Spring/Summer 2026
Morrison Foerster Alumni News
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MoFo Announcements
Alumni Updates
Firm Updates
Alumna Spotlight
Letter From The Chair
Pro Bono Spotlight
MoFo Legends
Issue of MoForever
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
2026 Spring/Summer
Welcome to the
Chris Bowers, Chief Innovation and Information Officer Chris Bowers is responsible for advancing the firm’s global AI, innovation, and digital transformation strategy. He plays a pivotal role in developing and implementing MoFo’s digital and technology strategy, embedding AI and automation into the firm’s core business functions, and creating innovative capabilities that support evolving operating models across the global platform.
Our colleagues bring strategic experience, vision, and purpose, along with a deep commitment to our shared MoFo values.
Welcome to the 2026 spring/summer issue of MoForever. In this edition, we are pleased to spotlight two MoFo alumni: Adam Heintz, Director of Pro Bono Services at Legal Services NYC, and Julie Nicholson, Director, Compliance and Investigations Counsel at Okta. I invite you to read their stories. We began 2026 with several important developments aligned with our priorities of strategic growth and building on our core strengths. In February, we opened our 19th office, in Seattle, a leading global technology hub, and welcomed an exceptional group of lateral partners who have added immediate depth to our litigation, regulatory, and industry capabilities. Finally, in the last issue of MoForever, we premiered the MoFo Legends series with a video featuring retired Financial Services partner Henry Fields. We have now added our latest video featuring Ruth Borenstein, a former Complex Litigation partner. While their careers followed different paths, Henry and Ruth share a steadfast commitment to the values that define Morrison Foerster: excellence, collaboration, mentorship, and impactful pro bono service. I hope you enjoy reading about our news and collective achievements. Thank you for staying connected with us, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the months ahead. Eric T. McCrath
Brian Gross, Chief Operating Officer Brian Gross plays a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s strategic vision and driving its ongoing growth and transformation. As a member of the executive leadership team, Brian leads the formulation and execution of key initiatives that enhance the firm’s global impact and operational excellence. He oversees all financial, operational, marketing, and administrative support functions.
Timothy Murphy, Chief Financial Officer Tim Murphy plays an instrumental role in advancing the firm’s global financial business strategies and initiatives, while working with the executive leadership team to drive MoFo’s continued growth and success. He is responsible for the development and implementation of the firm’s global financial strategy and overall management of the firm’s finance and accounting operations.
In April, we were delighted to welcome Annette Sheridan as our Chief People Officer. Annette brings extensive experience leading talent and people initiatives at an international law firm, and she will play a central role in advancing our people strategy across functions, including Human Resources, Legal Talent, and We@MoFo.
ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT
Julie Nicholson
Director, Compliance and Investigations Counsel, Okta
A Born Investigator
The rise of the internet has transformed computer technology into an essential component of our daily lives. Roughly 75% of the world’s population is online in some form, and access to the digital world continues to grow. And while there are plenty of benefits to a connected world, it also presents an opportunity for cybercriminals to wreak havoc and steal anything from personal information and corporate secrets to bitcoin keys. Okta is a leading cybersecurity company focused on cyber risk via identity management. It acts as a digital gatekeeper by providing software services that secure the connections between users, both humans and now AI agents, and a company’s or organization’s apps and systems. When someone logs in, Okta verifies their identity and ensures they can access only the tools they are allowed to use, keeping data safe and secure. “Okta’s vision is to ‘free everyone to safely use any technology,’” says Julie Nicholson, Director, Compliance and Investigations Counsel at Okta. “It’s a message that’s increasingly critical as more of our information and work move into a space where identity and cybersecurity must be top of mind.” MoFo alum Nicholson is in her third year at Okta and has found that she thrives in an environment at the front lines of cybersecurity. “It’s very dynamic since it seems there are changes and developments each day you have to be aware of, so your skills are always challenged.”
It still surprises me that I was just this curious young person who stumbled on a case of criminal misconduct and that, through a number of different twists and turns, investigations wound up being a major part of my post-law school career. Although it’s maybe not so surprising, as I was always the kid who asked a million questions about everything!
Opportunities Beyond Medicine Nicholson grew up in the East Bay without a background in the law. “My father was a doctor, and my mother is a nurse. At home, I remember family conversations centered on medical topics, including the challenges of the American medical system. When it came time to think about what I wanted to study, I just knew I didn’t want to pursue a career in medicine,” she says. “I looked at other professions and found that the law had an analytical and problem-solving element to it that interested me.” Graduating from a small high school with a class of just 320 students, she intended to attend a large university, preferably in a big city in California. UCLA fit the bill, and she was accepted there. In her first summer job in college, Nicholson found temporary work as an aide at a physical therapy clinic. It was there that she received an indication of where her career was ultimately headed. “It was my first real job, and I brought my record-keeping skills and attention to detail because I wanted to make a good impression.” Her organizational experience helped her notice something in the clinic’s books that seemed off: There were a number of missing client copays that had apparently been paid in cash. After she brought this to the attention of her boss, an investigation found that the clinic’s main administrator had been pocketing the money. Management had been oblivious to the scheme until it was discovered by this 19-year-old in her first real job. “It still surprises me that I was just this curious young person who stumbled on a case of criminal misconduct and that, through a number of different twists and turns, investigations wound up being a major part of my post-law school career. Although it’s maybe not so surprising, as I was always the kid who asked a million questions about everything!” Nicholson majored in psychology while also pursuing a minor in art history. She was intrigued by courses related to psychology and the law and intellectual property rights in the art world and decided to give law school a try. She was accepted to UCLA School of Law and initially saw herself becoming an entertainment or intellectual property lawyer. World economic events at the time, however, gave her a new direction. “It was just after the 2008 crash and I saw many third-year law school friends have job offers rescinded,” she says. “Once I was in law school, the practical reality of my law school loans and the current global economic environment pointed me in the direction of Big Law instead of continuing to pursue the passions that initially led me to law school. While the path I took wasn’t my original plan, when I look back on the investigation at the PT clinic, I think ultimately I wound up where I was meant to be.”
