Summer 2024
Morrison Foerster Alumni News
Explore
MoFo Announcements
Alumni Updates
Firm Updates
Alumna Spotlight
Letter From The Chair
Pro Bono Spotlight
Issue of MoForever
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
2024 Summer
Welcome to the
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. Michael was recently honored with the American Bar Association’s 2024 John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award, recognizing his efforts over 25 years to give tangible form to a promise within the California Constitution to afford equal educational opportunity for all schoolchildren.
Please join me in celebrating the distinguished careers of four former colleagues.
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. I am excited to share some of our collective achievements, including those that affirm our commitment to building on the Firm’s proud legacy of leadership in diversity and inclusion, pro bono, and community service. Our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusivity remains steadfast as we continually strive to provide a work environment where all employees feel respected, valued, and heard. Here are a few of MoFo’s recent industry recognitions in the D+I space:
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! I hope you enjoy catching up on the achievements of our extended MoFo and alumni community highlighted in this issue of MoForever. While this is just a sampling, we can all be proud of what it reflects about our collective commitment to working as One Firm in the service of our clients, our shared values, and the legal profession. Thank you for staying connected with us. We look forward to seeing you soon. Eric T. McCrath
We also continue to live our values in giving back to our communities through targeted support and pro bono efforts worldwide. In celebration of Juneteenth and the Black community, The Morrison & Foerster Foundation donated $20,000 across a variety of nonprofits: $10,000 to the John Paul Stevens Fellowship Foundation for its fellowship program at law schools of historically black colleges and universities; $5,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund for its Herbert Lehman Scholarship Fund; and $5,000 to Morehouse College, designated for the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting. In pro bono matters: We won life-changing asylum cases for refugees from Afghanistan and Cameroon. The Afghan case was especially poignant, as it was initially supervised by Chuck Comey, our longtime corporate partner and champion of pro bono immigration work, who passed away in October 2023. We also won a historic settlement that will direct $2 billion to California schoolchildren who have suffered the most from pandemic-related learning loss and drastically decreased school attendance.
Former Litigation partner James Schurz was recently appointed to serve as a judge in the Superior Court of California, County of Marin. An accomplished litigator, pro bono champion, and generous mentor and educator, James’ more than three decades at MoFo are a testament not just to a remarkable career, but to a remarkable colleague and friend. James will be an exceptional jurist and a welcome addition to the bench for the people of Marin County.
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.
The Honorable James M. Peck recently retired from the Firm to accept an appointment as an International Judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court.
Ranked #5 on The American Lawyer’s annual Diversity Scorecard for 2024
Named among five top-ranked firms on Seramount’s list of 50 Best Law Firms for Women & Diversity
Earned a 100 percent rating for LGBTQ+ workplace equality in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023‒2024 Corporate Equality Index
Recognized with Accenture’s Outside Counsel Diversity Award, celebrating firms making significant progress in D+I efforts
Ranked #1 among firms with 601+ attorneys, in Law360 Pulse’s Diversity Snapshot
Letter From the Chair
Alumni Announcements
ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT
Yolanda Sanders
Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Gap Inc.
Leading the Way Forward
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. “I credit one of my older brothers with pointing me in this direction,” she says. “He announced that he was becoming a police officer and I would help him study. I would ask, ‘Why do the police get to do this or that?’ And he’d answer, ‘I don’t know.’ Eventually he said, ‘You should go to law school,’ and I was like, OK, challenge accepted.” And so her journey began, first to college and law school, then becoming an associate at MoFo and eventually moving on to her career as an in-house counsel for Gap Inc. Sanders credits the company’s culture, instituted by its founders Donald and Doris Fisher, as a key to her success. “The Fishers created this company together with a man and woman as equal partners, which was unique for its time. Those principles of equality and caring about the footprints we leave as a corporation are part of the fabric that’s been woven into our company and why I love my job.” Sanders didn’t know any lawyers while growing up, but that didn’t dissuade her. She credits the perseverance of her mother with helping her pursue her goals. “She was from the small, rural town of Duck Hill, Mississippi, and was never able to realize her own dream of becoming a teacher. Instead, she instilled a love for reading and learning in her children. Every Friday we’d walk to the library and check out a stack of books. She may not have become a professional teacher, but she educated her children and we’ll always be thankful for her.” “Sitting where I am today is surprising; the odds were not in my favor. Neither of my parents were high school graduates and my father passed away before I was nine, leaving this large family. So that’s where my mom’s influence came through, to make us believe anything was possible.”
