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.

Social

Search

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.

brown_jennifer_blog_150x150.png

brown_jennifer_common_640x280.jpg

brown_jennifer_heroretina_2700x1160.jpg

brown_jennifer_mobileretina_750x1040.jpg

brown_jennifer_social_600x600.jpg

Senior Pro Bono Counsel

Staff

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

Jennifer K. Brown

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

kernisant_natalie_blog_150x150.png

kernisant_natalie_common_640x280.jpg

kernisant_natalie_heroretina_2700x1160.jpg

kernisant_natalie_mobileretina_750x1040.jpg

kernisant_natalie_social_600x600.jpg

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.

fernandez_dorothy_blog_150x150.png

fernandez_dorothy_common_640x280.jpg

fernandez_dorothy_heroretina_2700x1160.jpg

fernandez_dorothy_mobileretina_750x1040.jpg

fernandez_dorothy_social_600x600.jpg

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.

williams_rachel_blog_150x150.png

williams_rachel_common_640x280.jpg

williams_rachel_heroretina_2700x1160.jpg

williams_rachel_mobileretina_750x1040.jpg

williams_rachel_social_600x600.jpg

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

favicon.ico

favicon-16x16.png

favicon-32x32.png

apple-touch-icon.png

MoFo Favicons

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.

Welcome to the Mofo+ Blog

240920-mofo+-header.jpg

Welcome to the Mofo+ Blog

240920-mofo+-header

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.

Welcome to the MoFo+ Blog

MoFo Women

MoFo Pro Bono

MoFo Life

MoFo Diversity

MoFo Community

Blog - Terms of Use

Blog - Privacy Policy

Blog - Blog Disclaimer

Blog - Attorney Advertising

morrison-foerster-blog-logo.png

Provides a data-driven look at the Federal Circuit.

Federal Circuitry

Brings together legal insights and in-depth analyses on trends and complex issues shaping the global technology industry.

MoFo Tech

Equips our clients with the most up-to-date and relevant information on employment and labor law issues.

Employment Law Commentary

In-depth analysis of developments and trends impacting government contracting.

Government Contracts Insight

Government Contracts Insights

Provides insights and reports on the most current class actions lawsuits and product liability issues that affect consumer-facing companies.

Class Dismissed Blog

Class Dismissed

The MoFo+ blog shares news and insights from lawyers who are adding value to the legal profession and making a difference in the communities we call home.

MoFo+

  Linkedin

MoFo LinkedIN

Together Blog - RSS

Stay Connected

Never miss a post from MoFo Together. Enter your email below to stay up-to-date.

Subscribe

Making a Positive Impact Together

Morrison Foerster - Footer

Blogs -  Home Button

Home

Blog - Topics

Topics

Blog - Editors

Editors

Blog - About

About

Blog - Subscribe

More

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

LinkedIN

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.

