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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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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Maureen Ho is a partner at Morrison & Foerster (International) LLP. Maureen’s practice focuses on advising private equity and real estate funds, and financial and corporate investors on all aspects of their investment cycle, including private and public mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buy-outs, infrastructure investments, and joint ventures, as well as pre-IPO investments, bolt-on acquisitions, and corporate restructurings. Maureen also has experience advising clients on corporate carve-outs, management buy-outs and general corporate matters. She was recently named as a Rising Star in the Private Equity category in the Asia-Pacific region by International Financial Law Review (IFLR).Why is it important to celebrate Women’s History Month/International Women’s Day?To me, it’s simple. We don’t celebrate women’s contributions enough and we need the time to reflect on the progress made toward giving all women and girls a globally equal future. In 2022, it is particularly important to recognize that, during the past two years, women stand on the front lines at homes and at work during the COVID-19 crisis.What changes have you seen in the course of your career that have paved the way for women’s advancement?In the legal industry, almost all international law firms published formal policies on zero tolerance for sexual assault and harassment and implemented parental leave for both husbands and wives. Legal journals published statistics on women’s representation like Law360’s Glass Ceiling Report, to recognize leading workplaces for women in our industry like MoFo. Recently many law firms changed their billable hours policy giving billable credit for diversity and inclusion efforts and MoFo is one of them.What would be the most meaningful action that allies could undertake to help advance women in the workplace?To start to be seen to be effectively promoting others (including women), I think it’s important to start to know individuals on a more personal level, ensure each individual in the workplace gets to speak and participate where possible, and call out any gender bias or inequality. It’s key to understand not only the ability and constraints (if any) of female individuals but also the perception and hesitation (if any) of others. Getting over unconscious biases is tough and it takes genuine communication.

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International Women’s Day: Maureen Ho

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Maureen Ho is a partner at Morrison & Foerster (International) LLP. Maureen’s practice focuses on advising private equity and real estate funds, and financial and corporate investors on all aspects of their investment cycle, including private and public mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buy-outs, infrastructure

International Women’s Day: Maureen Ho

Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series, we interviewed <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/astrid-menendez-muharram" target="_self" rel="noopener">Astrid Menendez-Muharram</a>, an associate in the firm’s Corporate Practice.  When did you first realize that you wanted to practice law?While originally intending to pursue a career in the finance/corporate industry, I realized that the market was oversaturated at the time and I would need to find a way to distinguish myself among other candidates who wished to enter the same market. After evaluating my options between attending a graduate MBA program or attending law school, the latter appeared to provide me with the leverage and diversification I was searching for. While originally a stepping-stone, the experiences I had during law school, including externships and summer positions, broadened my understanding of the benefits of a legal background and how I could use that background to further my career in legal or traditional corporate areas. Rather than using my legal background to bolster my corporate resume, I came to the realization that my financial background would better supplement my legal career.Did you have any mentors or role models who helped you on your path, whether that was in school or at MoFo in particular?I have had a few key mentors during my life and personal and professional development. My sister, who is also an attorney, has always served as the most vital and critical mentor with respect to all facets of my life (both professional and personal). I also had a mentor during my first few years as an associate who helped instill the basic skill sets I needed to succeed and continues to play a huge role in my professional life. Here at MoFo, my biggest mentor has been Chere See. She has been a key element with respect to my integration to the firm as well as my development and growth as an attorney.Was there any advice that you received throughout your career or personal life that has really stuck with you?The advice I refer to on a daily basis (both in my personal and professional life) is to “avoid having expectations, good or bad, as they generally lead to disappointments.”Are there any matters or projects that you’ve been particularly proud to have been a part of during your time at MoFo?While I am generally proud when we have a great outcome for a client or when a client expresses their gratitude for our efforts, the pro bono opportunities that MoFo has provided have delivered a different type of pride and gratitude. Being able to assist individuals on a personal level with life-changing matters, such as with their asylum applications, leaves me with a sense of fulfillment that is hard to match.If you weren’t practicing law, what else do you think you would be doing?I would likely be working in a business operations role. A few years down the road, I would also love to the opportunity to teach corporate law/transactional skills in a law school setting.When you’re not working, what do you like to do? I love to spend time with my son and my husband. Whenever I have free time, the priority for me is always spending time with my family, including hiking and skiing in Colorado and fishing and boating in Florida.

