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

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

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Senior Pro Bono Counsel

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

Jennifer K. Brown

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

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Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

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

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

Natalie Kernisant

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

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Pro Bono Counsel

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

Dorothy L. Fernandez

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

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

Rachel P. Williams

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

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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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<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/christin-hill.html">Christin Hill</a> is a partner in MoFo’s San Francisco office and a member of the Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White-Collar Defense Group. Her practice focuses on representing clients in securities class actions and other complex civil litigation in both federal and state courts, as well as in government and internal investigations.What does the International Women’s Day theme “Each for Equal” mean to you?Equal for Equal is about participating in the collective movement for equality. We all have a part to play. I think about my own husband who has taken a step back from his own career to be the primary caregiver for our children. He makes all the lunches, volunteers in the classroom, bandages up the scraped knees, and gives loving hugs after school. His sacrifice has helped propel my own career forward, and shown our children that gender does not dictate your household role. I consider him at the forefront of the women’s equality movement, and I hope more men are willing and able to follow his example.Tell us about the woman who most influenced your career and how she motivated you.It may sound cliché, but the woman who most influenced my career is my grandmother, Earline Grays. She was a teacher, not a lawyer. She taught composition in Los Angeles Unified School District for decades. Even at a young age, I deeply admired her professionalism and work ethic. She was my first example of a career woman, and she was fabulous. She went to work dressed like a CEO, arrived early, and stayed late. She was also the type of teacher who took a personal interest in her students’ success, driving them to achieve beyond their own perceived capabilities. I always knew her students loved her as they would visit her house long after she retired from teaching. When she passed away last year, her former students flew from all over the country to pay their respects. She was a “mentor” and a “sponsor” long before those were buzz words. I try every day to emulate her professionalism and her mentorship toward others. What are some of the biggest opportunities for women in the workforce today? What changes have you seen over the course of your career that paved the way for women’s advancement?One of the biggest opportunities for women in the workforce that I see is choice. Although certainly not universal, as it’s limited to those privileged enough to have choices. But, for those of us with professional degrees, particularly for lawyers, there are many more ways to practice law now than in the past. Large law firms have become increasingly hospitable to women with part-time opportunities, extended parental leave policies, and on-ramping and off-ramping opportunities. Many other women have paved the way for these policies to become the industry standard at large firms. In addition, there are ample opportunities in-house, and opportunities to go back and forth between in-house and law firms (as I have done). We still have a long way to go, but that flexibility is crucial to fostering an environment where women can thrive.

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#EachforEqual: Christin Hill

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Christin Hill is a partner in MoFo’s San Francisco office and a member of the Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White-Collar Defense Group. Her practice f

#EachforEqual: Christin Hill

<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/christin-hill.html">Christin Hill</a> is a partner in MoFo’s San Francisco office and a member of the Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White-Collar Defense Group. Christin has extensive experience representing clients in securities class actions and other complex civil litigation in both federal and state courts, as well as in government and internal investigations. Before joining the firm, Christin served as senior counsel at Uber Technologies, Inc. and also served as an assistant district attorney in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.In two to three sentences, describe your practice. I represent companies, officers, and directors in shareholder class actions, internal investigations, and regulatory proceedings. My matters often arise when shareholders sue the company or board of directors following a stock price drop, or in a dispute arising from a merger. I also handle other types of complex commercial litigation.Why did you choose to make MoFo your professional home? I joined MoFo for two reasons. First, the firm has long been a leader in shareholder class action litigation. Joining MoFo meant working with some of the best practitioners in this space, like <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/jordan-eth.html">Jordan Eth</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/anna-white.html">Anna Erickson White</a>, who are two of the sharpest securities litigators around. It was an irresistible opportunity.Second, I knew that MoFo was a place where attorneys of color thrive. For decades, MoFo leadership has worked hard to cultivate an environment where attorneys of color feel welcomed and valued. MoFo is not perfect — no firm is — but it is evident that valuing diversity is part of the firm’s DNA. The fact that I personally knew more than a handful of partners of color who were thriving at MoFo, like <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/alexis-amezcua.html">Alexis Amezcua</a>, Josh Hill, and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/eric-tate.html">Eric Tate</a>, showed me that I could be my authentic self at the firm and ultimately be successful.How do clients benefit from having diverse teams of lawyers working for them? As lawyers, we are problem solvers. Every day, we work hard to come up with creative solutions to our clients’ problems. If we all came from the same background, with similar life experiences, there would be a strong risk of “group think.” Diversity is an important way to disrupt the group think, and ensure that a wider variety of ideas are considered and ultimately that the best ideas prevail. On a practical level, as litigators, you never know who is going to connect with the judge, the jury, a key witness, or even opposing counsel. Diversity creates more opportunities to forge connections that could lead to a better result for our clients.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to diversity and inclusion <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity">here</a>.

