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

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Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Partner

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

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

Natalie Kernisant

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

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

Dorothy Fernandez

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

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Pro Bono Counsel

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

Rachel Williams

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

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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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Dorothy L. Fernandez

Rachel P. Williams

MoFo Celebrates 25 Years in San Diego

MoFo Celebrates Earth Day

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

Faces of MoFo: Dominick Divine III

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

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The MoFo Senior Associate Leadership Forum is a dynamic series created in partnership with DueCourse, providing associates with direct access to personal and professional development coaching. The Forum includes a range of leadership topics designed to guide senior associates as they build their practice and map their path forward with intention.<div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt8d2d6c8807eaffcf/62d82964929e6c100ecd96cf/220708-senior-associate-leadership-infographic.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Senior Associate Leadership Infographic"/></div>

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MoFo Senior Associate Leadership Forum

The MoFo Senior Associate Leadership Forum is a dynamic series created in partnership with DueCourse, providing associates with direct access to personal and professional development coaching. The Forum includes a range of leadership topics designed to guide senior associates as they build their practice and map their path forward with intention.

MoFo Senior Associate Leadership Forum

MoFo Life

For more than a decade, lawyers in MoFo’s <a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/bnuVCVO0oWIxLnoKEurjHjQ?domain=mofo.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Germany</a> office have been attending the <a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/MIqFCW6jp1U5gLmYQsB8Wjs?domain=exporeal.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EXPO REAL International Trade Fair for Property and Investment</a>, which is the biggest trade fair for real estate and investment in Europe. The fair has proven to be an extremely valuable resource for liaising with our global real estate clients, but the events of 2020 threatened to dampen that opportunity. The event was initially rescheduled as a hybrid in-person/virtual event, but was eventually cancelled due to rising concerns over the pandemic.True to the motto, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” a group of lawyers from MoFo’s European Real Estate team, spearheaded by Jens-Uwe Hinder and Florian Ehrich in Berlin and Oliver s’Jacob, Luke Mines, and Danielle Hirsch in London, sought out an alternative way to connect with clients while doing something good for the community. Since the real estate team wasn’t going to be sponsoring the event, the attorneys decided to reallocate those funds to a good cause. As the firm shares in Habitat for Humanity’s vision that everyone deserves a decent place to call home, the organization was the perfect choice.“Living in a house with windows, doors and space for privacy is a luxury that most of us take for granted. But for millions of displaced people, this is far from reality. Habitat cares for these people, and MoFo’s Real Estate Team is happy to support the organization’s valuable work in creating homes for those who need it most,” explains the team.The team created an “EXPO REAL Goodie Box,” which was sent to a selected group of clients and contacts and included information about two potential projects we could partner with Habitat for Humanity on. We invited them to anonymously help us choose a project to support and, ultimately, they chose “Die HoffnungsBAUer – A new home for Priscilla.”“We thank our clients who helped create a home that provides security, shelter, and privacy for Priscilla and from where she can now find paid work, live a decent life, and take care for the education and development of her children.”Priscilla is a 52-year-old widow who is caring for six children from three different families, one of which is her late sister’s. She had been living on her family’s property in a dilapidated mud house with no drinking water or toilet. The home’s mud walls and its roof were leaking and in danger of collapse. She works six days a week at a nearby farm to support the school-aged children that she looks after, but has found it increasingly difficult to work.As an HIV-positive individual, she found herself in the high-risk group for COVID-19 and was able to apply for an emergency aid project with food assistance. Even with that help, the cost to repair the home to a livable state was daunting. With the help of MoFo’s European real estate team and other donors, the Habitat project raised enough funds to build a safe home on her family’s property with running water from rainwater harvesting and a latrine. To individuals like Priscilla, the building of this home means much more than just a place to live; it also helps ensure the basis of elementary rights such as health, education, and personal and professional development.“Habitat for Humanity knows that home is the key to freeing families from financial instability, from stress and from impossible choices between essential needs,” the organization says. “Thanks to partners like Morrison & Foerster we are able to provide Priscilla and her family a foundation for a promising future.”The “HoffnungsBAUer” initiative was created to unite members of the construction and real estate industries in their social commitment to help people and their families in disaster areas and developing countries get a solid roof over their heads, access to sanitary facilities, and access to clean water. With over 1.6 billion people worldwide lacking such a home, the initiative aims to support more than 10,000 people a year. While no voluntary trips will be able to take place in 2021, due to the current situation, the group looks forward to launching volunteer missions in the spring of 2022.Learn more about this and other HoffnungsBAUer projects taken on in 2020 <a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/AEzkC31KE3spJgzMPUP-qGw?domain=hoffnungsbauer.de">here</a>.