mofotogether-mofowomen-thumb1.jpg

MoFo Women Spotlight: Kristina Ehle and Julia Schwalm

MoFo Women Spotlight: Kristina Ehle and Julia Schwalm

12_07_mofowomen_spotlinght_ehle_schwalm_li.jpg

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

As part of MoFo’s celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, San Francisco-based litigation partner and Women’s Strategy Committee co-chair <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/stacey-sprenkel.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Stacey Sprenkel</a> interviewed her mentee, San Francisco-based Investigations + White Collar Criminal Defense associate Lauren Navarro. As a Latinx attorney at the firm, Lauren spoke with Stacey about her experiences in the legal industry, her involvement in affinity groups at MoFo, and her take on encouraging aspiring Latinx attorneys to join the profession.Stacey: I’m pleased to be speaking with my mentee Lauren Navarro and discussing her experience as a Latinx attorney at the firm. Lauren, let’s jump in! Can you start by telling us a little bit about your decision to make MoFo your professional home?Lauren: I come from a family of no lawyers and so didn’t know anything about law firms or how to go about selecting which to apply to. When I went through the interview process, I approached it by looking for a place where I could fit in and felt that women attorneys (and particular, attorneys of color) were welcome and would be supported. When I interviewed at MoFo, it really stood out in both of those areas (from the initial on-campus meeting to the callback interviews). I was struck by how many impressive attorneys and, particularly, how many impressive female and diverse attorneys I met with during the interview process. I felt like MoFo was a place that would promote and foster professional development for diverse women in the legal profession, which was really appealing.Since making MoFo my professional home the past seven years, I’m happy to report that the initial impression I had continues has proven true. I’ve been fortunate to have so many great mentors of all kinds, including diverse attorneys, since joining the firm. I truly believe our attorneys are what set MoFo apart from other firms and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to learn from this group every day as I develop my own legal career.Stacey: That’s great to hear. Let’s dig in further on that. Tell us a little more about your mentorship experience, and specifically, how did these relationships come about?Lauren: I think that mentorship is something that MoFo does extremely well. We have both a formal mentorship program and an informal program and I’ve had the benefit of getting mentorship through both of those avenues. As far as a formal mentor goes, he/she may be assigned early on when you’re quite junior and so it may or may not be someone that you end up working closely with. It can be beneficial to have a mentor that you don’t work with, to have a different perspective and contact outside your normal day-to-day within the firm. Then there are the more informal mentor-mentee relationships that develop organically and in connection with your daily work. I think this kind of informal mentorship is where the firm really stands out because the attorneys here are so willing and excited to take younger attorneys under their wing and teach. They really want to talk about our work, the clients, and the practice area, and are very willing to put in time to build that relationship and help younger attorneys come up through the firm.What’s great about my relationship with Stacey is that we have the benefit of having both a formal and informal mentoring relationship. Originally she was assigned as my formal mentor when I came back to the San Francisco office after working in D.C. for four years, but we work together all the time, so we also have this more informal and organic relationship that’s great. Again I think the focus on and dedication to informal mentoring are really some of MoFo’s strengths. It is critical for young attorneys, including young diverse attorneys, to feel like they are valued members of their case teams and that more senior attorneys are invested in their career progression. Establishing those relationships early in your legal career can make all the difference in your overall experience at the firm as well as your professional development.Stacey: It’s interesting that you say that, because, while I do have a formal mentoring title in terms of our relationship, I don’t actually know how materially different our relationship would be if I didn’t. Likely not at all, but that’s just to say that I think, in our particular case, maybe the formal and the informal mesh.What can you tell us about your involvement with affinity groups or associations, inside the firm, that are dedicated to the advancement of women or diverse lawyers that you’ve been actively involved with? What has been meaningful to you from those experiences?Lauren: At the firm, I am on the Women’s Strategy Committee (the WSC), which is focused on the advancement of women and mentoring women within the firm. Additionally, I am also a member of our Latinx affinity group. Again I think it’s a testament to the firm’s commitment to the advancement of both women and attorneys of color that we have groups like these (as well as a variety of other affinity groups) as they give attorneys a chance to bond over common or shared experiences and can foster mentorship between and among members.Stacey: What exactly has been meaningful to you from those experiences?Lauren: I’m so grateful to have been brought into the WSC. It has been a great learning opportunity to see how much work is going on behind the scenes in terms of developing programming for women and fostering support for women within the firm. It is encouraging to see the kinds of programming the firm is constantly working on and thinking about. The various initiatives include finding ways of advancing or being more inclusive in terms of women and attorneys of color in so many ways. For example, the WSC works on the firm’s pitch materials and with our business development resources to find ways of highlighting our diverse roster of attorneys and ensure that we are always being proactive and thoughtful about inclusivity initiatives. The WSC has also been a great way of connecting with other female attorneys in the firm, both partners and associates, especially during this unusual time with the global pandemic when it can be more challenging to keep in touch.As far as the affinity groups, MoFo has lots of different affinity groups that support different ethnicities, sexual orientations, and working parents, to name a few. This is another strong area at MoFo—these groups are a great way to be more informally and casually connect with the other diverse attorneys at the firm, especially during the global pandemic. Like with the WSC, it’s nice to have recurring meetings every month to touch base with colleagues and talk about how other diverse attorneys are handling working from home and sharing other personal experiences/connecting on a more human level.Stacey: I’m really curious, and I’d like to dive in a bit around your perspective on what meaningful things we can do both as a firm and as a profession to ensure that more young Latinx individuals take interest in and really gain access to the field of law.Lauren: I think that is a really important question and not one that can be answered with a “check the box” approach. In other words, it is more a journey—less a destination. To get started or at least be on the right path, I think amplifying voices within the firm who represent these different groups is important. Like what we’re doing today—highlighting different stories, career paths, types of work—these can all be helpful to de-mystifying the practice of law for young people, particularly those who come from underrepresented groups or who have not historically had much access to professions like the legal profession.I know from this year’s virtual summer associate class that multiple young attorneys of color reached out to me after one of our WSC panels. They were so grateful and interested in learning more about our work and wanted to set up times for virtual “coffee chats” to ask more questions about my career path and my work. This overwhelming response really highlighted for me the importance of getting the word out there about the great attorneys we have, including attorneys of color, and showcasing our diversity initiatives. I had multiple virtual chats with summer associates who said, “I didn’t even know the kind of work that you do was an option,” or “I didn’t even know lawyers did that.” Law school prepares you for a very specific set of legal skills but it’s important to share our experiences so that young attorneys are aware of all the different ways you can practice law. Highlighting our different practice areas and our diverse team of attorneys opens the door for young attorneys to reach out, ask questions about our work, and get interested in it early on. I think these are all invaluable steps for us to take if we want more diverse representation the legal profession.Stacey: Everything you’re saying really resonates with me. When you talk about having those conversations or even just exposing people to options that they may not be cognizant of, I think of going even further away from the law firm and the law schools and even down the path toward folks that are at the undergraduate level or even in high school. I’m always wondering, is there more that we could be doing in the community to open people’s eyes to the fact that this is a viable career path for them, that this is something that they should seriously be considering? It’s not a career that’s limited to a certain type of person that looks a certain way or has a certain background; rather, the legal profession is better and our clients are better served by having teams that reflect a more diverse background.I’m curious what you think, having grown up with a diverse background as a Latina who moved toward the legal profession and saw that as a viable career path for yourself. How do you think we can reach young people to show them that this is something they should consider for a career?Lauren: I agree with everything you’re saying. It really resonates with me because I remember being in high-school and even early college not being sure what lawyers actually did (other than what is portrayed on TV), if that was a profession I should pursue, and if so, where to start. I think we now have a responsibility to take more steps to be integrated in our communities and engage in outreach to younger, pre-law-school folks to educate and talk about the legal profession and our career paths. I think there are still a number of barriers holding young people back from making that leap to decide, “Oh, I think I can go to law school,” or at the very least, “That’s an opportunity I should explore” and I don’t think there are necessarily resources available that can always bridge that gap. For me, and looking back on my own experience, that is an area where law firms could be doing more—stepping into the conversation earlier and trying to make connections with the younger generation of aspiring Latinx attorneys.Stacey: I agree. The first time that I made an appearance in court, I was the only woman. And this was less than two decades ago. I think for a long time the legal profession was heavily dominated by the white male, and there’s a perception of the typical attorney and what that attorney looked like and represented, and it’s just not accurate now. Our firm, I think, reflects how much the profession has changed and also just how diverse the profession can and should be, from every different perspective. I still think we’ve got a long way to go, and I worry so much about young people coming up. Not just with regard to the law, but in general, seeing what they see and feeling that their options for their future are limited. I tend to think that, the more that we can do to get impressive folks, like yourself, Lauren, in front of younger people to show them that you can be successful in this field coming from any background and that our profession is better when we are more reflective of the diverse society in which we live, the better.Lauren: One hundred percent. This is also reflected in what our clients want from us as outside counsel. Many clients today have various diversity quotas in terms of staffing their matters—there is no doubt that diversity and inclusion are top of mind for our clients and so in addition to all the other benefits associated with these initiatives, they also make good business sense. I think these trends are encouraging in that reflect the future and will only become even more engrained in how we do business. To that end, it’s more important than ever to invest in a pipeline of young diverse attorneys.Stacey: I agree; you and I are aligned, as we normally are. Thank you so much for taking the time, Lauren, to chat with me. This has been an interesting discussion.I encourage you to continue to be as actively involved as you have been in mentoring younger lawyers, diverse lawyers, and women lawyers. I know you will continue to model the things that you stand for, as you always have.