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Partner Spotlight: Christin Hill

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Christin Hill is a partner in MoFo’s San Francisco office and a member of the Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White-Collar Defense Group. Christin has e

Partner Spotlight: Christin Hill

On Thursday, December 5, 2019, MoFo welcomed leading attorneys and diversity professionals from some of the most influential law firms in the United States to the New York office for the 2019 Women’s Initiative Think Tank. The Think Tank, presented by Threshold Advisors and Hub6, was formed to inspire meaningful dialogue on women’s initiatives within law firms and provide attendees with actionable takeaways to help improve their firms’ women’s and diversity programs.MoFo partner and co-chair of the Women’s Strategy Committee <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/carrie-cohen" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer">Carrie H. Cohen</a>, Chief Talent Officer Diane Downs, and Director of Attorney Development and Women’s Initiatives Janet Stone Herman represented MoFo at the event.  Carrie, Diane, and Janet were invited to discuss key topics regarding the advancement of women in law firms during a tactical workshop. They also shared some of the core principles and strategies that have driven the success of women’s programs at MoFo.In addition, Carrie led the lunchtime keynote titled “Diversity & Inclusion: A View from the Bench.” As part of the keynote, Carrie presented findings from a report she co-authored that was adopted by the New York State Bar Association and the American Bar Association titled If Not Now, When? Achieving Equality for Women Attorneys in the Courtroom and in ADR. She also engaged in a fireside chat with a member of the judiciary in which they discussed the bench’s ability in the courtroom to advance the professional development of women and diverse attorneys.Other programs on the agenda included a session on intersectionality titled “Changing the Conversation with Black Women at Work,” and a roundtable discussion on “Allyship: New and Best Practices.” Attendees were given the opportunity to offer and receive advice on a number of critical issues in the advancement of women in law firms. The event ended with a networking and cocktail reception.The Think Tank was started by Threshold Advisors in an effort to further the work of women’s initiatives. Psychologist, career coach, and author Dr. Karen Kahn established the Talent Development Collaborancy™ to provide strategic business coaching for the legal industry and lead others in creating workplaces where women and men thrive and elevate the success of their firms. Rachel Silverman from Hub6 Advisors, a business development coach with extensive legal experience, teamed up with Karen to design and execute the Think Tank’s programming.Learn more about women’s programs and initiatives at MoFo <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/women-of-mofo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

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MoFo Hosts 2019 Women’s Initiative Think Tank

MoFo Hosts 2019 Women’s Initiative Think Tank

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On Thursday, December 5, 2019, MoFo welcomed leading attorneys and diversity professionals from some of the most influential law firms in the United States to t