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During the Pandemic, MoFo Turns a Missed Networking Opportunity into a Call to Give Back

During the Pandemic, MoFo Turns a Missed Networking Opportunity into a Call to Give Back

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For more than a decade, lawyers in MoFo’s Germany office have been attending the EXPO REAL International Trade Fair for Property and Investment, which is the bi

On June 15, 2020, 126 talented law students representing 34 of the nation’s top law schools joined MoFo for the Summer Associate Program. Even though no one could have predicted that we would have our largest summer class attend the program completely online, it couldn’t have gone better, thanks to the Recruitment team who worked so diligently to ensure their experience was as engaging as it would have been in-person.The six-week Summer Associate Program is designed give students the chance to learn about the lawyers, staff, and clients who make MoFo such a special place, and to learn from them in every capacity, from classroom lessons and workshops to researching and drafting briefs for real-life cases. Each week, a new theme was introduced to provide the associates with technical and soft‑skill training in areas such as written and oral communication, legal problem-solving and creative analysis, and teamwork and client service.Rather than traditional lectures, the summers were invited to join a number of panel discussions and forums where they heard from and interacted with MoFo lawyers and a variety of special guest speakers, such as author and historian Dr. William Meinecke, Legal Writing Works founder Kiko Korn, and leadership development trainer and improv coach Jessica Hoffman.In addition, a number of MoFo partners from varying practice groups took the time to discuss some of their biggest cases and lessons learned throughout their careers and give practical advice. Some of the “Meet the Experts” sessions addressed practical skills, such as interpersonal communication, strategic negotiation, persuasive written advocacy, and contract writing. The partners also shared their own MoFo Stories regarding landmark cases they worked on, such as Doe v. Wolf, which ordered an overhaul of the way U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detains people in its custody in the Tucson Sector of Arizona, and Waymo v. Uber, in which MoFo litigators won a favorable settlement after just four days of jury trial and defeated a motion for preliminary injunction that sought to bar Uber’s autonomous vehicle program.Summer associates receive a broad mix of assignments, including writing briefs, motions, contracts, and client memoranda; assisting in drafting and negotiation sessions; helping with depositions and witness preparation; and performing due diligence in corporate transactions. They are also encouraged to volunteer for pro bono assignments. The goal is to provide a variety of substantive projects in which to demonstrate their writing, research, and analytical skills, and get a realistic perspective on what it’s like to be a lawyer at MoFo. This year, we invited some of the associates to write about their experiences from the program and tell us a little more about themselves.Read their MoFo Stories here:<a href="https://together.mofo.com/pro-bono/my-mofo-story-building-legal-practice-skills-through-state-survey-of-election-audits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Building Legal Practice Skills Through State Survey of Election Audits</a> – Megan Smith, Washington, D.C.<a href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-life/my-mofo-story-gaining-a-new-perspective-on-career-path-possibilities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gaining a New Perspective on Career Path Possibilities</a> – James Dionne, Washington, D.C.<a href="https://together.mofo.com/pro-bono/my-mofo-story-kacyn-fujii-on-exploring-how-mofos-pro-bono-program-makes-a-difference/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How MoFo’s Pro Bono Program Makes a Difference</a> – Kacyn Fujii, Palo Alto<a href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-life/my-mofo-story-haley-paloutzian-on-learning-there-is-no-right-or-wrong-way-to-partnership-only-your-way/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Learning There Is No Right or Wrong Way to Partnership, Only Your Way</a> – Haley Paloutzian, Palo Alto<a href="https://together.mofo.com/pro-bono/my-mofo-story-kevin-brown-on-helping-an-important-pro-bono-client-gain-tax-exempt-status/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Helping an Important Pro Bono Client Gain Tax-Exempt Status</a> – Kevin Brown, Boston<a href="https://together.mofo.com/pro-bono/my-mofo-story-navigating-the-path-to-relicense-dams-on-the-tuolumne-river/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Navigating the Path to Relicense Dams on the Toulumne River</a> – Ian Bennett, Palo AltoThe Summer Associate Program wasn’t all training and assignments though. The Recruitment team planned several virtual networking events, including a mixology class, paint night, and a Cyber Sleuths exercise. The virtual social events helped the participants connect with fellow summer associates and attorneys through throughout the summer and resulted in some pretty funny moments.MoFo Chair Larren Nashelsky addressed the summers for one final virtual meeting, where he took questions from the group. He closed by noting that “No one expected this summer to turn out the way it did, so I was especially impressed by the professionalism, patience, and enthusiasm of this class. Our recruiting team went above and beyond to make sure this year’s program went off without a hitch. I thank each and every one of you who took part in the Summer Associate Program for your flexibility and positivity. It was certainly one to remember.”

