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

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

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Senior Pro Bono Counsel

Staff

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

Jennifer K. Brown

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

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Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

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

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

Natalie Kernisant

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

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Pro Bono Counsel

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

Dorothy L. Fernandez

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

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

Rachel P. Williams

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

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Welcome to the Mofo+ Blog

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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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Morrison Foerster has long championed the advancement of women. The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization struck down 50 years of precedent that MoFo lawyers, on behalf of our clients, had fought to defend in nearly 20 cases since 1989, including Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2016 that reaffirmed a woman’s constitutional right to abortion.While the Dobbs decision unleashed chaos in the legal status of abortion, it has not dampened the commitment of many MoFo lawyers to preserving women’s access to reproductive health care through legal support inside and outside the courtroom.In the immediate aftermath of the Dobbs decision, Litigation partner Jamie Levitt was one of the first to endorse a call to action published in The American Lawyer, which was later signed by more than 2,650 women partners from 190 law firms and outlined a personal commitment to continue “offering pro bono legal services to organizations that defend and support women’s rights to autonomy, equality and safe access to reproductive care, including abortion.” MoFo’s Privacy team, led by New York Privacy + Data Security partner Miriam Wugmeister, quickly developed and issued <a href="https://view.ceros.com/mofo/tips-protecting-privacy/p/1" target="_blank">MoFo Privacy Tips for Protecting Reproductive Rights</a> to offer guidance to the public on how to safeguard their personal health information.On another front, Jamie Levitt and senior pro bono counsel Jennifer Brown spent months working closely with several public interest organizations to develop the <a href="https://abortiondefensenetwork.org/" target="_blank">Abortion Defense Network</a> (ADN), bringing together lawyers from top law firms and reproductive rights organizations to offer a nationwide resource for abortion-related confidential legal advice. Dozens of lawyers have attended trainings offered by ADN and, since its inception one year ago, MoFo lawyers have advised more than 25 abortion providers and support organizations who were referred by ADN or similar regional networks, helping these clients untangle the web of contradictory state laws that now govern this field of medicine. MoFo lawyers, led by New York Litigation partners Jamie Levitt and J. Alexander Lawrence, are continuing to work with the Center for Reproductive Rights on critical litigation as well.Since March 2023, MoFo lawyers and the Center have been fighting in several cases to establish that medical emergency exceptions to state abortion prohibitions must be interpreted so that women’s lives are not jeopardized when they face severe and dangerous complications during pregnancy. In a Texas case, MoFo litigators are representing lead plaintiff Amanda Zurawski and other women who were denied urgently needed abortions as their health deteriorated drastically because doctors could not risk criminal punishments of up to 99 years in prison and $100,000 in fines if a prosecutor disagreed with the doctor’s determination that a medical emergency justified an abortion.  As Jamie Levitt explains, “We are representing women who have all faced serious pregnancy complications, and the issue with the current law is the statutes have standards that are very unclear, so our lawsuit is seeking clarity.” After two days of riveting testimony, the Texas trial court hearing the case issued an order in August 2023 clarifying that “emergent medical conditions” – meaning conditions that, without an abortion, threaten the pregnant woman’s life or health – come within the medical emergency exception to the Texas abortion bans, and there is no need to wait for a patient to be in crisis before offering treatment. The court’s ruling, however, was immediately stayed when the state appealed the case to the Texas Supreme Court. That court heard argument in November 2023 and has not yet issued its decision.Meanwhile, when a Texan named Kate Cox, whose pregnancy with a non-viable fetus threatened her health and her future fertility, heard about the Zurawski case, she bravely came forward to ask for legal help to end her pregnancy. She, her husband, and her OB-GYN became plaintiffs in a case that was urgently litigated by MoFo lawyers and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Women and men across the country followed the case closely as the trial court held that an abortion was permitted under the Texas medical emergency exception. Before Cox could get treatment, however, the Texas Supreme Court issued a stay of the trial court’s order and within the week, it ruled against her, her husband, and her doctor. (Cox left the state to obtain an abortion.)MoFo lawyers are also partnering with the Center for Reproductive Rights in the case Blackmon v. Tennessee, being heard in Tennessee state court. As in the Texas litigation, the goal of this case is clarification from the court that the medical condition exception to Tennessee’s abortion ban allows a doctor to provide abortion care when a pregnant woman has a physical emergent medical condition that poses a risk of death or a risk to the woman’s health, including her future fertility. The state’s motion to dismiss that case is scheduled for argument in early April 2024. MoFo lawyers remain undaunted. “As long as women’s reproductive rights are threatened, our pro bono team remains on the front lines and will continue to marshal the time, talent, and resources needed to zealously advocate for our clients in Texas and beyond,” said Jamie Levitt. The dozens of MoFo lawyers who have collectively contributed more than 3,000 hours to these efforts since the Dobbs decision surely agree.