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Faces of MoFo: Astrid Menendez-Muharram

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Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series, we interviewed Astrid Menendez-Muharram, an associate in the firm’s Corporate Practice.  When did yo

Faces of MoFo: Astrid Menendez-Muharram

Faces of MoFo: Astrid Menendez-Muharram 2021

For over 40 years, MoFo has been committed to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment where everyone’s contributions are valued. That’s why we’re proud to announce the achievement of “Mansfield Certification Plus” status for 2021, making us one of 23 firms to receive the honor since the launch of the Mansfield Rule in 2017. To continue moving the needle forward, the firm is also joining a number of the country’s leading law firms for version 5.0 of the <a href="https://www.diversitylab.com/pilot-projects/mansfield-rule-5-us-uk-canada/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mansfield Rule</a>, set to run from July 2021 to July 2022.The concept of the Mansfield Rule was born from a winning pitch at Diversity Lab’s inaugural 2016 Women in Law Hackathon event, hosted by Stanford Law School, in which MoFo’s team took third place. The Mansfield Rule was designed to explore new ways to close the gender gap and increase diversity in law firms. The rule was named after Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to practice law in the United States, and is a modified version of the NFL’s “Rooney Rule,” requiring all NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coach positions.The rule measures a firm’s commitment to considering a diverse group of candidates for leadership and governance roles, with women, LGBTQ+, and attorneys of color accounting for at least 30 percent of those roles. Diversity Lab continues to expand upon the original criteria; for example, due to growing interest from firms, Version 5.0 will launch a category for midsize law firms and expand into the UK in September 2021.By successfully demonstrating its adherence throughout the year and earning the distinction of “Mansfield Certification Plus,” MoFo will be given the opportunity to send newly hired diverse partners to one of several two-day client forums where they will be able to pitch innovative ideas, seek mentorship, and network with a variety of in-house council.This past year, the firm sent six partners to the virtual client forums. The partners were invited to attend intriguing TED-style talks, small group professional networking breaks designed to facilitate business connections, and small group pitch meetings with select in-house counsel. The client forums present a unique opportunity to network with other diverse attorneys and meet with high-level in-house counsel representing companies such as American Express, Boston Children’s Hospital, DaVita, U.S. Bank, and PepsiCo, among others.We are excited to have been a successful participant in Mansfield Rule 4.0 and look forward to once again partnering with Diversity Lab and completing Mansfield Rule 5.0.Learn more about our <a href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/news/210914-mansfield-certification-plus.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">participation in the Mansfield Rule</a>.

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MoFo Achieves “Mansfield Certification Plus” Status for 2021

MoFo Achieves “Mansfield Certification Plus” Status for 2021

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For over 40 years, MoFo has been committed to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment where everyo

Several members of MoFo’s <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/capabilities/privacy-data-security.html">Privacy + Data Security Group</a> were recently selected to appear in the 2022 edition of <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.bestlawyers.com/search?firmId=2550&firmName=Morrison%20&%20Foerster&country=US&filters=lawyer&page=1">Best Lawyers in America</a> and were also recognized by The Legal 500 2021, and the fact that they were all women was not lost on the firm. We could not be more proud of the work that all of our attorneys do serving our clients every day, and are particularly pleased to see the talented women of our Privacy + Data Security team be honored for their continued emphasis on excellent client service and innovative legal solutions.Three women were named to the “Ones to Watch” list in Best Lawyers in America 2022, including <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/melissa-crespo.html">Melissa Crespo</a>, Tiffany Quach, and <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/mary-race.html">Mary Race</a>. This series recognizes lawyers who have been in practice for less than 10 years in the United States. Another three women have been recognized as “Best Lawyers,” specifically <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/tiffany-cheung.html">Tiffany Cheung</a> and <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/purvi-patel.html">Purvi G. Patel</a>, who have consistently appeared on the list since 2016, and <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/miriam-wugmeister.html">Miriam Wugmeister</a>, who is co-chair of the group and has appeared on the list since 2011.The women join 39 other MoFo lawyers who appeared in the publication in recognition of their contributions to their practice areas.Established in 1983, Best Lawyers is one of the oldest peer-review publications in the legal profession. The publication’s methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Group received an overall Tier 1 ranking in the “Cyber Law” category (which includes data privacy and data protection). Lawyers recommended from the group include associates Tiffany Quach (Key Lawyer) and <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/mary-race.html">Mary Race</a> (Key Lawyer), of counsel <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/melissa-crespo.html">Melissa Crespo </a>(Rising Star), and partners Christine Lyon (Recommended), Julie O’Neill (Leading Lawyers), and <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/purvi-patel.html">Purvi G. Patel</a> (Recommended). Partners Kristen Mathews and <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/miriam-wugmeister.html">Miriam Wugmeister</a>, who is co-chair of the group, are listed in The Legal 500 Hall of Fame.MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Group is no stranger to earned recognition from top legal publications, like Best Lawyers, Chambers and The Legal 500. A large part of the group’s success can be traced back to the practice’s beginnings and an early focus on ensuring that it was built to not only deliver excellent client service, but also to embrace innovation and diversity.While the field of privacy has long included many senior and powerful women, as co-chair, Miriam has made it a point to ensure that the firm brings people to the practice from a variety of different backgrounds. Her dedication to identifying, recruiting, and retaining diverse, LGBTQ+, and women attorneys is rooted in her belief that the practice and the broader legal community as a whole are improved with the addition of every underrepresented person who joins and succeeds in the field.In a <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/video-audio/210414-how-mofos-privacy-leading-inclusivity.html">special episode of the firm’s Diversity in Practice podcast</a> series, Melissa spoke with Miriam, who mentored her, about why diversity in practice is important to them and to the group, why they have stayed in big law, and what concrete steps others can take to achieve a more diverse team.The Data Security team at Morrison & Foerster provides creative and practical advice concerning all stages of information lifecycles, from privacy compliance to incident response, counseling, litigating cases, and representing clients before regulators around the world. Their extensive experience with data protection laws and their geographic reach uniquely positions them to handle virtually any privacy or data security issue anywhere in the world. The team’s broad capabilities are evidenced by their recent work dealing with the complexities of Chinese Cyber Security Law, Privacy Shield/SCHREMS II, and in representing FireEye in connection with its cybersecurity investigation into the SolarWinds compromise, one of largest and most significant breaches in recent history. The firm has a portfolio featuring key players in the areas of pharmaceuticals (Pfizer), sportswear (Adidas), and social media (Facebook), as well as hundreds of organizations, from ambitious startups to global industry leaders, including nearly half of the Fortune 50, as well as leading companies across all sectors.

