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 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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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 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

MoFo Wins Asylum for Cameroonian Political Refugee

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Miami attorneys Giselle Sardinas and Leonela Vaccaro Padron, two volunteers of one of largest pro bono projects in the firm's recent history, successfully aided an Afghan refugee family of six in obtaining their green cards under the special immigrant visa (SIV) program for Afghan allies.  The Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009, enacted by Congress, aims to provide permanent status to Afghan individuals who aided the United States armed forces during the war in Afghanistan. (This relief also extends to a spouse and their children.) Moved by other members of his immediate family who proudly assisted the United States government at the commencement of the war, and tired of the country-wide oppression under Taliban rule, Sardinas' and Vaccaro Padron's client served as an interpreter for the United States for twelve years. As part of his service, he participated in numerous life-threatening missions alongside the United States Army to patrol and protect the region from Taliban insurgents, which included intercepting planned terrorist attacks. The Taliban violently retaliated against interpreters and their immediate families, including issuing a "dead on sight" declaration for anyone connected our own client’s military unit. During times of leave, he had to move in silence, mainly at night, and was unable to attend social gatherings for fear of ambush. He said that “[i]t was hard to tell who were the good guys and who were the bad guys.”With the fall of Kabul following US de-occupation in 2021, threats against Afghan allies of the United States armed forces increased. This client, his wife, and their four children safely evacuated Afghanistan with the assistance of the United States Marine Corp. All six members of the client's family received approval of their permanent resident application in March 2023. When asked if he has any regrets for his time assisting the United States government, Sardinas' and Vaccaro Padron's client says that sacrificing his life to save the lives of others and working to end the ignorance of terrorists in his home country will never be a regret for him. In fact, it is the thing he is the proudest of in his life and hopes to continue to work for the United States government in some capacity now that he is state-side.

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Associate

Giselle C. Sardiñas is an associate Morrison Foerster's Real Estate Group.

Giselle Caridad Sardiñas

Giselle Sardiñas

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MoFo Miami Lawyers Secure Green Cards for Afghan Refugee Family

MoFo Assists CASE Force with Implementation of US$1 billion California Rebuilding Fund; includes 778 funded loans totaling US$50 million given to small businesses

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Miami attorneys Giselle Sardinas and Leonela Vaccaro Padron, two volunteers of one of largest pro bono projects in the firm's recent history, successfully aided an Afghan refugee family of six in obtaining their green cards under the special immigrant visa (SIV) program for Afghan allies.  