MoFo Lawyers Lead Pro Bono Advocacy for Reproductive Justice in a Post-Dobbs Era

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

Pearlstein v. Blackberry Limited 

Global Transportation Company and Its Board of Directors 

FutureSelect Portfolio Management Inc. v. Ernst & Young 

Residential Capital, LLC 

In re NOVAGOLD Resources, Inc. Securities Litigation

Nicholas Skiadas v. Acer Therapeutics, Inc.

In re WorldSpace Securities Litigation 

Canadian Superior Energy Inc. Securities Litigation

Altayyar v. Etsy, Inc.

JPMorgan Chase/SouthEdge 

Menaldi v. Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC

Parker v. United Industries Corp.

Veeco Instruments, Inc.

In re Metromedia Fiber Networks, Inc. Securities Litigation

Metromedia Fiber Networks, Inc. (MFN) Audit Committee Chair Investigation (SEC)

American Home Mortgage

Chobani LLC

Alcon Vision, LLC. v. Lens.com and Alcon Vision, LLC v. Allied Vision Group, Inc

Bradley Pharmaceuticals Investigations (SEC)

Johnson v. Glassman

Staehr v. Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

Metropole v. RemoteReality

CFLP v. Market Data Corporation

Outside Directors and Audit Committee of Take Two Interactive Software, Inc.

Interpool Audit Committee

Financial Institution Executive Compensation Investigation

Viatel Audit Committee

First Bank v. Silverman

ICS Travel v. Cheap Tickets, Inc.

Verified Identity Pass, Inc. v. Fischer

TouchTunes Musical Group 

Hortonworks Shareholder Lawsuits

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Partner

Jamie Levitt is a trial lawyer and managing partner of the New York office. She is also the former head of the New York Litigation Department.

Jamie A. Levitt

Jamie A. Levitt | Commercial + Securities Litigation

Jamie is co-chair of MoFo’s Commercial Litigation & Trial Group and the former head of New York Litigation. She has served as chair of The Morrison Foerster Foundation since 2015.

Jamie Levitt

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MoFo Lawyers Lead Pro Bono Advocacy for Reproductive Justice in a Post-Dobbs Era

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Morrison Foerster has long championed the advancement of women. 

The MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel held in February 2024 in Brooklyn, NY brought together over 200 women leaders in the legal industry for a day filled with substantive panels and breakouts, professional development sessions, networking opportunities, and an inspirational keynote discussion.We are thankful to our co-chairs, Carrie H. Cohen and Crystal Kaldjob, for their work and unwavering dedication in spearheading the event. We are also appreciative of our MoFo panelists and guests who made this year’s event an enormous success.<a href="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/assets/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt3b3fb4b54bb65e7c/240321-2024-mofo-womens-summit-agenda.pdf" target="_blank">View the agenda for a full list of speakers and panels</a>. Our panelists explored a variety of relevant topics, such as:<ul><li>Artificial Intelligence Compliance Challenges – A Double-Edged Sword</li><li>Navigating the Evolving Regulatory Landscape: Digital Assets and FinTech in Today’s Climate</li><li>Understanding and Preparing for Emerging Global Anti-Money Laundering & Sanctions Risks</li><li>Parallel Government Enforcement Actions and Class Actions: 2023 Trends and Best Practices</li><li>The SEC’s Cyber Disclosure Regime – Best Practices for Disclosures and Enforcement Risk Mitigation</li><li>Hot Topics in the Life Sciences Industry</li></ul>We were also honored to welcome Jill Ellis, renowned soccer coach and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, as our keynote speaker. Her inspirational discussion with MoFo partner Carrie H. Cohen, global co-chair of the Investigations + White Collar Defense Practice Group, resonated with attendees as she shared her personal journey of leadership, perseverance, and how she defined success in her career.As part of MoFo’s commitment to making a meaningful impact in our communities and for our clients, charitable donations were made by MoFo on behalf of the Women’s Summit to the organizations listed below. During the Summit, attendees had the opportunity to help decide how funds were distributed among these entities, which not only enriched our event, but also ensured a lasting impact on the lives of women and girls. This year’s selection of charitable organizations that received donations from MoFo are as follows:  <ul><li><a href="https://reproductiverights.org/" target="_blank">Center for Reproductive Rights</a>: Advocating for reproductive rights worldwide; </li><li><a href="https://www.federalbarcouncil.org/foundation/when-there-are-nine/" target="_blank">When There Are Nine Scholarship Project</a>: Empowering women through education, mentorship, and opportunity;</li><li><a href="https://www.tahirih.org/" target="_blank">Tahirih Justice Center</a>: Protecting immigrant women and girls fleeing violence; and</li><li><a href="https://volsprobono.org/projects/incarcerated-mothers/" target="_blank">Volunteers of Legal Services Incarcerated Mothers Project</a>: Providing free legal advice and advocacy to mothers in prison.</li></ul><div data-reactroot=""><span class="rich-text-component-embed" data-component-info="{&quot;_version&quot;:3,&quot;locale&quot;:&quot;en-us&quot;,&quot;uid&quot;:&quot;blt563c08ffd590936e&quot;,&quot;card_information&quot;:{&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel &lt;/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;card_information&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;card_information&quot;},&quot;description&quot;:{&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;description&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;description&quot;},&quot;display_title&quot;:{&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel &lt;/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;display_title&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;display_title&quot;},&quot;page_meta&quot;:{&quot;open_graph_meta&quot;:{&quot;og_type&quot;:&quot;website&quot;,&quot;og_site_name&quot;:&quot;Morrison &amp; Foerster&quot;,&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;page_meta;open_graph_meta&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;open_graph_meta&quot;},&quot;twitter_card&quot;:&quot;summary_large_image&quot;,&quot;social_share&quot;:{&quot;hashtags&quot;:[&quot;MoFo&quot;],&quot;related_accounts&quot;:[&quot;MoFoLLP&quot;],&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;page_meta;social_share&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;social_share&quot;},&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;page_meta&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;page_meta&quot;},&quot;title&quot;:&quot;2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;/video/230321-2024-mofo-summit-for-women-in-house-counsel&quot;,&quot;video_id&quot;:&quot;2024-mofo-summit-for-women-in-house-counsel&quot;,&quot;youtube&quot;:&quot;https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/L3_8TRZzoCU&quot;,&quot;publish_details&quot;:{&quot;environment&quot;:&quot;bltf4674cd9142c5020&quot;,&quot;locale&quot;:&quot;en-us&quot;,&quot;time&quot;:&quot;2024-03-21T13:15:09.884Z&quot;,&quot;user&quot;:&quot;bltb8dfc2c109d32f0d&quot;,&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields;publish_details&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;publish_details&quot;},&quot;_fetched&quot;:true,&quot;_content_type_uid&quot;:&quot;video_content&quot;,&quot;_trace&quot;:&quot;array_node;blog_global_fields&quot;,&quot;_key&quot;:&quot;key&quot;}" data-component-type="video_content" data-component-inline="false"></div>

2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel 

2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel

The MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel held in February 2024 in Brooklyn, NY brought together over 200 women leaders in the legal industry for a day filled with substantive panels and breakouts, professional development sessions, networking opportunities, and an inspirational keynote discussion.

2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel

International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the collective efforts to drive women’s equality. It marks a day to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination, and work towards creating a more diverse and inclusive world. The 2024 theme is Inspire Inclusion—inspiring others to understand and value women’s inclusion, thus forging a better world.World-renowned feminist, journalist, and activist Gloria Steinem explained that “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” MoFo has a longstanding commitment to supporting and promoting the advancement of women, which is at the heart of our shared values. Our commitment embodies Steinem’s sentiment of creating an inclusive culture that requires the united effort and dedication of many. We believe that when our women succeed, we all succeed.In recognition of International Women’s Day, we honor our newest women partner class, women who inspire others to understand and value inclusion.<ul><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/kate-driscoll" target="_blank">Kate Driscoll</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/rachel-fiorill" target="_blank">Rachel Fiorill</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/tushna-gamadia" target="_blank">Tushna Gamadia</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/rose-lee" target="_blank">Rose Lee</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/meghan-poon" target="_blank">Meghan Poon</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/shiri-shenhav" target="_blank">Shiri Shenhav</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/alexandra-barlow" target="_blank">Alex Barlow</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/krista-deboer" target="_blank">Krista deBoer</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/chere-see" target="_blank">Chere See</a></li></ul>

International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the collective efforts to drive women’s equality. It marks a day to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination, and work towards creating a more diverse and inclusive world. The 2024 theme is Inspire Inclusion—inspiring others to understand and value women’s inclusion, thus forging a better world.