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Kudos to the Outstanding Women of MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Group on Being Recognized by Best Lawyers in America and The Legal 500

Kudos to the Outstanding Women of MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Group on Being Recognized by Best Lawyers in America and The Legal 500 

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Several members of MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Group were recently selected to appear in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in America and were also recognized

Kudos to the Outstanding Women of MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Group on Being Recognized by Best Lawyers in America and The Legal 500

Recently, MoFo’s Diversity Strategy Committee hosted a candid conversation with three of our Black women partners. The panelists included Washington, D.C. Litigation partner Natalie Fleming Nolen, San Francisco Litigation partner Christin Hill, and Washington, D.C. Finance partner Crystal Kaldjob. New York Litigation senior associate Christina Ademola moderated the discussion.The women met with a number of MoFo associates and summer associates to share their journeys to partnership and how their identities have affected their career paths. The partners also provided their unique perspectives on perseverance and resiliency in the legal profession, and how these traits helped them along the way.Another major asset that the women pointed to that helped their career trajectories were their sponsors. Christina admitted that, early on in her career, she didn’t know there was a difference between mentors and sponsors, and she asked the partners to help explain it to the associates. Christin responded that, “A mentor is someone that you can go to when you want career advice, someone you can go to when you maybe need practice insight . . . A sponsor is an advocate; somebody who’s going to not just give you good advice, but who is going to go behind the scenes and sing your praises.”The women also touched upon some of the challenges they and other Black women (and women in general) face in working in Big Law, and provided some helpful advice on how to navigate them. One of the biggest challenges that they discussed is having imposter syndrome, which is defined as “the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.” When faced with this feeling, people can often harp on all the mistakes they have made and justify those as reasons they don’t deserve what they have accomplished. Christina’s advice is to “rehearse the good.” In other words, rather than agonize over the things you didn’t do well, focus on the things you did do well.One positive trend for getting more women and women of color a seat at the table, is that clients are starting to put more of an emphasis on working with diverse teams.“A lot of our large clients ask for diversity metrics. They want to know how we’re doing quarter-over-quarter, year-over-year. They want to know who’s working on their matters, who is the lead partner on their matters. They want to know whose getting credit for their matters,” notes Natalie. “We deal with a lot of [clients] who are disruptors, innovators. They want women. They want people of color because they want advice from a different perspective because they are doing things that are outside of the mold.”Listen to the audio clips below to hear what else the women had to say about how they have overcome challenges and won their seat at the table.Natalie Fleming Nolen: Calling for More Diverse Teams<iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/aXAhx54jR44?rel=0" title="Video: Black Women in Big Law - Calling for More Diverse Teams" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="1" title="iframe"></iframe>Christin Hill: Mentorship vs. Sponsorship<iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/J0ZGe1HV9Hw?rel=0" title="Video: Black Women in Big Law - Mentorship Versus Sponsorship" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="1" title="iframe"></iframe>Crystal Kaldjob: Overcoming with Imposter Syndrome<iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/z1xC9bomndw?rel=0" title="Video: Black Women in Big Law - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="1" title="iframe"></iframe>

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Black Women in Big Law: How to Win a Seat at the Table

Black Women in Big Law: How to Win a Seat at the Table

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Recently, MoFo’s Diversity Strategy Committee hosted a candid conversation with three of our Black women partners. The panelists included Washington, D.C. Litig