09_08_latinxcampaign_sprenkelnavarro_elevatetwitter-150x150.jpg

Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month + The Power of Mentorship

Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month + The Power of Mentorship

09_08_latinxcampaign_sprenkelnavarro_li.jpg

As part of MoFo’s celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, San Francisco-based litigation partner and Women’s Strategy Committee co-chair Stacey Sprenkel interview

The tireless benefactor of 3,300 hours of pro bono legal work to Morrison & Foerster’s nonprofit and social enterprise clients, Washington, D.C.-based <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/linda-arnsbarger.html">Linda Arnsbarger</a> is the winner of the ABA Business Law Section’s 2020 National Public Service Award. The Honorable Elizabeth Stong, Co-Chair of the Business Law Section Pro Bono Committee, presented the award to Linda during the Section’s September 2020 meeting, held remotely.A federal tax lawyer who has been with the firm for more than 30 years, Linda has worked on 482 matters for MoFo’s organizational pro bono clients, which she describes as “companies with big ideas about what they can do to help the world.” She has assisted entities at every level and as diverse as the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association and The Nature Conservancy. The legal advice she donates spans the areas of tax, governance, contracts, and intellectual property, and spans the globe.Nonprofits that have benefited from her pro bono counsel include an organization that provides conservation programs in the Amazon region, an organization that works to improve maternal health in East Africa, and a group that runs schools for low-income children in Cambodia.“It’s difficult for these clients to navigate the system that our world imposes on charities,” Linda explains. “Helping them get past the red tape and move forward on their missions has been very rewarding.”Another area of Linda’s pro bono practice involves helping nonprofits benefit from the increasing popularity of impact investing without sacrificing the tax-exempt status that the U.S. Internal Revenue Code affords to public charities.As passionate as Linda is about her corporate work for organizational clients, she says she’s especially proud of having collaborated with members of MoFo’s appellate group in the early years of her career to work on special education issues.“I have a personal interest in special education law and had been following the development of that law for a long time, but there hadn’t really been any pro bono work in the area,” Linda explains.Fortunately, a then-member of the MoFo litigation group had experience working with organizations that supported children and had also worked for the Department of Education. Because the colleague of Linda’s was so well-informed in that discipline, MoFo was invited to prepare seven amicus briefs for the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of groups supporting disability rights including the National Disability Rights Network, The Arc, the Autism Society, and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.While amicus briefs can sometimes just reiterate the legal arguments of several other parties, Linda and her team didn’t take that approach.“It’s not effective,” Linda says. “The important thing is to illustrate how the case and the potential decision will affect a community of people, such as children with epilepsy, children with cerebral palsy, children with autism, and the families involved. We also pulled up hard data that was deeply embedded in Department of Education databases to show that perhaps arguments being made on the other side weren’t correct.”The MoFo team’s hard work and strategic thinking paid off.“In at least a couple of those cases, the decision actually cited data we had used in our brief,” recalls Linda, who first joined MoFo as a summer associate. “Knowing that the arguments you’re making are being heard is definitely rewarding.”