MoFo Miami Lawyers Secure Green Cards for Afghan Refugee Family 

As World Cup matches ignite the dreams of our country’s legion of young soccer players, we proudly share this news of player Noriana Radwan’s successful appeal of the dismissal of her case claiming sex discrimination by the University of Connecticut athletic department. Radwan's case highlights how sex discrimination continues to limit girls and women from achieving their full potential as athletes, but also illuminates the value of fighting back to vindicate female players’ right to equal treatment on and off the playing field. While the match is not yet final, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, citing an amicus brief filed by Morrison Foerster, recently overturned the lower court's decision and ruled that she can present her Title IX case to a jury. This is an important ruling for women athletes, whose performance is still too often judged by discriminatory standards.Radwan was an outstanding high school soccer player who was recruited by numerous Division I colleges offering full scholarships. She chose UConn and played on its women’s soccer team beginning in fall 2014. Just three months into the school year, however, Radwan’s dreams of a soccer career were crushed. She was thrown off her team, lost her full athletic scholarship, and had to leave UConn, all because she briefly raised her middle finger to a TV camera while celebrating a championship win with her teammates.Despite presenting evidence that UConn had issued minor or no disciplinary penalties to multiple male athletes who committed similar or more serious acts, the district court ruled that no jury could find the draconian discipline imposed on Radwan to be sex discrimination. In dismissing Radwan’s case, the district court had concluded that Radwan could not compare the discipline she received for unsportsmanlike conduct to the discipline given various male athletes for more serious conduct because the disciplinary decisions did not involve the same coaches.The Court of Appeals rejected this argument, citing the amicus brief that MoFo filed on behalf of several women’s rights organizations. Quoting our brief directly, the Court of Appeals found that most college teams are single sex, and men’s and women’s sports usually do not share coaches; as a result, “a same-supervisor requirement would strip Title IX protections from the vast majority of student-athletes.”Moreover, the Court of Appeals pointed out that the same Athletic Director (AD) who decided to end Radwan’s scholarship was fully aware of the misconduct committed by various male players and the nominal discipline they received. As the Court wrote, “Of the particular incidents contained in the record involving male student-athletes at UConn, no penalty for misconduct comes close to the severity of the one imposed upon Radwan. In fact, it is undisputed that, during [AD’s] tenure at UConn from March 2012 to March 2016, no male student-athlete was ever permanently removed from his team, or had his scholarship terminated, for a first instance of unsportsmanlike conduct.”MoFo litigation department co-chair Christine Wong led the team that represented amici Legal Momentum, the National Organization for Women Foundation, the Feminist Majority Foundation, and the Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues in the case. Associates Rachel Dolphin and Lily Smith and former associate Randy Zack contributed to the brief.To hear Radwan’s story in her own words, see her <a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/womens-rights/a-middle-finger-cost-me-my-livelihood-as-a-woman-athlete" target="_blank">guest blog and video</a> on the American Civil Liberties Union website.See the <a href="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/assets/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt527640d26da848ff/639b5a5d66a2107d45b988f9/221130-radwan-decision.pdf" target="_blank">Second Circuit’s opinion in Radwan v. Manuel</a>v. Manuel, No. 20-2194 (decided Nov. 30, 2022).

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Christine Wong focuses her practice on investigations, white collar criminal defense, and cross-border compliance matters

Christine Wong focuses her practice on investigations, white collar criminal defense, and cross-border compliance matters.

Christine Y. Wong

Christine Wong, co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White Collar Defense Group, focuses her practice on investigations, white collar criminal defense, and cross-border compliance matters.

Christine Wong

The Regents of the University of California v. California Berry Cultivars, L.L.C.

Arch Development Corp. v. Genentech, Inc.

Whirlpool Corp. v. TST Water LLC

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Rachel Dolphin is an associate in the Litigation Department. Her practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and general commercial litigation.
Rachel’s intellectual property practice concent

Rachel Dolphin

Rachel S. Dolphin

MoFo Gives an Assist to Soccer Player Fighting Sex Discrimination

As World Cup matches ignite the dreams of our country’s legion of young soccer players, we proudly share this news of player Noriana Radwan’s successful appeal of the dismissal of her case claiming sex discrimination by the University of Connecticut athletic department.