Editors’ Note: The Women’s Strategy Committee (WSC) at MoFo comprises both male and female partners and associates who strive to foster women attorneys’ development and professional success.During a recent program hosted by the WSC, Corporate associate Shauna France spoke with three incredible female partners who all joined the firm as lateral attorneys. The women on the panel included co-chair of the firm’s Securities Litigation, Enforcement, & White Collar Defense Group Christine Wong, partner in the Private Funds Group Leonora Shalet, and Corporate Finance partner Julia Balas. Christine, Leonora, and Julia discussed their unique paths to partnership, what led them to MoFo, and why they chose to stay.Shauna: If you could describe your path to partnership in one word, or with one theme, what would it be and why?Christine: One word to describe my path would be “circuitous.” The reason why I say that is that my career has had so many twists and turns, as I’ve had several different jobs along the way. I started as an associate at a large law firm, and then I went to the government working as an assistant United States attorney (AUSA) in the Southern District of New York. After that, I was in-house working as head of international compliance at Fujitsu.Leonora: If I had to pick only one word to convey my career journey, it would be “steps.” Like Christine, my journey has been a path that has included many different steps along the way.Julia: My word would be “straightforward.” For me, I had a goal to make partnership that, although planned, was really a team effort.Shauna: What made you decide to come to MoFo, and what has made you stay? Julia: I lateralled here as a senior associate, and MoFo was the third firm where I had worked. I had started my career at another firm in New York, and wasn’t sure what to expect from MoFo L.A., but it was like coming home. I felt accepted right away and was quickly integrated to the office, getting involved in the firm’s recruiting efforts, Women’s Strategy Committee, and the local Women’s Initiative Group. The people I have met along the way, the support I received, and the guidance towards the path to partnership are what have kept me here.Shauna: Leonora, how about you? Leonora: I lateralled to MoFo in early 2020 as a partner. I chose to lateral to MoFo and choose to stay because MoFo has a very impressive platform with a deep bench of knowledgeable lawyers in complementary practice areas. The firm has a presence in a number of key jurisdictions, which allows us to attract and retain large clients with global needs. To me, this was and continues to be very appealing.Shauna: What were some of the challenges in coming to a new firm, especially at a more senior level? Christine: MoFo does a really good job of helping laterals overcome integration challenges. The firm is very intentional about putting people on committees, and on running events to give you more exposure. For example, in my first year I was asked to be one of the co-chairs of the Women’s Summit and, through that experience, I got to know Bita Rahebi, who was my co-chair, and a large number of women partners whom I was working with to speak at the Summit. Now I’m one of the co-chairs of SLEW (Securities Litigation, Enforcement, & White Collar Defense), so I think the firm was very intentional about making sure that I had visibility.Leonora: One of the main reasons I have really enjoyed working at MoFo is the enthusiasm and positive attitude of our associates. I agree with Christine that MoFo does a really good job at finding opportunities to introduce you to people internally, which is crucial, but also to people externally.Julia: For me, there were very few challenges, honestly, because of the level of sponsorship I received during integration. The L.A. office had weekly lunches that allowed for networking, and the summer program was also a great way to integrate into the firm. As I funneled through assignments while running the summer program, I learned who was assigning what, what the big cases in the office were, and what the big patent projects in the office were.Shauna: Is there any advice that you learned on your career journey that want to share? Julia: Don’t turn down any opportunity. The summer after I started as an associate was a very busy one, but by saying yes to work, I found great opportunities to meet people and to get more familiar with what the firm does and what the office does. Take any opportunity you can to get to know your new colleagues, and to take advantage of the firm’s lateral orientation. And just because somebody’s practice doesn’t overlap with yours doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get to know them. Shauna: What is one thought or misconception you had as an associate but, now that you’re a partner, realize is not true? Leonora: Many associates think partners are not approachable. I think it’s the title and the perceived age difference that makes people think, “this person doesn’t have the time or have a desire to speak with me,” or that “they lead a different life” but that’s not true.  We are here for our associates and want to support them in every possible way. Julia: I always felt a level of intimidation with the partner title and was a timid junior associate. At first, I was afraid to ask questions and now, as a partner, I realize that thoughtful questions are all I want to hear from the associates. I want to know that they’re still working on the project, they’re truly thinking it through, and that they feel comfortable coming to me. The beauty of a legal career is that you’re constantly learning and expanding your knowledge base. The partners are also always on that learning path.Shauna: As a more senior associate, I always tell summers and juniors, “Don’t judge yourself by your summer or your first six months in practice because you will be amazed when you look back after that first six months at what you’ve learned.” Don’t think that you don’t know anything because you will soon know everything.Christine: Oftentimes, when you’re a junior associate, you feel like you have no control over your destiny. Matters are given to you, and you take them. At the same time, I think you do have control of the type of subjects that you want to work on. If you’re an associate and you want to work on a particular area, put yourself in front of the partners who do that work, and introduce yourself so that you’re on the top of their list when one of those matters come in.Shauna: Is there one thing that you wish you had known as either a junior, mid-level, or senior associate that if you could go back and tell yourself now you would?Julia: The value of your network. I always felt like networking was this concept that I just wasn’t good at. Then, at some point, I had watched enough business development trainings and events like this Women’s Spotlight series, and realized, “Oh, your network is just the people you know.”Christine: One thing that is helpful to remember is that people approach their career development in different ways. It’s really no use to compare yourself to other people and how other people are doing things. It’s about knowing who you are and what can help you get where you want to be.Leonora: There are things along the way that will be thrown at you, and you’ll worry about how you’re going to handle them. It is important to try not to worry too much and not to compare yourself to the next person. A positive attitude is important, not just for you, but also the people around you, specifically as you begin to consider career progression.Shauna: What advice would you all have for an associate who is looking to make partner?Leonora: If you have a good attitude and you’re willing to support the group in its efforts—efforts with client work as well as any other endeavors that the group may take on—or you’re actively participating in the summer program, you’ll get noticed.Christine: Attitude goes a long way. But I think also what distinguishes associates is their willingness to really own a matter and really put themselves in the shoes of the partner on the matter. That makes us think, “Oh, when this person is a partner, they will think like a partner.”Julia: Allow yourself to be vulnerable. Many of us suffer from imposter syndrome in various circumstances, but sometimes we just have to overcome that and put ourselves in vulnerable situations and ask questions that maybe we are embarrassed to ask, or maybe aren’t sure how to ask. Use the knowledge that you have. Use the experience that you have and run with it.Learn more about MoFo’s long history of advocating for and advancing women <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/women-of-mofo/">here</a>.