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.
Finding a Place in the Legal Community After leaving home to attend UC Berkeley, Sanders focused on studying law but wanted to be sure it was the right path before investing in law school. She decided to seek a job at a law firm to get a firsthand look at the profession. “I didn’t know any lawyers and I wanted an idea of what it was really like. I told my mom about my plan and she freaked out,” Sanders laughs. “She thought I’d never go back, but I had to convince her that yes, this was my dream and I’d get to law school.” She looked for a big firm with a good reputation and found herself at MoFo’s San Francisco office as a legal assistant. “Initially I was on a team involved in creating applications for cellular sites for a client, and I also assisted the general Litigation Group. It was an excellent introduction to the law and helped me learn a great deal about the day-to-day work.” Sanders was accepted at UC Law San Francisco (fomerly UC Hastings) and returned to MoFo as a paralegal during her first law school summer. She then joined the firm as a summer associate during her second summer, which led to a job offer after graduation and an opportunity in the firm’s litigation team. “This was 1993 and it was an interesting environment. Our MoFo office had three partners who were black women [Portia Moore, Tamu Sudduth, and Annette Carnegie], which was pretty unusual at that time. You just didn’t see that in big, traditional law firms.” These three partners were instrumental in helping her grow professionally. “Portia has this ethos that you bring your ‘whole self’ into your work and that drives your confidence. She had been a critical care nurse before going to law school and her approach was, ‘If I can save a life, I can write this brief.’ Nothing was beyond her.” Tamu Sudduth was also key to Sanders’ development. “I learned that to be successful, you have to give a lot to this profession—and that it was going to take a lot from you. But we have to remember to prioritize the important people in our lives and family.” Sudduth passed away in 2001 after a long illness, and Sanders recalls the time she spent with her as her health was failing. “Tamu looked back on her life and saw that she worked when she needed to and was committed to her career, but she didn’t always prioritize it when it came to family. She’d point out that you needed to find a rhythm and balance to work and life and I’ve always tried to live by that.” After a few years, Sanders was afforded another opportunity, for which she took a year-long sabbatical from MoFo: clerking for a federal judge, Edward A. Infante. “This was fascinating because you get to be a kind of ‘ghost’ member of the judiciary. You’re tasked with writing bench memos and orders, and you’re exposed to lawyers with different personalities and styles when they’d appear in court. I learned what was persuasive and what wasn’t.”
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.
The Move to the Corporate Side Sanders returned to MoFo in general litigation and joined the labor and employment team. She built up experience as a go-to attorney on class actions as well as race and gender discrimination cases. After eight years at the firm, however, she was ready for a new challenge. Sanders left to start her own consulting business, assisting employers with the creation of employee handbooks and serving as an external investigator who can do a neutral probe of a problem within an organization. “I was getting plenty of referrals from people I had worked with; it was nice to know that I had built a good reputation.” Two years later, her business was thriving. One afternoon she had lunch with a former MoFo colleague, Walter Stella, who mentioned that Gap Inc. was looking for someone with her experience to help out in their legal department for a couple of months. Sanders decided to lend a hand. A couple of months led to a few more months and eventually an offer to join the company full time. “That was 21 years ago, so that turned out to be an eventful lunch in my life!” she says. Today, as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Sanders co-leads Gap Legal, which includes oversight over the department as well as functional teams, such as employment law, employee relations and engagement, real estate law, legal operations, and global sustainability to name a few. “I manage the ‘people’ side of the house and I’m generally advising our HR teams.”