One thing you learn after law school is that you have to be practical in this job. You have to be able to adjust and pivot your plans to account for the vicissitudes of how humans exist. You have to develop your ability to be creative in how you problem solve.
While Nicholson enjoyed the litigation work she was doing, her interest was piqued when an internal email asked if any associates wanted to be added to a list of people to be called on to help out on future international law and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters. “Paul was also the lead MoFo partner on FCPA cases at that time and I was curious to learn more about anti-corruption, so I replied expressing my interest.” She started out writing client alerts on FCPA cases, which evolved into working on anti-corruption-focused counseling and due diligence matters with Friedman and former partner Stacey Sprenkel. “Over time, my work became known in what was then MoFo’s Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White Collar team. When an associate left and a spot opened on a matter with a partner who focused on SEC cases and internal investigations, I was asked to join the team,” she says. “I eagerly jumped right in.” Nicholson enjoyed working with MoFo’s Investigations + White Collar Defense team, led by Craig D. Martin, even though it could lead to high-stakes moments, late nights, and projects that “needed to be done yesterday.” Although her days could be demanding, she attributes the department’s success to Martin’s even-keeled attitude. “You didn’t see him panic or overreact; whenever I escalated issues and my proposal for how we should handle it, he remained calm and focused on what we should do next. That taught me a lot about responding in a crisis and being an effective leader.” Making the Leap to In-House Upon reaching her 10th anniversary at MoFo, Nicholson was ready for her next challenge. She enjoyed the work and her MoFo colleagues, but she also wanted to explore life in-house. She got her first taste of in-house life as a secondee at a MoFo client. Then the person who is now her boss at Okta contacted a MoFo partner to ask if she knew someone who would be a good fit for a new role in ethics and compliance. The partner “reached out to me and asked if I was interested—and I was. It seemed like a really great opportunity, and it has been.” At Okta, Nicholson leads a team of four, handling compliance counseling and business conduct investigations. “My days are often a mix of planned compliance program projects and time-sensitive requests from the business or investigations escalations,” she says. “Every day is different, and I love that.” She is often on video calls with Okta personnel in offices across 15 countries, working with different departments, including security, marketing, and employee relations. Her goal is to “embed” compliance directly into the company’s existing processes and meet people where they are at. “I want the compliance function to be a partner to the business. We’re not on some island far away dictating policies and procedures with no awareness of how the business operates; we’re here to build a compliance function that works in practice. I often say we’re not the team of ‘no’; we’re the team of ‘Help us figure out how we can get to “yes” whenever we can, compliantly.’” Nicholson attributes her success in part to the problem-solving and investigative skills she learned at MoFo. When talking to young attorneys interested in compliance and investigations, she recommends jumping in to try it out. “One thing you learn after law school is that you have to be practical in this job,” she says. “You have to be able to adjust and pivot your plans to account for the vicissitudes of how humans exist. You have to develop your ability to be creative in how you problem solve.” It’s also valuable to be able to work with diverse departments within an enterprise and think strategically. “With the influx of AI, you also need to be flexible in fast-moving environments where issues and technologies are constantly changing the rules.” Her job can be stressful, but Nicholson is able to disconnect from it at times by hiking around the Bay Area, as well as planning her travels. She was recently on a Kenyan safari and will be island-hopping around Greece in the summer. “When I can find the time, I also like to do ceramics, mostly wheel-throwing these days,” she says. “It’s a creative outlet that provides a nice counterbalance to the law.”
Finding a Place in Big Law During on-campus interviews in her second year at UCLA Law, Nicholson had a good meeting with the MoFo recruiting team and decided the firm was her first choice. “It stood out as unique compared to other law firms. The overall message was, ‘We’re not some big stuffy firm, we’re interesting, and we’re also very good at what we do.’” Nicholson joined MoFo’s San Francisco office as a Litigation summer associate. She had chosen Litigation after enjoying the advocacy and storytelling in her 1L writing classes. Learning the ropes of Big Law at MoFo that summer was also interesting because the offices were undergoing a renovation. “I was placed in an old partner office that had been temporarily converted into a space for me and three other summer associates, with a small desk in each of the four corners,” she says. “It was the best environment for us. We could ask each other for advice, and everyone was so supportive. It was a great way for us as young summer associates, who weren’t even lawyers yet and were still figuring everything out, to have our first introduction to working for a big firm.” After graduating, Nicholson returned to MoFo in San Francisco. In her first year, she worked on a variety of different cases within the Litigation Department—from a criminal case to an FTC merger review and several IP litigation cases—while looking for the practice group that felt like the right fit. A small research assignment for Caitlin Sinclaire Blythe on a pro bono prisoner’s 9th Circuit Appeal would change everything. The one-off assignment developed into a multi-year working relationship with Blythe and partners Paul Friedman and Greg Koltun.
Susana Cao Miranda is a London-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. Susana focuses on litigation, multi-party claims/group actions, and contentious regulatory matters. Her experience across English courts and other jurisdictions includes general commercial and finance litigation, mass tort and parent company liability claims, investment fraud, and claims relating to breaches of competition law.