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MoFo Women’s Spotlight: Julia Balas, Leonora Shalet, and Christine Wong Discuss Their Paths from Lateral to Partner

MoFo Women’s Spotlight: Julia Balas, Leonora Shalet, and Christine Wong Discuss Their Paths from Lateral to Partner

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Editors’ Note: The Women’s Strategy Committee (WSC) at MoFo comprises both male and female partners and associates who strive to foster women attorneys’ development and professional success. During a recent program hosted by the WSC, Corporate associate Shauna France spoke with three incredible female partners

Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/rose-lee.html">Rose Lee</a>, an associate in the firm’s Litigation Practice, discusses her Asian heritage and how it played a role in her career path, eventually leading her to call MoFo home.My grandmother was born in Japanese Taiwan in 1925. She wasn’t able to finish school and became a housewife in her late teens. Despite—or perhaps, because of—her upbringing, she always stressed the importance of my education. With it, I could be an independent woman, free from the constraints of having to depend on someone else financially. She uprooted her life in the 1980s to come to the United States and help raise my sister and me while my parents worked long hours and attended night school to learn English.She was so proud when I went to college. It didn’t matter what I studied. I ended up choosing chemical engineering—a major I could never quite explain to her, especially in Mandarin. In my third year of college, I took a lab course that also provided a writing credit. The professor lamented the fact that our engineering curriculum was so narrowly focused on only the engineering aspect. His mission was to make us better communicators—after all, what use would our engineering skills be if we couldn’t communicate them? It was the first time I was in a course that weighed the science portion and the quality of our writing equally, and from that experience, I realized I wanted to do something with more writing. A professor recommended patent law.<img height="261" width="198" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt711653660a11a06b/6287fcd68e88d660b6a12e24/rl-199x300-1.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="wp-image-5146 size-full alignleft" loading="lazy" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">My grandmother was thrilled when I decided I wanted to be a lawyer—a profession she could actually articulate, and one that she had seen few women do. She cried when I passed the bar exam. When I started working at Morrison & Foerster, she was excited to see me go to work in an office building downtown. She worried about the long hours, but I would tell her about the smart and decent people I work with, the natural mentors who took me under their wings, and the lifelong friends I’ve made. I can think of no better place where I could have started my legal career.I’ve thought about my grandmother a lot this past year. Though she’s no longer with us, I think about her every time I see an article about violence against the elderly in the AAPI community. I think about her sacrifices and about how she belonged in this country just as much as any other American. I think about how she would have wanted me to use my voice to stand up for our community. But most of all, I think about how much she is a part of my very being, and because of that, how proud I am to be Asian American.

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Faces of MoFo: Rose Lee

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Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series Rose Lee, an associate in the firm’s Litigation Practice, discusses her Asian heritage and how it pla

