MoFo Hong Kong
Your MoFo Story Starts Here...
How to Apply
Key Market in China
Driven by Excellence
Where will your MoFo Story take you?
Allyship is Action
Inclusive to the Core
Committed to Service
Succeed As One
Why MoFo?
Our Future is Yours
Choose MoFo, and you’ll find the legal career you deserve. Real cases. Real clients. Real experiences. Start here, and the possibilities are endless.
Why MoFo Hong Kong?
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Thrive in an environment that is inclusive to the core, where respect for people, ideas, and differences makes us stronger colleagues and advisors. Enjoy significant responsibility from early on in your career. Join a team that is committed to service, who makes a meaningful impact for our clients, communities, and society. Learn from mentors and peers alike. Exceptional people are hired, developed, and nurtured here.
No matter where you start your MoFo story, the firm supports charting a career path that aligns with your interests and passions. Our collaborative approach to working across borders, practice areas, and industries ensures that we succeed as one firm. While each of our 2,200+ legal and business professionals have unique goals, we are united in our commitment to delivering results that best serve each other, our clients, and our communities.
Working alongside talented and committed individuals at MoFo is an enriching and valuable experience, and definitely a wonderful way to kick-start my career.
Stephanie So
Pro Bono
MoFo Trainee
Succeed as One
We Rise to the Occasion...
...And Always Seek a Better Way.
For more than 100 years, Morrison Foerster has represented some of the world’s largest financial institutions, Fortune 100 companies and leading technology and life sciences companies. The collective intelligence and collaborative culture of our lawyers ensures their experience is a strategic fit to meet the needs of the clients and industries they serve. The firm consistently receives top-tier rankings from leading directories in a number of practice areas, including 43 practice area and 60 individual rankings in Chambers Global 2021, speaking to our legal capabilities, and dedication to a higher degree of client service.
At MoFo, you have the opportunity to work with and learn from the best legal minds in the industry. From early on, you’ll get exposure to training, support, and exciting projects where you’ll gain practical skills and make lifelong connections. Here, you’re encouraged to go beyond just embracing ideas to playing an active role in creating new ones.
“I chose to train at MoFo because of the high quality work and friendly culture. Everyone is friendly, approachable and willing to teach.”
Patricia Lu
Work With The Best...
Morrison Foerster transforms complexity into advantage. With our collective intelligence, we shape powerful legal strategies that move our clients' businesses forward while living our shared values. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, Fortune 100 companies, and leading technology and life sciences companies. Whether established for decades or just an entrepreneur’s idea, we represent organizations as they grow, innovate, disrupt, and develop into leading industry players and household names.
...And Do Your Best Work.
MoFo Values: A strong culture doesn't happen by chance.
Get to know who we are and why there really is a MoFo difference.
1,000 +
Lawyers across 18 offices in the United States, Asia, and Europe
BAND 1
in Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) in China: Chambers Greater China Region 2022
TIER 1
in China: Private Equity and TMT: The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022
HONG KONG EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
A Story of Doing Good
An essential part of the MoFo difference is our tradition of service in the public interest. We use our talents in a range of pro bono activities, from staffing legal service clinics, to counseling more than 300 nonprofit organizations, to handling high-impact litigation. Our work focuses on assisting underserved groups and nonprofits that serve low-income people and communities. We approach pro bono work the same as our billable work—with passion, dedication, and an exacting standard of service—simply because that’s who we are.
In Hong Kong, MoFo was part of a 31-member-strong coalition of international financial institutions and law firms that took part in an effort to revise the Hong Kong Immigration Department’s policy to permit the granting of dependent visa/entry permits to non-local same-sex spouses. We led a pro bono team working with other members of the coalition on the landmark case QT v. Director of Immigration, which resulted in a unanimous victory in the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal that required the Immigration Department to grant a spousal visa to an expatriate same-sex couple.
Hong Kong: Advancing LGBTQ+ Marriage Rights
Watch
Our latest pro bono video and learn about the remarkable work our lawyers have undertaken to help make an impact during this unprecedented year.