mofotogether-kudos-thumb.jpg

Kudos to Linda Arnsbarger for Winning the ABA Business Law Section’s 2020 National Public Service Awar

Kudos to Linda Arnsbarger for Winning the ABA Business Law Section’s 2020 National Public Service Award

04_09_kudos_headshot-arnsbarger_li.jpg

The tireless benefactor of 3,300 hours of pro bono legal work to Morrison & Foerster’s nonprofit and social enterprise clients, Washington, D.C.-based Linda Arn

MoFo’s <a href="https://www.mofo.com/capabilities/privacy-data-security.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Privacy + Data Security Group</a> is highly regarded for its multidisciplinary approach to providing some of the world’s largest and best-known global enterprises and smaller organizations with actionable, practical advice. With over 100 countries which have enacted their own data protection laws, the firm has ensured that we are strategically positioned to meet clients where they operate, with over 60 talented lawyers across the United States, Europe, and Asia.The Privacy + Data Security team’s in-depth knowledge has been a valuable asset to companies in some of the most highly regulated industries, from financial services and healthcare to pharmaceuticals. The team assists clients by advising on compliance and risk management, establishing programs and policies, negotiating agreements,  providing employee training, responding to regulatory inquiries and investigations, and, where necessary, entering litigation.MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Group is no stranger to earned recognition from top legal publications, such as Chambers and The Legal 500, for its well-established practitioners, its deep bench, and its rising stars. A large part of its success can be traced back to the group’s beginnings and an early focus on ensuring that the practice was built to not only deliver excellent client service, but to also embrace innovation and diversity.While the field of privacy has long included many senior and powerful women, MoFo partner and co-chair of the firm’s Global Privacy + Data Security Group <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/miriam-wugmeister.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Miriam Wugmeister</a> made it a point to ensure that the firm brought people to the practice from a variety of different backgrounds. Miriam’s 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 is improved with the addition of every underrepresented person who joins and succeeds in the field.Our Diverse in Practice series highlights some of the many inclusive practice groups that are leading the way for MoFo. In this installment, we take a closer look at some of the lawyers whose unique voices and perspectives are driving outstanding client outcomes for our Privacy + Data Security Group. Read their stories here:<a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-privacy-data-security-lawyers-whitney-lee/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Whitney Lee</a><a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-privacy-data-security-lawyers-chris-lyon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chris Lyon</a><a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-privacy-data-security-lawyers-purvi-g-patel" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Purvi Patel</a><a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-privacy-data-security-lawyers-mercedes-samavi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercedes Samavi</a><a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/meet-mofos-privacy-data-security-lawyers-nancy-thomas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nancy Thomas</a>Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse and women attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

10_05_diversepractice_dataprivacysecurity_thumbnail-150x150.jpg

Diverse in Practice: Privacy + Data Security

Diverse in Practice: Privacy + Data Security

10_05_diversepractice_dataprivacysecurity_li.jpg

MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Group is highly regarded for its multidisciplinary approach to providing some of the world’s largest and best-known global enterp

