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

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

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Senior Pro Bono Counsel

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

Jennifer K. Brown

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

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Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

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

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

Natalie Kernisant

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

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Pro Bono Counsel

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

Dorothy L. Fernandez

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

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

Rachel P. Williams

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

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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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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>.

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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 

Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the many economic, political, and social achievements of women. Each year, a theme is chosen to highlight and celebrate the contributions of women. This year’s theme, “<a href="https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Valiant Women and the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced</a>” recognizes the battle for women’s suffrage and is a continuation of 2020’s theme timed to commemorate the centennial of the women’s suffrage movement.At MoFo, we are grateful for the women who refuse to stay silent in the face of gender discrimination to ensure more equitable rights. In addition to celebrating Women’s History Month, we also honored this year’s International Women’s Day theme, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/choosetochallenge?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#ChooseToChallenge</a>, with a special presentation from award-winning documentary filmmaker <a href="https://sholalynch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shola Lynch</a>. San Francisco Litigation partner <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/christin-hill.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christin Hill</a> hosted the conversation focused on Shola’s work, in particular her documentary Chisholm ’72: Unbought & Unbossed, which covers Shirley Chisholm’s 1972 campaign to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. We also reconnected with former MoFo partner <a href="https://together.mofo.com/community/mofo-alumna-spotlight-judge-rita-f-lin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Judge Rita F. Lin</a>, who now serves as a Superior Court Judge for the County of San Francisco, about how her time at MoFo and how the support she received helped pave her way forward.We are proud to have powerful women who are setting a positive example, shaking up the legal industry, and leading the way for the firm. In continuation of our Women’s History Month activities, we asked women from across MoFo what this year’s theme means to them, how they are challenging gender bias and inequality, and about who they’ve looked up to throughout their careers.Read their stories here:<a href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-women/womens-history-month-theresa-foudy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Theresa Foudy</a> <a href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-women/womens-history-month-crystal-kaldjob/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crystal Kaldjob</a> <a href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-women/womens-history-month-jackie-liu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jackie Liu</a> <a href="https://together.mofo.com/mofo-women/womens-history-month-angela-kerek/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Angela Kerek</a> Learn more about MoFo’s long history of advocating for and advancing women <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/women-of-mofo/">here</a>.

Celebrating the Powerful Women Leading the Way for MoFo

Celebrating the Powerful Women Leading the Way for MoFo

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Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the many economic, political, and social achievements of women. Each year, a theme is chosen to highlight and celeb

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/theresa-foudy.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Theresa Foudy</a> is a Litigation partner in MoFo’s New York office. Her practice focuses on representing Chapter 11 debtors, creditors’ committees, indenture trustees, secured and unsecured creditors, private equity sponsors, independent directors, and distressed investors through all stages of bankruptcy litigation. She has worked on many of the United States’ largest and most complex bankruptcy cases in addition to advising clients on a wide variety of bankruptcy-related disputes.Do you have an example of a time where you called out gender bias or inequality? One time at a prior firm, other lawyers and I were interacting on a business deal with a woman at a financial institution who had been romantically involved with the head of the institution and had married him. I was on a conference call with a large group of attorneys discussing strategy for dealing with the financial institution, and one of my colleagues repeatedly referred to the woman as “the boss’s girlfriend.” After a few of these references, I interrupted him and said, “You have to stop referring to her as his girlfriend, it is so disrespectful.” To my colleague’s credit, he immediately apologized. I don’t think he intended to be disrespectful, but gender bias is so deeply ingrained in the fabric of our society that even well-meaning individuals can engage in misogynistic conduct without stopping to realize what they are doing. That is why it is important to call out gender bias when you see it.Is there a woman you admire who you know personally or professionally whose achievements you would like to celebrate? I very much admire my friend and former partner, Cindi Giglio, now an associate general counsel at Gordon Brothers. She somehow manages to do it all. She is a great lawyer and an amazing friend, all while raising two toddlers, Robbie and Paige.Is there a female public figure you admire who you would like to celebrate? I admire Ashley Judd for bravely speaking out about Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment and sparking the #MeToo movement.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>.