London
New MoFo Partners
Jillian Sommers
Jacob Speckhard
Susana Cao Miranda
Zachary Davison
Mallory Gitt
Kimberly Hamm
Ray Hartman
Laura Hill
Meg Houlihan
Dan Jones
Zachary Davison is a Seattle-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. He advises on commercial, real estate, corporate governance, securities, derivatives, and post-merger disputes. Zach represents companies, investors, directors, and officers in high-stakes matters across state and federal courts and in arbitration, combining a practical, business-focused approach with deep trial experience.
Seattle
Mallory Gitt is a Seattle-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. She focuses on class action, commercial, and consumer litigation involving consumer protection and unfair competition claims, advertising and marketing practices, pricing and promotions, privacy issues, terms of service, defective products, breach of contract, and business torts.
Kimberly Hamm is a Washington, D.C.-based partner and co-chair of the Congressional Investigations and Securities Enforcement practices. Leveraging private practice and government experience that includes senior roles in the U.S. Congress and the SEC, Kim advises public companies, financial institutions, technology firms, and nonprofits on high-stakes state and federal investigations.
Washington, D.C.
Ray Hartman is a San Diego-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. He is an experienced trial lawyer representing clients in complex commercial litigation, focusing on product liability, environmental, and real estate disputes. Ray’s practice spans a wide range of industries, including energy, chemicals, agriculture, technology, aerospace, hospitality, and real estate.
San Diego
Laura Hill is a Seattle-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. She practices at every level of state and federal court and is frequently engaged in high-stakes motions practice and appellate briefing, including before the U.S. Supreme Court. Laura advises clients in the aviation, space, technology, consumer products, retail, sports, and pharmaceutical industries.
Meg Houlihan is a Seattle-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. She represents clients in commercial and public law disputes at the trial and appellate levels, frequently examining witnesses and delivering oral arguments. Meg’s practice spans class actions, product liability, trade secrets, statutory interpretation, and constitutional litigation.
Dan Jones is a London-based partner in the Financial Services and Fintech Groups. He advises leading financial services firms on all aspects of their UK and European regulatory obligations, from perimeter guidance, assistance in obtaining a regulatory license, interpretation of applicable regulations, and implementation guidance to M&A regulatory due diligence and transaction support.
Joshua Kaplan is a London-based partner in the Financial Services and Fintech Groups. He focuses on U.S. expansion and serves companies at all stages of their lifecycle, with an emphasis on clients in the financial technology and financial services sectors. Josh previously served as chief operating officer and general counsel at a leading global payment solutions provider.
Kathleen Kean is a Boston-based partner in the Life Sciences and Technology Transactions Groups. She represents biotechnology, pharmaceutical, diagnostics, and medical device companies in IP-driven transactions and strategic corporate matters. She also serves as outside general counsel in advising biotech companies on license strategy and commercial contracting needs.
Boston
Major Matters
LITIGATION
TRANSACTIONS
Secured a complete defense victory for Insta360, a global leader in 360-degree camera technology, in Investigation No. 337-TA-1400 before the U.S. International Trade Commission, clearing Insta360 of all asserted utility patent claims. Filed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court on behalf of 175 health organizations, healthcare providers, and professors supporting emergency relief from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling on May 1, 2026 that halted the availability of mifepristone for abortion care through telemedicine. Represented Arbutus in its $2.25 billion global settlement with Moderna in patent litigation related to the delivery technology behind its COVID-19 shot. Specifically, Arbutus and Genevant brought claims of patent infringement against Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax.
MoFo Opens Seattle Office
We are pleased to announce that we have opened an office in Seattle, a significant expansion that establishes a presence in one of the nation’s most important innovation markets. The firm welcomed 15 partners, most resident in our Seattle office. The Seattle group provides immediate depth and scale across the firm’s trial, complex litigation, product liability, and regulatory practices, and its technology and AI industry groups.
MoFo advised: SoftBank: - as co-lead investor in a record-breaking OpenAI fundraise, topping SoftBank’s historic financing of OpenAI in 2025; and - on its $4 billion acquisition of DigitalBridge. Sachem Capital on its $3.4 billion combination with Industrial Realty Group to create IRG Realty Trust. Grüns on its acquisition by Unilever. CPE on its partnership to form a joint venture with Restaurant Brands International for Burger King China. Sumitomo Forestry on its $4.5 billion combination with Tri Pointe Homes. MoFo is also representing the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Saks Global, a combination of world-class luxury retailers.
Christian Marcelo
Avy Mallik
Michelle Maley
Paul Lin
Trevor Levine
Hyongsoon Kim
Kathleen Kean
Joshua Kaplan
Eleanor Shanks
Freddie Schwier
David Perez
Brendan Murphy
Ryne Miller
Greg Miller
Matt Mertens
Tara McGrath
Eric Weiss
Ryne Miller is a New York-based partner in the Financial Services and Fintech Groups. He advises global trading and markets businesses, financial institutions, and fintechs on regulatory, governance, investigative, and transactional matters. He has extensive experience with programs within the CFTC, SEC, FINRA, National Futures Association, FinCEN, DOJ, and other federal and state regulators.
New York
Greg Miller is a Seattle-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. He defends clients across a range of industries, including technology, manufacturing, aviation, and publishing. His practice encompasses product liability issues, contract disputes, and commercial arbitrations, as well as other high-stakes litigation involving complex factual matters and novel legal issues.
Matt Mertens is a Seattle-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. He represents clients in complex litigation in U.S. state and federal courts nationwide. Matt advises on commercial disputes, product liability defense, public sector law, and matters at the intersection of technology, data privacy, and litigation strategy. Not admitted in Washington; admission by motion pending.
