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

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

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Senior Pro Bono Counsel

Staff

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

Jennifer K. Brown

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

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Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

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

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

Natalie Kernisant

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

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Pro Bono Counsel

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

Dorothy L. Fernandez

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

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

Rachel P. Williams

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

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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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On Wednesday, April 24, 2019, MoFo hosted a WE Legal pro bono legal clinic for entrepreneurs, sponsored by <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://we.nyc/">Women Entrepreneurs NYC</a> (WE NYC), an initiative created by the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www1.nyc.gov/site/sbs/index.page">New York City Department of Small Business Services</a> to help women start and grow their businesses. WE Legal clinics offer entrepreneurs one-on-one, free legal advice across the five boroughs of New York City in multiple languages.MoFo partners Ron Aizen, Tracy Bacigalupo, Dario de Martino, and Spencer Klein—with the support of eight corporate, finance, and tax associates—met with clients for one-hour sessions to address their particular business legal needs. The clients submitted legal questions before the meetings, and MoFo lawyers provided helpful advice regarding their biggest business concerns, such as whether to incorporate, how to choose a corporate structure, preparing contracts, and understanding sales tax obligations.“The entrepreneurs we met were very savvy,” recalls Tracy. “However, much of their legal information was derived from Google searches which can often be misapplied, much to a business owner’s legal detriment. We were able to unravel applicable legal issues and to help steer these entities into a better direction.”Clinics like WE Legal are designed to help entrepreneurs start, operate, and grow their businesses. The clients who attended the MoFo event represented a wide range of industries, from event planning and professional consulting to wellness services, equipment maintenance and safety, home health care, travel planning, e-commerce, and more. Although the main mission of the program is to increase the number of women entrepreneurs in NYC, it supports both women and minority-owned businesses, from pre-startup through early operating years.MoFo’s pro bono team is proud to take part in important initiatives, like WE NYC, that empower women and diverse entrepreneurs by providing access to the right resources to start and grow their businesses.For more information about WE NYC, visit: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://we.nyc/we-legal/">https://we.nyc/we-legal/</a>.<img sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" height="500" width="685" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt258c90ad81c3898c/6287fe7d6f81705517a1c9ef/img_0335-e1556732335943-1024x747.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="aligncenter wp-image-3706 size-large" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">Visiting International Finance Attorney Sophie Jensen<img sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" height="457" width="685" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltca5a4ebd1507f46d/6287fe7d3b65ce548fba0ed5/img_0338-1024x683.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="aligncenter wp-image-3707 size-large" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">Corporate Associate Jenny Wang<img sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" height="457" width="685" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt21b2a8f1fe6ba4ac/6287fe7e0457495358474e15/img_0340-1024x683.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="aligncenter wp-image-3708 size-large" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">Corporate Associate Ryan Farha<img sizes="(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px" height="457" width="685" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt7022cb52e9e0a4fd/6287fe7e3b65ce548fba0ed9/img_0341-1024x683.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="aligncenter wp-image-3709 size-large" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">Tax Partner Ron Aizen and Corporate Partner Spencer Klein

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Providing Pro Bono Legal Advice to NYC Entrepreneurs

Providing Pro Bono Legal Advice to NYC Entrepreneurs

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On Wednesday, April 24, 2019, MoFo hosted a WE Legal pro bono legal clinic for entrepreneurs, sponsored by Women Entrepreneurs NYC (WE NYC), an initiative creat