Silver Law Firm Award
In Pro Bono and Community Work Recognition The Law Society of Hong Kong
The Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation
Hours devoted to Pro Bono in 2021
100
2022 Award
inclusive to the core
Every Voice is Heard
Morrison Foerster believes that the lawyers who advise and represent our clients should be as diverse as they are. We place a high value on the varied perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas that our lawyers offer when it comes to serving our clients, colleagues, and communities. We’re certain that you’ll find numerous ways to connect with a diverse group of legal professionals through networking events, speaking engagements, affinity groups, community engagement, and pro bono initiatives. Our priority will always be fostering an inclusive workplace where every story matters and every voice is heard.
More than 20 lawyers and staff came together in 2019 to represent MoFo and our commitment to diversity at the annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival.
Stronger Together: MoFo Hong Kong Diversity Dragon Boat Team
Ranked first overall among firms with 601+ lawyers in
Law360
's 2022 Diversity
Snapshot. MoFo also tops the list of biggest law firms with the most diverse equity partners.
Inclusion Champion
In 2022 for firm leadership Diversity Lab
100%
Rating on Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ+ Equality, 19 years in a row
41%
Of lawyers promoted to partner in the past five years have been women
13x
2022 Best Law Firm for Women Seramount
“MoFo values people. The resources, emphasis and attention MoFo gives to training, support, feedback, and person growth are very impressive.”
“I am particularly impressed by how well-structured the summer program is, ranging from expectation setting, exposure to various training workshops, and varieties of work assignments.”
“Joining MoFo’s internship program has been one of the best choices I have made for my legal career.”
“It was always very interesting and inspiring to chat with MoFo talents, who are very dedicated to their career and willing to share their work life, insights about their practice area and personal life. I enjoyed being friends with them, which is important to me, as I do not treat workplace only as a place to work.”
“Everyone, from partners to trainees to all administrative staff, has been very friendly, helpful and respectful. This is something I greatly value and MoFo has this quality.”
“Given how diverse and unique everyone’s background is, I have had the privilege of learning something new every day during the four weeks and have had the chance to grow exponentially as a budding lawyer.”
Our 2022 Summer Interns Say…
Click on each topic to learn more
How to Apply and What to expect
Summer Internship Program
Our Hong Kong Summer Internship Program is a great introduction to what a training contract at MoFo would offer you and the best way for you to demonstrate your potential to us. During your internship, you will be given real work for real clients. Formal and informal social events are arranged for you to meet others in the internship program as well as our partners, associates, and trainees. By the end of the scheme, you should have a good idea of whether the legal field is the career for you—and whether MoFo is the right place for you.
Trainee Program
From day one, you will be surprised by how much direct contact you have with clients. You will feel valued and involved. The hands-on learning we offer will help you understand the legal and commercial context of the advice we give. You will quickly experience the satisfaction of going the extra mile for our clients. The sheer variety of work you undertake in your training contract will help you decide where your future lies. During your two-year training contract, you will work closely with associates and partners who will encourage you to show initiative and take on responsibility. As a trainee, you will rotate through different practice areas in your two-year training program. Seat options include Private Equity/Mergers and Acquisition, Funds, Capital Markets, Dispute Resolution, and Technology Transactions. Subject to business needs, you will also have an opportunity to go on a secondment at other MoFo offices.
In addition to on-the-job training, we offer formal training sessions and workshops that will give you the practical and legal knowledge that is necessary to become a fully qualified lawyer. You will be given help to evaluate your strengths and identify your developmental needs, both informally and through formal reviews with your supervisors. Plus there will be opportunities to become involved in our pro bono activities and community action initiatives. All trainees will have opportunities to work with partners. MoFo maintains an open door policy that encourages interaction among all attorneys. The firm also holds social events and regular meetings to facilitate interactions among paralegals, trainees, associates, partners, and other staff.
What Can We Do For You?