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2024

Editors’ Note: Read about Tiarra Rogers Stein, a San Francisco associate in the firm’s Litigation Department, in the latest installment of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series.Every day when I was dropped off at school growing up, rather than tell me to be polite to my teachers or to study hard, my father figure always told me to speak my mind and stand up for others if I saw injustice. I come from a family of lifelong protestors and disobedients for civil rights. It was always instilled in me that each of us have a communal duty to speak up and fight for those who can’t, and I carried that with me, knowing I wanted to spend my career giving back to my community and making change in the larger world.My earliest memories are running from the wild rooster that lived in the sugarcane fields outside the old school bus where I grew up. My mom’s family had lived in Mendocino County for generations, my father had moved to the area from Los Angeles with the CCC before he passed. I had never known anyone to leave the area, but my mom saved up the little she had and took me travelling as a young child, spurring my passion to travel and see the larger world. That opportunity came when I was accepted to Vassar. I was the first one in my family to pursue college directly after high school, and the first to go to graduate school.College was one of the first times that I was able to find other queer and black community, and it opened my eyes to the shared history and larger community that I was a part of outside of the insular one that I’d had in the Yokayo valley. It was the first place that I was able to explore ideas of gender and sexuality, through drag, through queer and trans history, and within a diverse community that I’d never previously had.Through college, I worked in film, writing and directing stories about gender rights and raising awareness on gender-based violence. But somewhere between attending a film program in Prague and working on commercials in Seattle, I found that industry was probably not the right fit for what I wanted to do with my life, and I started looking into how else I could use my voice and my skill to help larger communities. I thought about my family, about how I’d seen so many of them go through the prison system without adequate representation, about the opportunity that I’d been afforded as the first one to leave the area and started looking into law school. My desire to practice law crystallized in college after watching civil rights threaten to be further stripped from already marginalized groups in the United States through the 2010s.While at Stanford, I was able to continue the advocacy work that I’d set out to do by going to law school. I served on the boards of the Black Law Students Association and First-Gen/Low Income Association and through my time in both, advocated for community policy to create equity in the school and in the legal profession I knew I wanted to enter my career doing work that would continue to support the underserved communities. But by being first gen, there was always the looming financial reality of it all. I knew that I wanted to go to a firm where I could practice robust pro bono in my community, and MoFo was the perfect firm to accomplish that.While clerking, I was able to be part of the first Pride Celebration at the Northern District of California and work on cases that deeply touched on issues of civil rights.Through my time at MoFo, I’ve seen the way that they support diversity not only in their staff and lawyers but in their local community as well. During my first litigation associate meeting, the San Francisco office highlighted the pro bono work that they’ve done with the San Francisco AIDs foundation—with a team presenting on ongoing projects with the organization. Every week, I am amazed at the number of calls for associates to work on pro bono projects from impact litigation to clinics supporting direct services. Additionally, I’ve found incredible community and mentorship here at the firm, which truly goes deeper than anywhere that I’ve ever worked before. The mentorship I’ve received from other black members of the firm like Christin Hill to pursue incredibly substantive roles on cases from the beginning of my time at MoFo has been incredible, and I feel so lucky to get to be a part of the community of lawyers that MoFo has fostered.I didn’t imagine myself here years ago, but I know that I’ve carried the message that my family told me then in everything I do today—to speak my mind and to stand up for others. When I’m not at my firm, you’ll always find me running around taking on some new sport or hobby, between rock climbing with Queer Crush, playing weekend dodgeball with other folks from MoFo at a local LGBTQ+ Dodgeball league, pouring through new fantasy novels, or hopping between local indie concerts with my partner.

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Every day when I was dropped off at school growing up, rather than tell me to be polite to my teachers or to study hard, my father figure always told me to speak my mind and stand up for others if I saw injustice. I come from a family of lifelong protestors and disobedients for civil rights.