MoFo litigation partner <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/carrie-cohen.html">Carrie H. Cohen</a> led an interactive discussion on advancing women in the legal profession by engaging men as allies during Corporate Business Counsel Journal’s “Women in Business & Law” event on November 21, 2019.The panel, titled “Engaging Men to Advance Women in the Profession,” included Moda Operandi General Counsel Samira Shah, former U.S. Marine and current CEO of ENODO Global James Sisco, and executive vice president of CNA Insurance Doug Worman. The interactive discussion’s topics included:<ul><li>How men and women can work together to advance diversity and inclusion;</li><li>How to be an ally, sponsor, and mentor while understanding the similarities and differences of those terms; and</li><li>How to engage men in the conversation.</li></ul>The panel was part of a broader agenda that included themes such as client engagement, collaboration, change, and compensation with regards to building more diverse and inclusive workplaces. Carrie, who serves as co-chair of the firm’s <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/women-of-mofo#women-rsquo-sstrategycommittee">Women’s Strategy Committee</a> and its Workplace Misconduct Investigations Task Force, was also a featured speaker at the <a href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-women/carrie-h-cohen-featured-speaker-at-ms-jd-conference-focused-on-the-many-ways-to-speak-up-for-gender-equality/">11th Annual Conference on Women in Law</a>, sponsored by Ms. JD, and at the New York State Bar Association, Commercial & Federal Litigation Section’s 2019 Spring Meeting earlier this year.Carrie noted that being an ally is “more than just raising your hand and agreeing with the efforts of others. And, perhaps more significantly, you can be an ally to multiple people.” She also pointed out that, while allies don’t always have to be male, when men are deliberately engaged in gender inclusion programs, 96% of organizations see progress – compared to only 30% where men are not engaged.During the panel, Carrie explained how men can take a more active role in advocating for their women colleagues, referencing key points found in the ForbesWomen article “5 Things Men Can Do To Be Allies To Women In The Workplace.” These include: genuinely listening to women’s voices in way that inspires trust and respect, speaking up in meetings and behind the scenes, going where the women are, and forming a male ally group.Carrie also referenced several excerpts from Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women – a book for men about how to mentor women deliberately and effectively. The co-authors <a href="https://hbr.org/search?term=david%20g.%20smith&search_type=search-all">David G. Smith</a> and <a href="https://hbr.org/search?term=w.%20brad%20johnson&search_type=search-all">W. Brad Johnson</a> explain how profound and enduring the effects of mentorship can be on individuals and entire organizations. They also point to evidence suggesting that women face more barriers in securing mentorships than men. Perhaps more importantly, the idea of male allyship is gaining greater traction every day as we get a better understanding of its importance and how to employ it effectively in the workplace.Learn more about the many ways MoFo is creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/">here</a>.

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Carrie H. Cohen Presents Panel on Leveraging Men as Allies in the Legal Profession

Carrie H. Cohen Presents Panel on Leveraging Men as Allies in the Legal Profession

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MoFo litigation partner Carrie H. Cohen led an interactive discussion on advancing women in the legal profession by engaging men as allies during Corporate Busi