Tara McGrath is a San Diego-based partner in the Investigations & White Collar Defense Group and was previously the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California. Tara advises on complex investigations, enforcement actions, and critical-risk moments. She also works with companies and individuals on white collar-, financial-, and national security-related matters.
Christian Marcelo is a Seattle-based partner in the IP Litigation Group. His practice focuses on complex commercial and intellectual property disputes, including trade secrets, copyright, trademarks, and contracts. Representing clients in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitration proceedings, Christian handles matters from investigation through appeal.
Avy Mallik is a San Francisco-based partner in the Financial Services Group. His practice focuses on financial services regulation and enforcement, with emphasis on emerging technologies, including fintech, AI, and digital assets. Drawing on substantial government experience, Avy advises banks, fintechs, and other financial institutions on a broad range of financial regulatory issues.
San Francisco
Michelle Maley is a Seattle-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. She has represented leading product, large equipment, and aerospace manufacturers, as well as wholesalers and retailers, in numerous commercial disputes and has successfully guided her clients through all stages of litigation, including pre-litigation counseling, mediation, arbitration, trial, and appeal.
Paul Lin is a Los Angeles-based partner in the M&A Group. He advises on complex cross-border transactions, including strategic investments, joint ventures, takeovers, real estate, and corporate finance. Paul represents a wide range of clients across industries, including technology, consumer products, infrastructure and urban development, automotive, green energy, and biotech.
Los Angeles
Trevor Levine is a Washington, D.C.-based partner in the Financial Services and Fintech Groups. He advises clients operating at the intersection of finance and technology, guiding them through rapidly evolving legal and regulatory frameworks while supporting growth, innovation, and market expansion. Trevor also focuses on issues arising under the Commodity Exchange Act.
Hyongsoon Kim is a Los Angeles-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. He defends clients in complex commercial litigation, with a substantial focus on high-value class actions and product liability matters. Hyongsoon’s experience spans a variety of industries, from electronics and digital platforms to automotive, medical, oil and gas, retail, and food and beverage.
Eric Weiss is a Seattle-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. He advises on consumer, commercial, and class action matters. Eric’s practice focuses on disputes involving consumer protection, unfair competition, advertising and marketing practices, privacy, enforcement of terms of service, breach of contract, business torts, and government investigations.
Jacob Speckhard is a San Diego-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. He represents clients nationwide in complex product liability matters involving consumer products, food and beverages, and pharmaceuticals. He has extensive experience managing all stages of litigation, from pre-litigation investigation and written discovery to depositions, motion practice, and trial counseling.
Jillian Sommers is a partner in the Complex Litigation Group in Seattle. She serves as a trusted advisor to technology companies facing bet-the-company litigation. Her practice focuses on navigating complex personal injury matters amid rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscapes. She also partners with clients to defend against significant product liability and toxic tort claims. Not admitted in Washington; admission by motion pending.
Eleanor Shanks is a London-based partner in the Private Equity Group. She advises clients on acquisitions, disposals, and joint ventures across sectors that include food and agriculture, technology, infrastructure, financial and business services, and healthcare and life sciences. Eleanor also advises on regulatory matters, particularly in transactions with a cross-border dimension.
Freddie Schwier is a London-based partner in the Tax Group. He advises on a broad range of UK tax issues, including in M&A, employee option and incentive plans, finance, capital markets, and restructuring transactions. Freddie advises clients across sectors that include AI, fintech and financial services, interactive and digital media, life sciences and healthcare, and technology.
David Perez is a Seattle-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. He represents companies, public officials, and individuals in matters involving consumer class actions, commercial and post-closing M&A disputes, First Amendment and civil rights claims, election law issues, intellectual property matters (including trade secrets and copyrights), and real estate litigation.
Brendan Murphy is a Seattle-based partner in the Complex Litigation Group. He defends technology and consumer products companies at all stages of product liability and commercial litigation. Brendan created and has advocated the “marketplace defense” at all stages of litigation. He counsels manufacturers, importers, and sellers on product safety and regulatory compliance.
Won full dismissal of a suit brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against Vidul Prakash, the former CFO of smart glass manufacturer View, Inc. The dismissal represents a complete vindication for Mr. Prakash in connection with the SEC’s allegation of negligence-based claims arising from View’s accounting for defective products. Secured a $65 million settlement for the Thrasio Legacy Trust created following Thrasio’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. As counsel to Thrasio’s Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, MoFo uncovered substantial unencumbered estate claims and causes of action and ensured those claims were adequately preserved under a revised Chapter 11 plan. Secured a highly favorable settlement for Ferring Pharmaceuticals, resolving Ferring’s claims against VectivBio relating to the GLP-2 inhibitor apraglutide. The claims included allegations of trade secret misappropriation and inventorship as to certain apraglutide intellectual property.
Henry Fields Retired partner and senior counsel Henry Fields joined the firm in 1980 and became a partner in 1981. Over his 45-year career, he built a preeminent Financial Services practice and was recognized as one of the world’s leading banking lawyers. In the video, he reflects on his decades of pro bono work with the Starlight Children’s Foundation, the value of business development, and his approach to exceptional client service.
The MoFo Legends video series celebrates the distinguished lawyers and business professionals who have helped shape MoFo’s legacy. Through their stories and reflections, the series showcases the work, values, and dedication to service that continue to inspire us all.