MoFo pro bono lawyers, along with organizations like the <a href="https://equalrightscenter.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Equal Rights Center</a> (ERC) and the <a href="https://www.washlaw.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs</a> (WLC), are trying to put an end to housing discrimination in all its forms. They are fighting on behalf of tenants seeking necessary repairs, holding landlords responsible for housing code violations, protecting low-income families from unlawful eviction, and assisting subsidy recipients with securing safe and affordable housing.In October 2018, a MoFo pro bono team—led by senior counsel <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/g-brian-busey.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brian Busey</a> and associate Timothy Gallivan, along with co-counsel from the WLC—were successful in winning a motion for summary judgment on behalf of the ERC in its housing discrimination claim against Belmont Crossing Apartments, LLC and Oakmont Management Group, LLC (“Defendants”).  The claim was based on Defendants’ refusal to allow prospective tenants to use temporary subsidies for rent and security deposit payments.The <a href="https://ohr.dc.gov/protectedtraits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">District of Columbia Human Rights Act</a> (DCHRA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of “source of income.” Temporary subsidies are one source of income that individuals rely on to pay for housing costs and, for many who receive them, are a means to avoid homelessness. One such temporary subsidy is the <a href="https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/index.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Supportive Services for Veteran Families</a> (SSVF), which assists low-income veterans and their families in seeking safe and affordable housing. In a city like D.C.—where the rate of homelessness is more than double what it is in many major U.S. cities—subsidies like SSVF are critically important.Defendants previously stated to an ERC tester and a Housing Counseling Services employee that they did not accept temporary subsidies, including SSVF, and argued that the policy was motivated by business interests, not discriminatory animus. Washington, D.C. Superior Court Judge John Campbell ruled the management companies’ policies were in direct violation of the D.C. Human Rights Act, D.C. Code § 2.1401.01, et seq. and noted that “the Defendants’ motive is irrelevant ‘when a policy is discriminatory on its face.’”Judge Campbell’s ruling cited guidance issued by the D.C. Office of Human Rights in 2016 stating that “short term rental subsidies” are a protected source of income under the DCHRA. Judge Campbell found that “[t]here is no rational argument . . . that the [DCHRA] would explicitly include Section 8 vouchers, yet not cover other kinds of housing vouchers or housing subsidies.” Judge Campbell also ruled that vouchers, regardless of their source or duration, are to be treated as a source of income that is protected from discrimination pursuant to the DCHRA.Brian Busey summarized the importance of the case, noting that “ensuring housing access for everyone is critical to safeguarding human rights in the District of Columbia. Judge Campbell’s ruling that temporary subsidies and short-term vouchers must be accepted as forms of rental payments and security deposits is an important step towards reducing homelessness and ensuring individuals and families are not barred from housing opportunities by discrimination.”In resolving the suit, both parties entered into a consent agreement and injunction, requiring that: (1) the Defendants cease discriminatory practices on future tenants based on source of income, (2) signage must be displayed on all of the Defendants’ D.C. properties, notifying prospective tenants that they accept short-term vouchers/temporary subsidies as payment for all or part of rental fees, and (3) the Defendants pay monetary remedies in the amount of $310,000 to the ERC to cover all damages and attorneys’ fees.Read more about the ERC and the case decision<a href="https://equalrightscenter.org/source-of-income-subsidies-judgment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> here</a>.

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MoFo Takes a Stand Against Housing Discrimination

MoFo Takes a Stand Against Housing Discrimination

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In October 2018, a MoFo pro bono team—led by senior counsel Brian Busey and associate Timothy Gallivan, along with co-counsel from the WLC—were successful in wi

The latest edition of MoProBono, titled “Women’s Advocacy in Action,” honors Women’s History Month by highlighting the many efforts our lawyers have made towards the advancement of women and women’s rights.Over the last year, our lawyers have assisted over 100 clients and clocked over 12,500 hours towards women’s-related pro bono work. Their dedication to making the world a better place for women and girls has put them front-and-center in advocating for women’s reproductive rights and care, building services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, and advancing women’s labor and education rights.Read the latest issue of MoProBono <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/assets/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltb223a5eb8bb19b29/62730d7923c6cf2a1c3af28b/190300-moprobono-womens-edition.pdf">here</a>.