Choosing a firm that is right for you is an important decision. We understand that the selection process may seem overwhelming. There is a lot to think about, from the city where you would like to build your career, to the type of work that you will find interesting, to the kind of firm that you see yourself in, to how to distinguish among highly respected firms that sound similar, and so on. We believe that direct participation and hands-on experience engaging in client matters provide the most rewarding opportunities. We present trainees with the tools they need to enhance their skills through our program, as well as continued guidance and mentoring. Our trainee program is of the utmost importance to us. We are eager to help talented students find their place in our firm and are committed to helping them succeed.
Once you accept a training contract with us, you become part of the firm, and your training and development start right away. As a “future joiner” you will receive the following: examination fees for the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) conversion exam for those who graduated overseas, course fees for the PCLL course, a stipend during your PCLL, and a joining salary that is highly competitive with the other premier firms in the market.
Sponsorship
What Do We Look For?
MoFo realized that delivering results for our clients requires the best legal talent. We have long thought that our greatest asset is the last person hired. We seek out not only the best and brightest in academic pursuits, but also those with motivation, a can-do attitude, creativity, an entrepreneurial spirit, drive, and confidence. We look for candidates with strong academic backgrounds with a minimum 2:1 degree or at least a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or the equivalent from top universities. In addition, given that there is a lot of cross-border work in the office, we definitely seek out bilingual or trilingual students. The ability to read and write Chinese is preferred. Like most other firms in Hong Kong, we typically select trainees two years before they start work with us. So if you are studying law, you should apply in your penultimate year, preferably through our Summer Internship Program.
When Will the Summer Internship and Training Contract Begin?
Summer internships take place in June and July and last for four weeks. The training contract starts in September every year. Like most other firms in Hong Kong, we typically select trainees two years before they start work with us. So if you are studying law, you should apply in your penultimate year.
How To Apply?
Please submit an online application with a cover letter, résumé, and transcripts at https://careers.mofo.com/. Interviews are on a rolling basis.
Timeline
October 1, 2022: Applications Open January 31, 2023: Summer Intern Applications Close June/July 2023: Summer Internships Begin 2025 Training Contracts Applications Close When All Vacancies are Filled
allyship is action
At MoFo, we pair diversity of perspective with a strategic consultative approach to craft the tailored strategies our clients need. We foster trusted partnerships that are defined by winning for our clients when it matters most.
Whether that’s forming special task forces to tackle issues of racial injustice, seeking new ways to amplify diverse voices, or partnering with legal partners and nonprofits to help those underserved in our communities and underrepresented in the legal profession. Learn more about how MoFo is putting allyship in action and responding to racial injustice.
where will your mofo story take you?
18 cities. 3 continents.
AMERICAS
From its deep roots in the Bay Area, MoFo has grown into a leading U.S. law firm.
Our San Francisco and Palo Alto offices serve at the epicenter of the most recent technology revolution. Both offices offer full-service corporate, finance, IP, and litigation capabilities to clients at all stages of development, providing advice in transactions, regulatory programs, and contentious matters. In Los Angeles and San Diego, our lawyers advise a diverse group of private and public companies in cleantech, electronics, entertainment and media, life sciences, medical technology, real estate, and venture and institutional investors, while lawyers in our Denver office focus on public and private financing, licensing, purchasing, and litigation. On the East Coast, our New York office, strategically located for many of our financial services, real estate, and corporate clients, is a global center for business, finance, and media. In D.C., we are home to some of the most powerful and influential players in both government and the private sector, providing regulatory, corporate, litigation, and IP counsel on behalf of financial institutions, investors, entrepreneurs, and Fortune 500 and technology companies. In Boston, we serve a growing and dynamic technology and life sciences market, representing emerging and established companies in global matters involving business, finance, IP, and litigation. In Austin, our lawyers provide companies, including emerging companies, and investors in the technology, life sciences, and healthcare sectors, access to MoFo’s full-service platform and global network, with a focus on IP litigation and transactional matters. Our newly opened Miami office serves its clients as a trusted local resource and a key gateway into the Americas and beyond, combining our local bench strength across corporate, real estate, finance, and litigation practices.