Ruth Borenstein Retired partner Ruth Borenstein joined the firm in 1987 as a Litigation associate and was promoted to partner in 2001. Over her 32 years at MoFo, Ruth built a leading Complex Litigation practice, earning a reputation for winning cases and successfully defending those victories on appeal. In the video, she discusses mentorship as a two-way street and the opportunities that come from establishing a reputation for excellence. She also highlights her extensive pro bono work advancing LGBTQ+ rights—a deeply personal commitment that led her advocacy all the way to the Supreme Court.
and food stamps. The outcomes of these cases are what motivates me.” Heintz says he’s also encouraged by the reception he gets from firms when he visits to talk about pro bono opportunities at LSNYC. “People are interested in what they can do; they want to be deployed and are eager to help. That’s encouraging to see, especially when you consider that, despite the time and effort these associates and partners put into their regular cases, they still want to give back to the less fortunate.” A big selling point he makes to newer attorneys is that in pro bono cases, they’re able to do the tasks of more senior-level attorneys at their regular jobs. “They get opportunities to be the lead on some interesting cases, and that helps their resume and gives them experience they wouldn’t have had.” You might think that, with such a great need for legal help for the poor in New York City and not enough resources to assist everyone, people like Heintz, who are committed to public service, would be prone to burnout. But that’s not how he sees it. “Of course, there are stressful moments and the context—especially when you’re trying to help immigrant families at risk of deportation—can seem very dark,” he says. “But the way forward is knowing that you’re doing the best you can, in the moment you’re in.”
Director of Pro Bono Services, Legal Services NYC
Adam Heintz
Every day we’re helping families dealing with mold and faulty wiring in their apartments, we’re helping immigrants get asylum and get put on a path towards naturalization, and we’re helping those who need Medicaid and food stamps. The outcomes of these cases are what motivates me.
PRO BONO SPOTLIGHT
After six years at MoFo and finding his main interest in work for nonprofits, Heintz learned about an opportunity with Legal Services NYC (LSNYC). The organization is the largest provider of free civil legal services to low-income residents in the United States, focusing on housing, family stability, economic security, immigration, education, and healthcare. “They were looking for someone to develop and manage a pro bono program for them, who would work with outside firms and coordinate their pro bono assistance with LSNYC,” he says. “Up to that point, getting pro bono help for LSNYC was fairly informal. A board member might reach out to a connection to get assistance on a case. They saw that having an individual on staff who knew the rhythm and systems of big firms would enhance their pro bono program.” Since joining the organization in 2013, Heintz has built a staff of 15 to manage the workload of training and mentoring pro bono attorneys on LSNYC cases. He has shepherded the growth of cases placed with pro bono attorneys from 200 when he started at the organization to 5,000 active pro bono cases in 2025. Heintz maintains connections at more than 125 New York law firms and corporations. Last year, his team secured nearly $100 million worth of donated legal services on behalf of LSNYC clients. As director of pro bono services, Heintz doesn’t spend as much time in the courtroom as he used to, but he’s proud of his impact on people who need legal services. “Every day we’re helping families dealing with mold and faulty wiring in their apartments, we’re helping immigrants get asylum and get put on a path towards naturalization, and we’re helping those who need Medicaid
Unlike some attorneys, Adam Heintz never gave much thought to the legal profession while growing up. There were no lawyers in his family or friend groups, and he didn’t have a clear picture of what law school and the real world of legal practice might be like. “My main exposure was from watching the TV show L.A. Law when I was a kid, which of course is far from reality.” But years later, Heintz found himself following a passion for public service into an associate position at MoFo, then onto what he describes as his dream job: serving as director of pro bono services for Legal Services NYC. For some attorneys, setting aside time for pro bono work fulfills their professional obligation as a lawyer and stretches their skills into new areas of the law, while their focus remains on their career path in, say, corporate law or high-stakes litigation. For Heintz, pro bono work became a way of life. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Heintz became active with LGBTQ+ advocacy projects in high school, which ultimately shaped his career choice. “I really cared about social justice and helping people, and I saw the value of making an impact in people’s lives.” Heintz attended Oberlin College, graduating with a degree in English language and literature before moving to New York and working for a variety of community organizations. Eventually he joined the New York City Anti-Violence Project as an HIV-related violence program coordinator. While he enjoyed the hands-on work of helping people, he started to ask himself whether he could serve in other ways. “I was answering crisis calls and training many different organizations that helped a variety of communities. But at the end of the day, I had to wonder what I had tangibly achieved for people. What more could I do?”
From Big Law to Big Public Service
People are interested in what they can do; they want to be deployed and are eager to help. That’s encouraging to see, especially when you consider that, despite the time and effort these associates and partners put into their regular cases, they still want to give back to the less fortunate.