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MoProBono: Women’s Advocacy in Action

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The latest edition of MoProBono, titled “Women’s Advocacy in Action,” honors Women’s History Month by highlighting the many efforts our lawyers have made toward

MoProBono: Women’s Advocacy in Action

When MoFo general counsel <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/douglas-hendricks.html">Doug Hendricks</a> and associate Melissa Perez received the call in mid–December to assist a Honduran border detainee named Yeimi, who had been separated from her two daughters for two months, they were eager to help. On February 1, 2019, Yeimi was released from immigration custody and reunited with her girls on February 8, 2019, after four months apart and just one day after her daughter’s fifth birthday. The family is now staying together in El Paso while she awaits the adjudication of her immigration application.The announcement was made on Monday, February 11, during a press conference held at <a href="https://annunciationhouse.org/about/" target="_blank">Annunciation House</a>, an  El Paso–based nonprofit focused on sheltering immigrants released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Just as President Trump was touching down in El Paso for his border wall rally, the press conference on <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://annunciationhouse.org/">Truthful Border Narratives</a> was delivering a <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/current/a-message-from-migrants-to-donald-trump-on-the-occasion-of-his-visit-to-el-paso">clear message</a> that refugees are not criminals, shedding light on why immigrants like Yeimi are risking their lives to cross the border.During the conference, Yeimi fought back tears avowing, “If I had to do it all over again I’d do it again because it was for the wellbeing of my daughters. It’s my responsibility to fight for my daughters. I’m going to fight for my daughters no matter what happens.”Yeimi had been living in the United States with her daughters before she was deported back to Honduras — one of the most crime–ridden countries in the world — where she and her daughters faced extreme levels of violence. When she decided to return with her daughters, she was apprehended by ICE Border Patrol agents near El Paso, Texas in mid–October 2018. Her daughters were just three and four years old at the time.Once she was placed in ICE detention, Yeimi had to wait an entire month before speaking to her daughters, who were placed in the foster care system, and then was only allowed to see them for an hour a week. “It is emotionally challenging to work with a client who has been separated from her children,” says Melissa. “Not only do you have to ask them to relive the worst moments of their life, but you have to ask them to rehash these moments over and over. [Yeimi] fought through tears and trauma to share her story but remained strong for her daughters.”Because of her prior deportation, Yeimi cannot seek asylum here. Rather, she is applying for withholding of removal under the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which will protect her from being deported if she can prove there is more than a 50% chance that she will experience persecution in her home country. Unlike full asylum, a withholding of removal order does not open a path to U.S. citizenship. Nonetheless, it would allow Yeimi to raise her U.S. citizen children here.After failing to convince ICE to release Yeimi from detention on humanitarian grounds, the team brought a writ of habeas corpus in the Western District of Texas. That proceeding eventually led to Yeimi’s release, which occurred on the day the government had been ordered to respond to the habeas petition, ICE apparently having decided that it was easier to release her than to attempt to justify her further detention to Judge Guaderrama.But Yeimi’s release from detention was only one of the steps required to reunite her with her children. The children had been taken into the Texas foster care system, and an order from a state judge was required to release them to their mother. “Due to the fact that Yeimi’s daughters were in the foster care system under the state’s authority and that she was in federal custody, it really required a team effort between us [MoFo] and the local team on the ground in El Paso,” notes Doug.The team that worked together to help Yeimi win release from the detention center and reunite her with her daughters included Layne Hilton of Kanner & Whiteley, Taylor Levy of Annunciation House, and solo practitioners Amy Maldonado and Eduardo Beckett.Melissa, who grew up in a mixed–status family noted, “Immigrant rights issues have always been personal for me. Fortunately, this is an issue MoFo also cares about, which meant that the firm was happy to leverage its resources and do everything within its power to help reunite our client with her children.”Ever since MoFo chair Larren Nashelsky signed a pledge to join 34 other law firms in reunifying migrant families and ensuring representation for asylum seekers, the firm has devoted impressive resources to this mission. In addition to helping families suffering separations at the border, MoFo lawyers are fighting to combat horrific conditions at detention centers, counseling detainees in preparation for their credible fear interviews, representing children seeking release from detention, and representing individuals seeking asylum. As the immigration enforcement crisis continues, MoFo attorneys are writing a new chapter in the ongoing story of our pro bono assistance to immigrants.Learn more about MoFo’s pro bono commitments in the latest edition of <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/assets/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt1371a481dba60e56/627311850d4d8e1d7f10f106/moprobono-fall-2018.pdf">MoProBono</a>.