Asia
With five offices in Asia—Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo—we are one of the preeminent law firms in the region, providing integrated U.S. and local law advice.
The strength of our Tokyo office, the largest Japan-based office of any global firm, resulted in Chambers Asia-Pacific naming us Japan International Firm of the Year for the ninth time in 2021. MoFo is an intellectual property powerhouse and leads the region in outsourcing, licensing, and technology transactions. Our highly regarded corporate finance and capital markets practice in Asia represents issuers and underwriters in debt and equity financings, as well as in domestic venture capital and private equity investments. For more than 35 years, our Hong Kong office has served Chinese and international clients, including financial investors and institutions, Fortune 500 companies, institutional and state-owned PRC companies, entrepreneurs, and technology companies of all types, including telecommunications, clean technology, life sciences, entertainment and media, and semiconductors. Our China team has more than 50 U.S.-, Hong Kong-, PRC-, and England and Wales-qualified professionals, who work closely with attorneys throughout the firm to deliver calibrated and sound advice to clients. Our lawyers based in Hong Kong advise clients on capital markets, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital, China regulatory and direct investment matters, technology transactions, and intellectual property matters. We also have a full-service disputes team capable of conducting complex litigation, arbitration, investigations, national security, and pre-disputes counseling in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
europe
Morrison Foerster’s long-established European presence dates back to 1980 when we opened our London office. We collaborate across borders, practice areas, and functions to win together.
From our London office, UK- and U.S.-qualified lawyers advise clients on all aspects of corporate, finance, securities, taxation, privacy, intellectual property, and employment law. The office’s multijurisdictional litigation, arbitration, and mediation practices allow us to resolve even the most complex disputes. Our Berlin office represents clients in M&A transactions, corporate and commercial litigation, antitrust and sector-specific regulation, and tax, labor and employment, and privacy matters, with a particular focus on the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sector, as well as on other industries such as transportation, real estate, private equity, and financial services. MoFo’s Brussels office is a key element of our globally integrated antitrust and competition practice and our privacy and data security practice. Our lawyers in Brussels regularly deal with antitrust agencies, both at the level of the European Union and at the Member State level.
Succeeding as one is what distinguishes us as a firm...working across offices is the norm and drives incredible value for our clients and our people.
Eric McCrath, MoFo Chair
driven by excellence
We are champions of progress, delivering meaningful client results, serving our communities, and moving industries forward. Click on each practice group to learn more:
Capital Markets
Emerging Companies + Venture Capital
Intellectual Property
Life Sciences
Mergers + Acquisitions
Private Funds
Real Estate
Securities Litigation, Enforcement + White-Collar Criminal Defense
Privacy + Data Security
Technology Transactions
Energy + Infrastructure
Commercial Litigation
8
Categories within the dispute resolution and litigation space Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2022
125+
Practice area rankings in the 2022 Chambers and Partners' various guides globally, including 17 Band 1 rankings
215
M&A transactions totaling $238 billion in 2021
TMT Firm of the Year
M&A Deal of the Year: South and South East Asia 2022 Asia Legal Awards
China is a key market for mofo
We counsel a wide variety of clients in China on their high-profile investments, finance, and regulatory matters, including many of the world’s largest multinationals and the most substantial and active institutional PRC companies, as well as promoting startups in the internet, technology, entertainment, telecommunications, energy, clean technology, renewable energy, and life sciences industries.
Our Future is Yours...
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“With guidance and mentorship from junior and senior associates, and direct exposures to work with partners, I am able to learn from the most agile and knowledgeable practitioners in the field.”
“The incredible experience of being an intern with MoFo two years ago – challenging works, knowledgeable and friendly colleagues, comprehensive training etc. – makes MoFo the best place to start my professional career.”
Yiman Zhang
Chloe Chen