Women’s History Month: Theresa Foudy

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Theresa Foudy is a Litigation partner in MoFo’s New York office. Her practice focuses on representing Chapter 11 debtors, creditors’ committees, indenture trust

Women’s History Month: Theresa Foudy

Crystal Kaldjob is co-chair of MoFo’s FinTech practice and a Financial Services partner in the Washington, D.C. office. Her practice focuses on advising financial services clients on a wide range of regulatory and transactional issues. This includes advising clients, ranging from merchants and fintech companies to banks and other financial institutions, on matters involving strategic partnerships, marketplace lending arrangements, asset purchases, loan portfolio sales, acquisitions compliance, and consumer and retail banking laws.The Women’s History Month theme for 2021 is “Valiant Women and the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced.” Can you share what that means to you personally? Women have always played a significant role in ensuring the right to vote. We have seen time and time again that when it comes to voting, women rise up to the occasion with courage and determination and refuse to be silenced: Stacey Abrams in 2018 after she lost the Georgia governor’s race, Keisha Lance Bottoms after she was challenged over enforcing her mask mandate, and, of course, Kamala Harris refusing to be silenced during the presidential debates. Refusing to be silenced does not always mean being the most vocal or the loudest in the room—sometimes, refusing to be silenced means taking meaningful and impactful actions in the background, in a grassroots organization, and even, just showing up to vote, to work, to virtual school, or for family and friends.Is there a woman you admire who you know personally or professionally whose achievements you would like to celebrate? There are so many women that I admire and am encouraged by (such as Michelle Obama, Stacey Abrams, and Keisha Lance Bottoms), and it would be hard to list all of the individual achievements and successes of the women I admire. However, I most admire and am inspired by all women, particularly all of the working moms and grandmas. The pandemic has taken a significant toll on women, but throughout this past year, I have watched women rise to the occasion. Whether it is working on the frontlines as grocery store clerks, supporting virtual learning environments for their children, leading significant transactions, or becoming the first female vice president.What do you consider your role to be in the advancement of women? My role in the advancement of women is simple—acknowledge the value that women bring to the workplace, client matters, and friendships, encourage confidence and resilience, provide meaningful championship and sponsorship, and, most importantly, honor the accomplishments of women.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>.

Women’s History Month: Crystal Kaldjob

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Crystal Kaldjob is co-chair of MoFo’s FinTech practice and a Financial Services partner in the Washington, D.C. office. Her practice focuses on advising financi

Women’s History Month: Crystal Kaldjob

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/jackie-liu.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jackie Liu</a> is a corporate and transactional partner in MoFo’s San Francisco office. Her practice focuses on corporate counseling of public companies, mergers and acquisitions, and the China practice. Jackie is outside general counsel to a number of public companies with whom she has worked with for over 20 years and counsels clients on disclosure matters and associated liability considerations. She also represents a number of public and private companies in mergers and acquisitions and has been involved in a number of complex cross-border transactions in Asia, Australia and Europe.The Women’s History Month theme for 2021 is “Valiant Women and the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced.” Can you share what that means to you personally? I grew up in China and immigrated to the United States at a young age. As a result, having a voice and an opinion and exercising my right to vote are very meaningful to me. Frankly, otherwise my parents’ sacrifices to uproot their lives to come to the United States would be wasted.Is there a woman you admire who you know personally or professionally whose achievements you would like to celebrate? The person I admire the most is my late grandmother, who in 1930s China decided to go to college and get an education before marriage. When I have challenges in life, I reflect upon the tremendous obstacles my grandmother must have had, and that pushes me to persevere.If you could meet any historically significant woman, who would you choose? What questions would you ask her?  Empress Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in the history of China, and my question would be: What is your definition of success, and do you have any regrets?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>.