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MoFo Answers an Urgent Call from the Border, Resulting in an Emotional Reunion

MoFo Answers an Urgent Call from the Border, Resulting in an Emotional Reunion

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When MoFo general counsel Doug Hendricks and associate Melissa Perez received the call in mid–December to assist a Honduran border detainee named Yeimi, who had

From rising temperatures to rising sea levels and the reduction of valuable natural resources, climate change is one of the most critical challenges our planet is facing this century.MoFo joined the effort to address climate change as one of the founding members of <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://law.stanford.edu/environmental-and-natural-resources-law-policy-program-enrlp/lawyers-for-a-sustainable-economy/">Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy</a> (LSE), pledging $2 million in pro bono legal services to organizations focused on bringing to scale new approaches to building a more sustainable global economy.Members of the firm, including San Francisco partner <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/susan-mac-cormac.html">Suz Mac Cormac</a>, attended the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.globalclimateactionsummit.org/">Global Climate Action Summit</a> in San Francisco last year, where the LSE initiative was first formed. Originally consisting of nine major law firms, the initiative has since announced that three additional firms have joined, bringing the total amount of free legal services committed to $19.5 million through 2020.<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://law.stanford.edu/">Stanford Law School</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://energy.stanford.edu/">Stanford’s Precourt Institute for Energy</a>, which are managing and tracking the effort’s impact, have also announced a new website, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/qCtdC73WYMuXK0EZsWF0HY">lawyersforsustainability.com</a>, where clients can go to request pro bono help from LSE firms. The website also references <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/e537e8d6-e77e-11e8-8827-ff56e7163c11">the firm’s work with The Carbon Endowment </a>(TCE), a nonprofit partnership designed to retire coal deposits responsibly while alleviating the disadvantages to communities dependent on the coal mining industry.As chair of the firm’s Social Enterprise + Impact Investing, Energy, and Clean Technology Groups, Suz has been a powerful force in driving our pledge to sustainability forward. Most recently, her work advising on the structure and launch of TCE earned her a commendation in the Financial Times 2018 Innovative Lawyers Report category, “<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://ig.ft.com/special-reports/innovative-lawyers/2018/north-america/enabling-business-growth">Enabling Business Growth and Transformation</a>.” It also contributed to the firm’s high overall ranking for “<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://ig.ft.com/special-reports/innovative-lawyers/2018/north-america/most-innovative-law-firms-for-legal-expertise">Most Innovative Law Firms 2018: Legal Expertise</a>” — moving up four spots from last year.In partnership with <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/">The Nature Conservancy</a>’s impact investment unit, NatureVest, TCE’s goal is to reduce carbon dioxide emissons by acquiring fossil fuel rights from ecologically abundant landscapes, restoring fossil-depleted land and water, and supporting communities adversely affected by the clean energy transition.Suz, along with of counsel Shannen Naegel and associate Ben Fox, assisted TCE’s founders in securing 501(c)(3) status, applying for and receiving a federal tax exemption, and developing the “hybrid” dual-entity nonprofit/for-profit structure necessary to further its mission.Working with partners and philanthropic donors, TCE will be able to gain control over coal reserves held by mineral owners, identify divestments from endowments and other asset managers, and secure donations from coal company bankruptcy settlements or private mineral owners. In addition, the new organizational structure will allow TCE to partner with charitable organizations in implementing workforce development programs and seeking new investment opportunities in renewable solar and wind energy projects to create new jobs in affected communities.Suz and her team also assisted TCE in a deal with Chugach Alaska Corporation regarding the sale of its Bering River coal rights to New Forests, which retired those rights while generating revenue through the California cap-and-trade carbon market. The sale and retirement of this Alaskan coal field will not only secure long-term income for the community and protect an environmentally significant location, it is also projected to prevent over 152 million tons of CO2 emissions and leave 65 tons of coal in the ground.Suz has extensive experience representing a number of clients, from startup to late-stage companies, in the clean technology, renewable energy, and sustainable space. Other nonprofits she’s advised include The Nature Conservancy, Common Sense Media, the Earth Genome Project, CREO Syndicate, Toniic, Pacific Community Ventures, and Year Up. She was named California Attorney of the Year by California Lawyer in 2012 for driving effective legislative change as co-chair of the Working Group for the Flexible Purpose Corporation, and again in 2016 for her innovative work in impact investing, sustainability, and corporate form.She is a founding board member of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, as well as a member of the board of directors of Business for Social Responsibility, the Ceres President’s Council, and the board of directors of the Earth Genome Project. In addition, Suz teaches the next generation of corporate counsel about sustainability and social enterprise at Stanford Director’s College and the Northwestern Corporate Counsel Institute, and is an adjunct professor at UC Berkeley School of Law.Read more about the Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy initiative <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://law.stanford.edu/press/stanford-law-school-and-stanford-precourt-institute-for-energy-accelerate-19-5-million-environmental-pro-bono-initiative-with-12-leading-law-firms-and-corporate-partners/">here</a>.