Faces of MoFo: Tiarra Rogers Stein

On September 12, 2023, MoFo litigation partner and co-chair of the Employment & Labor Group and the Women’s Strategy Committee, Tritia Murata, along with Jamie Levitt, managing partner of MoFo’s New York office, hosted a panel discussion with some of the nation’s leading Supreme Court and constitutional scholars: Dahlia Lithwick, Melissa Murray, and Kenji Yoshino, about the legal implications of the Supreme Court’s most recent cases. The panelists broke down the decisions of the Supreme Court’s six-justice conservative supermajority which ended race-conscious college admissions, shelved President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, and created a free speech exception for to a state anti-discrimination law. Collectively, these decisions raise important issues as it relates to diversity and inclusion, and they came on the heels of the Court’s controversial landmark decision in Dobbs reversing Roe v. Wade just a year earlier. To start the program, Tritia began by revisiting Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, discussing with the panelists the implications of the decisions that have since had significant effects across jurisdictions, including Alabama announcing it will prosecute anyone who assists a pregnant person crossing state lines in search of an abortion, a lawsuit filed in attempt to remove FDA-approved abortion medication Mifepristone from the market, and numerous other new, creative ways to attempt to block abortions. Dahlia Lithwick noted that, the only thing seemingly clear from the reversal is that uncertainty remains across the board, not only for patients and providers, but also for society as a whole, given that in the Dobbs decision the Court declared that the Ninth Amendment’s unenumerated rights will only be respected if they are “deeply rooted in this nation’s history and traditions.”  Next, the conversation segued from Dobbs to the deeply divided 2023 affirmative action cases, SSFA v. President and Fellows of Harvard and SSFA vs. University of North Carolina (UNC). During this part of the program, the panelists noted that challenges to affirmative action have been around for years, and the Supreme Court’s decision to end race-based affirmative action policies in American college admissions marked the first legal victory, by the group Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA). Melissa Murray highlighted that the court’s analysis into Harvard’s admission practice [was] an infirmity that could have been corrected without removing race-based admissions altogether.The conversation then shifted from the affirmative action cases to 303 Creative, which was decided one day later. In discussing the Supreme Court’s ruling which found that the creation of wedding websites for same-sex couples by a Christian web designer violated her free speech rights under the First Amendment, Kenji Yoshino discussed the similarities and distinctions of 303 Creative against the 2018 case Masterpiece Cakeshop. Kenji articulated that the free speech exemptions are more dangerous because of two factors: they can be asserted against anyone, and they can be asserted by anyone.Finally, the panelists discussed the case of Biden v. Nebraska, which rejected the Biden administration’s debt forgiveness program by interpreting the statutory text as well as by applying the major questions doctrine. Dahlia noted that while the major questions doctrine was relevant to the Court’s opinion as Chief Justice Roberts invoked it by name for the first time, actually has no constitutional or statutory roots.Tritia wrapped up the discussion by asking the panelists their opinions of the Supreme Court’s new session, which reconvenes in October, and which includes pivotal cases on gender discrimination and gun rights. In closing, the panel reflected on MoFo alumni Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s rookie year with the Supreme Court, and their conviction that she has already made a real difference, especially towards issues impactful to diversity and inclusion.<a href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/podcasts/231005-from-dobbs-to-biden-v-nebraska">Listen</a> to a recording of the panel discussion.

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On September 12, 2023, MoFo litigation partner and co-chair of the Employment & Labor Group and the Women’s Strategy Committee, Tritia Murata, along with Jamie Levitt, managing partner of MoFo’s New York office, hosted a panel discussion with some of the nation’s leading Supreme Court and constitutional scholars: Dahlia Lithwick, Melissa Murray, and Kenji Yoshino, about the legal implications of the Supreme Court’s most recent cases.

From Dobbs to Biden v. Nebraska – A Look at the 2022-2-23 SCOTUS Terms

As part of MoFo’s <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/leaders-of-influence-a-spotlight-on-mofo-s-women-of-color">Leaders of Influence campaign</a>, Crystal Kaldjob, co-lead of our Fintech practice, shares her reflections on her leadership style and skills, including those she continues to work on, and her current diversity and inclusion initiatives.Crystal’s practice focuses on advising financial services clients on a wide range of issues in regulatory and transactional contexts.  Crystal provides practical, solution-oriented regulatory and transactional assistance to merchants, emerging companies, fintech companies, banks and other financial institutions in strategic partnerships, including structuring and negotiating private label, co-brand credit card, and point-of-sale financing partnerships, marketplace lending arrangements, asset purchases, and loan portfolio sales and acquisitions.  Her regulatory experience involves advising financial institutions, fintech companies, and merchants on compliance with consumer and retail banking laws, including laws related to the offering and operation of consumer credit, payments, and financial products and services.Describe your leadership style how you “lead” others. I lead by being practical, solution-oriented, decisive, supportive, and importantly, authentic. It is important to me to work towards practical solutions and to be supportive of the team by obtaining their input and working toward a solution. I do not shy away from telling my story, how it differentiates me from others, and being honest when I’m excited about a new client or a new matter or disappointed in a negotiation. What skills do you use most often in your leadership role?Listening, problem-solving, and leading by example. Working as a Fintech lawyer means I work with all types of clients—early stage fintechs, established banks and financial institutions, and merchants. Listening to their individual needs and developing creative solutions to mitigate risk is critical (particularly when I’m negotiating on their behalf or helping them set up a new financial product or service). Our clients have different needs, different pain and pressure points, different priorities, and different levels of knowledge about the financial services space. The attorneys I work with also have different needs, priorities, and levels of knowledge, and it is critical that I listen and try to understand and work with others to identify their strengths and how they can successfully support our clients.     What leadership skills are you continuing to work on? I continue to work on all of my skills—particularly patience and delegation. As a relatively new partner, a successful transition from senior associate to partner is impacted by the ability to delegate (rather than to just do it yourself) in all matters—including substantive work and administrative tasks to our amazing support staff. It takes immense patience to be able to delegate successfully. If I do not take the time to invest in my team by providing them with context and clear direction, and regularly check in, delegation fails. If you participate in firm or office initiatives, please mention the initiatives you are working on as well as the impact you hope to achieve? I co-lead the firm’s Fintech practice, serve on the Diversity Strategy Committee (DSC) (including as a Black Attorney Network (BAN) Partner Liaison) and the Pro Bono Committee, and serve as the partner liaison for our local associate-led Women’s Affinity Group. I also serve on several task forces and steering committees for important firm initiatives. Recruiting, promoting, retaining, and creating an inclusive environment for our diverse attorneys, particularly our black attorneys, who are historically underrepresented in law firms, are why I enjoy and value being a member of the DSC and serving as a BAN partner liaison.