Women’s History Month: Jackie Liu

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Jackie Liu is a corporate and transactional partner in MoFo’s San Francisco office. Her practice focuses on corporate counseling of public companies, mergers an

Women’s History Month: Jackie Liu

Angela Kerek is a Finance partner in MoFo’s Berlin office. Her practice focuses on advising clients in banking and finance law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate and venture finance, and restructurings. Providing counsel on deals for SoundCloud, Renolit, Deutsche Börse, Funke, Pamplona, leading banks for HeidelbergCement, Nokia HERE and Schaeffler, Angela excels at strategically advising clients throughout their growth curve, as well as on major projects and ventures.The Women’s History Month theme for 2020 is “Valiant Women and the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced.” Can you share what that means to you personally? Refusing to be silenced means a pledge I gave to myself to no longer be quiet or laugh along gender-biased jokes or stories, but rather speak up in any way possible or appropriate.Is there a woman you admire who you know personally or professionally whose achievements you would like to celebrate? There are so many I learn from and look up to. Each one of them stands for a significant little step I had to dare making on my way in order for me to be who I am today.What do you consider your role to be in the advancement of women?  I am here to push and encourage my younger colleagues and promote every woman I possibly can to understand her own goals and pursue them the best she can. My shoulder is here for others to step on and jump higher.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>.

Women’s History Month: Angela Kerek

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Angela Kerek is a Finance partner in MoFo’s Berlin office. Her practice focuses on advising clients in banking and finance law, mergers and acquisitions, corpor

Women’s History Month: Angela Kerek

Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/jocelyn-greer.html">Jocelyn Greer</a>, an associate in the firm’s Securities Litigation and Investigation + White Collar Defense Practices, discusses her career path and what led her to call MoFo home.When did you first realize that you wanted to practice law? I don’t have any people in my family who are lawyers but I did learn at a pretty young age what a lawyer was and that it was something that I wanted to do, I suppose partially from watching TV. But I also knew that I love healthy argument, debate, and advocating for myself. And so it was explained to me by my parents what a lawyer does and once I figured that out, I understood what I wanted to be when I was in middle school. Then, once I was in high school, we had a mock trial team that I found out about where you would pretend to litigate cases, question mock witnesses on the stand, practice opening statements and closing arguments, and argue objections. Once I found out about that, I tried out for the team and loved it. I really loved being on my feet, arguing and getting to litigate in court. That confirmed for me that I wanted to go law school after college.Could you tell us a little bit more about what brought you to MoFo? I really liked the cases that I was working on at the firm that I started at, dealing with big security fraud litigations. But because it was a larger firm, it was hard for me, at a pretty junior level, to get good substantive experiences such as doing depositions, going to court, and interfacing with clients. What appealed to me about MoFo was that it was a big firm that did that same type of really innovative and interesting work but had a smaller firm feel. The teams were smaller and I felt like there was more room for collaboration and more room to get really substantive experience at a junior level. I also really liked the fact that there was—especially in the litigation group—lots of women in leadership. Often being the only woman or only woman of color in the room, I realized that kind of representation was really important. I’ve enjoyed that transition, working with my teams at MoFo, and the mentorship that I’ve gotten from some of the partners in my group.Do you have any mentors or role models who helped you on your path, whether in school or at the firm? So many, but some that particularly come to mind are <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/jamie-levitt.