“It is great in meetings and on calls for senior women to acknowledge associates for their work. It is very beneficial for clients to see women supporting other women.”“Be as pragmatic as possible. Never miss networking opportunities.”These are just a few of the many words of wisdom shared by clients during <a href="https://www.mofo.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MoFo</a>’s first-of-its-kind series of Women Attorney Regional Meetings held for MoFo women attorneys in several of the firm’s U.S. locations. The inaugural regional meetings sponsored by MoFo’s <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/women-of-mofo/committee-members.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Women’s Strategy Committee</a> (WSC) assembled for the first time MoFo women lawyers at all levels for a two-day meeting that offered substantive professional development workshops, as well as collaborative onsite team-building activities and real-world insights designed to promote gender equality and the advancement of women in the legal profession.In total, approximately 250 MoFo attorneys attended one of three Women Attorney Regional Meetings. The first Regional was held on September 19, 2019, in San Francisco and included participation from MoFo’s Palo Alto office; the Los Angeles Regional took place on October 21 –22, 2019, and included participation from MoFo’s Denver and San Diego offices; and the New York Regional took place on October 28 –29, 2019, and included participation from MoFo’s Washington, D.C., Boston, Miami, London, and Berlin offices. In addition to two days of professional development programming, attendees also had the unique opportunity of participating in social pre-and post-meeting activities, including morning yoga and spin classes and evening activities and dinners designed to promote additional networking and collaboration. In New York and San Francisco, attendees participated in evening poker competitions, and in Los Angeles, guests socialized with cocktails and attended an offsite dinner reception. The meetings also included partner networking components, such as a partner lunch in New York and partner dinners in Los Angeles and San Francisco. New York partners also had the opportunity to celebrate with the Women General Counsel Network at its 10th Anniversary Gala.The Regionals were broken into two sessions: client-focused panel sessions and professional development–related workshops. The client panel sessions included participation from MoFo lawyers, alumnae, and clients, including in-house legal leaders at some of the world’s largest consumer, financial services, luxury goods, and technology companies. In New York, the client panel was moderated by Investigations + White Collar Defense partner Carrie H. Cohen; in Los Angeles, the session was moderated by Employment + Labor partner Tritia Murata; and in San Francisco the session was moderated by Class Actions + Mass Torts partner Tiffany Cheung.During the client sessions, panelists were encouraged to share their personal experiences of being women in the legal profession, and the challenges they have faced working in the industry. Panelists covered a number of hot topics, including:<ul><li>Promoting diversity in the workplace</li><li>Implementing diversity training</li><li>Mentoring at all levels</li><li>Women supporting women in the legal profession</li><li>Male allies who champion women and diversity-related initiatives</li></ul>The professional development workshops offered best practices in:<ul><li>Strategic Negotiation: Professor Alexandra Carter of Columbia Law School provided deep insights and interactive exercises, covering several powerful concepts in negotiation theory and practice, including negotiating from interests when dealing with legal conflicts; the power of framing for legal negotiation success; and common strategic challenges faced in legal negotiations and strategies to combat them. Professor Carter previewed material from her book to be published by Simon & Schuster next year, Mirrors and Windows: Ten Questions to Improve Your Negotiations, Your Relationships and Your Life, on the power of certain questions to transform any legal negotiation.</li><li>Build Your Network: Attendees partook in a robust discussion of best practices for how to build a network, identify connections, and foster a deeper understanding the importance of building quality connections and a strong referral pipeline. The sessions included tips on how to market yourself and your services externally and internally, and offered suggestions for how to stay connected with contacts.</li></ul>Visit our MoFo <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/women-of-mofo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Women</a> and <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity">Diversity</a> pages to learn more about the WSC and the firm’s women and diversity-related programs and initiatives.<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-4272" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltb1ff68ef26b9532e/6287fda03b9b8554904a43a2/img_0691.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" width="858" height="572" sizes="(max-width: 858px) 100vw, 858px" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">Attendees partake in one of several poker tournaments.<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-4273" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt7549430979c95f9d/6287fda2dcc93261eccafe36/img_3130.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" width="848" height="636" sizes="(max-width: 848px) 100vw, 848px" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">From left, Tritia Murata (MoFo), Rada Blumkin (Bank of the West), Adeola Adeseun (Endeavor Content), and Bonnie Lau (MoFo) pictured during the Los Angeles Regional.

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MoFo Hosts First-Ever Women Attorney U.S. Regional Meetings Focused on Collaboration, Mentoring, and Professional Development

MoFo Hosts First-Ever Women Attorney U.S. Regional Meetings Focused on Collaboration, Mentoring, and Professional Development

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“It is great in meetings and on calls for senior women to acknowledge associates for their work. It is very beneficial for clients to see women supporting other