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MoFo’s 2020 Summer Associate Program Is a Virtual Success

MoFo’s 2020 Summer Associate Program Is a Virtual Success

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On June 15, 2020, 126 talented law students representing 34 of the nation’s top law schools joined MoFo for the Summer Associate Program. Even though no one cou

One thing that struck me when I interviewed with Morrison & Foerster last year was the firm’s commitment to pro bono work. When I spoke to partner Colette Reiner Mayer during my interview, I was impressed to learn that MoFo had sued the government for inhumane conditions at an Arizona detention center in Doe v. Wolf. So, I was excited when we were given the chance to hear more about the case during the summer program.The Doe v. Wolf team described the appalling conditions in the center and showed us some shocking images unearthed during the case. They shared their stories from the case, including how they dealt with the destruction of video evidence and how everyone on the team fell ill with a bad flu right before trial. This was the first major lawsuit challenging conditions in detention centers, and its successful outcome paved the way for future litigation in other detention centers. From listening to this story, it was clear to me that MoFo attorneys can make a real difference with their pro bono work.Even the firm’s smaller pro bono projects can help the community and teach us how to be better lawyers and advocates. This summer, I worked on a conservatorship case for a local couple with a disabled child. The couple was seeking conservatorship to make medical decisions for their son, who has a learning disability. I was given the task of preparing the clients’ conservatorship application, with assistance from Palo Alto partner Rudy Kim and associate Albert Rugo.While on this case, I learned the most by observing Rudy and Albert during our client meetings. It stood out to me how well they were able to explain the application process and answer the clients’ questions. Watching them also showed me how important it is to view things from the clients’ perspective. Once, when I was reviewing a form with the client, I asked a series of questions about the client’s financial situation. Sensing some discomfort at these questions, the attorneys reassured the client that the court only considers these questions to get a fuller picture of their financial situation. Past financial hardship would not disqualify them from obtaining conservatorship. By anticipating the clients’ concerns and viewing it from their perspective, the attorneys were able to put the client at ease. This experience taught me that, no matter the size of the case, building rapport with clients and understanding their point of view is paramount to our work.From cases like Doe v. Wolf to smaller ones like the conservatorship, pro bono gives us the opportunity to develop our legal and interpersonal skills and give back to the community. I left my previous career as a software engineer in part because I wanted to help people more directly with legal skills rather than programming skills. Learning about the Pro Bono program was one of the highlights of my MoFo experience so far, and I know it will continue to be part of my life as an attorney.xxx<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kacynfujii/">Kacyn Fujii</a> is a Wetmore fellow in the Palo Alto office. She is a rising 2L at Michigan Law School interested in IP litigation. Kacyn got her M.S. in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University and her B.S. in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College. She likes to dabble in various instruments like melodica and ukulele (she bid on steel drum lessons in the Michigan Law auction for the next time she’s in Ann Arbor).

My MoFo Story: Kacyn Fujii on Exploring How MoFo’s Pro Bono Program Makes a Difference

My MoFo Story: Kacyn Fujii on Exploring How MoFo’s Pro Bono Program Makes a Difference

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One thing that struck me when I interviewed with Morrison & Foerster last year was the firm’s commitment to pro bono work. When I spoke to partner Colette Reine