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. Attracting high-quality employees is considered critical to Gap’s success, and Sanders is part of the company’s legal efforts towards that goal. “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.” Working for one company for such a long period of time is becoming rare in today’s world, and Sanders attributes her staying power to Gap’s continuing standards. “One of the main messages that inspires me about working at Gap is that we think about profit and purpose hand in hand. I tell younger lawyers to find a place that resonates with your values.” Commitment to Service When mentoring younger lawyers, Sanders advises them to be “sponges.” “Working as an external counsel for an in-house corporate legal department, you’ve got to know that the company’s lawyers have already worked out the basics. We’ve worked out the good facts and the bad ones on an issue and we need you to be really focused on what you can do for us.” She often has young lawyers interested in corporate law reach out to ask questions about their career direction. “I’m always up to set aside some time to talk. I give them my experience, but I also tell them that there are a lot of different ways to get to the same destination.” Sanders has been active in a number of professional organizations, including the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA), Afrotech, and the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, and serves as a board member of Journey to Lead. Gap Inc. was honored by the MCCA with a National Award for Diversity and Inclusion, thanks in part to Sanders’ efforts. “There’s been growth in the number of people of color joining the legal profession, but the numbers are still low, especially in a field like corporate law. People helped me early on and I want to do the same. “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.” Making time for her family is critical for Sanders, who recently saw her older son marry and her daughter enter college. Looking ahead for herself, she wants to continue her work at Gap, as well as pursue her service projects. “I picture teaching someday. Education was critical to me in my journey and it’s something I’d love to give back to others. I’d like to talk to young lawyers and show them that, in addition to their legal skills, they need other disciplines. Can you read a room? Do you get back to your clients quickly? Do you know what makes them want to call or text you or send you that email? To be a good lawyer you need those soft skills.”
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.
Partners
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. Rhys joins MoFo from another leading global law firm, where he was a member of its Capital Markets practice and Global Derivatives group. His practice focuses on over-the-counter derivatives, structured derivatives, and structured finance. With a focus on practical and commercial solutions, Rhys provides counsel to a diverse range of international and U.S. clients, from both the buy-side and the sell-side, including corporates, investment banks, commercial banks, private equity, funds, investment managers, and sovereigns. He offers strategic guidance to his clients from both a transactional and a regulatory perspective and navigates complex cross-border issues, providing counsel to clients operating globally.
New York
New MoFo
Rhys Bortignon
Chloe Cina
Chuck Cotter
Kaylee Cox Bankston
Val Dahiya
Tammy Davies
Stephen DeCosse
Finity Jernigan
Oksana Lashko
Doug Mannal
Boris Segalis
Elizabeth Sipes
Mike Vernace
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. In his current practice, Chuck advises companies and funds at all stages of growth, from startups to ready-to-exit companies, helping them successfully raise capital and achieve successful exits. Chuck also regularly advises consumer products investment funds in investment rounds.
Denver
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. Kaylee joins MoFo from another leading global law firm, where she helped spearhead and develop its cybersecurity practice. She advises clients across a wide range of industries on cybersecurity risk management and on compliance with U.S. state and federal and international data protection laws and regulations. Kaylee has substantial experience leading clients in investigations of sophisticated cyberattacks and representing clients in cybersecurity and privacy matters before U.S. state and federal and international regulators.
Washington, D.C.
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). Val advises clients at the intersection of financial regulation and technological innovation, including on complex compliance, regulatory, and transactional matters arising under SEC and FINRA jurisdiction.
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. Tammy joins MoFo from another leading global firm, where she was a member of its Alternative Lender and Private Credit and Special Situations groups. Tammy’s practice focuses on alternative lending, including financings with a junior capital component or multiple tranches of debt. Her experience encompasses a wide range of financing facilities, including mezzanine debt, second-lien loans, and bifurcated unitranche facilities, in the context of both U.S. and cross-border strategic and sponsor-backed leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, opportunistic credits, and debt restructurings. Tammy advises clients across a broad array of industries, including technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, retail, media, gaming, manufacturing, and financial services.