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As part of MoFo’s Leaders of Influence campaign, Crystal Kaldjob, co-lead of our Fintech practice, shares her reflections on her leadership style and skills, including those she continues to work on, and her current diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Leaders of Influence: A Spotlight on MoFo’s Women of Color – Crystal Kaldjob

As part of MoFo’s <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/leaders-of-influence-a-spotlight-on-mofo-s-women-of-color">Leaders of Influence campaign</a>, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/ruti-smithline" target="_blank">Ruti Smithline</a>, co-chair of the firm’s Investigations + White-Collar Criminal Defense Group and co-chair of the firm’s Latin America Desk, discusses what motivated her to become a leader, what skills she uses most often in her leadership role, and how she stays mindful of who’s at the table and who’s missing.Ruti’s practice focuses on complex litigation, with an emphasis on white-collar criminal defense, SEC enforcement, and corporate internal investigations. She is a member of the firm’s global FCPA + Anti-Corruption Task Force, and she regularly advises clients on cross-border investigations, global compliance programs, and anti-corruption due diligence for acquisitions, joint ventures, and private equity transactions. Ruti has represented individual and corporate defendants in cross-border criminal investigations, SEC enforcement matters, and other regulatory proceedings, including matters related to trade sanctions and anti-money laundering. She has experience conducting corporate internal investigations both domestically and internationally, often advising clients on remedial measures responsive to the issues that are being investigated. As a native Spanish speaker born and raised in Colombia, she is able to provide guidance to her clients without a need for translation.What motivated you to step up and become a leader at the firm?I have to admit that when I first became a leader it was not necessarily a conscious decision as much as it was the result of being presented with an opportunity. But what I quickly realized is that, by taking on these leadership positions, I could make a meaningful impact, particularly in helping to advance more junior attorneys. Early on in my career I learned the difference between mentorship and sponsorship, and while I think both are crucial to professional development, taking on leadership positions has allowed me to become a sponsor. I am now part of conversations where I can advocate for other lawyers and ensure that they are represented when decisions are being made.What skills do you use most often in your leadership role?My practice is focused on cross-border investigations, and one of the skills I find most crucial is the ability to listen. I think this skill translates well into my style of leadership because I believe it is critical to listen to others. I want to make sure people are respected and heard. Ultimately, this allows me to consider a diverse set of views before acting, even if what I decide is not the consensus point of view. I also greatly value transparency, and I make it a point to share as much information as is appropriate. I find that people are more likely to feel comfortable with decisions—even ones that they may not agree with—if they understand the rationale for the decision.As a leader, how do you stay mindful of who’s at the table and who’s missing?Throughout my career I have been fortunate to work with advocates who not only gave me a seat at the table but also ensured that I had a voice. Appreciating how important this has been for my own development, I make an intentional effort to provide opportunities for my teams to have meaningful client-facing interactions and to own substantive projects and presentations. What I have learned is that, while important, making sure they are at the table is not enough; they need to have an important role to play and an opportunity to showcase their skills and expertise. I want every member of my team to be heard, and I make a conscious effort to ensure that everyone—and not just the ones who may naturally be more outgoing, assertive, or confident—feels prepared enough to play a substantive role.What is the biggest challenge facing leaders today?At a law firm, people are our number one asset. Without talent, we have no product to sell.  And for that reason, a key priority for me is ensuring that we attract and, more importantly, retain our attorneys. In many ways, I don’t believe that the practice of law has necessarily kept pace with the expectations and needs of an evolving workforce. The challenge that I see for leaders today is that we cannot continue to demand that things be done how they used to be simply because that is what worked in the past. We also need to adapt and evolve to ensure that we can motivate and develop attorneys to achieve the ultimate goal—which has not changed—of delivering excellent client service.What leadership skills are you continuing to work on?Not to overgeneralize, but I think, like many other women, I sometimes struggle with a lack of confidence or the idea of impostor syndrome. Particularly as I started to assume leadership positions, I sometimes wondered if someone had made a mistake in selecting me. While being humble is a great character trait, there were occasions where I may not have spoken out when I had a good idea or strategy to share, especially if it was an unpopular one. But I continue to work on ensuring that I do not undercut my own abilities or sell myself short of my accomplishments, and my self-confidence continues to grow as I take on expanded leadership roles. I think some of the best advice I ever got was that I should accept and seek out new opportunities and challenges even if I don’t feel 100% prepared for them.