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jamie Levitt</a> and Grant Esposito. They’re both so great in helping me focus on the types of work that I want to be doing and making sure I get good, diverse experiences. They always keep me in mind for cases that come up that they think would be good new experiences for me.With Jamie, in particular, I can think of a time this summer, for example, where I was doing a lot of depositions and it was my first time doing depositions on my own. I was really nervous about it and she took the time out of her busy schedule to not only read through my deposition outlines—for a case that she wasn’t working on—but also to meet with me and talk through strategy ahead of the deposition. She actually came to the depositions, backed me up, and supported me. Having that support has been really fundamental in my career.What led you to your current practice? The vision that I had of being a lawyer when I decided I wanted to become one was writing briefs, researching issues, and getting up in court to argue and question witnesses. Once I learned what litigators do, that really aligned with all the things that I wanted to do when I decided to be a lawyer. That’s what I really enjoyed doing day to day and that’s what led me to litigation.Was there any advice that you received throughout your career or personal life that has really stuck with you? The best advice I received was to be authentic and not to lose your authenticity even going through law school and starting out practicing. I think what makes people really great lawyers is when they hold onto the things that make them who they are. You don’t have to sound exactly like the partner that you’re working with. You can have your own voice that’s based on and influenced by your own unique experiences. I think that it is really important to develop your own style. That’s invaluable.Is there any pro bono work that you are particularly been proud to have been a part of? The pro bono matter I’m very proud of working on recently is still ongoing. I’m working with Jim Beha and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishi-tavernier-8b2a07141/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nishi Tavernier</a> to represent a Latino man who was incarnated and suffered from severe mental illness. Due to an incident with one of the corrections officers while he was incarcerated, he was placed in solitary confinement for 30 days. This obviously really exacerbated his mental condition, so, in response, MoFo is suing the facility, other government officials, and the corrections officers who were responsible for putting him in those conditions. That case is still pending but we really believe in it and we’re hopeful that he’ll be able to recover from all the horrible things that he experienced. We also hope that it will put other officers and state actors on notice that they shouldn’t be treating people with mental illness who are in their prisons so unfairly.Have you had the opportunity to get involved in affinity groups or outside legal organizations? Could you tell us more about how that experience has helped you to grow and/or make new connections? I’m the associate chair of the New York Women of Color affinity group, which we just started at the beginning of this year. I started the group with <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/haimavathi-marlier.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Haima Marlier</a>, a partner at the firm, and we’re really excited about the group’s launch. One of our mission statements is to provide networking and mentorship amongst different women of color across the New York office, which we look forward to getting the opportunity to do. One of our first group events was a session in January where we talked about our excitement about the inauguration of Kamala Harris. We can’t wait to see where the group goes from here.Outside of MoFo, I also recently joined the associate board of a nonprofit called Legal Services New York City, which provides legal services to people who are underrepresented and cannot afford them.<img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-5043 alignleft" src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt53ad835e07bf6ff5/6287fcec6f81705517a1c979/jgreer-2.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" width="366" height="461" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">If you weren’t practicing law, what else do you think you’d be doing? I studied English in college so I always thought if I didn’t practice law that I would like to be a writer. One of my favorite parts of being a litigator is writing briefs to tell a story and editing people’s work. So I think those skills would translate well into being some kind of fiction writer.When you’re not working, what do you like to do? Before the COVID-19 pandemic I loved being around friends, trying new restaurants, meeting up for dinners, and things like that. That’s a little harder to do these days. Now I’ve really been finding solace in going to the park and running and cooking new recipes to try different meals for myself lately.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the advancement of diversity and inclusion <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