MoFo Gives an Assist to Soccer Player Fighting Sex Discrimination

Human Rights First presented Morrison Foerster with the 2022 Marvin E. Frankel Award at the organization’s recent Manhattan gala, recognizing the firm for its outstanding pro bono service to Afghan asylum seekers.MoFo was recognized for its contributions to Project: Afghan Legal Assistance (PALA). PALA was begun by Human Rights First to assist the thousands of Afghan refugees who were brought to the United States following our country’s abrupt withdrawal from Afghanistan last summer. When Human Rights First asked for help responding to the deluge of calls it received from Afghans seeking legal representation, MoFo pro bono counsel Dorothy Fernandez sprang into action. She recruited and organized more than 150 MoFo lawyers and staff to conduct initial screening interviews of Afghan refugees who had contacted Human Rights First, to determine the refugees’ eligibility for immigration relief. MoFo completed some 330 of these interviews, and in ten cases, our lawyers – motivated by the stories they heard – asked to represent these clients for the entire asylum process. Dorothy also organized a second project, filing applications for “green cards” – permanent residence – for the families of 30 Afghans who had received Special Immigrant Visas because of their work for U.S. forces.In choosing MoFo to receive this honor, Jenna Gilbert, Director of Refugee Representation for Human Rights First, said, “Out of all our law firm partners, Morrison & Foerster LLP (MoFo), has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to pro bono work on behalf of Afghan refugees.”MoFo corporate partner Timothy Harris, who serves as managing partner of the firm’s Palo Alto office, accepted the award on behalf of the firm. Tim earned his own recognition from Human Rights First earlier this year, when the organization named him a Pro Bono Star for his extraordinary representation of, and assistance to, an Afghan family seeking asylum. Expressing his appreciation for this recognition, Tim noted: “MoFo is honored to support the mission of Human Rights First and its dedication to defend human rights for all. This award underscores our ongoing commitment to making a difference through pro bono service and highlights MoFo’s collaborative efforts to make a real difference in the lives of Afghan asylum seekers.”The Marvin E. Frankel Award honors law firms who carry out its namesake’s dedication to human rights and pro bono service. Marvin E. Frankel, in addition to his career as a federal judge, was a founder of Human Rights First and former chairman of its Board of Directors. Visit <a href="https://humanrightsfirst.org/" target="_blank">Human Rights First</a> to learn more.<div class="embedded-entry redactor-component block-entry" type="entry" data-sys-entry-uid="blt84b0defcc4038487" data-sys-entry-locale="en-us" data-sys-content-type-uid="image_content" sys-style-type="block"><div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltc48e6436ff4ba8d4/63757af13688e51128bd4c94/human-rights-first-honors-mofo.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Harris accepts award"></div></div>MoFo corporate partner and managing partner of the firm’s Palo Alto office Timothy Harris, accepts the 2022 Marvin E. Frankel Award on behalf of the firm.

Human Rights First Honors MoFo for Outstanding Pro Bono Asylum Work

Tim is the Managing Partner of the Palo Alto Office and a partner in the Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Group. He specializes in representing startup companies and venture capital investors in corporate and securities matters.

Timothy Harris

Timothy J. Harris

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 b

Dorothy Fernandez

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 an

Jennifer Brown

Human Rights First Honors MoFo for Outstanding Pro Bono Asylum Work

Human Rights First presented Morrison Foerster with the 2022 Marvin E. Frankel Award at the organization’s recent Manhattan gala, recognizing the firm for its outstanding pro bono service to Afghan asylum seekers.

Countless studies suggest that eating fresh fruits and vegetables is not only good for our physical well-being but also for sustaining a healthier society. In spite of this, there are many areas around the world, including in the United States, where healthy, fresh food is not readily available. Low-income urban areas, in particular, are too often “food deserts” where fresh produce can be almost impossible to find. In many cases, the lack of adequate food resources is directly traceable to the structural racism that has deprived low-income neighborhoods populated by people of color of both public and private investment. The resulting toll on individual and community health is a heavy burden, and in our nation’s capital, it falls especially hard on Black communities living east of the Anacostia River.  Since 2009, DC Greens has set out to transform that reality, pursuing a mission to advance food justice and health equity for underserved residents living in the metro Washington D.C. area by building a just, resilient and equitable food system. The organization strives to address structural inequalities in the city’s food system and shift power and knowledge to members of the local community, so they can get access to high quality, fresh foods.Morrison Foerster’s history with DC Greens goes back to its founders, who initially sought our pro bono assistance to set up a nonprofit corporation and obtain tax-exempt status so it could operate a farmers’ market. Today, DC Greens creates cross-sector collaborations in solidarity with marginalized communities that are experiencing poverty and food insecurity.  It partners with an array of public and private organizations, including local farmer’s markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, health providers, and corporations, to develop, fund, and roll out innovative programs that increase access to healthier food for residents in these communities.Washington, D.C. corporate partner Ali Connaughton and associate Maggie Bradley recently worked with DC Greens on an exciting new project, The Well at Oxon Run. Located within an existing park in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Ward 8, in Southeast D.C., The Well is an intergenerational farm and community wellness space that was envisioned alongside residents of the community with the goal of ensuring that neighbors have what they need to define and create wellness on their own terms. The Well includes an urban farm, a farm stand, an orchard with chickens, a greenhouse, an outdoor classroom, and a large pavilion for community events.   Ali and Maggie were pulled in to help DC Greens prepare for the opening of The Well, including drafting agreements with DC Greens’ private sector partners. According to Ali, The Well is a shining example of a public-private venture that was built out of meaningful investment by community stakeholders. “It has been so exciting to be a very small part of the planning for this program. In addition to being a working agricultural and educational space, The Well will host local artists and will empower local community members to lead on new initiatives and projects.”Maggie added, “I was proud to play a role in the launch of The Well, a project that is so important to the community and advances DC Greens’ vision of making the District a city where health equity is a core value and healthy food is available to all.”Whether advising DC Greens with respect to partner agreements, governance or policies and procedures for The Well, Ali notes that the longstanding and productive partnership between MoFo and DC Greens comes down to mutual respect, excellent communication and professionalism.“DC Greens is a terrific and well-run organization with an incredibly thoughtful, enthusiastic and motivated team,” adds Maggie.  Ali concurs, noting, “they are very good at communicating their vision in a way that facilitates our ability to deliver work product that advances their goals, and that great collaboration continues to be what makes our partnership so successful.”Visit <a href="https://www.dcgreens.org/about">DC Greens</a> to learn more.