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/whitney-lee.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Whitney Lee</a> is a litigation associate in MoFo’s Washington, D.C. office. Her practice focuses on advising clients on sensitive matters relating to national security, risk, and crisis management, including matters that involve multijurisdictional investigations, congressional oversight, privacy, data security, and significant media attention.Prior to joining MoFo, Whitney practiced as an associate in the Cybersecurity & Privacy Group of an international law firm. While she was studying at Columbia Law School, she received Parker School Honors for excellence in the study of international law and served as the head notes editor for Columbia’s Journal of Transnational Law. In addition, Whitney interned at the New York State Office of the Attorney General in the Public Integrity Bureau.Whitney is well versed in the area of criminal law, with a focus on international cybercrime. She holds an LL.M. in International Criminal Law from the University of Amsterdam and a B.A. in Government from Harvard University. Before law school, Whitney spent her time working at the Center for American Progress, an independent nonpartisan policy institute dedicated to developing and communicating ideas for policymakers that will lead to real change and protect our democracy.What was it that initially drew you to Privacy + Data Security law?Privacy + Data Security is such an interesting area of the law and it is still in an exciting growth phase. In our group, we encounter new and interesting challenges every day and it is so gratifying to be able to support our clients and face those challenges together. Also, a large part of what drew me to MoFo was the opportunity to work with experts in the fields of privacy + data security and crisis management such as Miriam Wugmeister, John Carlin, and David Newman.How does the Privacy + Data Security practice intersect with, or improve upon, similar practice areas?Privacy + Data Security intersects with most practice areas in some way or another, from healthcare and life sciences, to M&A, to crisis management. We live in an age where companies in every sector have moved nearly everything of value into a digital space where that information is vulnerable to accidental disclosure and targeted criminal action. Today, almost all companies have a new area of risk management and that’s cyber risk.Could you tell us about someone who was a role model to you, either personally or professionally, and why?My grandfather, who was a Tuskegee Airman, has always been a role model to me. He served during World War II and lived through some of the darkest periods in our nation’s history. As our country weathers its current challenges, I reflect on the strength and determination that he showed during his life and I try to emulate it.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse and women attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Whitney Lee

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Whitney Lee

10_05_diversepractice_privacydatasecurity_quote_lee_li.jpg

Whitney Lee is a litigation associate in MoFo’s Washington, D.C. office. Her practice focuses on advising clients on sensitive matters relating to national secu

Chris Lyon is a partner in MoFo’s Palo Alto office. Her practice focuses on helping companies develop privacy and data protection strategies for their products and services, including some of the most cutting-edge technology offerings and developments.Chris advises some of the top Silicon Valley-based companies on how to best leverage their data while also remaining compliant with ever-evolving privacy and data protection laws. Her clients span a variety of industries, from technology service providers and hardware/software giants to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer product companies.She has particularly extensive experience advising technology companies on building privacy protections into cutting-edge offerings, including connected products and services (Internet of Things), artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, and cloud-based services, as well as on managing the related “Big Data” implications.In addition to her regular practice, Chris frequently writes and speaks on topics where privacy and technology intersect, and has won the Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing.What was it that initially drew you to Privacy + Data Security law?I was initially drawn to privacy law because I had a wonderful mentor, <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/miriam-wugmeister.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Miriam Wugmeister</a>, who was building our privacy practice and I wanted to work with her more. When I first volunteered, I wasn’t even quite sure what privacy work involved. (This was back in the early 2000s, long before many of the privacy laws we know so well today.) I quickly grew to appreciate the real-world impact that we can have as privacy lawyers, and I love working with clients to help them develop their products, services, and systems in a privacy-focused way that fosters the trust of their customers and employees.Is there any evidence that you’ve seen indicating that diversity and inclusion is becoming more of a priority in your practice group, or suggestions on how it can do so in the future?Diversity is an important priority within the privacy practice, and within the privacy profession as a whole. As privacy lawyers, our job includes considering ethics and fairness, not just whether a data processing activity expressly violates the letter of the law. Increasingly, privacy laws and regulators require companies to evaluate whether their data processing activities (such as tools using artificial intelligence, machine learning, or profiling) may result in unlawful discrimination, or perpetuate existing social inequalities. Technology can have blind spots, just like the people creating it. Companies are recognizing the need to increase the diversity of teams developing products and services, as well as the diversity of the attorneys and other advisors who help to evaluate the impacts of these technologies.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career, or perhaps why you are driven to mentor others?I’ve had amazing mentors throughout my career, and I still do. In my view, you never become so senior or s experienced that you cease to need or benefit from mentorship. There are always people to learn from, who can help you progress in your practice and career. As I mentioned, Miriam Wugmeister has been an important mentor throughout my career at the firm, from when I was a junior associate through making partner, and continuing strong today. As I’ve become a mentor to others myself over the years, I’ve learned what a great feeling it is to help others progress in their careers, and how we all benefit from the growth and success of each other.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse and women attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Chris Lyon

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Chris Lyon

10_05_diversepractice_privacydatasecurity_quote_lyon_li.jpg

Chris Lyon is a partner in MoFo’s Palo Alto office. Her practice focuses on helping companies develop privacy and data protection strategies for their products 