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Faces of MoFo: Jocelyn Greer

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Editors’ Note: As part of our ongoing Faces of MoFo series, Jocelyn Greer, an associate in the firm’s Securities Litigation and Investigation + White Collar Def

Faces of MoFo: Jocelyn Greer

The <a href="https://trellis.law/judge/rita.f.lin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Honorable Rita F. Lin</a> was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as a Superior Court Judge for the County of San Francisco, State of California, in 2018. Judge Lin is currently assigned to the criminal courthouse, presiding over felony and misdemeanor criminal trials. Before that, for the last two years, she presided over a felony preliminary hearings calendar, which involved holding evidentiary hearings on motions to suppress and probable cause and ruling on a variety of pretrial motions. Judge Lin reports that she enjoys her criminal law assignment and finds the work to be deeply rewarding.Judge Lin was a summer associate at Morrison and Foerster. After clerking for the Honorable Sandra Lynch of the First Circuit Court of Appeals, she joined MoFo in 2004 as an associate and was elevated to partner in 2012. During her tenure at the firm, she focused her practice on<a href="https://www.mofo.com/capabilities/financial-services.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> financial services litigation</a> and primarily handled complex litigation for banks and lenders who faced consolidated multidistrict litigation or waves of related class actions and/or government enforcement actions around the country. Additionally, she occasionally worked in <a href="https://www.mofo.com/capabilities/patent-litigation.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">intellectual property litigation</a>, focusing mostly on software copyright and patent matters, a nod to her background in software engineering from her college days.As a part of her active pro bono practice, she gained national attention for her work as co-counsel with Lambda Legal in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgEB2iz0yF0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lawsuit challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act</a>, which refused recognition of same-sex marriages. The statute was declared unconstitutional by the United States District Court in California. Judge Lin has said that arguing and winning that case remains one of her proudest career moments from her time at MoFo.Judge Lin credits MoFo alumnus James McGuire and MoFo partner Michael Jacobs as having the greatest impact on her practice and serving as strong mentors during her time at the firm. From her first days at MoFo, McGuire and Jacobs taught her the value of thinking strategically about the end-game of the litigation from the very outset of the case. From them, she learned the value of not only understanding the client’s goals but also of putting oneself in opposing counsel’s shoes to understand what the opposing party wants to achieve and how. Judge Lin reports that this skill set is one that she continues to use daily in her work as a judge, and that it aids her in trying to craft practical solutions that satisfy all parties’ goals, as well as the broader goals of the criminal justice system.Always an advocate for women, Judge Lin was on the Women’s Initiative Committee at MoFo and started a group for working parents to share tips and support there. MoFo’s maternity leave and reduced hours policies were an important component of her ability to succeed at the firm, and she wanted to make sure those policies would continue and be improved upon for attorneys who were coming up through the ranks. Judge Lin utilized MoFo’s industry-leading maternity leave and reduced hours benefits following the birth of each of her two sons. Although managing a caseload with a preschooler and a baby at home was never easy, she told us that she always felt that the firm had her back in terms of believing in her long-term success and wanting to make sure she had the flexibility to care for her family in the way that was important to her. The firm elevated her to partnership and nominated her to a leadership position in her practice group halfway through her second maternity leave, which, to her, spoke volumes about its commitment to those principles.As the legal industry shifts with respect to the inclusion of women, Judge Lin is hopeful that progress will continue to be made to promote and nurture strong women attorneys. Judge Lin has seen a growing number of judges require that junior attorneys, and specifically women attorneys, be given an opportunity to argue motions in state and federal court. In addition, both women and men in the current younger generation of lawyers are more open about their need for workplace flexibility that accommodates family life. Judge Lin remains optimistic that, as a side effect of the pandemic, legal workplaces are becoming friendlier to remote work, as well.Judge Lin’s advice for attorneys who aspire to become a judge? Remember that nothing is more important as an attorney, and later as a judge, than your integrity. As an attorney, you should always be candid with the court and opposing counsel and be careful not to overstate or misstate the law or facts. If you make a mistake and need to correct the record, admit your mistake forthrightly and fix it at the first opportunity. Everyone is human, and how you handle your mistakes is one of the clearest indicators of your character. Judge Lin also encourages attorneys to follow their passion in their career choices. Don’t be afraid to make an unconventional career move or try a new area of the law because, if you are passionate about what you are doing, you will find satisfaction and success in whatever you do.Learn more about our MoFo Alumni community and their many contributions and achievements <a href="https://www.mofo.com/about/alumni" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

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MOFO ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT: JUDGE RITA F. LIN

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The Honorable Rita F. Lin was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as a Superior Court Judge for the County of San Francisco, State of California, in 2018