Looking back on my time as a member of MoFo’s first-ever class of Boston summer associates, I’m amazed at and grateful for the meaningful opportunities I had to get involved with real work and learn from the firm’s talented attorneys on the job. Although the firm had to pivot to an all-remote program due to the pandemic, I felt welcome, known, and included from the get-go.After our first week of onboarding and initial trainings, Paresh Kumar, an associate from the Boston office, reached out asking if I might help him on an ongoing tax-related matter. He recalled that I’d mentioned an interest in tax on an office-wide welcome call and wanted to include me. I had taken a few tax classes and was enrolled in BU Law’s joint J.D./LL.M. in Taxation, but wasn’t sure how much help I could be. I scheduled some time to talk it over with Paresh and hoped for the best. A pro bono client of his was discussing its tax-exempt status with the IRS, and Paresh was advocating that the group’s activities did not disqualify it from exemption going forward.As it turned out, Paresh felt I could be of significant help. The client was important to him and, without tax-exempt status, it would struggle to continue its charitable, civil rights-related work. Helping this organization remain tax-exempt brought together Paresh’s interest in giving back, advocating for civil rights, and connecting with groups that are making positive changes in Boston. He asked for tax-related authority to support his position that the IRS had granted tax-exempt status to organizations in similar circumstances to our client.We had covered tax-exempt organizations in my federal income class for a few days, but I had never come across the specific issue Paresh had asked me to look into. He gave me full rein to investigate on my own. Soon enough, I found that taking some time to educate myself on the basic area of law and then drilling down into specific issues raised more questions than it answered. Unsure of whether to simply charge ahead, I instead scheduled a follow-up with Paresh. I knew he was busy, but I didn’t want to spin my wheels and then not be able to deliver some kind of answer to him.To my satisfaction, he was more than willing to hop on a FaceTime call, hear me out, and supply some additional background. It’s really helpful that MoFo is the kind of place that supports this approach to summer associate work. Even though I developed confidence in my ability to research and write for the firm’s attorneys throughout the summer, I never hesitated to reach out for clarification or to check in if I needed to. A request for more information or a quick clarification was never met with annoyance, and my work was never characterized as unimportant.Ultimately, the research I completed allowed Paresh to feel confident in supporting his position to the IRS. He drafted a letter that reflected the research I had done and included me in discussions with the client over next steps. Weeks of silence followed as the IRS considered the letter, so it came as a nice surprise that, on my last day as a summer associate, we learned that the client heard back from the IRS and had been granted tax-exempt status.The experience I had with Paresh repeated itself over and over throughout the summer. Initially, I got work from attorneys after reaching out to them and introducing myself. And, as my interest in tax became known, other attorneys reached out to me, enthusiastic about looping me in. Even when I missed the mark or an attorney needed me to look into further questions, the feedback was always given in the spirit of collegial encouragement. What struck me most was their desire not only to give me opportunities to do real work, but to share their expertise and welcome me into the firm as a colleague, albeit one with a lot to learn.This summer has been different and challenging for a variety of reasons, but my time as summer associate in MoFo’s newly opened Boston office has invigorated me. I’m leaving this summer feeling energized to return to school (remotely) and enthusiastic about rejoining the firm next year.xxx<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-brown-bulaw/">Kevin Brown</a> is a rising 3L at Boston University School of Law. Before coming to law school, he taught English literature and earned an M.A. from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English. Kevin is currently enrolled in in BU’s joint degree J.D./LL.M. in Taxation program and intends to focus his practice on federal taxation and financing transactions. He is an avid baker of bread, enjoys reading and writing poetry, and loves drawing and illustrating maps.

My MoFo Story: Kevin Brown on Helping an Important Pro Bono Client Gain Tax-Exempt Status

My MoFo Story: Kevin Brown on Helping an Important Pro Bono Client Gain Tax-Exempt Status

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Looking back on my time as a member of MoFo’s first-ever class of Boston summer associates, I’m amazed at and grateful for the meaningful opportunities I had to