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/purvi-patel.html#overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Purvi G. Patel</a> is a litigation partner in MoFo’s Los Angeles office. Her practice is a unique blend of Privacy + Data Security and Class Actions + Mass Torts. Purvi represents a wide-range of clients spanning the retail and e-commerce space, among others, in privacy, advertising, unfair competition, and consumer fraud matters. She is a recognized leader in defending lawsuits involving the collection, use, and disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII). Purvi is the firm’s expert regarding California’s Song-Beverly Credit Card Act and analog statutes in other states, and she is at the forefront of the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018.Her experience advising household names on various privacy compliance issues and defending them in complex and class action litigation in federal and state courts across the country, has earned her a solid reputation among both her peers and clients. She is recommended as a Key Lawyer: Privacy and Data Protection by Legal 500 US and as a leading lawyer by Best Lawyers in America. Additionally, the Los Angeles Business Journal named Purvi to its list of Most Influential Minority Attorneys.As well-known as she is for her legal capabilities, she is equally renowned for her commitment to the community and diversifying the legal profession. She has held several influential positions within the firm, contributing to the mentorship and advancement of diverse, LGBTQ+, and women attorneys. She is co-chair of MoFo’s <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity#diversitystrategycommittee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Diversity Strategy Committee</a>, hiring partner for the Los Angeles office, and a member of the Women’s Strategy Committee.Purvi is also actively engaged in the community and has taken on leadership roles with a number of organizations. She is a member of the founding board of <a href="https://www.legalpipeline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Legal Education Access Pipeline</a>, a fellows program dedicated to increasing access to legal education for underrepresented populations. Since its launch, she has also served on the steering committee for Just the Beginning’s Los Angeles Summer Legal Institute, a one-week legal immersion program for diverse high school students. Finally, Purvi is a past co-president of the South Asian Bar Association of Southern California (SABA-SC) and, in 2019, was named <a href="https://together.mofo.com/diversity/kudos-to-purvi-patel-on-being-named-saba-scs-2019-mentor-of-the-year-award/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SABA-SC’s Mentor of the Year</a>.What was it that initially drew you to Privacy + Data Security law?While no area of the law is really stagnant—after all, that’s the beauty of our system—Privacy + Data Security law is rapidly and constantly evolving due to changes in technology and social norms, resulting in “first of their kind” legal issues. I wanted to be on the frontlines of those issues. As I had hoped, partnering with clients to navigate the gray areas, which regularly crop up, has proven to be very rewarding. It’s a dynamic practice, where past experience certainly informs our thinking, but equally or more important is the need to think practically and be nimble. Having the ability to hone these types of skills is also what drew me to this practice years ago.Do you have any examples of interesting work you’ve performed in this space? Too many! The most recent has been my work on the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). It is the most comprehensive piece of privacy legislation in the United States, and no doubt will be the model for other laws in other states. I started working on the CCPA before it was passed into law and, as those who work in this space know, it’s been a wild ride from the beginning. As a result, I developed an early expertise in the Act’s nuances. It’s been amended several times since it was passed in 2018, and California is not yet “done” with it, so the challenges it poses for compliance will definitely continue. These challenges, however, are exactly why I love being a privacy lawyer. Every day I am fielding hard questions from clients who are trying to comply with a law that has many gray areas, and I’ve enjoyed working with these companies to come up with practical solutions to these questions. My counseling practice has and will continue to inform my litigation practice, and I’ve already seen the advantages of the deep knowledge I’ve built as I defend clients in cases asserting CCPA claims.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career, or perhaps why you are driven to mentor others?As a South Asian woman, I am still too often the only woman or the only person of color in the room, so I feel a deep and abiding obligation to mentor diverse, LGBTQ+, and women attorneys. A large part of that is due to the fact that I’ve benefited from dedicated mentors throughout my career—attorneys who saw my potential, gave me opportunities, pushed me to stretch, and were trustworthy confidants. No one succeeds in this career alone. Having experienced firsthand the impact mentorship can have and wanting to see others like me succeed (and change the makeup of the room) motivates me to take the extra time to invest in younger lawyers.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse and women attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Purvi G. Patel

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Purvi G. Patel

10_05_diversepractice_privacydatasecurity_quote_patel_li_v2-1.jpg

Purvi G. Patel is a litigation partner in MoFo’s Los Angeles office. Her practice is a unique blend of Privacy + Data Security and Class Actions + Mass Torts. P