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. Stephen’s practice focuses on M&A transactions and joint ventures across a broad range of industries, including technology, food and agriculture, energy, and transportation. He has extensive experience advising both Japanese corporates on outbound matters and international private equity firms on inbound matters.
Tokyo
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 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. In her day-to-day practice, Finity is a go-to advisor for emerging growth companies and venture capital and private equity funds in the consumer products industry, including food, beverage, personal care, beauty, skincare, cosmetics, and other natural products, helping them to successfully raise capital, elevate acquisitions and divestitures, and manage various corporate governance matters along the way.
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. Oksana joins MoFo from another leading global firm, where she was a member of its Restructuring and Finance group and built a successful creditors’ committee practice. Oksana focuses her varied practice representing secured and unsecured creditors, including lenders and bondholders, and official and ad hoc committees in connection with both out-of-court restructurings and bankruptcy cases; buyers and sellers in distressed M&A transactions; various constituents with respect to complex litigation matters; and various constituents, on the company and creditor side, with respect to liability management transactions and all other aspects of corporate restructurings.
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. Doug joins MoFo from another leading global law firm, where he was a member of its Financial Restructuring group in New York and focused his practice on financial restructuring, representing a diverse range of clients in complex chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, out-of-court restructurings, and other distressed situations. Doug’s clients include ad hoc creditor groups, creditors’ committees, and major secured and unsecured creditors, as well as distressed borrowers.
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. Elizabeth joins MoFo from another leading international firm, where she spent the last six years and served most recently as a firmwide chair of its Private Investment Funds group. She advises sponsors on all aspects of fund formation and launch. Her work includes drafting and negotiating a spectrum of documentation ranging from term sheets, partnership agreements, side letters, and subscription agreements, to structuring general partner and upper-tier arrangements including carry programs and other economic sharing programs. She also represents institutional investors, including corporate venture capital programs, funds-of-funds, and family offices, assisting them with their alternative investments across various asset classes, including private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, and real estate.
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. Mike joins MoFo from another leading international firm, where he was a partner in its Banking and Credit department. His practice focuses on supporting sponsor-borrowers, along with additional lender-side representations and borrower-side bankruptcy remote financings. He regularly advises clients through syndicated finance and other commercial lending transactions, including acquisition, leveraged, investment-grade, asset-based, corporate, receivables, net asset value, and hybrid financings. He also represents leading leveraged buyout sponsors and their portfolio companies in connection with a variety of recapitalizations and refinancings.
San Francisco
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. Boris joins MoFo from another leading global law firm, where he helped lead and build its current Privacy and Data Security practice. He works with clients across a broad range of industries, with a focus on the tech and fintech sectors. Boris advises on strategic privacy and cybersecurity aspects of customer engagement and corporate transactions, including in the context of venture, private equity, public M&A, and bankruptcy. He also regularly defends companies in federal, state, and foreign privacy and cybersecurity investigations.
In-House Counsel
for Women
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.
team has made a significant impact that extends well beyond legal work in the local business market. David Ephraim, Boston managing partner, commented, “We are delighted to celebrate five years of MoFo in Boston, and proud of the people we work with in Boston and beyond to expand MoFo’s reputation for exceptional client service and community engagement.”
