its role in our constitutional democracy, which is standing up to tyrannies of the majority.”Though Vladeck feels that the best solution is to amplify criticism of the Court’s behavior, he did add that there are other ways to address the issue. “The lowest hanging fruit would be if the Court would just commit to providing a modicum of explanation at least when it grants emergency relief,” he said. “When the Court is taking the affirmative step of upsetting the status quo, of doing something to suspend the effect of a lower court ruling or to enjoin action that lower courts refuse to—the full Court could take it upon itself to commit to writing.”Along with potential remedies, Vladeck added that lawyers have a special obligation to defend the importance of process. “If we’re trying to think about what separates judicial power from other forms of political power, I think it’s the notion that the courts are acting judicially that we have to be dying on the hill to defend,” he said.“I’m thrilled that Professor Vladeck was able to join us for this fascinating discussion, and I’m grateful to our summer associates for asking such terrific questions,” Palmore said.<div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt6271518e7783fc52/649b29b47e68bba259abce96/230626-books.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Books"/></div><div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltbb42a997520981e7/649b2a0705ac384818aebad6/230626-joseph-palmore.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Joseph Palmore and Stephen Vladeck"/></div>

Joe Palmore co-chairs Morrison Foerster’s Appellate and Supreme Court practice. Chambers USA describes him as “an outstanding oral advocate,” who is “calm, focused, effective and doesn’t back down,” and has “complete command of the facts.” Joe “writes great briefs” (Chambers USA), with one client recounting that “the Court mirrored the language he thoughtfully chose in its ultimate order” (Legal 500).

Joseph R. Palmore

Joseph R. Palmore is co-chair of the firm's Appellate and Supreme Court Practice Group and Managing Partner for the Washington, D.C. office. Before joining Morrison Foerster, Joe was an Assistant to the Solicitor General at the United States Department of Justice and the Deputy General Counsel of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Joseph Palmore

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As part of MoFo’s summer associate programming, MoFo recently welcomed Professor Stephen Vladeck to discuss his New York Times Bestseller book The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic. Joe Palmore, MoFo’s Appellate and Supreme Court practice co-chair and managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office, hosted a fireside chat with Professor Vladeck, followed by a book signing.

Summer Associate Book Talk: A Conversation with Professor Stephen Vladeck

This year, attorneys and business professionals across MoFo’s offices came together to celebrate Earth Month in April.Leading up to Earth Month, we collected 523 “MoFoEco Pledges” firmwide. These pledges cover topics such as waste diversion, energy efficiency, and alternative commuting practices, both at home and at work, and were customized by each office. They also served as an awareness-building opportunity with helpful “how-to” resources at the end of the pledge forms. In addition, we hosted our longtime pro bono partner, <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/" target="_blank">The Nature Conservancy</a>, for a firmwide Earth Month webinar featuring examples of how we have worked together on projects to “Invest in Our Planet” as a reflection of this year’s Earth Day theme. Learn more about examples of these projects on the firm’s <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/pro-bono/sustainability-focus" target="_blank">Pro Bono page</a>.MoFo’s Environmental Sustainability Committees also hosted events and volunteered in their offices and communities. Some highlights included:<ul><li>Reusable mug ice cream socials</li><li>Beach cleanups</li><li>A bike tune-up event</li><li>A soap recycling workshop</li></ul>Although Earth Month concluded at the end of April, environmental sustainability remains an important part of MoFo’s culture year-round.Learn more about MoFo’s <a href="https://www.mofo.com/capabilities/environmental-social-governance" target="_blank">Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practice</a>.<div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltcafef18521d6cf3d/645d60f3f96478160358884e/230511-ice-cream.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="ice cream"/></div><div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt2d625aefb775d5ef/645d607ddba83e557dea7f32/230511-earth-day.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="earth day"/></div><div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blte556465d024e38cf/645d61159c40aa83ee07421f/230511-recycle.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="recycle"/></div><div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt76472724ea764731/645d613d6ff7c064792bbbe7/230511-singapore.png?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Singapore"/></div>

MoFo Celebrates Earth Month

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MoFo Celebrates Earth Month

This year, attorneys and business professionals across MoFo’s offices came together to celebrate Earth Month in April.