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Kudos to Suz Mac Cormac on Her Commitment to Addressing Climate Change

Kudos to Suz Mac Cormac on Her Commitment to Addressing Climate Change

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As chair of the firm’s Social Enterprise + Impact Investing, Energy, and Clean Technology Groups, Suz has been a powerful force in driving our pledge to sustain

As immigration policies continue to make headlines, a team of MoFo lawyers have focused their efforts squarely on one mission—giving a voice to those individuals and families who are currently being detained in deplorable conditions at United States Border Patrol detention centers. This year, we are particularly honored to have been presented with an MLK Award for Civil Rights Advocacy by The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCR).During the organization’s 32nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Dinner, MoFo was presented with the Father Cuchulain Moriarty Award, for our firm’s ongoing work challenging inhumane conditions in border detention centers, in partnership with the LCCR, the ACLU of Arizona, the National Immigration Law Center, and the American Immigration Council. MoFo lawyers Colette Reiner Mayer, Louise Stoupe, Elizabeth Balassone, and Pieter de Ganon, along with senior paralegals Anne LePore and Gary Stenger, were recognized for their ongoing pro bono efforts and human rights advocacy.The event also featured a keynote speech given by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), whose recent visits to the U.S.-Mexico border have shed additional light on Border Patrol abuses.“We are honored to be recognized by LCCR for the team’s work challenging the appalling conditions for immigrants in Border Patrol detention facilities. Now more than ever, it is important for all of us to do what we can to ensure that those who cross the border seeking refuge are not detained in facilities that violate basic constitutional standards,” said MoFo Partner Colette Reiner Mayer.“For over 50 years, LCCR clients and pro bono partners have walked together to protect and advance civil rights,” said Monika Kalra Varma, LCCR Executive Director. “We are deeply inspired by the passion and ever growing commitment of our partners to this work – particularly at this moment in our country when there are daily assaults on racial, immigrant, and economic justice.”Founded in 1968, LCCR of the San Francisco Bay Area is a nonprofit working to protect and promote the rights of people of color, immigrants, and low-income people in California. With the help of a strong pro bono attorney network, the organization provides free legal aid to impacted communities, engages in impact litigation, and advocates for policy change on three main issue areas: Immigrant, Racial, and Economic Justice.<img height="458" width="685" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltf55ec445dc82b238/6287fecc0457495358474e3d/lccrr-2019-grand-hyatt-0567-1024x684.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="aligncenter wp-image-3420 size-large" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">From left to right: LCCR Executive Director Monika Kalra Varma, Esq., Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and MoFo Partner and LCCR Board Member Diana Kruze enjoy a moment together during the MLK Awards ceremony.–  Photos by <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="http://www.bobhsiangphoto.com/index.html">Bob Hsiang Photography </a>–

