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Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Gap Inc.

Yolanda
Sanders

ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT

Aramide recently participated in MoFo Asia’s #EmbraceEquity, Intersectionality in the Workplace webinar in celebration of International Women’s Day. View the recording of the webinar on mofo.com.

There are studies that say women leaders are ‘multipliers,’ meaning that when we get into these positions, we actually reach out into the community and bring people along. Men do this as well but women do it more than men. So having more people like me enter the law and corporate law is a real goal for me.

We want to be the destination employer in retail, and to do that we’ve got to create the best environment for our teams. And how do we reach the people we’d want to join us? That’s a big part of my day.

Growing up the youngest in a blended family with 11 other children in Altadena, California, Yolanda Sanders was used to parrying and arguing for her best interests. So it’s probably no surprise that she found her way into law. 

Leading
the Way
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team has made a significant impact that extends well beyond legal work in the local business market.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of Morrison Foerster’s Boston office. Since opening in February 2019, MoFo Boston has cultivated its own unique identity in Boston centered on excellence in life sciences, technology, and financial sectors, among others, while celebrating the exceptional culture and values the firm is known for globally. Through its commitment to providing exceptional client service through teamwork, and fostering the advancement and empowerment of its professionals through a collaboration of ideas, celebration of diverse perspectives, and mutual respect, the Boston

Celebrating Five Years

The MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel was held in February 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. Over 200 women leaders in the legal industry joined MoFo for a day filled with substantive panels and breakouts, professional development sessions, networking opportunities, and an inspirational keynote discussion, delivered by Jill Ellis, renowned soccer coach and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion.

for Women

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Mike
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Elizabeth
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Boris
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Doug
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Oksana
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Finity
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Stephen
DeCosse

Tammy
Davies

Val
Dahiya

Kaylee
Cox Bankston

Chuck
Cotter

Chloe 
Cina

Rhys 
Bortignon

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New York

New York

New York

Denver

Tokyo

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Washington, D.C.

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Finally, we marked a milestone anniversary for our Boston office. Five years ago, we saw growth opportunity in Boston, and in particular as a global leader in the life sciences and healthcare sector. Boston has proven to be a great addition for us, and we are excited to see what the coming years will bring! 

The Honorable James M. Peck recently retired from the Firm to accept an appointment as an International Judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court. 

Judge Dena Coggins has been confirmed by the Senate to serve as a U.S. district judge for the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California. 

Former Litigation partner James Schurz was recently appointed to serve as a judge in the Superior Court of California, County of Marin. 

Please join me in celebrating the distinguished careers of four former colleagues. 

We also continue to live our values in giving back to our communities through targeted support and pro bono efforts worldwide. 

Recognized with Accenture’s Outside Counsel Diversity Award, celebrating firms making significant progress in D+I efforts 

Earned a 100 percent rating for LGBTQ+ workplace equality in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023‒2024 Corporate Equality Index 

Named among five top-ranked firms on Seramount’s list of 50 Best Law Firms for Women & Diversity 

Ranked #5 on The American Lawyer’s annual Diversity Scorecard for 2024

Welcome to the 2024 spring/summer issue of MoForever. In this edition, I am delighted to introduce two MoFo alumni, Yolanda Sanders and Mat dos Santos, whose careers and commitment to service exemplify the best of our Firm and the legal profession. I invite you to read their stories. 

Welcome to the

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Her average day varies, with much of it spent advising various departments on legal issues that they’re facing. During the pandemic, her role was critical, as the company wrestled with how and when stores could re-open. “I started digging and coming up with some conclusions and I was put in charge of our task force to figure out how we’re going to handle this in the best interests of the company and our employees,” she says. 

Mike Vernace is a San Francisco-based partner in the Finance and Private Equity Groups. Mike brings to MoFo more than 15 years of experience representing private equity funds and their portfolio companies in complex U.S. and cross-border financings. 

Elizabeth Sipes is a Denver-based partner in the Private Funds Group. Elizabeth brings to MoFo more than 20 years of experience representing and advising private investment funds, investment advisers, and institutional investors. 

Boris Segalis is a New York-based partner in the Privacy and Data Security Group. Boris regularly advises clients on the development and implementation of cutting-edge, data-driven products and services, compliance with global privacy and cybersecurity requirements, and U.S. and foreign privacy and cybersecurity regulatory investigations. 

Doug Mannal is a New York-based partner in the Business Restructuring and Insolvency Group. Doug brings to MoFo more than 20 years of experience spanning all aspects of restructuring, with a particular focus on representing creditors, including official committees of unsecured creditors, as well as ad hoc groups of funds in distressed situations—both in and out of court.

Oksana Lashko is a New York-based partner in the Business Restructuring and Insolvency Group. Oksana brings to MoFo 15 years of corporate restructuring and bankruptcy experience, representing debtors, creditors, official and ad hoc committees, and other significant parties-in-interest in a broad range of matters. 

Finity Jernigan is a Denver-based partner in the Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Group. Finity and her colleague and partner, Chuck Cotter, have built a full-service emerging company practice focused primarily on consumer products, with emphasis on the food and beverage, beauty, personal care, and fashion sectors, as well as on agtech and food tech transactions. Together, they have represented growing companies, funds, and strategic 

Stephen DeCosse is a Tokyo-based partner in the Corporate Group. Stephen was previously a corporate partner in MoFo’s Tokyo office from 2001 to 2006. 

Tammy Davies is a New York-based partner in the Finance Group. Tammy brings to MoFo deep experience representing alternative lenders and investors in complex credit arrangements. 

Val Dahiya is a Washington, D.C.-based partner in the Capital Markets Group. Val brings to MoFo nearly two decades of extensive experience across securities and financial services regulation and compliance of broker-dealers, clearing agencies, securities exchanges, and transfer agents, in both private practice and prominent government agency roles. Val joins MoFo from another leading law firm, where she most recently served as managing partner of its Washington, D.C., office and as firmwide Securities Trading and Markets practice chair. Val’s significant government agency experience includes a combined 13 years of service at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). 

Kaylee Cox Bankston is a Washington, D.C.-based partner in the Privacy and Data Security Group. Kaylee specializes in complex cybersecurity matters, advising clients on various cyber issues, including cybersecurity investigations and incident response preparedness, corporate governance and risk management, public disclosures and strategic communications, regulatory investigations, litigation, and development of corporate security programs. 

Chuck Cotter is a Denver-based partner in the Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Group. Chuck and his colleague and partner, Finity Jernigan, have built a full-service emerging company practice focused primarily on consumer products, with emphasis on the food and beverage, beauty, personal care, and fashion sectors, as well as on agtech and food tech transactions. Together, they have represented growing companies, funds, and strategic investors that invest in those companies, from early stages through to exit. Specifically, they help early- and growth-stage companies raise capital, negotiate key agreements, manage investor and board dynamics, and achieve successful exits, and they assist funds and other investors to grow their portfolios. 

Rhys Bortignon is a New York-based partner in the Finance Group. Rhys brings to MoFo more than 15 years of extensive knowledge and experience in derivatives and structured products in the United States, UK, EU, and Australia. 

Ranked #1 among firms with 601+ attorneys, in Law360 Pulse’s Diversity Snapshot 

The Move to the Corporate Side 

Finding a Place in the Legal Community

Former Litigation partner Michael Jacobs recently retired after 40 years at the Firm. Michael co-founded our IP Group in 1990 and then solidified the Firm’s preeminent reputation with high-profile cases, such as Apple v. Samsung, Oracle v. Google, and Vernor v. Autodesk