MoFo Lawyers Help DC Greens Carry Forward its Mission of Health Equity

Countless studies suggest that eating fresh fruits and vegetables is not only good for our physical well-being but also for sustaining a healthier society. In spite of this, there are many areas around the world, including in the United States, where healthy, fresh food is not readily available. Low-income urban areas, in particular, are too often “food deserts” where fresh produce can be almost impossible to find. In many cases, the lack of adequate food resources is directly traceable to the structural racism that has deprived low-income neighborhoods populated by people of color of both public and private investment. The resulting toll on individual and community health is a heavy burden, and in our nation’s capital, it falls especially hard on Black communities living east of the Anacostia River.  

MoFo Lawyers Help DC Greens Carry Forward its Mission of Health Equity

While conducting research on law firm pro bono programs, I found one firm that clearly stood out: Morrison Foerster. Not only are the attorneys at MoFo incredibly brilliant and collegial, they also place a profound emphasis on pro bono work. This summer, I’ve been able to experience first-hand the seriousness with which MoFo handles life-changing matters.It was incredibly important for me, as the son of Guatemalan immigrants, to find a firm that values the different communities that make us special. MoFo provided an opportunity to work on an important asylum matter for an Afghan citizen who worked for international nongovernmental organizations that conducted human rights work. Our client spent much of his life in Afghanistan providing crucial services, advocating for women’s rights, and promoting protections for children. Unfortunately, the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan placed his life in immediate danger. After being evacuated to the United States, our client sought to apply for asylum, and a dedicated MoFo team took on the case. I contributed to the Statement of Facts section of our asylum brief and researched case law that could be helpful for the case. With incredible guidance from the MoFo team, I learned about brief writing and asylum law, while making a difference in someone’s life.MoFo also gave me the opportunity to help an Afghan family of four seek legal permanent residency in the United States. My assignment was part of a larger initiative by MoFo to host an Adjustment of Status clinic, where MoFo attorneys and summer associates assisted refugees that were evacuated from Afghanistan under “Operation Refugees Welcome.” I, and several other summer associates, worked diligently with MoFo attorneys and translators to complete lengthy applications and begin many families’ processes to establish a stable, permanent home.The MoFo attorney helping me with the matter, Joseph Gillman, gave me tremendous agency to handle the case and provided important oversight and tips along the way. From working with the clients, I learned more about the substance of immigration law, and, from working with Joseph, I learned the skills I’d need to excel in the legal profession. His support on the assignment, and throughout the summer, was representative of the support I received from everyone at the Los Angeles office.Being able to learn from MoFo attorneys, while giving back to immigrant communities, led to an overall amazing summer at the firm. As an attorney, I hope to continue employing my legal skills to advocate for important causes and improve people’s lives.

Learning from MoFo Lawyers While Giving Back to Immigrant Communities – Jose Rodriguez

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Jose E. Rodriguez

Jose Rodriguez

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Learning from MoFo Lawyers While Giving Back to Immigrant Communities – Jose Rodriguez

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While conducting research on law firm pro bono programs, I found one firm that clearly stood out: Morrison Foerster.