<a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/mercedes-samavi.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercedes Samavi</a> is an associate in MoFo’s London office. As a member of both the Technology Transactions Group and the Global Privacy Group, she focuses on advising domestic and international clients on matters related to B2B and B2C data protection issues, e-privacy and direct marketing strategies, contract law, intellectual property, outsourcing, and public procurements.Her clients range from early-stage startups to large multinational corporations, covering a wide assortment of industries. Additionally she’s spent significant time on client secondments, helping businesses with both commercial and privacy matters.Mercedes is also actively involved with the firm’s pro bono efforts, working with a variety of clients, including UK and international charities, third-sector organizations, and social impact businesses. In 2019 she was awarded the Kathi Pugh Award for her dedication to pro bono service.What was it that initially drew you to Privacy + Data Security law? I initially worked solely for MoFo’s Technology Transactions Group. Within a few months, I became aware that I’d have to have at least a basic level of privacy law to be able to fully understand clients’ questions and concerns and give truly helpful advice. In practice, whether you’re dealing with an app, a piece of software, or a new device, clients’ issues don’t always fall neatly into the “privacy” bucket and the “contractual” bucket.  Additionally, learning about privacy law is like pulling a piece of loose yarn on a jumper: the more you pull, the more you realize that there’s still so much you need to know. So I’ve stuck with it ever since! The Privacy + Data Security Group itself contains such a fantastic set of individuals with so much talent and experience, and my dual practice has really benefited over the years from being able to work closely with them on a variety of deals and regulatory matters.Do you have any advice for the next generation of aspiring diverse lawyers who might be interested in the field?We need you! Privacy is not an issue that’s going to get “resolved” any time soon, either by this generation or the next generation. If anything, the more we increase our personal and corporate reliance on technology, the more interesting legal and ethical privacy dilemmas we’ll have for lawyers to consider and advise on. To solve these dilemmas, having a diverse set of voices (both by background and by experience) consult on the underlying principles is not just nice to have; it’s a necessity. A fundamental principle of privacy is that personal information should be handled in a fair and justified way; enshrined in this is the requirement to strip out bias and anti-discrimination. Consider the last time you read in the news about an AI algorithm that unlawfully discriminated against a certain gender, race, or sexual orientation. Could this have been avoided if the company’s legal advisers comprised a wider range of individuals who could, from a privacy perspective, spot the red flags in time? For sure, this responsibility should not be placed on the shoulders of lawyers alone, but substantive privacy laws are still being figured out, and we need diverse representation in the room to help companies avoid making the same mistakes.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career, or perhaps why you are driven to mentor others?Originally, mentorship represented to me the idea of having one special person that will guide you through your career—much like a guardian angel—from the start until the end. Now, I appreciate that it’s so much more than that and that mentors come in all shapes and sizes. I’ve really valued having a trusted set of people, within law and other professions, who play different roles—a listening ear, a sounding board, or a sponsor—depending on what the situation requires. Having benefited so much from this, I’m keen to provide mentorship to junior associates and trainees, again adjusting my role to what they need. Often, the most helpful thing that I’ve been able to offer to someone is the opportunity to check that what they’re going through is not unheard of or unique to them. I know, firsthand, that it can be a great comfort to know this.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse and women attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Mercedes Samavi

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Mercedes Samavi

10_05_diversepractice_privacydatasecurity_quote_samavi_li.jpg

Mercedes Samavi is an associate in MoFo’s London office. As a member of both the Technology Transactions Group and the Global Privacy Group, she focuses on advi

Nancy Thomas is litigation partner in MoFo’s Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on consumer class actions and regulatory enforcement, representing clients in high-stakes litigation matters in addition to arbitration and administrative proceedings. She has extensive experience representing clients on a variety of complex matters, including data breach investigations and class actions, as well as other privacy matters.Nancy’s practical approach and winning strategies have gained her recognition as a top financial services litigator by Legal 500 US and Benchmark Litigation. She was also named a leading California litigator by Benchmark Litigation California and earned a place on Benchmark Litigation and Euromoney Media Group’s Top 250 Women in Litigation lists.Nancy is editor-in-chief and contributing author of the firm’s award-winning <a href="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/assets/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltbaff9cb034390a01/6273ef590cffdf1eb136b54a/200714-financial-service-report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Financial Services Report</a>. She is actively engaged in her community, sitting on the board of directors and the executive committee of the <a href="https://www.crf-usa.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Constitutional Rights Foundation</a>, a nonprofit, bipartisan organization dedicated to teaching students how to participate in the democratic process.What was it that initially drew you to Privacy + Data Security law?What could be better than assisting clients with some of their most difficult challenges, including data security and data breach issues, and representing clients in high-profile and high-stakes privacy class actions? Privacy + Data Security is a relatively new area of the law, so my work in this space gives me the opportunity to make creative arguments to win cases and shape how the law develops.How does the Privacy + Data Security practice intersect with, or improve upon, similar practice areas?Winning privacy class actions requires a deep, substantive knowledge of the privacy laws. Every day brings a new challenge and another opportunity to collaborate with my colleagues on our privacy regulatory and compliance teams. We work together to develop winning defenses on the merits. I also work closely with my colleagues in the Consumer Class Action Practice Group as we develop roadmaps to victory to meet our clients’ goals and brainstorm arguments to defeat class certification and win dispositive motions.Can you speak to the importance of mentorship in your career, or perhaps why you are driven to mentor others?Mentorship is part of the ethos of this firm; I’ve seen what a difference it made when senior lawyers took an interest in my development as a lawyer and I now want to pay it forward by mentoring junior lawyers. Teaching associates, listening to their ideas and concerns, encouraging them to find their own work-life balance, and giving them opportunities to develop both personally and professionally are critical and rewarding parts of my job. The time and energy spent come back to me in spades when I watch my colleagues become strong team members, define their own views of personal and professional success, and work toward achieving those goals.Learn more about MoFo’s commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse and women attorneys <a href="https://www.mofo.com/culture/diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Nancy Thomas