He began to consider becoming an attorney. “I was 26 when I thought about pursuing the law, which is later than most people enter the field. It was a bit of a lark for me; I didn’t really know what I was going to do with it, or if I could do it. But I really wanted to try.” He was accepted by NYU Law School and soon found himself surrounded by fellow students with a different mindset. “They came from families of lawyers and dreamed about becoming attorneys since they were five years old. It was a little scary since they already knew so much about the law and I was at the beginning of my journey.” Heintz soon got over his initial discomfort as he continued his studies. He found law school intellectually engaging and appreciated how the law could be used to better people’s lives. “I loved litigation and saw the ways in which law could be used to help and create change, and ultimately do positive things.” Finding himself at MoFo After clerking for a year in the Eastern District of New York, Heintz began searching for firms where he could grow and thrive as an associate. “I had friends who worked at MoFo who spoke very highly of it. It was really important to me to find a firm that had the right character. I knew I could pursue lots of different firms, but it was important to me to find one that was a good fit for my values. MoFo had a genuine commitment to diversity and it showed in the great people who work there.” Heintz joined the firm’s New York office in September 2007 and found his calling as a litigator. “It was at a time when, I believe, there wasn’t as much specialization, so I was exposed to a wide range of litigation. I did some white-collar work and company investigations as well as financial cases.” He also had the opportunity to work on the long-running Bank of America case that was spurred by merchant-led antitrust lawsuits against Visa and Mastercard, and challenged the structure of credit card interchange fees. He credits the mentorship of senior colleagues at MoFo, including Jim Huff, Chet Kerr, Mike Miller, and Mark David McPherson, for helping to sharpen his skills. “I really valued how these people and so many different cases shaped my work, and I saw how they would help me as I advanced my career.” The pursuit of pro bono Another reason Heintz pursued a position at MoFo was the firm’s commitment to pro bono work. He maintained his relationships in the nonprofit community, and friends and former colleagues would reach out to him asking for MoFo’s help. “They would send me potential legal issues and I would get approval to work on them.” Heintz’s pro bono work with MoFo was varied, ranging from assisting transgender people with changing their names, to helping the disabled who couldn’t use public transit in New York to secure services that transported them around the city.
Learn more about Legal Services NYC
Alumni
MoFo
New
New alumni as of February 2026
JD Husband joined Harvey as a Legal Engineer in March 2026. At MoFo, JD was a Corporate associate in the New York office from 2021 to 2026.
Catherine Canby joined AMD as Corporate Counsel in December 2025. At MoFo, Catherine was an IP Litigation associate in the Austin office from 2024 to 2025.
Lyndsey Cain joined the Colorado Attorney General's Office as Senior Assistant Attorney General in November 2025. At MoFo, Lyndsey was a Litigation associate in the Denver office from 2021 to 2025.
Sarah Brickey joined Toptal as Senior Counsel in March 2026. At MoFo, Sarah was an IP Litigation associate in the Denver office from 2022 to 2026.
Andrew Jones joined Google as Product Counsel–Maps and Search in January 2026. At MoFo, Andrew was an IP Litigation associate in the Washington, D.C. office from 2023 to 2025.
William Jay joined VALE Insurance Partners as Vice President, W&I in February 2026. At MoFo, William was a Corporate associate in the London office from 2021 to 2026.
Whitney Lee joined Apple as Senior Cybersecurity Counsel in March 2026. At MoFo, Whitney was a Data, Cyber + Privacy associate in the Washington, D.C. office from 2019 to 2026.
Annie Lee joined OpenAI as Product Counsel–AI Research in December 2025. At MoFo, Annie was an IP Litigation associate in the San Francisco office from 2023 to 2025.
Dustin McKenzie joined Strata Critical Medical as Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs in January 2026. At MoFo, Dustin was a Corporate associate in the San Diego office from 2022 to 2025.
Tricia Matibag joined Crosby as Director, Legal in November 2025. At MoFo, Tricia was a Technology Transactions associate in the Boston office from 2022 to 2025.
Kavisha Patel joined Norm Ai as a Legal Engineer in October 2025. At MoFo, Kavisha was a Finance associate in the New York office from 2023 to 2025.
Carlisle Olsen joined StepStone Group as Legal Counsel in March 2026. At MoFo, Carlisle was an ECVC associate in the San Diego office from 2024 to 2026.
Amanda Studley joined FM as Corporate Affairs Counsel in October 2025. At MoFo, Amanda was a Finance associate in the Boston office from 2021 to 2022 and in 2025.
Ken Sexauer joined the ACLU as a Staff Attorney in April 2026. At MoFo, Ken was a Litigation associate in the New York office from 2023 to 2026.
Justin Wood joined Glydways as Senior Counsel and Secretary in February 2026. At MoFo, Justin was an ECVC associate in the Denver office from 2022 to 2026.
Jenny Xin joined the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai'i as a Judicial Law Clerk in March 2026. At MoFo, Jenny was a Litigation associate in the San Francisco office from 2023 to 2026.
