Theresa Foudy 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 here.