of MoFo Boston
Celebrating Five Years
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
Summit
Celebrating
Finding Their Way in the World Mat’s career has always been on a steady trajectory toward public service. Born in Virginia, their father moved the family to Portugal when Mat was three years old to take a position with the U.S. embassy in Lisbon. Their parents hoped to expose them to the family’s Portuguese roots. The family then moved to Gulfport, Mississippi, when dos Santos was 11, which they describe as a significant culture shock. “I was an effeminate kid who didn’t speak English well, and it was difficult to adjust. I didn’t fit in,” they said. “After growing up in Europe with these images of the U.S. in movies and TV, Gulfport was disappointing. I wasn’t ready for the more challenging aspects of America like racism and wealth disparity.” The family moved to San Diego when dos Santos was in high school, and they experienced another jolt. “San Diego wasn’t like moving to New York or San Francisco, but coming from Mississippi, it felt like a cosmopolitan city, and I thrived there.” After studying biology at UC Irvine, dos Santos took an interest in the environment. They worked on environmental impact reports and surveys as a biologist at an environmental consulting firm, and consequently Mat began to think about a career in environmental law. “I thought that was the direction I was headed, but in law school I fell in love with the idea of the power of constitutional law and litigation,” they said. “And I got very involved in different legal communities, like the International Law Journal and Lambda Legal.”
A Focus on Helping Others Dos Santos was also able to log more than 2,500 hours of pro bono work during their eight years at MoFo, including a case related to the detention of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and another that involved transgender prisoner rights in Idaho, which they recall being particularly groundbreaking. That case centered around an incarcerated trans woman, Jennifer Spencer, who had changed her name and lived on the outside as a woman. However, the Idaho Department of Corrections placed her in a men’s prison. She pleaded with the Department’s medical staff for estrogen therapy to treat her gender dysphoria, but was refused 75 times. This led to a subsequent suicide attempt and an episode where she castrated herself in her cell. In 2004, Spencer filed suit against the Department, claiming that it violated her constitutional rights by failing to properly diagnose her and provide adequate treatment. After winning in federal district court, a settlement was reached, and the case is credited with leading to gender-affirming treatment for the incarcerated. “It was an incredibly formative experience for me. I worked on several pro bono projects, but this case showed me the impact of large firms working together with organizations for the good of the community.” They also worked on some of MoFo’s traditional cases, including one they feel has been a major influence on their work today. In re JDS Uniphase was a $26 billion securities case involving a major fiber optic cable supplier, and dos Santos was part of the MoFo team defending the company’s executives. Working under partner Jordan Eth on the case, dos Santos was charged with helping to provide an argument for the jury verdict form. “It was a case that was super influential for me in my early years as an attorney because it showed me how to effectively litigate high-profile, high-impact cases. You have to come up with compelling demonstratives and develop a powerful narrative story for the jury.”
Fighting for the Rights of Many
Co-executive Director and General Counsel for Our Children's Trust
Mat dos Santos
It was a case that was super influential for me in my early years as an attorney because it showed me how to effectively litigate high-profile, high-impact cases. You have to come up with compelling demonstratives and develop a powerful narrative story for the jury.
Supporting Children's Rights for a Healthy Climate After leaving MoFo, dos Santos worked for Jazz Pharmaceuticals, then joined the ACLU of Oregon as the state legal director in 2015. Looking for their next challenge a few years later, a mutual friend introduced them to Julia Olson, founder of Our Children’s Trust, who was searching for a managing attorney for the organization. “I was coming from this very intense period at the ACLU, which was battling the Trump administration every day, and I felt I needed a break,” they said. “After meeting with Julia, I saw that we shared a vision where the courts could be used to protect the constitutional rights of children in regard to the climate.” Our Children’s Trust has received a great deal of media attention for its pioneering legal actions, including Juliana v. United States, which asserts that children’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property have been violated by the government’s actions around climate change. They have also been involved in numerous similar cases around the world in which children sue governments for their role in furthering the climate crisis. “It’s profoundly troubling that we’re facing this massive climate crisis as a nation and world, and we’re not acting for our children and grandchildren,” said dos Santos. “I initially told Julia I’d help her out for six months then I’ll take some time off. But six months passed, and Julia said she’d love for me to stay, and I agreed. This is the place for me.” When they look back over their career, dos Santos advises newer associates at firms like MoFo to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. “Don’t be afraid to take big swings,” they said. “If, like me, you’re interested in the nonprofit world, know that there’s tremendous support for pro bono work at Morrison Foerster. Don’t hesitate to bring a case to the pro bono committee where a worthy cause could receive top-notch legal resources they never would have been able to afford otherwise.” Looking ahead, dos Santos’s biggest professional goal is for Our Children’s Trust to succeed in its mission to achieve universal recognition of fundamental constitutional rights for a safe, livable climate. They like to write, and they’re hoping to write more about the young people at the heart of their cases and the trauma they’ve experienced due to the changing climate. “I'd love to write a manual about how to be a trauma-informed lawyer that other nonprofits could use that would be available to other organizations for free,” they said. Dos Santos is also interested in teaching some of the concepts and strategies they’ve learned. “I’ve received so much from more experienced attorneys over the years, and I feel it’s important to give back to the legal community.” Outside of their work, dos Santos enjoys time with their partner, Clay, their dogs, family, and the outdoors. “Clay and I love to hike and backpack. We’ve been lucky enough to backpack along the Continental Divide, the Pacific Crest Trail, and Denali National Park. We want to experience getting away from the world for a while and appreciate the natural beauty of the world we’re fighting for.”