While there were several engaging presentations throughout the MoFo Summer Program, the “Partner Pathways” presentation stood out as my favorite panel discussion. The panel included partners Alexis Amezcua, Jay Gavigan, Christin Hill, Mike Krigbaum, and Alex Yap, each of whom spoke about their individual paths to partnership.What I took away from this session was that there is no one path to making partner and that MoFo celebrates different backgrounds and skillsets. I particularly enjoyed hearing Mike talk about his experience as a corporate partner, as he was someone who recruited me during the on-campus interview process. Mike discussed the challenging nature of his work, which keeps him engaged and motivated. He also shared his insights on finding work-life balance, and how he values producing excellent work for his clients while also finding time to spend with his family.The presentation also highlighted MoFo’s commitment to advancing and supporting women’s paths to partnership, which is something that is important to me. It was really interesting to learn that Alexis was put up for partner while she was on maternity leave, and that the firm supported her when she took a sabbatical to travel with her family. Alexis also emphasized the importance of making long-lasting connections. She shared how a connection she made as a summer associate at MoFo led to her secondment at a major multinational technology company.Christin’s path to partnership was intriguing because she had about 10 years of experience under her belt before she joined the firm. She talked about how she feels fulfilled as a litigation partner at MoFo, where she is able to utilize her written and oral advocacy skills to the fullest extent. Like Mike, Christin emphasized that her work and the general environment at the firm keep her intellectually stimulated and energized. It was fun to hear about her passion for advocating on her clients’ behalf in the courtroom.Jay offered the perspective of someone who thought he knew exactly what type of law he wanted to practice as a young associate, but learned it was beneficial to try out different areas in order to find the practice that suit him best. He advised that the more lawyers can expose themselves to a variety of practice areas and industries, the more confident they will be in advising clients and meeting all their clients’ needs.Alex shared what it was like to take a hiatus from the firm to pursue a career as an administrative patent judge at the USPTO, and how he was able to apply the skills he learned from that experience to his career at MoFo, once he returned. During Alex’s time away from the firm, he built up his expertise in patent law, which greatly contributes and adds value to his current practice.Finally, some of the partners touched upon how to deal with Imposter Syndrome, which—as someone with a background in psychology—I found really fascinating. It was impactful to hear that even some of the most skilled and intelligent attorneys struggle with feeling inadequate at times. I was impressed by the partners’ willingness to be vulnerable and share more personal details. To combat Imposter Syndrome, several partners underscored the importance of surrounding yourself with people who support you, affirm you, and believe in you, and also finding time to reflect on how far you’ve come in your career.From this panel, I felt like I got to know each partner on a deeper level. I learned that every career path at MoFo looks different, but that the partners at the firm are united in their commitment to client service, to making a positive impact on the community, and to supporting one another.xxxHaley Paloutzian is a rising 3L at Santa Clara Law. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Haley is interested in corporate transactional work, particularly mergers and acquisitions. A fun fact about her is that she learned how to play chess during quarantine!

My MoFo Story: Haley Paloutzian on Learning There Is No Right or Wrong Way to Partnership, Only Your Way

My MoFo Story: Haley Paloutzian on Learning There Is No Right or Wrong Way to Partnership, Only Your Way

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While there were several engaging presentations throughout the MoFo Summer Program, the “Partner Pathways” presentation stood out as my favorite panel discussio