MOFO ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT: JUDGE RITA F. LIN

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is a United States District Judge who serves on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Jackson’s judicial service began on March 26, 2013, when President Barack Obama <a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-nominates-ketanji-brown-jackson-us-sentencing-commission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed her commission</a>.The docket of the federal district court in the District of Columbia is relatively unique because the judges handle many cases in which the federal government is the defendant. This can include cases brought under the Freedom of Information Act and the Administrative Procedure Act, and cases of that nature ordinarily do not go to trial: they are typically resolved by the judge in the context of cross-motions for summary judgment. As such, Jackson often finds herself assuming a role akin to that of an appellate judge, because she is reviewing a paper record that the parties have submitted and deciding legal questions based on that record. The other civil matters on her docket also typically involve the federal government, such as suits brought by current and former federal employees who allege employment discrimination, or cases seeking to compel the federal government to act on an immigration visa petition. Jackson has spent the bulk of her time as a judge holding hearings and writing opinions, which she enjoys because it is similar in many ways to the work she did as an appellate lawyer.In 2007, Jackson joined MoFo as of counsel in what was then known as the <a href="https://www.mofo.com/capabilities/appellate-supreme-court.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Supreme Court and Appellate Group</a>, directly following her time serving as an appellate assistant federal public defender. She worked exclusively on appellate cases, drafting briefs for clients whose cases were on appeal in various state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court. The practice group represented both appellants and appellees.Jackson recalls working on one case that the Supreme Court heard on the merits. After having served as a law clerk for <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Stephen_Breyer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associate Justice Stephen Breyer</a> early in her career, Jackson was excited to be part of a litigating team that represented an appellant in the Supreme Court. In general, however, the Supreme Court practice mostly involved analyzing legal arguments, writing briefs, and working with others to make strategic decisions about the arguments that were to be made in coordinated amicus-brief filings.Jackson’s experiences at MoFo helped to advance her career in many respects. She had the opportunity to work on sophisticated civil actions, involving complex questions of both law and policy. She also had the opportunity to develop strategic decision-making skills and to meet and work with fantastic lawyers, many of whom were well connected in the legal community and supported her eventual nomination to the district court. <a href="https://awards.concurrences.com/en/authors/bbrinkmann-cov-com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beth Brinkmann</a> (former MoFo partner and chair of the Supreme Court Group) recruited Jackson to MoFo, and served as a mentor to her during Jackson’s years at the firm. According to Jackson, not only did Brinkmann provide invaluable feedback on research and writing, but she also served as an influential role model with respect to balancing the practice of law and family life.Recently, Jackson has seen a shift toward more women litigators and lead counsel in the cases that she handles as a judge—which only makes sense, given the fact that women now make up a majority of the students enrolled in juris doctorate degree programs nationwide—and she thinks that the industry as a whole is much more mindful of gender diversity and inclusion than it was when she first graduated from law school. As an example, many clients now include diversity criteria when they select preferred counsel for big cases, and firms are creating formal mentorship and sponsorship programs for women and minority associates. Jackson hopes that the efforts that many are making to be more inclusive will bear fruit in the coming years in terms of reducing the gender disparities in the partnership ranks of law firms and in corporate general counsel positions.The best piece of advice Jackson can offer to lawyers who are aspiring judges is simple: develop and maintain a dedicated work ethic. “The most important thing that you can do is to dedicate yourself to working hard and to doing your very best work, on every assignment, always. You will need to develop a reputation for being thoughtful and thorough and careful in order to be considered seriously for a judicial position, and you can influence how people think of you by putting in the effort and maintaining good relationships with your co-workers,” says Jackson. “And remember that, no matter what new role you take on, your reputation is what will follow you, wherever you go.”Learn more about our MoFo Alumni community and their many contributions and achievements <a href="https://www.mofo.com/about/alumni" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

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MoFo Alumna Spotlight: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

MoFo Alumna Spotlight: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

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Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is a United States District Judge who serves on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Jackson’s judicial se