MoFo litigation partner <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/purvi-patel.html">Purvi G. Patel</a> was presented with the 2019 Mentor of the Year Award during the South Asian Bar Association of Southern California’s (SABA-SC) annual <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.sabasc.org/mentorship/">Mentorship Reception</a>, held on October 22 at the downtown Los Angeles offices of Nixon Peabody.The Mentor of the Year Award recognizes the invaluable contributions made by a SABA-SC mentor to law students and attorneys at the start of their careers throughout the course of the mentorship program year. The organization praised Purvi as “a pillar of the South Asian legal community, and an amazing mentor to many.”Purvi, who also served as co-president of SABA-SC’s board of directors from 2018 to 2019, has been involved in the organization for over eight years. She first served on the organization’s Public Interest Foundation board for six years before joining the SABA-SC board, and now serves as an advisor to the board.Co-president of SABA-SC Janani Rana presented Purvi with the Mentor of the Year Award, remarking that “there are very few people that are as generous with their time and demonstrate sincere empathy the way Purvi does.” She also included some warm words from those Purvi has directly impacted with her unique brand of mentorship, including the following from MoFo associate Maggie Mayo:“Purvi has made a huge impact on my professional development. Throughout our relationship, which predates the time we worked together directly, she has always taken the time out of her (very busy) schedule to give her sound and thoughtful advice, both on big-picture career planning and the substantive work. Even when we are really busy, she is not only open to talking about my career trajectory, but often is the one starting the conversation.”Rohit Nath, one of Purvi’s SABA-SC mentees who was in attendance, described Purvi as a “dedicated, proactive mentor.” Labdhi Sheth, who served on the board as a law student representative when Purvi was co-president, noted that “Purvi has helped me on several crossroads,” and appreciating that Purvi “has a way to calm nerves about upcoming interviews, the bar, really everything.”In accepting the award, Purvi focused on the importance of mentorship, both from the mentor’s and mentee’s perspective, and the value of being proactive. She provided examples from her own career where mentorship made a difference, including an important lesson about self-care she learned while clerking for the Honorable Consuelo B. Marshall, who was also present at the ceremony. During and after the reception that followed, a number of attendees remarked that Purvi’s message really resonated with them.In addition to celebrating Purvi as Mentor of the Year, the reception formally kicked off SABA-SC’s annual mentorship program and awarded scholarships to two South Asian law students. Attendees at the event also heard from keynote speakers Judge Marshall, U.S. District Court, Central District of California; and Sandhya Ramadas, Associate Principal Counsel at The Walt Disney Company.Learn more about SABA-SC on their <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.sabasc.org/">newly-designed website</a>.You can also read more about Purvi’s contributions as co-president of the organization in this <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/celebrating-a-successful-year-at-the-16th-annual-saba-public-interest-dinner/">MoFo+ article</a>.

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Kudos to Purvi Patel On Being Named SABA-SC’s 2019 Mentor of the Year

Kudos to Purvi Patel On Being Named SABA-SC’s 2019 Mentor of the Year

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MoFo litigation partner Purvi G. Patel was presented with the 2019 Mentor of the Year Award during the South Asian Bar Association of Southern California’s (SAB

Proving you can go home again, alumna and New York Times best-selling author Heather Benedict Terrell (aka Marie Benedict) recently visited MoFo’s New York office to discuss her latest novel, The Only Woman in the Room. Hosted by MoFo’s Women’s Strategy Committee and the MoForever Women’s Network, the inspiring discussion presented a wonderful opportunity for staff, lawyers, and alumni to reconnect with Heather and other former colleagues. The discussion was broadcast to a number of MoFo offices and attendees received a copy of Heather’s book.MoFo litigation partner and close friend <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/jamie-levitt.html">Jamie Levitt</a> introduced Heather with warm praise. Before becoming a best-selling author, Heather was a member of MoFo’s New York litigation team. During the luncheon, Heather spoke about her journey from litigator to author and how, while practicing law, she often dreamed of trying her hand at writing.She eventually did become a full-time novelist, most recently focusing on telling the largely untold stories of women who changed history, but whose most important contributions to society nevertheless remain largely obscure. She fictionalizes the portions of these women’s lives that weren’t chronicled, likely because Heather’s protagonists were underappreciated back in their day.Heather explained that her inspiration for female subjects has come from unusual places, like a children’s book she read to one of her young sons, and a plaque on a building.“As a writer, I feel it’s my duty to extract the most important and complex women from history and rightfully include them in the narrative,” she said.Heather shared some excerpts from her latest novel, The Only Woman in the Room, which tells the story of Hedy Lamarr and her secret work for the Allies against the Nazis. The novel follows the real-life heroine’s journey, fleeing Austria for America, and eventually inventing the technology that we know today as WiFi.Explaining why she felt it was important to tell Hedy’s story, Heather said, “Because she challenged the status quo of who an inventor could be, and now we all hold a piece of her history in our hands … our cell phones.”Visit Heather’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="http://www.authormariebenedict.com/">official website</a> to more about the author and her other works.