Faces of MoFo: Rose Lee

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/janet-xiao.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Janet Xiao</a> is a corporate partner in MoFo’s Palo Alto office. Her practice focuses on worldwide patent procurement, patent portfolio management, and strategic planning for life sciences companies. She is the head of firm’s China Life Sciences Group and is among the very few IP attorneys in the world equipped with solid skills in both global strategic IP management and IP issues unique to China and Chinese clients.Janet has been the go-to counsel for IP issues in U.S./China cross-border transactions and operations in China. She has also been actively involved in the leadership team of the Chinese-American Biopharmaceutical Society (CABS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the life sciences communities in the U.S. and China, and is a member of BayHelix, a nonprofit organization of Chinese heritage leaders in the global life sciences and healthcare fields.In two to three sentences, describe your practice. I help life sciences companies build robust patent portfolios to protect their technologies and products. I work with companies and investors in performing IP due diligence reviews in the contexts of VC investments, technology transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and marketing and manufacturing clearance for biopharmaceutical and medical device products. As one of the few IP attorneys in the world who is both equipped with solid skills in global strategic IP management and knowledgeable about IP issues unique to China and Chinese clients, I frequently advise clients on IP issues relating to U.S./China cross-border transactions and operations in China.Why did you choose to make MoFo your professional home? I started at MoFo due to its renowned patent prosecution practice. I am fortunate to have grown in such a nurturing environment, which has allowed me to develop solid legal skills and gain valuable experience in complex business settings. MoFo’s emphasis on collaborative culture and diversity strongly resonates with my own personal values, and its effects have been instrumental to my career growth. Work at MoFo has been tremendously enjoyable to me over the years because of colleagues who are both passionate about providing excellent service to clients and collaborative in all aspects. Colleagues who understand and welcome diverse points of view have served as sounding boards for me and helped me broaden my perspectives, making me a better, well-rounded attorney. In addition, MoFo’s fully integrated cross-practice life sciences group enables me to present the firm as a one-stop shop for life sciences clients facing a broad spectrum of legal issues and challenges.How do clients benefit from having diverse teams of lawyers working for them? Diverse legal teams consist of professionals from different backgrounds, technical skills, and ways of thinking who can bring a variety of perspectives to the table. As patent attorneys, we frequently work with clients to think through their innovations and business strategies. As such, having a wide variety of voices at the table enables us to provide the best support to our clients.  I believe that diversity and inclusion are highly important to our team, as they provide our clients with access to professionals who can add differentiated value.

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Partner Spotlight: Janet Xiao

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Janet Xiao is a corporate partner in MoFo’s Palo Alto office. Her practice focuses on worldwide patent procurement, patent portfolio management, and strategic p

Partner Spotlight: Janet Xiao

Leonora Shalet is a Corporate partner in MoFo’s New York office. Her practice focuses on advising clients on fund formation, structuring, and ongoing operational needs, including general securities law matters, and regulatory and compliance issues. She has over a decade of international experience in investment management matters, specifically related to private credit or private equity funds. Leonora has also represented clients in connection with the launch and operation of funds of funds, hybrid funds, and hedge funds covering different strategies.Is there a female public figure you admire who you would like to celebrate? I admire U.S. Representative Katie Porter for her perseverance, good nature, integrity and style of communication. She has the ability to effectively confront people, policies and corporations that seem untouchable and does so in a simple—but elegant—manner.What do you consider your role to be in the advancement of women? There are two common mindsets: “I’ve gone through it, so you can get through it, too” or “I’ve gone through it, so you don’t have to.” I find that the latter is more helpful in supporting women. Once a barrier is broken, let’s keep the door open and welcome other women through.Do you have an example of a time when you called out gender bias or inequality? Is there someone you admire because they did so in a way that was impactful to you? To my prior point, there is often an unhelpful mindset that if one person has overcome a hurdle, others can as well. Add to this the fact that the legal and financial industries are extremely competitive. Against this backdrop, I am immensely proud of the women leaders at MoFo whom I have witnessed tirelessly supporting other women, drawing attention to and celebrating the achievements of their colleagues to ensure recognition and help them succeed.Learn more about MoFo’s long history of advocating for and advancing women <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/women-of-mofo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

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Women’s History Month: Leonora Shalet

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Leonora Shalet is a Corporate partner in MoFo’s New York office. Her practice focuses on advising clients on fund formation, structuring, and ongoing operationa