Jelena McWilliams joined Plaid as President, Corporate and External Affairs in January 2026. At MoFo, Jelena was a Corporate associate in the Palo Alto office from 2002 to 2005. Suzy Marinkovich joined Intuit as Senior Assistant General Counsel, Manager – Litigation in December 2025. At MoFo, Suzy was a Litigation associate in the San Diego office from 2017 to 2020. Susanne Nolsoe Petersen joined Uber as Senior Counsel, Autonomous Mobility and Delivery in October 2025. At MoFo, Susanne was of counsel in the Technology Transactions Group from 2013 to 2022. Min Yu joined OpenAI as Deputy General Counsel in November 2025. At MoFo, Min was a Corporate associate in the Tokyo office from 2010 to 2012. John de Perczel joined Enfinity Global as Legal Counsel – Japan in October 2025. At MoFo, John was a Corporate associate in the Tokyo office from 2019 to 2022. Matthew Janiga joined Modern Treasury as Legal Counsel in December 2025. At MoFo, Matthew was a Financial Services associate in the Washington, D.C. office from 2012 to 2014. Ryan Richardson joined Adyen as Head of Global Payment & Product Partnerships Legal in January 2026. At MoFo, Ryan was a Financial Services associate in the New York office from 2015 to 2018. Carlisle Olsen joined StepStone Group as Legal Counsel in March 2026. At MoFo, Carlisle was an ECVC associate in the San Diego office from 2024 to 2026. Stephanie Blij joined Sonoma Biotherapeutics as Senior Director, Legal in March 2026. At MoFo, Stephanie was a Litigation associate in the San Francisco office from 2017 to 2020. Jeff Nisbet joined DoorDash as Senior Counsel, Strategic Partnerships in October 2025. At MoFo, Jeff was a Technology Transactions associate in the Palo Alto office from 2014 to 2015. Andrew Walchuk joined Common Cause as Policy Director and Counsel, Voting and Fair Representation in December 2025. At MoFo, Andrew was a Litigation associate in the San Francisco office from 2017 to 2019. Yuxiang Chen joined Alnylam Pharmaceuticals as Associate Director, Intellectual Property in January 2026. At MoFo, Yuxiang was a Patent associate in the Boston office from 2022 to 2024. Tim Hewitt joined Howden as Head of Japan International Solutions and Strategy in February 2026. At MoFo, Tim was a Corporate associate in the Tokyo office from 2008 to 2010. Anisah Giansiracusa joined SoftBank Group International as a Legal Consultant in January 2026. At MoFo, Anisah was a Corporate associate in the San Francisco office from 2017 to 2020. Sara Uz joined Flow as Senior Corporate and Commercial Counsel in October 2025. At MoFo, Sara was a Corporate associate in the San Francisco office from 2017 to 2020. Javier Serrano joined Pair Team as Vice President, Legal in January 2026. At MoFo, Javier was a Litigation associate in the San Francisco office from 2011 to 2016. Sarah Tierney Niyogi joined Arena as General Counsel in October 2025. At MoFo, Sarah was a Technology Transactions associate in the San Francisco office from 2008 to 2012. Derek Windham joined Airwallex as Head of Corporate Legal in January 2026. At MoFo, Derek was a Tax associate in the San Francisco office from 2008 to 2010. Gautam Kene joined Meta as Associate General Counsel, Japan in December 2025. At MoFo, Gautam was a Litigation associate in the Palo Alto office from 2013 to 2014. Eugene Marder joined Pocket FM as General Counsel in February 2026. At MoFo, Eugene was a Litigation associate in the San Francisco office from 2017 to 2018. Damion K.L. Stodola joined the New York City Law Department as Senior Counsel in January 2026. At MoFo, Damion was a Litigation associate in the New York office from 2005 to 2011. Laura Nofal joined Fever as Legal Counsel – Corporate/M&A in December 2025. At MoFo, Laura was a Corporate associate in the San Francisco office from 2021 to 2024. Alessa Hwang joined Esusu as Associate General Counsel in February 2026. At MoFo, Alessa was an IP Litigation associate in the Palo Alto office from 2012 to 2020. Fred Muna joined DoorDash as Senior Counsel, M&A in December 2025. At MoFo, Fred was a Corporate associate in the Washington, D.C. office from 2019 to 2024. Brennen Brodersen joined Crinetics Pharmaceuticals as Executive Director, AGC, Corporate Legal and Governance in March 2026. At MoFo, Brennen was a Corporate associate from 2018 to 2024 in the San Diego office. Jason Hall joined Infleqtion, a newly public quantum technology company, as Chief Legal Officer in November 2025. At MoFo, Jason was a litigation associate in the San Francisco office from 2009 to 2015. Jennifer Chiang joined Anthropic as IP Counsel in December 2025. At MoFo, Jennifer was a Patent associate in the San Francisco office from 2016 to 2017. Lorig Mushegain joined the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration as Attorney III in October 2025. At MoFo, Lorig was a State and Local Tax associate in the New York office from 2004 to 2006. Akari Atoyama joined Bio-Rad Laboratories as Senior Associate General Counsel in March 2026. At MoFo, Akari was a Litigation associate in the Tokyo and San Francisco offices from 2013 to 2021. Ana Vinueza joined Harvey as Associate Commericial Counsel in March 2026. At MoFo, Ana was a Corporate associate in the San Francisco office from 2018 to 2020. Mary Opolko joined Knight Therapeutics Inc. as Senior Director, Legal Affairs in January 2026. At MoFo, Mary was a Corporate associate in the Palo Alto office from 2021 to 2022. Tom Davidson joined Waymo as Regulatory Counsel in February 2026. At MoFo, Tom was a Litigation associate in the San Francisco office from 2019 to 2021. Rob Eber joined Cerebras Systems as Vice President, Commercial Legal and Privacy in February 2026. At MoFo, Rob was a Technology Transactions associate in the San Francisco office from 1999 to 2006. Irving Gomez joined Teradata Corporation as SVP, Global Head of Law & Corporate Secretary in February 2026. At MoFo, Irving was a Finance associate in the San Francisco office from 2000 to 2005.