MoFo Litigation partner Alexis Amezcua recently conducted a fireside chat in our San Francisco office with author and executive coach <a href="https://michaelmelcher.com/" target="_blank">Michael Urtuzuástegui Melcher</a> titled “Your Invisible Network: Achieving Your Professional Potential by Investing in Relationships – and How to Do This in 20 Minutes a Day.”A lawyer by training, Michael practiced law for several years before starting an executive coaching and leadership development company. Over the past 20 years, he has worked with business and legal professionals, from people at the beginning of their careers to senior executives.During the session, Michael shared insights and practical tools from his recently published book, Your Invisible Network, and from his years coaching leaders of all backgrounds. “In my experience coaching, about 70 percent of what I do relates to communications and relationship-building,” he said. Relationship-building and networking are practices that most people are somewhat familiar with, but often don’t know how to successfully navigate. Michael knew he had the ability to write about these topics with greater nuance.In his book, he singularly focuses on the importance of relationships and how they can transform a person’s career. During his conversation with Alexis, Michael noted that while merit and skill are necessary components of success, “Relationships are what connect your value to the world.” Networking is often viewed as something done to get a job; however, he explained that it is also something we must continue to do to add richness and depth to our jobs every day.To start building relationships, Michael advised first assessing the health of your existing relationships to determine where you would like to see growth. From there, compartmentalize your goals into manageable actions that can be achieved in 20 minutes a day. Ultimately, smaller, consistent actions over time are more effective than one grand gesture.“It’s actually very human,” Michael explained. Professional relationships are just like any other relationship. “It’s based on learning about somebody and sharing about yourself and finding opportunities to do things together and talking about things of mutual interest.”To those eager to see immediate results, Michael encouraged an attitude of perseverance. “You are going to put time in before you will see results,” he explained. He acknowledged that investing in relationships may detract from other goals or obligations. “The flipside is that relationships can be a little bit magical,” he said. “You don’t know what you will discover.”

Alexis is a skilled class action and commercial litigator, and practices in a variety of high-profile areas, including: Breach of contract, Complex consumer class actions, False advertising, Federal banking law










Alexis Amezcua

Alexis’ practice focuses on a variety of substantive areas, including breach of contract, wrongful termination, trade secret theft, unfair competition, product liability, federal banking law, complex consumer class actions, and wrongful death. Alexis has represented both plaintiffs and defendants, and her practice includes substantive arbitration experience, as well as trial experience in state and federal courts. She is a frequent speaker and author on topics related to arbitration, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, consumer class actions, and consumer product safety.What do you like best about your work? I love the “chess game” of litigation. As a litigator, my job is to be steps ahead of my opponent and think strategically about where the other party is going, why, and how we can best outmaneuver him or her. It means brainstorming with my whip-smart team members and clients, understanding our goals, and, of course, jumping into the ring (figuratively) at hearings, depositions, and, ultimately, at trial.What do you enjoy doing in your free time? In my free time, I most enjoy spending time with my 3-year-old daughter, husband, and extended family, usually during outdoor or travel excursions. What is your favorite thing about living in your current city? We live in Burlingame, mid-way between San Francisco and Palo Alto. I love its walk- and bike-ability. We bike almost everywhere on the weekends, including to parks, restaurants, and the library. It sure beats having to wrestle a toddler into a car seat.

Alexis A. Amezcua

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Building Professional Relationships: A Conversation with Michael Melcher

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MoFo Litigation partner Alexis Amezcua recently conducted a fireside chat in our San Francisco office with author and executive coach Michael Urtuzuástegui Melcher titled “Your Invisible Network: Achieving Your Professional Potential by Investing in Relationships – and How to Do This in 20 Minutes a Day.”