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MoFo’s Pro Bono Team Receives MLK Award for Civil Rights Advocacy

MoFo’s Pro Bono Team Receives MLK Award for Civil Rights Advocacy

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As immigration policies continue to make headlines, a team of MoFo lawyers have focused their efforts squarely on one mission—giving a voice to those individual

On Wednesday, January 16, 2019, federal Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim ordered the Rohnert Park police department to retrain its officers on the proper methods and laws regarding probation searches. This significant ruling stems from a previous decision that held three of the city’s officers responsible for violating the rights of the Barajas family.After police officers from the City of Rohnert Park in California came to Elva and Raul Barajas’ home in November 2014, the family filed a civil suit alleging that the officers conducted an unlawful search of their home despite the “search condition” of their son Edgar Perez’ probation. The case — led by MoFo Commercial Litigation and Trial Practice Group chair <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/arturo-gonzalez.html">Arturo González</a> and litigation partners <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/alexis-amezcua.html">Alexis Amezcua</a> and <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/caitlin-blythe.html">Caitlin Blythe</a> — was based on allegations that Rohnert Park police officers Jacy Tatum, David Rodriguez, and Matthew Snodgrass conducted a ‘suspicionless’ search of the family’s home while seeking out their son.Despite the officers’ lack of a search warrant and the couple stating their son wasn’t home, police officers entered the home without the consent of the Barajas’. One officer entered through a back door with his gun drawn while the other officers were still at the front door seeking permission to enter.In a time of heightened awareness of and resistance to racial profiling by police officers, the Barajas family fought to make sure they didn’t become another statistic. “We brought this lawsuit to help other families,” said plaintiff Raul. “We hope things will change, and that law enforcement officers will respect the rights of all families in our community.”On November 1, 2018, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, a jury determined that the officers entered the home unreasonably under the U.S. and California constitutions. The jury awarded total damages of $75,000 to the Barajas’, and $70,000 in punitive damages against Jacy Tatum, the officer who entered through the back door with his gun drawn.At the end of the day, the decision had everything to do with the family’s rights in their own home. “The jury understood that parents do not forfeit their constitutional rights simply because their child is on probation,” said Alexis.The evidence in the case showing that the Rohnert Police Department engaged in widespread constitutional violations when conducting probation searches led MoFo’s team to file an injunction to stop the department from conducting further illegal searches. The court granted the injunction requiring the police department to adopt a policy governing “probation searches” and to train its officers in the policy.Injunctive relief was deemed necessary by the Court because the testimony given at the trial made it clear that the Defendants believed they did nothing wrong and had no plans to change their practices or provide additional training to officers.Alexis noted that the purpose of the injunction was to bar “defendants from barging into families’ homes simply because one of the residents is on probation,” and added, “We realize that searching probationers is important, but it can be done in a way that respects the rights of other people who live in the home.”Of the decision, Arturo stated, “This is a fantastic order. It’s essentially what we’ve been asking for since the day we filed [the lawsuit]. All this family ever wanted was for the officers and the City to get training. For reasons I don’t understand, the City has been resistant, and now the judge has ordered them to do so.”

From Unlawful Search to Injunctive Relief

From Unlawful Search to Injunctive Relief

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On Wednesday, January 16, 2019, federal Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim ordered the Rohnert Park police department to retrain its officers on the proper methods and