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As part of MoFo’s Leaders of Influence campaign, Ruti Smithline, co-chair of the firm’s Investigations + White-Collar Criminal Defense Group and co-chair of the firm’s Latin America Desk, discusses what motivated her to become a leader, what skills she uses most often in her leadership role, and how she stays mindful of who’s at the table and who’s missing.

Leaders of Influence: A Spotlight on MoFo’s Women of Color – Ruti Smithline

As part of MoFo’s <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/leaders-of-influence-a-spotlight-on-mofo-s-women-of-color">Leaders of Influence campaign</a>, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/christin-hill" target="_blank">Christin Hill</a>, partner in Morrison Foerster’s San Francisco office, discusses her leadership style, how she supports diverse women associates who are starting their careers, and surprises she has faced after becoming a leader at the firm.Christin is a member of the Securities Litigation, Securities Enforcement, and Investigations + White-Collar Defense practice groups. She has extensive experience representing clients in securities class actions, derivative actions, and other complex civil litigation in both federal and state courts, as well as in government and internal investigations.In what ways do you support diverse women associates who are beginning their careers?I consider it my duty and my honor to lift others – and particularly diverse women associates – as I climb. I do this by actively mentoring diverse women at all levels, including high school students, college students, law students, and certainly our associates. For me, active mentoring means taking a vested interest in my mentees’ career progression, understanding what they want to achieve and doing everything in my power to guide them to that outcome, even if that outcome is not being a Big Law partner. What skills do you use most often in your leadership role?One of my greatest strengths as a leader is empathy. I genuinely care about each member of my team. I care about them as a worker, and I care about them as a person. So, I ask them a lot of questions: What other matters are the working on that may create competing deadlines? What personal events are coming up that we could celebrate? What are their career goals? By leaning more about my team members, I’m better equipped to mentor and support them as individuals and create an environment where they are better equipped to meet client needs.What leadership skills are you continuing to work on?Delegation. Delegation is essential to accomplishing more as a leader. But delegation also takes time. When I delegate, I must make sure that I provide meaningful instructions, check in along the way, and provide feedback. I recognize the huge reward of this investment. Not only do I get more done in the short term, I develop stronger associates who can accomplish more in the long term.Were there any surprises you faced after becoming a leader at the firm?I’m continually surprised and impressed by the hard work of our staff. Even as a summer associate, I recall being amazed at the hard work of our recruiting team. They went above and beyond to give the summer associates an exceptional experience. Now that I’m a partner and a leader at the firm, I appreciate the hard work of various groups: from marketing to attorney development, to the DEI team. It takes a lot more than lawyers to help a firm run smoothly. If you participate in firm or office initiatives, please mention the initiatives you are working on as well as the impact you hope to achieve?I have several leadership roles at MoFo: I’m the SF hiring partner; I’m on the board of directors; and I’m a member of our Partnership Review Committee. Being the SF hiring partner is the most work, but also the most rewarding of my leadership roles. I love getting that first look into the associate pipeline. Our summer associate program is critical to our ability to meet client needs in the future, and to a foster a culture that allows everyone to thrive. It is a privilege to play a role in recruiting the next generation of MoFo lawyers.

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Christin is a member of the Securities Litigation, Securities Enforcement, and Investigations + White-Collar Defense practice groups. She has extensive experience representing clients in securities class actions, derivative actions, and other complex civil litigation in both federal and state courts, as well as in government and internal investigations.