Women’s History Month: Leonora Shalet

Editors’ Note: MoFo’s Women’s Strategy Committee (WSC) comprises both male and female partners and associates who strive to foster women attorneys’ development and professional success. During a recent program hosted by the WSC, Washington, D.C.-based litigation associate Vanshika Vij spoke with three MoFo women partners who held leadership positions in the U.S. Government prior to joining the firm. Panelists included Appellate and Supreme Court Practice Group co-chair Deanne Maynard, co-chair of the Global Antitrust Law Practice and Investigations + White Collar Group Lisa Phelan, and leading securities enforcement litigator Jina Choi. In this 21st installment of the MoFo Women Spotlight series, Deanne, Lisa, and Jina discuss their roles in the U.S. Government and how those experiences helped shape their careers today.Vanshika: I am a seventh year associate in the Securities, Litigation, Enforcement, and White Collar Groups. My practice focuses on investigations and crisis management, as well as some national security matters and, frequently, matters facing the government. I will turn it over to each of the panelists for a quick introduction and synopsis of their practice.Lisa: I was incredibly fortunate to have an amazing career at the Department of Justice (DOJ). The entire time I was with the antitrust division. You might think that’s a pretty narrow niche, but there are actually quite a few different types of antitrust. In my early years, I did all three, working on merger cases, monopolization, and criminal enforcement. I spent 16 years as section chief of the national criminal enforcement section, prosecuting large national and international cartel cases, price-fixing, bid-rigging, and collusion. I was coordinating with enforcers and bringing major cases all over the world, with more than 300 cases and more than $8 billion in criminal fines. At the firm, I have really enjoyed helping companies avoid antitrust violations or guiding them in their defense.Deanne: I joined MoFo in 2009 from the Solicitor General’s (SG) office at the Department of Justice, which is a small office in the Justice Department that represents the United States in the Supreme Court. As co-chair of the Appellate and Supreme Court practice, along with Joe Palmore, we represent clients in courts of appeals, in both federal and state courts across the country, and in the United States Supreme Court. I also serve as a member of the MoFo’s executive committee and as the chair of the partner compensation committee.Jina: I have been at Morrison & Foerster for two years in the Securities, Litigation, Enforcement, and White Collar practices in San Francisco. I represent companies and boards in internal investigations as well as companies and individuals in Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other government investigations.Vanshika: Deanne, could you tell us how your appellate career began, what drew you to that area of law, and how you went to the Solicitor General’s office?Deanne: I, like many litigators, started my career clerking. After law school, I had a two-year district court clerkship and then was very lucky to get a Supreme Court clerkship. I had an offer to be an appellate lawyer with the Civil Division at the Department of Justice after my clerkship, but then lucked into a second Supreme Court clerkship with Justice Breyer during his first year on the Court, which was an opportunity I could not pass up. After four years of clerking, I decided that if I ever wanted to enter private practice that now was the time. As a clerk, I had seen that many of the best briefs on the most interesting matters were from law firms. I went back to the firm where I had summered, stayed for almost nine years, and made partner.During my fifth year as a partner, one of my best friends told me there were five openings in the Solicitor General’s office at the Justice Department. There are only 20 lawyers in the SG’s office other than the Bristow Fellows, so five openings seemed like a lot. I got an interview and, according to colleagues in the SG’s office, one of the Deputy SGs, who was a friend from the Harvard Law Review, really wanted to hire me because I’m quite good at softball. There’s an annual grudge match between the Solicitor General’s office and the Civil Division’s appellate lawyers, and my friend really, really likes to win.Lisa: You never know what skills are going to turn out to be crucial! I knew I wanted to use my legal skills for the greater good, so I was inspired by my antitrust class in law school and was especially drawn to consumer protection. I was also fascinated by criminal law. I interned at the Organized Crime Strike Force in Philadelphia, where one of my assignments included listening to taped recordings of mobsters planning hits. In my third year of law school, I discovered the intersection of my two interests when I took an advanced antitrust course. We had a lecture by a criminal prosecutor at the antitrust division, which got me thinking, “I can work on these big, important national and international cases that have a huge impact on consumers, and I can do exciting cases working with the FBI.” It all came together in the Attorney General’s Honors Program. I spent nearly 30 years of my career there and loved every minute of it.Vanshika: Jina, can you tell us how your career in government has evolved and what ultimately drew you to the SEC and financial crime enforcement?Jina: I went to law school after going to a small liberal arts college. I didn’t have any lawyers in my life, so I didn’t really know much about the legal profession, such as the difference between litigation and transactional work. Like Deanne, I started my career in a clerkship. I clerked for Judge Robert P. Patterson Jr. in the Southern District of New York.After clerking, I joined a firm as a transactional attorney, which is a little surprising since I’m a litigation partner now. I worked on a lot of IPOs and M&A transactions, but I always kept up my litigation skills through my pro bono practice. Then, I had the opportunity to join the DOJ Civil Rights Division in a part-policy, part-litigation role. I loved the litigation. The cases were small. I could work on them myself. I could do depositions, and it felt like real advocacy work to me. When my partner wanted to move back to the Bay Area, I found an opening at the SEC and spent 16 years there, including five years as Regional Director.Vanshika: Deanne, can you tell us about your experience in the Solicitor General’s office and about any memorable experiences or cases that informed how you practice today?Deanne: The SG’s office, although small, was a great environment to practice in because everybody is exceptional. You have colleagues who are all rowing in the same direction for the United States, even though we all came from very different places ideologically. In contrast to my clerkships, where we were each clerking for our own judge or Justice, we could all collaborate on our cases to get to the best result. One of my favorite things about the job was the moot courts