Meet MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Lawyers: Nancy Thomas

10_05_diversepractice_privacydatasecurity_quote_thomas_li.jpg

Nancy Thomas is litigation partner in MoFo’s Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on consumer class actions and regulatory enforcement, representing clients

Morrison & Foerster has a long and successful history of working with VMware Senior Litigation Counsel and MoFo alumna Danielle Coleman on matters related to intellectual property, patents, and employment law, to name a few. So, we were not surprised to receive news that Danielle was named a 2020 Rising Star by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA). As a strong supporter of equity and systemic change, we are proud to highlight the achievements, efforts, and shared commitment of our valued partners, VMware and Danielle, as they lead the charge for greater diversity and racial equity within their communities and workplaces.MCCA’s Rising Stars list features attorneys whose accomplishments and dedication to the legal profession and to their community have earned them the reputation as “attorneys to watch.” Each attorney on the list exhibits great ambition and a love of the law, but also compassion for those in need and a strong desire to give back to others.Before joining VMware, Danielle was an associate in MoFo’s IP Litigation practice and a member of the firm’s Black Affinity Group, where she formed valuable relationships with other diverse lawyers, such as partners <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/bita-rahebi.html">Bita Rahebi</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/eric-tate.html">Eric Tate</a>, whom she credits with being mentors to her. Advocating for change and racial justice is a passion that Danielle brought with her to VMware as global co-lead of the Black@VMware Power of Difference (ERG) Group, an internal affinity group dedicated to supporting allyship and diversity and inclusion initiatives.As part of Black@VMware, Danielle was instrumental in the creation of the #WeHearYou campaign, launched this summer in response to the heightened focus on racial injustice. The goal of the campaign is to inspire people to take time out, listen, educate themselves, and be empathetic and resilient. The group also created a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.brightfunds.org/funds/black-vmware-social-justice-fund">social justice fund</a> to raise money for organizations such as the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://eji.org/">Equal Justice Initiative</a>, and leads ongoing meetings through its Culture Club, where VMware leaders and colleagues share their own stories in an effort to bring home the ideal outcome of ending police brutality and racial injustice. The hope is to encourage those who view the recent news events as isolated incidents to become allies and advocates after hearing from their own peers.MoFo and VMware, along with Danielle, have also teamed up on several pro bono-related matters, such as the recent Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project, aimed at building a public database of COVID-19-related elections litigation that can help advocates and policymakers design procedures for a safe and inclusive election amidst the pandemic. Danielle and several lawyers from VMware also joined the firm’s pro bono team to conduct Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) clinics to assist “dreamers” who came to the United States as children with legal matters related to immigration policies.As an associate at MoFo, Danielle had the opportunity to work on the Blue Ribbon Panel on Transparency, Accountability, and Fairness in Law Enforcement alongside MoFo trial partner <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/people/arturo-gonzalez.html">Arturo González</a>, resulting in 81 recommendations to the City of San Francisco for policy changes, including use of force, and internal and external oversight. She co-led the working group assembled to investigate stops, searches, and arrests by the San Francisco Police Department in response to reports that several of the department’s officers sent numerous racist and homophobic text messages.Danielle remains optimistic and states, “I’m hopeful that we can continue to work with MoFo, not only on the active litigation matters that we’re working on together or within the patent and employment law space, but on other pro bono projects that will positively impact the community as it relates to racial injustice, immigration, women’s rights, and other similar areas.”MoFo and VMware’s professional relationship goes back a number years. Recently, a team of MoFo lawyers—led by <a href="https://www.mofo.com/people/richard-hung.html">Rich Hung</a>, Michael Jacobs, Bita Rahebi, and Diek Van Nort—took over a patent litigation case from another firm that resulted in a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/news/200824-vmware-granted-million.html">fantastic outcome</a>, obtaining summary judgment of non-infringement for VMware in litigation brought by Route1, Inc. and securing a $1.6 million award of attorneys’ fees.Danielle notes that “I’ve worked closely with [the team] and what has struck me about them when I was at the firm—and even now in-house—is how the team is not only knowledgeable, but they are also very driven and think outside of the box to come up with creative solutions.”VMware is a member of the MCCA, which is committed to advancing the hiring, retention, and promotion of diverse lawyers in law departments and law firms by providing research, best practices, professional development, and training; and through pipeline initiatives. Danielle and the other 2020 Rising Stars will be honored during MCCA’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mcca.com/events/pathways/pathways-2020/">Creating Pathways to Diversity Virtual Conference</a> on October 27, 2020.Read more about <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.mofo.com/about/alumni">MoFo Alumni</a>.

Kudos to VMware’s Danielle Coleman on Her MCCA Rising Star Recognition

Kudos to VMware’s Danielle Coleman on Her MCCA Rising Star Recognition

09_23_kudos_headshot-coleman_li.jpg

Morrison & Foerster has a long and successful history of working with VMware Senior Litigation Counsel and MoFo alumna Danielle Coleman on matters related to in