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, Berlin-based litigation associate Dr. Theresa Oehm interviewed managing partner of our Berlin office and Technology Transactions Group partner Kristina Ehle and Berlin litigation partner Dr. Julia Schwalm. In this 19th installment of the MoFo Women Spotlight series, Kristina and Julia discuss how they grew into their roles and what has helped shaped their careers.Theresa: Julia, would you start by telling us a little bit more about yourself, your practice, how you came to the firm, and how long have you been here?Julia: I am responsible for the German litigation team, which covers everything that is litigious and high-stakes. As for my career path, I started out as a commercial litigator working for financial institutions and manufacturers. In my second year, I became involved in antitrust follow-on litigation, and I found myself to be the only litigator on a team of antitrust lawyers. So every time there was a litigation question, all eyes turned to me. And, when you have 500 million Euros on the table that can be a bit intimidating. This was my first experience with a real stretch assignment, so to speak, but I found it fascinating and I think I learned a lot from it. My current practice group also handles corporate litigation and assists on internal investigations. Our clients come from several industries, from aviation and automotive to IT, and we’re always happy to learn new things. I joined the firm in 2015 as a counsel because Paul [Friedman] convinced me that the firm and I would be a great fit. And, from my perspective, I can say that Paul was right.Theresa: Thank you, Julia. Kristina, how did you come to the firm, what’s your practice, and can you tell us a little more about yourself?Kristina: I’m a partner in the Technology Transactions Group in the Berlin office, and I’m actually the first woman to make partner in Berlin. Before joining Morrison & Foerster, I went between private practice and in-house several times. When I joined the firm in 2013, our office had just joined MoFo. I was very happy about this because this move enhanced our technology practice here in Europe and Germany and gave us the opportunity to expand into the fields of information and technology, while also advising the big Silicon Valley firms. I’m a transactional lawyer and I’m very operational, so I love to work not only with the in-house legal teams and my colleagues in other offices, but also with business and technology-minded people because those are really the fields that I’m most interested in.Theresa: Julia, since you’ve been working in U.S. firms since the start of your career, how does MoFo differ from other U.S. firms?Julia: I really appreciate that we work with a variety people from different cultures. MoFo is not a typical U.S. law firm, and from what I’ve seen firsthand, it’s more collaborative and collegial. My cultural reference system is more a continental European one, so we communicate a bit differently from the U.S. For example, we are more direct in the way we speak, and I feel we are less assertive. So there’s always a danger that we might misunderstand each other. On the other hand, because we are truly an international law firm, there is a lot of challenging cross-border collaboration. I feel that I’ve been learning so much since I joined the firm. It’s really quite fascinating all around.Theresa: How do you work with other offices and how do you experience the culture at MoFo?Kristina: I haven’t seen a law firm—and I saw some of them as an associate and also as a counsel—where you have such a close collaboration across offices and colleagues who make an effort to really reach out to you, who integrate you, who think of how to pursue joint opportunities with existing clients and new clients. People are also very open-minded, always open to sharing their knowledge. In particular, in the TTG group, we have great role models like Billy Schwartz and Tessa Schwartz who, from day one, included us in the team. I felt integrated from the first day, and I thought, “Yes, this is the firm where I want to stay. This is the firm where I want to become partner.” I’d never had this feeling before. I was always thinking, “Yeah, maybe I’ll change, maybe I’ll take a different path.” But when I joined this firm, within a very short time I was sure this was home for me.Theresa: Julia, can you tell us a little bit about your path to partnership in the firm and what advice you have for associates who are interested in seeking partnership?Julia: My path to partnership in the firm was fairly straightforward because I joined as a counsel, and I was given the chance to build up the commercial litigation practice here in Berlin. I was able to expand the practice and the team, and I’m happy to say that everyone agreed that the litigation practice needed another partner. My piece of advice would be to not shy away from stretch assignments. If somebody asks you to do something, and you think, “I have no clue—I have no idea how to do that,” chances are that person has thought about why they are asking you. And they are pretty confident that you will be able to do it. If you feel that there are things that you’re struggling with and you need more experience, doors are always open. You can ask anyone, and people would be happy to help you.Theresa: Kristina, how would you advise new associates to set their path to partnership?Kristina: I actually left my previous law firm after my fourth year as an associate, not just because I wanted to join this gorgeous American company (eBay) in Germany and really get myself and my practice more into the internet and IT world. It was also that I did not really have a clue whether I was good, whether I was in the right law firm on the right career path, or whether I could ever make partner. Of course, I had those annual evaluations like every associate, and they always told me, “Everything is fine. You are doing great.” But I still had the feeling that I wasn’t really getting honest feedback. I think what I did wrong in this situation was that I didn’t ask for feedback. So the first step is, you need to think about what you want, because people can only support you and help you if you tell them what they need to do to support you and help you. Be honest with