When I joined MoFo’s New York summer associate class, pro bono work was not the first thing on my mind. I came in excited to try my hand at high-stakes corporate work and M&A transactions. Although I definitely wanted to get involved in the community, I did not expect my pro bono work to be particularly substantive or meaningful. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to work on my own since I had not yet passed the bar.I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this was not the case. My most meaningful pro bono experience started when I was introduced to the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project following a passionate conversation with New York associate Nicolas Apter-Vidler. We had discussed the issues haunting the American criminal justice system and what we could do as attorneys to right societal wrongs. Indeed, the Innocence Project laid claim to doing just that: it is an organization dedicated to freeing wrongly convicted individuals who have run out of legal options. Having had no prior exposure to working within the American justice system, I found it an exciting opportunity to get up close and personal. I got my own client and file to review and felt the weight of what I was asked to do. I was entrusted to review and analyze trial documents and draft a memorandum on whether the case was one worth pursuing for the Innocence Project.My client had been accused of one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder in a complicated case involving multiple witnesses with questionable motives. Despite there being no physical evidence tying him to the scene of the crime, the prosecutors had threatened him with the death penalty if he did not plead guilty. As a scared 19 year old and feeling as though he had no choice, he begrudgingly entered an Alford plea, which is a guilty plea in which a person maintains their innocence. He was condemned to a life sentence. As I poured through transcript files and appellate documents of a case that occurred years before I was born, I couldn’t help but be shocked by how my client got railroaded. Though there were apparently photo negatives that showed him at a party in a different state at the time of the crime, his counsel lacked the resources to meaningfully follow up and so the negatives remained unfound by the time of the trial. Even more compellingly, the notes that my client had left describing the situation wholly humanized him. Reading his handwriting and his lived experiences made me realize just how much he had already lost: his children had grown up without him and the world had left him behind. I could easily empathize with the man who had spent longer in prison than out of it. In the end, we decided that this would indeed be a case with enough merits to be worth pursuing.Working on the Innocence Project was a moving experience and highlighted the good work that I would be able to do as an associate at MoFo. It also was congruent with how seriously MoFo lawyers take pro bono work. When I discussed the case with other lawyers at the firm, they were truly appalled at the treatment this poor man had received and provided advice on how to best approach the case. I had an amazing follow-up discussion with Senior Pro Bono Counsel Jennifer Brown where we delved into the intricacies of the American criminal justice system and how this case was an all too common tale; partner Chip Loewenson introduced us to Richard Rosario in-person, a man whose case he had worked on for more than a decade to help free and who further cemented the importance of the work we were doing. Part of the reason I had wanted to join MoFo was due to its dedication to pro bono work and this experience solidified how the firm took this commitment very seriously. This attitude trickled all the way down to the summer associate level and was quite honestly refreshing. Altogether, this experience has left me excited to come back to MoFo and pair high-profile M&A transactions with meaningful pro bono work.

An Opportunity to Get Up Close and Personal with the Innocence Project – Mohand Khouider

An Opportunity to Get Up Close and Personal with the Innocence Project – Mohand Khouider

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When I joined MoFo’s New York summer associate class, pro bono work was not the first thing on my mind. I came in excited to try my hand at high-stakes corporate work and M&A transactions.