As part of Morrison & Foerster’s Summer Associate Program, I had the opportunity to work with Palo Alto partner Bryan Wilson and San Francisco associate Justin Fisch on a pro bono project involving the <a href="https://www.tuolumne.org/">Tuolumne River Trust</a> (TRT). The environmental advocacy organization seeks to protect and restore the Tuolumne River—which flows through Central California, from the High Sierra to the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley—and its watershed for present and future generations.Two dam licensing projects on the Tuolumne are of interest to the TRT: one for the Don Pedro Dam, the tenth tallest in the United States, and the second concerning the La Grange Dam; the two dams combined serve as a source of power, water, and recreation for the Central Valley region. In order to protect the river and its ecosystems, the dams must be licensed in cooperation with state and federal authorities. The current license for the Don Pedro Dam expired in April 2016 after 50 years, and the Irrigation Districts that own it are currently operating on a year-to-year renewal basis until a long-term license is granted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).A 2019 decision in Hoopa Valley Tribe v. FERC by the D.C. Circuit upended licensing procedures elsewhere in the state, and TRT wants to make sure that won’t happen on the Tuolumne. The court rejected a commonly used practice for working around the one-year statutory limit for state certification—withdrawal-and-resubmittal of applications—and found that California and Oregon had waived their water quality certification authority under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) by following this practice.Under Section 401 a federal agency can only approve a project that may result in a “discharge to the navigable waters” once the applicant has obtained water quality certifications from the affected state. However, in several recent cases, the states were determined to have waived their authority under section 401 by “failing or refusing to act on a request for certification, within a reasonable period of time (which shall not exceed one year) after receipt of such request.”The decision also created a cascade of problems for state and tribal certifying authorities, as well as environmental organizations, as states’ and tribes’ right to control water quality standards within their respective jurisdictions came into question. Many project applicants had asked FERC to waive the states’ abilities to condition water quality certification, as permitted under CWA section 401.I was tasked with understanding the differences between state action in denying water quality certification of dam projects and situations where project proponents’ requests for water quality certification were withdrawn and resubmitted to certifying agencies, similar to the situation in Hoopa Valley. I delved into the arguments in Hoopa Valley and the Clean Water Act’s legislative history to answer this narrow procedural question.In my research, I found that the Clean Water Act had two clear, specific intents. First, Congress designed section 401 to allow states to control the water quality of rivers within their own borders. Congress didn’t want to subvert state control. Second, Congress added the one-year limitation to prevent states that didn’t have clean water standards from delaying the federal licensing process. Congress did not implement the one-year limitation to prevent states with rigorous and exigent water quality standards, such as California, from denying applications that didn’t comply with that state’s water quality requirements and standards.I worked closely with Justin, an associate in the firm’s Environmental and Social Enterprise + Impact Investing Groups, to develop a memorandum for the client to deconstruct this complex and critical distinction. I spent my first week on the issue getting an understanding of the setup of the Hoopa Valley decision and the landscape of the Clean Water Act. Justin directed me to MoFo’s Library Services when I felt overwhelmed by the scale of the research. Robyn Bytheway, an incredible MoFo librarian, was able to find a cross-section of cases, legislative history, and State Water Board denials that I was able to work through.We also attended a strategy meeting between several water advocacy organizations, which impressed on me how serious this issue is for so many parties involved. Restricting states’ rights to control water quality within their own borders is only one of many recent federal decisions that weaken water quality protections that states have fought hard for decades to put in place. The Tuolumne River Trust was extremely encouraged by the memo I drafted for them. I’m confident that my work will be useful for the TRT and other water advocacy organizations in the coming months and years as organizations seek to ensure that relicensed dams and energy projects properly abide by state-level environmental standards throughout the remainder of their relicensed term (often 40–50 years into the future, in other words, generations).I have always been someone who cares deeply about the environment. This fall, I will be participating in the Columbia Environmental Law Clinic upon returning from my summer associate position to law school. When I begin my legal career full-time, I plan to practice as an intellectual property litigator. But one of the reasons I joined Morrison & Foerster this summer was for the opportunity to pursue an avid pro bono practice. Bryan, a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property Group, and Justin are perfect examples of how MoFo lawyers are working together to do important work. The combination of Justin’s experience in environmental and social impact law and Bryan’s conservation experience makes them powerful advocates for the Tuolumne River Trust and the environment in the state they call home. I look forward to returning to MoFo and continuing to moonlight as an environmental attorney, fighting for a clean environment.xxxIan Bennett is a rising 2L at Columbia Law School. He graduated on the Dean’s Honor List from McGill University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering. Ian is thrilled to be a part of Morrison & Foerster’s two-summer patent program for patent litigation at the Palo Alto office, as he plans to pursue a career as an IP litigator upon graduation. Fun fact: Ian is an enthusiastic hiker. He once snowshoed up Mt. Garibaldi during the winter and camped overnight as temperatures reached zero degrees.

My MoFo Story: Ian Bennett on Navigating the Path to Relicense Dams on the Tuolumne River

My MoFo Story: Ian Bennett on Navigating the Path to Relicense Dams on the Tuolumne River

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As part of Morrison & Foerster’s Summer Associate Program, I had the opportunity to work with Palo Alto partner Bryan Wilson and San Francisco associate Justin 

Early on in my career, I received a fantastic piece of advice from a former colleague: It’s ok not to know. What he meant was that, in the legal profession, we answer questions with varying levels of confidence, and it is important to convey how certain you are when answering a question. For example, if you’re asked to write a research memo on whether a party has standing in a particular matter, the answer isn’t always a simple “yes” or “no.” It’s important to explain where the answer falls on a spectrum of certainty, and why you reached that particular conclusion.It is lessons like this that will stick with me throughout my career and I’m grateful to have come away from MoFo’s Summer Program with some new important nuggets of wisdom. Each week of the program dealt with a different theme, but I found that the fifth week on “Networking and Building Client Relationships” helped me clarify what I know and what I don’t about what I would like to do in my career. In particular, the Summer Program hosted an alumni panel with four former MoFo lawyers who have since moved on to jobs at other organizations.What I found particularly helpful about this panel was that each attorney had a different experience when it came to developing within their current practice area. One attorney, who had done mostly intellectual property work during their early years of practice, wound up shifting her practice to focus more on contractual disputes. Another entered the firm with the broad notion that he wanted to do litigation, and quickly found that he fit well in the antitrust group. Another joined the firm as a lateral, but had worked in the same practice area for his entire career.What I took away from this discussion is that some associates enter the firm with one interest and continue in that practice for the rest of their careers, while others change paths, or find their path when they get to MoFo. Another benefit of hearing from MoFo alumni is that I was reminded that there are some really great opportunities outside of the firm as well, and that no matter which route you choose, you will be supported by the firm. Until this panel, I wasn’t aware of the existence of a few of the potential positions I could take on.One of the main things I took away from this summer experience is that I am not destined for success as a bartender, thanks to our Summer Program’s virtual mixology event. Another is that there numerous paths you can take within your career at MoFo. While I found the alumni panel to be particularly useful, our class had a number of opportunities to interact with lawyers from a variety of practice areas. In the D.C. office, we heard from almost all of the office’s practice groups, and all of the partners and associates we engaged with were open to answering whatever questions we had. While many of my interests remained constant over the course of the summer, the program showed me how those interests can be applied to a number of potential areas.xxx<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejamesdionne/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">James Dionne</a> is a rising 3L at the University of Virginia School of Law and attended Harvard for his undergrad years. He is a first-year summer at MoFo who is interested in litigation and also hopes to explore work in the National Security, SLEW, and Privacy Practices. He’s been to 15 baseball stadiums with his dad and hopes to get to all 30; a project that is currently on hold.