Leaders of Influence: A Spotlight on MoFo’s Women of Color – Christin Hill

As part of MoFo’s <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/leaders-of-influence-a-spotlight-on-mofo-s-women-of-color">Leaders of Influence campaign</a>, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/christine-wong" target="_blank">Christine Wong</a>, Global Co-Chair of Morrison Foerster’s Litigation Department, discusses being a woman attorney of color in a leadership role, what motivated her to become a leader, and how she supports diverse women associates beginning their legal careers.Christine focuses her practice on investigations, white-collar criminal defense, and cross-border compliance matters. She draws on her unique background as an internal advisor and as a federal prosecutor when advising companies, boards, and executives on a variety of matters that present significant legal and reputational risk – including regulatory enforcement, internal investigations, and related civil litigation. She also provides ongoing compliance advice (for example, on antitrust, anti-bribery and corruption, and conflicts of interest) to corporate clients.Describe your leadership style how you lead others. Is it different from your male counterparts?I think it’s really important to listen to the team and work together to formulate a plan. Not only do other people improve my ideas (and hopefully vice versa!) but I also want to make sure that each team member feels that their contributions are important and valued. What motivated you to step up and become a leader at the firm?I have been fortunate enough to be offered a series of leadership opportunities with increasing responsibilities. While I have felt a bit out of my comfort zone with each new leadership role, the personal growth opportunities have been too important to turn down and each leadership experience has prepared me for the next challenge.     What do you think is the most significant barrier to female leadership? What have you seen hinder a women leaders’ career?Being afraid of new challenges. Thinking that you really have to be 100% in your comfort zone before taking on additional responsibilities. As a leader, how do you stay mindful of who’s at the table and who’s missing?One of the most important tasks I have is answering questions about who would be best to handle specific types of matters or who would be best suited for particular clients. I make sure that I scroll through all potential candidates before offering names, and I make a conscious effort to not go back to the same people over and over. In what ways do you support diverse women associates who are beginning their careers?I make sure that my matters are staffed with diverse women associates and provide enough support to them so that they can succeed. My door is open and I’m happy to discuss anything—substantive work questions, work/life balance, book recommendations, hobbies, etc.!

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Christine focuses her practice on investigations, white-collar criminal defense, and cross-border compliance matters. She draws on her unique background as an internal advisor and as a federal prosecutor when advising companies, boards, and executives on a variety of matters that present significant legal and reputational risk – including regulatory enforcement, internal investigations, and related civil litigation. 

Leaders of Influence: A Spotlight on MoFo’s Women of Color – Christine Wong

As part of MoFo’s <a href="https://together.mofo.com/topics/leaders-of-influence-a-spotlight-on-mofo-s-women-of-color">Leaders of Influence campaign</a>, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/serena-tan" target="_blank">Serena Tan</a>, Deputy Chair of Morrison Foerster’s Global Private Funds Group and Chair of Greater China Private Funds practice based in Hong Kong, shares her reflections on being a woman attorney of color in a leadership role. She discusses topics such as the challenges she’s faced and the benefits of having women in leadership today.Serena represents global and regional fund managers and institutional investors in the formation of private equity, private credit, and real estate funds. Her practice focuses on both offshore funds (including in the Cayman Islands, BVI, Delaware, Luxembourg, Singapore, and Hong Kong) and RMB funds (including QFLP and QDLP funds). Describe your leadership style how you lead others. Is it different from your male counterparts?Action! I like to lead by taking proactive actions – whenever I see value in any initiative, I actively put forward an action plan and sketch out initial drafts as soon as possible for other partners to review. I believe this approach not only speeds up the process, but also encourages more participation from others as abstract ideas have been converted into concrete action plans and concrete drafts for others to chime in on. Some of my male counterparts have also adopted a similar leadership style, as we all see its benefits.What motivated you to step up and become a leader at the firm?My fellow women leaders at the firm are great role models for me, which inspired me to step up as a leader so that I could make greater contributions and bring positive changes to the firm. As I progressed in my career, I realized that assuming a leadership role would provide me with the chance to define my own working model based on my values and priorities. Additionally, it allows me to develop and maintain relationships with clients who share my values and visions.What are the benefits of having women in leadership?As women generally have a more practicable working style and egos are less likely to stand in the way, having women in leadership positions can foster greater equality in discussions, thus bringing more well-balanced, creative standpoints to our clients and the firm. Women leaders who are passionate and nurturing can also serve as great mentors to junior professionals guiding them through their careers.What is the biggest challenge facing leaders today?One challenge is adapting to the post-pandemic world. Internally, leaders will need to navigate through new and emerging norms in the workplace – ensuring workplace flexibility while maintaining productivity, collaboration, and training to juniors. Externally, leaders will have to explore ways to best capture new business opportunities presented by the post-pandemic economic recovery. Were there any surprises you faced after becoming a leader at the firm?The extent of my responsibilities after taking up a leadership role at the firm has expanded more extensively than I anticipated. As a leader, I work with other leaders to make strategic decisions that impact our practice group and the firm, managing people at different levels, overseeing implementation of various policies and initiatives, and setting budgets. There is also a stronger need for a global perspective as a leader, as I need to ensure that we can capture opportunities in different markets and regions by leveraging our global expertise and resources.