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Author Heather Benedict Terrell Returns to MoFo for Alumni Lunch & Learn

Author Heather Benedict Terrell Returns to MoFo for Alumni Lunch & Learn

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Proving you can go home again, alumna and New York Times best-selling author Heather Benedict Terrell (aka Marie Benedict) recently visited MoFo’s New York offi

<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/carrie-cohen.html">Carrie H. Cohen</a>, a partner in Morrison & Foerster’s Investigations + White Collar Defense Group, has been named to the board of the directors of <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://volsprobono.org/">Volunteers of Legal Service</a> (VOLS), an organization that provides pro bono legal services to the New York community. VOLS harnesses the power of New York City’s law firms and community-based groups to deliver free, civil legal services when and where they are needed helping New Yorkers attain dignity, security, and opportunity in their lives.During her time at MoFo, Carrie has worked on a wide range of pro bono matters reflecting her passion in criminal law and civil and human rights. She is currently applying her extensive experience in public corruption investigations to help the<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="http://theilf.org/"> International Legal Foundation</a> train criminal defense lawyers in Afghanistan. Among other things, Carrie has also previously advised a local social services agency as it seeks more equitable pay for community-based preschool teachers, and has assisted several local nonprofits with internal investigations.Carrie is also a leader in advancing women in the legal profession, and serves as a member of the New York City Bar’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.vancecenter.org/">Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice</a>, where she spearheads a professional development program for women attorneys in Latin America and South Africa. She also co-chairs MoFo’s Women’s Strategy Committee, a group that ensures the advancement of women remains a strategic priority for the firm.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to pro bono in the recently published fall edition of <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/assets/blt5775cc69c999c255/blteed0caa2019b3f85/62730d76deee7329767e739c/191018-moprobono-fall-2019.pdf">MoProBono</a>.

Kudos to Carrie H. Cohen on Her Election to the Volunteers of Legal Service Board of Directors

Kudos to Carrie H. Cohen on Her Election to the Volunteers of Legal Service Board of Directors

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Carrie H. Cohen, a partner in Morrison & Foerster’s Investigations + White Collar Defense Group, has been named to the board of the directors of Volunteers of L

MoFo was recently recognized by Working Mother as one of the 2019 “Best Law Firms for Women.” The firm has received this annual honor 10 times and every year since 2014, highlighting the firm’s commitment towards creating a culture of opportunity for women.In addition to this accolade, MoFo was one of 17 firms named to Working Mother’s first-ever Hall of Fame, designed to recognize the firms who have appeared on the list for 10 years or more.Working Mother’s methodology includes a survey that asks more than 300 questions regarding attorney representation at varying levels, retention of women, and parental leave policies such as paid time off. The publication specifically praised MoFo’s Parents’ Resource List, which offers attorneys the chance to speak about their experiences as working parents at the firm. Attorneys becoming parents can be also paired with a mentor who can be a resource before, during, and after leave.MoFo’s practices and policies also garnered the firm recognition earlier in the year by Yale Law Women, which named MoFo one of its 2019 Top 10 Firms for both Gender Equity & Family Friendliness. MoFo was regarded as one of the highest achieving firms for percentage of women associate and equity partners, the number of days offered for caregiver leave following the birth of a child, and the percentage of attorneys who have worked part-time schedules in the last five years and were promoted to equity partner in 2018.Additionally, MoFo was named a “Ceiling Smashing” firm for Women Partners in Law360’s annual Glass Ceiling Report. The award ranked MoFo fifth on the list of law firms with 600+ attorneys, highlighting that women make up more than a quarter of equity partners.And in June, MoFo was awarded U.S Gold Standard Certification by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) for the eighth consecutive year—a recognition MoFo is proud to have received every year the certification has been given. This recognition is awarded to firms who meet objective criteria relating to the number of women that are equity partners, in firm leadership positions, and in the ranks of their most highly compensated partners.

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MoFo Earns Several Prestigious Recognitions for Women’s Policies and Representation

MoFo Earns Several Prestigious Recognitions for Women’s Policies and Representation

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MoFo was recently recognized by Working Mother as one of the 2019 “Best Law Firms for Women”. The firm has received this annual honor 10 times and every year si