PRO BONO SPOTLIGHT
Learn more about Our Children's Trust
There are countless reasons why people choose to pursue law as a profession, ranging from intellectual stimulation to the potential of a lucrative career. For Mat dos Santos, they saw the law as a pathway to make a difference by entering the nonprofit legal world. As graduation from Cornell Law School neared, dos Santos saw two possible career journeys: The first was to jump into the legal department of a nonprofit and learn by doing. The second was to get some experience with a large firm first before following their passion with a nonprofit. They chose the latter. “I interviewed with a couple of firms, but Morrison Foerster stood out as a place where I could really learn and contribute,” they said. “I worked for a summer in the San Francisco office with some incredible partners who helped me grow, including Ruth Borenstein, Dorothy Fernandez, Stuart Plunkett, Rachel Krevans, and Philip Besirof, as well as some amazing associates like Parisa Jorjani. I still litigate cases based on what I learned from them.” Currently, dos Santos serves as co-executive director and general counsel for Eugene, Oregon-based Our Children’s Trust, a leading advocacy organization that fights climate change by representing young people in global legal efforts to ensure a healthy atmosphere and stable climate. It’s a position where dos Santos feels they’re making a daily impact, and they credit their MoFo experience for the jumpstart.
It’s profoundly troubling that we’re facing this massive climate crisis as a nation and world, and we’re not acting for our children and grandchildren.
Alumni
Sarah Barr joined Lightpath as Senior Corporate Counsel in October 2023. At MoFo, Sarah was an associate from 2018 to 2022 in the Denver office. Mary Anne Becking joined Canva as Head of Corporate Legal in February 2024. At MoFo, Mary Anne was an associate from 1999 to 2006 in the Palo Alto office. Genevieve Burch joined The Wine Group as Senior Counsel, IP & Privacy in July 2023. At MoFo, Genevieve was an associate from 2001 to 2005 in the San Francisco office. Robert Carlon joined Flex-Tek Group as Chief Financial Officer in January 2024. At MoFo, Robert was an associate from 2014 to 2016 in the Singapore office. Ryan Farha joined Alpine Investors as Principal, Investment Counsel in February 2024. At MoFo, Ryan was an associate from 2018 to 2020 in the New York and San Francisco offices. Celeste Ferber joined Mercury as Deputy General Counsel, Corporate in March 2024. At MoFo, Celeste was an attorney from 2006 to 2014 in the Palo Alto office. Julia Huang joined Palo Alto Networks as Senior Corporate Counsel, M&A and Corporate in December 2023. At MoFo, Julia was an associate from 2018 to 2022 in the San Francisco office. Kevin Kwon joined Bristol Myers Squibb as Associate General Counsel in January 2024. At MoFo, Kevin was an associate from 2013 to 2021 in the San Diego office. Amy Lawrence joined SuperAwesome as Chief Privacy Officer and Head of Legal in January 2024. At MoFo, Amy was an associate from 2016 to 2018 in the Los Angeles office. Jackie Li joined Autodesk as Corporate Counsel, Product in November 2023. At MoFo, Jackie was an associate from 2019 to 2022 in the San Francisco office. Brittani Ojogho-Fields was hired as Corporate Counsel, US Scripted TV Development at Amazon MGM Studios in March 2024, where she will now oversee legal support for the studio’s development of its US Comedy and Limited Series slates. At MoFo, Brittani was an associate from 2019 to 2021 in the San Francisco office. Anthony Parenti joined Moonlight Bio as Vice President, Legal in November 2023. At MoFo, Anthony was a law clerk from 2017 to 2019 and an associate from 2019 to 2020 in the San Francisco office. Miki Someya joined Gilead Sciences as Senior Manager Legal Affairs in March 2024. At MoFo, Miki was an associate from 2019 to 2021 in the Tokyo office. Sarah Tierney Niyogi joined Recall Capital as a Partner in July 2023. At MoFo, Sarah was an associate from 2008 to 2012 in the San Francisco office.