before our Supreme Court arguments. Joe and I—having both been in the SG’s office—do our moot courts the same way today. We rely on colleagues who have not worked on the case to serve as our mock Justices and let them grill us until they run out of questions.Vanshika: Lisa, can you tell us about your path within the antitrust division and how you came to be in that leadership position?Lisa: I went straight from school into the DOJ antitrust division, and I was incredibly hungry to litigate. Lucky for me, this paid off, and, at 27 years old, I found myself giving an opening statement at a jury trial. I ended up arguing a motion against Charles Ruff, who later went on to represent President Clinton in other impeachment hearings, and I won.I was able to parlay this experience into a position in the front office and was invited to be a special counsel to the assistant attorney general. The exposure I received from the political side of the division and seeing how antitrust fits within the rest of the department, gave me a great perspective on writing memos for the front office. I was immediately put on a matter involving collusion among paper companies. One of these cases became the bedrock case for international antitrust enforcement, establishing that U.S. courts have jurisdiction, even if the conspiracy—or, the cartel meeting—happened internationally, if the intent was to affect U.S. consumers. After that, I applied for the position of chief of the national criminal enforcement section. I got the job, leading to many years leading major investigations.Vanshika: Jina, can you tell us about why you choose MoFo and how your government experience has informed your practice?Jina: Being in the San Francisco office of the SEC, I had come to know MoFo quite well because of its excellent reputation in the Bay Area. MoFo also had a lot associates who came to the SEC office. I was very impressed with the quality and the integrity of the attorneys I saw who came to the SEC from MoFo, many of whom—such as the Regional Director who proceeded me—had gone into leadership positions at the SEC. MoFo’s San Francisco office has long-standing roots and is very much a community player, which really appealed to me. In the Bay Area, there are MoFo alumni on the bench: they’re part of the defense bar; they’re part of the in-house community.Vanshika: Lisa, what led you to MoFo, and how did your government experience inform your practice now that you’re on the other side of the table?Lisa: During my long tenure at the DOJ, I was finding—especially in the last five or so years—that there was a tremendous disconnect between the government’s arguments and the perspective those arguments were coming from, perhaps not understanding what matters to the antitrust division when prosecuting. There also seemed to be a lot of missed opportunities where a resolution that everybody could have lived with might have been possible. Now that I’m practicing on this side of the aisle, one of the greatest pleasures for me is making sure everybody understands where everyone else is coming from.There were several things that really stuck out to me about MoFo. I wanted an international platform in the criminal antitrust space, and I particularly love that MoFo has such a strong presence in <a href="https://www.mofo.com/capabilities/japan.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Japan</a>. I also really wanted to see if it was at all possible to recreate the very collegial team-oriented environment that I experienced working in government. I’m also somebody who’s also been a huge advocate for women, including those practicing in the antitrust and cartel space, a space that has traditionally been very male dominated. I started a female networking group called Women in Cartels to provide a platform for women practicing this area of the law. It really was important to me that MoFo was a place that didn’t just talk the talk but really walked the walk in terms of diversity and, a particular passion of mine, gender diversity.Vanshika: Deanne, what drew you here from the SG’s office and perhaps, just as importantly, what keeps you here?Deanne: I was happy working for the Solicitor General, representing the United States in the Supreme Court, and was not looking to leave. But when Barack Obama was elected President, the head of MoFo’s Appellate practice at the time got a job in the Obama administration. So MoFo called and asked if I wanted to interview to be the new head of the Appellate practice. I had one meeting and was intrigued. I agreed to meet more people, and I really liked everybody I met and everything everybody was telling me about MoFo, about the way that the firm operates across offices, and how collaborative it is. Why I stay is why I came. Everything that people told me in the recruitment process has been true.Vanshika: Jina, I would be interested to hear what factors contributed to your success, particularly in leading the SEC office in San Francisco.Jina: Interestingly, when I interviewed with the SEC and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the head of the SEC’s San Francisco office and the U.S. Attorney in Dallas were both women. My entire leadership team—my direct report at the SEC, the head of enforcement, the head of examinations, the head of operations—were all women. It was inspiring for me to be a part of this group of women who were role models for much of the securities community in San Francisco. In fact, there’s still an all-women’s leadership team in the San Francisco office. I partly attribute that to the Regional Director who hired me. We all looked to her and saw that there was a pathway for us.Vanshika: Deanne, we are at a particularly interesting moment with respect to appellate practice and the judiciary. Given your extensive experience in the appellate bar, can you speak a little bit about your perspective on the progress made by women as appellate advocates and in obtaining judicial appointments?Deanne: In terms of progress, I think there are more qualified women in the appellate bar today than those who actually get the argument opportunities that are out there. But I think it’s great that the Biden administration has committed to put diverse people on the bench. I think we need more people of all different kinds of backgrounds in all areas of the court system. We need to take more intentional steps to try to get more representation by women and others in these positions of power everywhere in our society.Learn more about MoFo’s long history of advocating for and advancing women <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/women-of-mofo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

MoFo Women’s Spotlight: Deanne Maynard, Lisa Phelan, and Jina Choi on Going from the U.S. Government to Big Law

MoFo Women’s Spotlight: Deanne Maynard, Lisa Phelan, and Jina Choi on Going from the U.S. Government to Big Law

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Editors’ Note: MoFo’s Women’s Strategy Committee (WSC) comprises both male and female partners and associates who strive to foster women attorneys’ development 