Earlier this year, MoFo released a special edition of its MoProBono newsletter, titled “<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://together.mofo.com/pro-bono/moprobono-womens-advocacy-in-action/">Women’s Advocacy in Action</a>,” highlighting the many efforts our lawyers have made towards the advancement of women and women’s rights. As a follow-up to that, we wanted to give kudos to co-chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Trial Group, Jamie Levitt, and her team for their work in defending women’s reproductive rights and access to care.Jamie was invited to speak on a panel regarding this highly topical subject during Columbia Law School’s “Women in Big Law” forum. The event was sponsored by <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.ifwhenhow.org/">If/When/How Lawyering for Reproductive Justice</a>, a student-run organization that raises awareness about reproductive justice, and co-sponsored by the Office of Career Services (OCS), Columbia Law Women’s Association (CLWA), and Empowering Women of Color (EWOC). If/When/How is one of many organizations that signed on to an amicus brief supporting access to contraception that Jamie and litigation associate Rhiannon Batchelder have drafted and filed eleven versions of to date, with valuable assistance from the Center for Reproductive Rights.More on the BriefsThe amici curiae in the briefs filed by Jamie and Rhiannon represent well over a million women working and studying in a variety of industries and unions, from students and teachers to social workers, lawyers, and more. Those supporting the briefs are united in their belief that no-cost contraceptive coverage plays a critical role in the success of women in the workplace and in higher education.Our amicus briefs are in support of state government efforts to halt the enforcement of the Federal Administration’s contraception exemption rules, which create broad religious and moral exemptions that would allow employers and universities to avoid the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) contraceptive mandate. Currently, the Patient Protection Act and ACA require employer-sponsored health insurance plans to cover certain FDA-approved methods of contraception under the Contraceptive Coverage Benefit. The benefit is intended to lessen the burden of out-of-pocket contraceptive costs for insured women, enabling women to make choices about their family planning so that they may have equal opportunities in the workforce and in higher education.Timeline of EventsIn late 2017, the administration issued interim exemption rules that largely gutted the Contraceptive Coverage Benefit. MoFo filed amicus briefs supporting motions for preliminary injunctions against these rules in the Northern District of California, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the United States Courts of Appeals for the First and Ninth Circuits.  Nationwide preliminary injunctions were issued against the interim rule by United States District Court Judge Haywood Gilliam of the Northern District of California and Judge Wendy Beetlestone of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The Ninth Circuit upheld Judge Gilliam’s preliminary injunction, but limited the scope to the five states that brought the suit: California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Virginia.In late 2018, the administration issued its final exemption rules—rendering the prior litigation moot. Again, MoFo filed amicus briefs supporting the states’ renewed efforts for nationwide preliminary injunctions against the final exemption rules.The final rules are substantially similar to the interim rules and allow virtually any employer or university—including large, for-profit companies—to deny no-cost contraceptive coverage to their employees and students. Beyond religious exemptions currently built into the ACA, the moral exemption clause would allow entities with “sincerely held moral convictions” to deny coverage.The Results so FarThe effort to fight the final rules has also proved successful. Judge Beetlestone issued another nationwide preliminary injunction and Judge Gilliam issued an injunction applicable to the now-eight plaintiff states. Both injunctions were appealed to the Third and Ninth Circuits, where MoFo’s amicus brief was also filed.  On July 12, 2019, the Third Circuit upheld the nationwide preliminary injunction issued by Judge Beetlestone.Now that preliminary injunctions are in place, the focus has turned to permanently invalidating and enjoining the final rules. To that end, MoFo has filed two additional amicus briefs on this issue to support various states’ motions for summary judgment in the Northern District of California and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Our amicus brief argues that the unpredictability of the final exemption rules would affect hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of women who depend on uninterrupted contraceptive care.We stress that virtually any company or university could try to take advantage of the rules, falsely believing that they will save money, including non-religious employers seeking to take advantage of the final exemption rules citing “moral concerns.” Jamie, Rhiannon, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the amici curiae are continuing to support the states’ fight to make sure that access to reproductive care remains in the hands of the women and families who depend on it.

Kudos to Jamie Levitt and Rhiannon Batchelder for Defending Women’s Reproductive Rights

Kudos to Jamie Levitt and Rhiannon Batchelder for Defending Women’s Reproductive Rights

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Earlier this year, MoFo released a special edition of its MoProBono newsletter, titled “Women’s Advocacy in Action,” highlighting the many efforts our lawyers h