MoFo
New
New alumni as of March 2024
Wendy Chu joined Harvard Law School as a Clinical Instructor in January 2024. At MoFo, Wendy was a Technology Transactions associate from 2019 to 2023 in the New York office.
Wendy Chow joined WeightWatchers as Vice President of Legal and Head of Health Care & Privacy Officer in 2024. At MoFo, Wendy was counsel from 2022 to 2024 in the San Francisco office.
Monica Cai joined Adobe as Legal Counsel in November 2023. She works as a product counsel supporting Adobe Express. At MoFo, Monica was an associate in the Technology Transactions Group from 2021 to 2023 in the San Francisco office.
Will Baker joined the United States District Court for the Southern District of California as a Judicial Law Clerk in December 2023. At MoFo, Will was a Litigation associate from 2022 to 2023 in the San Diego office.
Chris Han joined Apple as IP Litigation Counsel in February 2024. At MoFo, Chris was a Litigation associate from 2019 to 2024 in the Palo Alto office.
Samuel Goldstein joined the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as Counsel to the General Counsel in August 2023. At MoFo, Samuel was a Litigation associate from 2021 to 2023 in the Washington, D.C. office.
Sam Lee joined Meta Reality Labs as Counsel in March 2024. At MoFo, Sam was a Technology Transactions associate from 2021 to 2024 in the San Francisco office.
Richard Lijian Ji joined Novo Nordisk as Senior Legal Counsel in November 2023. At MoFo, Richard was an associate from 2019 to 2023 in the Beijing office.
Matthaeus Martino-Weinhardt joined Epic Games as Senior Counsel in March 2024. At MoFo, Matthaeus was a Litigation associate from 2023 to 2024 in the San Francisco office.
Jack Li joined Amazon Web Services (AWS) as Corporate Counsel in March 2024. At MoFo, Jack was a Litigation associate from 2021 to 2024 in the Washington, D.C. office.
Fahd Patel joined the United States Patent and Trademark Office as an Associate Solicitor in January 2024. At MoFo, Fahd was a Litigation associate from 2013 to 2018 and of counsel from 2019 to 2024 in the Washington, D.C. office.
Caroline Middleton joined Pentair as Senior Counsel in November 2023. At MoFo, Caroline was a Litigation associate from 2022 to 2023 in the Washington, D.C. office.
Laura Stewart joined Coalition as UK Head of Claims and Cyber Specialist in January 2024. At MoFo, Laura was a Privacy and Cybersecurity associate from 2022 to 2024 in the London office.
Rachel Ross joined Consumer Bankers Associations as Vice President, Senior Regulatory Counsel, and Associate General Counsel. At MoFo, Rachel was an associate from 2021 to 2023 in the Washington, D.C. office.