To me, mentorship is about being actively invested in a person’s interests and success. Throughout my summer at MoFo, the summer associate program’s terrific coordinators were dedicated to my success. I was assigned two attorney mentors who provided constant support, and MoFo connected me, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, with outstanding role models both within and outside of the firm. Altogether, MoFo’s investment in my interests and success elevated the summer associate program to a truly exceptional experience for me.The importance of mentorship at MoFo was immediately evident in the firm’s careful pairing of partner and associate mentors with each summer associate. My two mentors were consistently available to provide guidance and opportunities. For instance, on the very first day of the summer program, I mentioned to Geoff Peck, my partner mentor, that I had an interest in secured transactions. Within a few days, Geoff had arranged for me to observe and contribute to a major (and unusually complex) credit agreement, taking plenty of time to explain the entire process and creating opportunities for me to contribute to the deal as it unfolded. My associate mentor, Dana Lyons, was equally invested in my interests and success, and was available at any time to answer questions about anything from navigating living in New York to helping me refine my career goals.This feeling of support extended to the entire office. Our program coordinator and work coordinators did a terrific job, were consistently sensitive to my goals during the summer, and curated work assignments that furthered my objectives while challenging me to explore new practice groups. Additionally, our pro bono partner, Jennifer Brown, took the time to learn about my previous work in the HIV community and connected me with pro bono projects that aligned with my interests and previous experiences. More broadly, it was effortless to connect with individuals at all levels and practice areas throughout MoFo, many of whom have become friends and role models.As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I was equally impressed with MoFo’s commitment to creating LGBTQ+ mentorship opportunities throughout the summer. MoFo invited me to attend the LGBT Bar Association Foundation of Greater New York’s Annual Gala, encouraged me to participate in OutNEXT, a global LGBTQ+ leadership summit, and invited our fantastic summer class to actively celebrate Pride Month. Finally, MoFo’s many accomplished LGBTQ+ associates and partners enthusiastically welcomed me to the firm with encouragement and guidance.Starting at a firm as a summer associate can be daunting, but with an emphasis on mentorship at all levels, MoFo enables summer associates to thrive as welcomed, supported, and inspired members of the firm. I am proud to be returning to MoFo’s Finance Group as a first-year associate and excited to contribute to mentoring our future summer associates!

How Mentorship Elevated the Summer Associate Program – Patrick Keeler

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Patrick Keeler is an associate in the Finance Group in Morrison Foerster’s New York office.

Patrick William Keeler

Patrick Keeler

How Mentorship Elevated the Summer Associate Program – Patrick Keeler

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To me, mentorship is about being actively invested in a person’s interests and success. Throughout my summer at MoFo, the summer associate program’s terrific coordinators were dedicated to my success.

After spending the summer at Morrison Foerster’s San Diego office, I think there are many answers to the question, “Why MoFo?” First, the summer associates. The modus operandi at MoFo is to hire kind, smart people. My fellow summer associates were, as expected, intelligent, successful, and well rounded. But I was astounded by how genuine and friendly everyone was. This made for a positive work environment not only among the associates, but among partners as well.Second, there is a strong emphasis on teaching and explaining. The learning curve for a law student (and eventual first-year associate) is steep. There are many aspects of practicing the law that are not taught in school. But the attorneys at MoFo recognize this as a learning opportunity and are there to help. This past summer, I would receive an assignment, and within minutes an associate or partner would knock on my door and ask if they could explain the context surrounding the assignment or deal. Explaining the big picture of an assignment makes the work more enjoyable, and I believe it will help me do better work in the long run. Even though everyone was busy with their own jobs, they were more than willing to take the time to give me a better understanding of the work we do.Third, there is a trust and mutual respect among the attorneys. The firm is flexible with at-home and in-office working. Some come into the office every day, others once a week. Everyone respects each other’s time and trusts that they will get their work done. Everyone has their own responsibilities outside of work that must be dealt with, and I appreciated this mutual understanding; the work will get done and everyone may enjoy flexibility in doing so. With the high stress and long hours that are inherent in “Big Law,” flexibility is key to maintain a positive work-life balance that is catered to the individual.Lastly, I appreciate the work, training, and collaboration across firms. MoFo works with interesting clients, some of whom are on the front page of the news, creating groundbreaking technology or discovering cures to rare diseases. This makes for challenging and exciting work opportunities that I had hoped for going into Big Law. However, there are also endless opportunities to help in other areas of the law. For example, I am excited to work with the pro bono team. Everyone, from the recruiters to the partners, genuinely listens to your interests and want to align you with pro bono work that fits your expertise or passion. The committees and groups in the firm also organize events and panels to listen and learn from a variety of attorneys about the paths they have taken professionally. I enjoyed attending the Women’s Strategy Committee meetings. The committee sincerely wants to make everyone’s experience at MoFo positive and make sure the firm offers as much opportunity and assistance to anyone who needs it.