yourself about what you want to accomplish, maybe not in 10 years but for the next two or three years, and then think about how you can best get the support. It’s very likely, as a young person that you will not just figure it out yourself, but that you will really profit from the experience of others.Theresa: Julia, did you have a sponsor or mentor along the way?Julia: Yes, I did. I just saw an excellent question about whether we need formal mentorship or whether informal mentorship is enough, and I was lucky enough to have both. I had a formal mentor who was extremely helpful and gave great guidance; in my case, Paul Friedman agreed to be my mentor. I also had so many other sponsors, like Brad Wine, for example. They were both so generous with their contacts, both inside and outside the firm. I consider the entire Berlin office, all the partners there, mentors, in a way, because just by working collaboratively together we all try to support each other, and that is something that I find extremely important. I think in many cases, if you only look for formal mentorship, you miss so many opportunities and good advice, either just by observing people or when somebody tells you that, “You really did that very well” or “Maybe you should consider changing this or that.”Theresa: Kristina, as a partner, do you have a mentor, sponsor, or person who you look up to right now?Kristina: I definitely have other partners I go to for different kinds of advice. I also have associates outside of my practice group with whom I discuss partner-associate relationship questions. It’s very important to get feedback from different people, on different levels, because this really helps give you the perspective that you need to make sure that you’re working on the right path and you’re doing what you need to reach your targets.Theresa: Julia, do you remember one specific piece of advice that you got from a mentor or sponsor that you can share with us today?Julia: The one that stands out, is to trust in others and also put trust in younger associates. I found that very encouraging because it means, first of all, that you don’t have to do it all alone even if you’re a partner, and secondly, that it gives others the chance and the opportunity to grow alongside of you. I thought that was really good advice because it makes you feel like you’re part of a team, which I think helps a lot. I would also suggest finding someone who has insight into your immediate practice group, who knows the people and who can advise on how they think and what they value.Theresa: We have just lost an incredible pioneer for women’s rights, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose unflinching principle was that women belong in all places where decisions are being made. Julia, where do you think we stand in Germany on achieving gender equality?Julia: We do have a female chancellor, and I’m very grateful for that because I feel like she does a really good job, even though I may not be on the same political wavelength that she is. But I think despite that, we still have a long way to go, if you consider the management in the listed companies in Germany; there are still so few women in decision-making positions. I think that has a lot to do with how conservative Germany is as a country.Theresa: How do you think can we make sure to achieve greater diversity among partners at MoFo Berlin?Kristina: I think it starts in the culture and in our hands, in the hands of all: partners and associates, female and male. We have to find ways to give us more flexibility. We have to find ways to show our younger associates, and also our senior associates who are thinking about starting a family, that you can have a career in an international law firm, and you can have a family whether you are female or male. I have a daughter myself. The thing that I most enjoy is working with colleagues and clients from different cultures on cross-border deals. I love that, and wouldn’t want to have to give this up because of my family life; I’d rather find ways to combine the two. I think it is possible, as long as we all continue to move in the right direction on this.Theresa: Julia, what do you think is the best approach in this regard?Julia: Litigation is labor intensive, so to speak, but we can schedule things. We have our court deadlines, and we know when we will be super busy and when we won’t be. So I think, especially in areas like litigation, it is not that hard to plan to work part time. Of course, the entire team has to be on board, but I’ve seen it in the past, and it worked quite well. What I think everybody needs to bring to the table is a bit of trust in others and also sometimes to just make the leap. Just try it; don’t overthink it. We’re all very analytical, but so many things have a way of just sorting themselves out.Theresa: I would be interested in how much of our day-to-day life is actually influenced by gender roles.Kristina: In Germany and almost all the Western European countries, women still go for subjects like art history, social work, and jobs that tend to be not so well paid. We still don’t see enough women signing up for science, for information technology. I personally believe that we have to continue to work on those gender roles that come in at quite an early stage, starting at kindergarten. It’s a question of education. It’s a question of culture. It’s a question of encouraging everybody to follow up your talents, to follow up what you consider your vocation, what you want to achieve in life and not what others expect you to do.Julia: I very often find myself the only woman in the room with opposing counsel who use their physical presence and are very robust. What I like to do is first make the judge an ally and also make sure I am prepared. I also prepare the clients to have them know that “this may look impressive, but really, it’s totally ineffective; it doesn’t work.” I think looking for allies is also something that you can do in every stage of your career. It may be another associate, it may be somebody who will take on your idea or who will mention something positive that you did in a larger round.

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MoFo Women Spotlight: Kristina Ehle and Julia Schwalm

MoFo Women Spotlight: Kristina Ehle and Julia Schwalm