My MoFo Story: James Dionne on Gaining a New Perspective on Career Path Possibilities

My MoFo Story: James Dionne on Gaining a New Perspective on Career Path Possibilities

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Early on in my career, I received a fantastic piece of advice from a former colleague: It’s ok not to know. What he meant was that, in the legal profession, we 

Before Morrison & Foerster’s 2020 summer associate program began, I expected my pro bono work would consist of small assignments that were simply pieces of larger projects, mostly managed by the lawyers. I was happily surprised when I was given the opportunity to be part of a robust, multi-dimensional project that not only allowed me to take full ownership of the final product, but also challenged me to step up my written, oral, and visual communication skills.Under the supervision of associates Amy Larsen and Jonathan Babcock, I worked with fellow summer associates Rachel Gallagher and Rachael Hanna to research election procedures in all fifty states. We then drafted a written report detailing our findings and presented it to long-time MoFo pro bono client, the <a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brennan Center for Justice</a>. Amy and Jonathan, along with associate Lyle Hedgecock and partner David Newman, have been working with the Brennan Center for Justice on a number of projects focused on ensuring the security of the 2020 U.S. elections.As an independent, nonpartisan law and policy organization, the Brennan Center works to uphold our country’s systems of democracy and justice. Given the importance of ensuring fair and free elections in November 2020 and beyond, our team took a deep dive into the post-election audit procedures used by all fifty states.The goal of post-election audits is to ensure that voting systems have correctly recorded the votes cast by checking voting equipment and vote-counting procedures for accuracy. Audits typically involve comparing a sample of paper ballots or voting records with results produced by an electronic voting system. Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia currently perform some kind of post-election audit. However, when it comes to discrepancies uncovered by the audits, states’ actions vary significantly — an audit-identified discrepancy in some states may lead to a full recount, while in other states a discrepancy leads to no action at all. Our goal was to identify these differences and find common threads, particularly among states that use percentage discrepancy margins to trigger an expanded audit.Conducting the Research Our team began the research by examining state statutes, election manuals, and other online resources. Creating a full and accurate report, however, required that we directly contact state election officials and agencies, which entailed numerous emails and phone calls over the course of several days. The process of tracking down the needed information required our team to think quickly to articulate the aim of the project, convey the information we hoped to gather, and answer questions from very busy election administrators. This original research required a proactive approach, and with each phone call my confidence in speaking as the project’s representative grew.Preparing the Report As the three summer associates compared our research, we decided to categorize states using three broad questions:(1) Is there a post-election audit?(2) If yes, is there a discrepancy margin that may lead to some further action?(3) If yes, what type of action is triggered when that threshold is met?We then developed nine additional categories based on these qualifiers, placing each state in one of these groups. Although synthesizing such a broad data set was initially challenging, our team was able to design a comprehensive report that both addressed the client’s needs and provided valuable context. The breadth of this project and volume of information involved required us to balance creating a complete product while maintaining conciseness and clarity — a critical skill as we prepare for practice.Presenting Our FindingsWe presented our findings to the Brennan Center through a video meeting during the final week of the summer associate program. I did not expect the opportunity to interact directly with a client as a summer associate—and certainly could not have imagined the opportunity to directly present findings on behalf of a team in a live meeting. Beyond providing valuable, specific feedback on both our slide deck and verbal presentation, our associate supervisors gave us complete autonomy over the presentation itself. Over the course of forty-five minutes, our team of three summer associates discussed the variation among state post-election audit systems and answered the client’s questions. After the presentation, the team discussed how we could build upon our existing report to respond to specific areas of interest that the client expressed during the meeting. It was an excellent exercise in shaping a final product to meet the client’s needs.ConclusionDue in part to the post-election audit procedures project, I am leaving the summer associate program feeling more prepared to practice than when I entered. Each phase of the project — the research, the creation of the report, and the presentation — challenged me in a different area of legal practice. Further, MoFo’s demonstrated commitment to elections and voting rights is more important now than ever before. As a former middle school teacher, I believe deeply in the power of civic engagement and education. A key factor in motivating young people to vote is assuring them that their votes will count, and post-election audits have the power to do just that. This project gave me the opportunity to be a small part of working toward the greater goal of ensuring free and fair elections in all fifty states.xxx<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-smith-a36b07196/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Megan Smith</a> is a rising 3L at Georgetown University Law Center and is a Litigation summer associate in MoFo’s Washington, D.C. office. She graduated from the University of Alabama in 2016 with a B.S. in economics and a B.A. in political science. Before law school, Megan was a middle school math teacher in the Mississippi Delta and she currently volunteers for Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, a nonprofit that encourages young people to lead lives dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation.