Jana Gold and Leecia Welch may have moved on from MoFo, but they haven’t forgotten the valuable learning experiences they had while they practiced here. In the winter 2019 edition of <a href="https://media.mofo.com/docs/pdf/MoForever-Alumni-News-Winter-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MoForever</a>, both women discuss how their experiences and the support they received at MoFo advanced their careers.Former Palo Alto of counsel Jana Gold is using the analytical and issue-spotting skills she developed at MoFo to improve the lives of healthcare patients relying on access to drugs and treatments. As associate general counsel for<a href="https://www.jazzpharma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Jazz Pharmaceuticals</a>, she is helping to navigate the many risks and complexities associated with the heavily regulated pharmaceutical industry, such as regulatory disputes and government investigations.Jana points out that “The biggest difference between being an outside litigator and an in-house lawyer is that when you are part of the company, you hope to manage and avoid the risk of those things happening. It helps to work for a company where integrity and collaboration are some of the core values that define the work and the people.”She admits there was a steep learning curve in transforming from a generalist IP and commercial litigator to the complex world of pharmaceutical law. But she credits her litigation experiences at MoFo with being able to meet the challenge, since every new case was a new opportunity to learn and understand each client’s technology. “It’s true, I was mostly on the IP side of the Litigation Department—patents and later trade-secrets cases—but in a wide range of industries and areas. And I also did a lot of commercial disputes and even some securities work,” recalls Jana. “All of that gave me a fair amount of flexibility—and confidence that when a new opportunity came up I would be able to jump in.”Jana joined MoFo out of law school as an associate and later served in an of counsel role and—aside from a couple of breaks including maternity leave and a leave of absence—was with the firm for 20 years.MoFo alumna Leecia Welch is using her litigation experience to transform the lives of children living in extreme poverty by improving child welfare policies. Now senior director of child welfare and legal advocacy with the <a href="https://youthlaw.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Center for Youth Law</a> (NCYL), Leecia joins MoFo partner <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/jack-londen.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jack Londen</a>, who serves on NCYL’s board of directors, and fellow MoFo alum and present-day NCYL senior director for strategic advocacy Seth Galanter in driving forward the organization’s long-standing mission to improve the system of care that thousands of children depend on.Founded in 1970, NCYL is one of the only legal advocacy organizations in the country that mobilizes such broad-scale litigation efforts to address system-wide change. For Leecia, it’s personal. The daughter of a social worker, she has witnessed firsthand what can happen to children who “get lost in the system” due to a lack of protection and limited opportunities to thrive.Leecia decided to pursue a legal career in children’s advocacy and completed a three-year children’s fellowship at Loyola Law School. During her time at MoFo as an associate in the San Francisco Litigation Group, Leecia gained significant experience working on landmark pro bono cases such as <a href="https://www.aclusocal.org/en/cases/williams-v-state-California" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Williams v. State of California</a>, which resulted in a settlement of nearly $1 billion that was allocated to improving California’s public school system.Leecia noted that during her time at MoFo, she saw firsthand the commitment to client-focused advocacy. “A big takeaway for me from the Williams case was the importance of amplifying the voices of our clients,” said Leecia. “When people hear directly from youth about their challenges, struggles, hopes, and dreams, it has a much greater impact than just having their lawyer talk and make legal arguments.”At NCYL, Leecia is handling a mix of litigation matters, from individual cases with the potential to make broad impacts to complex, system-altering class actions. Just after leaving MoFo, she had the chance to partner with MoFo pro bono attorneys on one of her first and most memorable cases, an impact litigation case filed in 1993 in Utah called David C. According to Leecia, their collaborative efforts “turned Utah from one of the worst child-welfare systems in the country to one of the best.”Leecia and NCYL are also focused on helping immigrant children detained at the U.S. border by setting up special protections regarding the conditions of detention facilities. MoFo pro bono attorneys have also stepped up to help zero in on fingerprinting delays resulting in an escalating number of children being held in federal custodyThese are just some of the stories featured in the winter 2019 edition of MoForever. You can also read about other MoFo alumni on the move, recent accomplishments, new alumni members, and firm additions, as well as a recap of the events where we reconnected with our alumni members.Access your digital copy of <a href="https://media.mofo.com/docs/pdf/MoForever-Alumni-News-Winter-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MoForever: Winter 2019 here</a>.

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MoFo Women Alumnae on the Move

Jana Gold and Leecia Welch may have moved on from MoFo, but they haven’t forgotten the valuable learning experiences they had while they practiced here. In the 