Ryan Huang was promoted to Principal Legal Counsel at Amazon Lab126 in October 2025. At MoFo, Ryan was a Patent associate in the Palo Alto office from 2017 to 2019. Jeffie Kopczynski joined Mendaera, Inc. as General Counsel in February 2026. At MoFo, Jeffie was a Patent associate in the Palo Alto office from 2006 to 2011. Julius Chen was promoted to Group Vice President, Product Legal at ServiceNow in February 2026. At MoFo, Julius was a Corporate associate in the Palo Alto office from 2006 to 2009. Brandon Galovan was promoted to Vice President, Deputy General Counsel at Extend in March 2026. At MoFo, Brandon was a Corporate associate in the San Fransisco office from 2019 to 2022. Angela Kleine was promoted to Vice President Legal – Litigation and Employment at Ring Central in October 2025. At MoFo, Angela was a Litigation associate from 2007 to 2015 and a Litigation partner from 2015 to 2021 in the San Francisco office. Rob Famigletti was promoted to Director, Senior Counsel, Privacy at Match Group in March 2026. At MoFo, Rob was a Privacy analyst in the New York office from 2016 to 2022. Henrique Canarim was promoted to Corporate Secretary, VP and Senior Assistant General Counsel at Leidos in January 2026. At MoFo, Henrique was a Corporate associate in the New York office from 2012 to 2014. Jessica Ederer was promoted to Director of CRM and Lifecycle Marketing at Momentous in January 2026. At MoFo, Jessica was a Litigation associate in the San Diego office from 2003 to 2012. Peter Hilton joined executive leadership at Air Transport Services Group, Inc. from the legal team in October 2025, now leading value creation/transformation as the new Director, Program Management Office. At MoFo, Peter was a Corporate and Securities associate in the Northern Virginia office from 2013 to 2018. Jim Oliva was promoted to Vice President and General Counsel at America Honda Motor Co., Inc. in December 2025. At MoFo, Jim was a Litigation associate in the Palo Alto and Los Angeles offices from 2001 to 2013. Sunni Yuen was promoted to Director, Product Legal and Platform Compliance at Reddit in October 2025. At MoFo, Sunni was a Litigation associate in the New York office from 2008 to 2012, before joining Google's product counsel team. Leah Ramos was promoted to Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at STO Building Group in January 2026. At MoFo, Leah was a Litigation associate in the New York office from 2007 to 2014. Evan Abbaszadeh was promoted to Senior Counsel, IP Strategy at AbbVie in November 2025. At MoFo, Evan was a Patent associate in the Palo Alto office from 2021 to 2022. Tony Rodriguez was promoted to Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Kaiser Permanente in December 2025, where he continues as the company's head of litigation. At MoFo, Tony was a Litigation associate from 1996 to 2000 and a Litigation partner from 2001 to 2014 in the San Francisco office. Bruno Cossi was promoted to Corporate Governance Director at IDB Invest in March 2026. At MoFo, Bruno was a Corporate associate in the Tokyo office from 2011 to 2014. Robert Carlon was promoted to VP STS Aerospace at Smiths Group plc in January 2026. At MoFo, Robert was a Corporate associate in the Singapore office from 2014 to 2016. Leecia Welch was promoted to Chief Legal Counsel at Children's Rights in January 2026. At MoFo, Leecia was a Litigation associate in the San Francisco office from 2000 to 2004. Steinunn Gudmundsdottir was promoted to Associate General Counsel, Reality Labs at Meta in March 2026. At MoFo, Steinunn was a Technology Transactions associate in the San Francisco and London offices from 2019 to 2022. Austin James Marsh was promoted to Head of Legal at The Bot Company in March 2026. At MoFo, Austin was a Litigation associate in the San Diego office from 2014 to 2019. Na An was promoted to Assistant General Counsel, Legal Business Development and Corporate at Genentech in March 2026. At MoFo, Na was a Patent associate in the San Francisco office from 2015 to 2017. Aaron Schohn was promoted to VP, Deputy General Counsel and Compliance Officer at Neumora in January 2026. At MoFo, Aaron was a Technology Transactions associate in the San Francisco office from 2012 to 2016. Mona Fang was promoted to Senior Product Counsel at Apple in September 2025. At MoFo, Mona was a Technology Transactions associate in the San Francisco office from 2015 to 2019. Stephanie Fong was promoted to Vice President, Legal and Compliance at Dexcom in October 2025. At MoFo, Stephanie was a Litigation associate in the San Diego office from 2005 to 2016. Yulia Buyanin was promoted to Associate General Counsel, Corporate at Gusto in January 2026. At MoFo, Yulia was a Corporate associate in the San Francisco office from 2013 to 2015. Masayo Nobe was promoted to Senior Vice President, General Counsel at Mozilla in January 2026. At MoFo, Masayo was a Corporate associate in the Tokyo and San Francisco offices from 2007 to 2015. Ionna Lamprinaki was promoted to Vice President, Global Investigations at Otis Elevator Co. in October 2025. At MoFo, Ionna was an Investigations and White Collar Defense associate in the London office from 2017 to 2020. Paul Davis was promoted to Principal at Mitsui & Co. Asset Management Holdings Ltd. In October 2025. At MoFo, Paul was a Litigation associate in the Tokyo office from 2011 to 2020 and of counsel and partner in the Singapore office from 2020 to 2023. Mingda Hang was promoted to Assistant Deputy Chief (Acting), Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section at the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division in October 2025. At MoFo, Mingda was a Litigation associate in the Washington, D.C. office from 2017 to 2021. Shawna Pasquale was promoted to Case Controller and Senior Lawyer at the Serious Fraud Office (UK) in January 2026. At MoFo, Shawna was a Litigation associate in the London office from 2017 to 2024.
Accomplishments
the Move
Alumni on
MoFo Next is the center for career advancement, providing opt-in, industry-leading career exploration and transition services to our entire MoFo community. Now extending those services to our alumni and friends of the firm, MoFo’s goal is to help former colleagues in support of their diverse career paths. Watch the video to learn more. Network Like a MoFo For many professionals, networking can feel intimidating or uncomfortable. In the article Network Like a MoFo: Reimagining Professional Growth, we explore a different way to think about networking by reframing it as research rather than self-promotion. By leading with curiosity and genuine inquiry, you can build meaningful relationships, gain valuable insights, and better understand the opportunities that align with your professional goals. Whether you're exploring a career transition, developing client relationships, or expanding your internal network, a research-driven approach can help make networking more effective and more natural.
To get started please reach out to Hillary Mann, Director of MoFo Next, to schedule a 30-minute conversation.
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To learn more about this approach and how to put it into practice, read the full article on the MoFo+ blog.
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