My MoFo Story: Megan Smith on Building Legal Practice Skills Through State Survey of Election Audits

My MoFo Story: Megan Smith on Building Legal Practice Skills Through State Survey of Election Audits

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Before Morrison & Foerster’s 2020 summer associate program began, I expected my pro bono work would consist of small assignments that were simply pieces of larg

MoFo is proud to continue its support of <a href="http://www.willinghearts.org.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Willing Hearts</a>, a Singapore charity that provides 6,500 meals and other services to low-income families, the elderly, and migrant workers in over 40 locations island-wide each day of the year.On Wednesday, January 8, 2020, MoFo lawyers and staff from our <a href="https://www.mofo.com/offices/singapore.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Singapore office</a> joined the volunteer team that runs the charity’s central soup kitchen. They spent a fulfilling day helping to prepare ingredients, cook, pack, and deliver nutritious meals to those who need them most.The volunteers also enjoyed a delicious team lunch at the APSN Café for All next door, which is run by trainees from the Association for Persons with Special Needs. This inspirational social enterprise gives adults with special needs a supportive environment in which they learn to prepare, cook, and serve food to customers. The aim is to help them assimilate into society by finding jobs in regular cafes and restaurants.<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4400" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt60034badc0384a47/6287fd836f81705517a1c9b1/dsc6101-scaled.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" width="2560" height="1707" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">From L-R: Jeanne Giam, Chia Koon Hong, Ang Lip Kian, Champ Charernthamanont, Liz Russell,  David Hambrick, Craig Celniker<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4401" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltf931bddf5fe2ba0d/6287fd843b65ce548fba0e8b/dsc6188-scaled.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" width="2560" height="1707" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">From L-R: Daniel Steel, Per Lindberg, Jeanne Giam<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4406" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blta395cac8c3ad913e/6287fd850457495358474dc9/22_dsc6308.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" width="2500" height="1668" sizes="(max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">From L-R: Charlyn Lim, Elaine Zhou, Paul Davis, Erica Chan, Chia Koon Hong, Gillian Teo, Nick Davies<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4403" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltd9b72aae2110ed37/6287fd8630bc9653db3ac3d9/dsc6089-scaled.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" width="2560" height="1709" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">From L-R: Tracy Forster, Chun Ting Ting, Jason Nelms, Jessie Tan, Chia Koon Hong<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4408" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt0429a22de4be88a6/6287fd8ab385dc535242694b/23_dsc6283.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" width="2500" height="1666" sizes="(max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">Front Row (L-R): Sheryl George, Daniel Levison, Jake Robson, Hong Cheong Wong, Paul Davis    Back Row (L-R): Charlyn Lim, Nick Davies, Elaine Zhou, Gillian Teo, Erica Chan, Jenny Xu, Bernadette Lee, Fiona Goh, Chia Koon Hong, Jeanne Giam

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MoFo Singapore Office Gives Back with Day of Service

MoFo Singapore Office Gives Back with Day of Service

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MoFo is proud to continue its support of Willing Hearts, a Singapore charity that provides 6,500 meals and other services to low-income families, the elderly, a