Shane Wilson joined Trader Joe’s as Real Estate Counsel in March 2024. At MoFo, Shane was an associate from 2023 to 2024 in the Los Angeles office.
Thomas Webb joined Affiliated Managers Group as Senior Associate and Counsel in October 2023. At MoFo, Thomas was an associate from 2021 to 2023 in the Washington, D.C. office.
Quinn Walker joined the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit as a Judicial Clerk in September 2023. At MoFo, Quinn was an IP Litigation associate from 2022 to 2023 in the Washington, D.C. office.
Olivia Wada joined Kia America as Corporate Counsel in August 2023. At MoFo, Olivia was an associate from 2021 to 2023 in the Los Angeles office.
Anna-Lisa Vanzo joined Interactive Brokers (Family Office) as Associate General Counsel in September 2023. Prior to this role, Anna-Lisa was a Litigation associate at MoFo from 2021 to 2023 in the New York office.
Charles Tso joined the U.S. District Courts as a Law Clerk in August 2023. At MoFo, Charles was an associate from 2022 to 2023 in the New York office.
Meredith Stradley joined Globus Medical as Patent Counsel in March 2024. At MoFo, Meredith was an associate from 2017 to 2024 in the Washington, D.C. office.
the Move
Alumni on
David Alban was promoted to VP & Chief Counsel, IP & Innovation at Xylem in September 2023. At MoFo, David was a Litigation associate from 2005 to 2008 in the Palo Alto office. Eleanor Anthony was promoted to Senior Corporate Counsel, Product at Snowflake in February 2024. At MoFo, Eleanor was an associate from 2020 to 2022 in the Palo Alto office. Margot Benedict was promoted to Counselor to the Attorney General at U.S. Department of Justice in October 2023. At MoFo, Margot was an associate from 2017 to 2021 in the Washington, D.C. office. Lauren Bennett was promoted to Senior Counsel, Global Affairs Legal in October 2023. At MoFo, Lauren was an associate from 2017 to 2019 in the San Francisco office. Cynthia Lopez Beverage was promoted to Vice President, Legal (Strategic Partnerships and Global Procurement Transactions) at Visa in March 2024. At MoFo, Cynthia was of counsel from 2007 to 2011 in the Washington, D.C. office. Jovanna Bubar was promoted to Senior Product and Privacy Counsel at Samsara in February 2024. At MoFo, Jovanna was an associate from 2019 to 2022 in the Los Angeles office. Neal Burstyn was promoted to Product Counsel at MongoDB in October 2023. At MoFo, Neal was an associate from 2018 to 2022 in the New York office. Mikaela Ediger joined the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii as a Judicial Law Clerk. At MoFo, Mikaela was an associate from 2018 to 2022 in the Tokyo office. Stephanie Fong was promoted to Vice President, Legal Counsel, Corporate Governance, SEC & Employment at Dexcom in March 2024. At MoFo, Stephanie was an associate from 2005 to 2016 in the San Diego and Palo Alto offices. Zachary Fuchs joined the U.S. Courts of Appeals as a Judicial Law Clerk in September 2023. At MoFo, Zachary was an associate from 2021 to 2022 in the Washington, D.C. office. Irving Gomez was promoted to VP, Deputy General Counsel, & Corporate Secretary at PagerDuty in March 2024. At MoFo, Irving was a Corporate associate from 2000 to 2005 in the San Francisco office. Marisa Gondrez was promoted to Director of Operations, NY and Legal Counsel in October 2023. At MoFo, Marisa was an associate from 2005 to 2011 in the New York office. Kimberly Gosling moved into a new role at the University of San Diego School of Law as Professor of Practice in January 2024. At MoFo, Kimberly was a Litigation associate from 2006 to 2007 and 2008 to 2018 in the San Diego office. Jason Hall was promoted to Chief People & Legal Office at SunVest Solar in September 2023. At MoFo, Jason was a Litigation associate from 2009 to 2015 in the San Francisco office. Min Heo was promoted to Managing Director, Legal Counsel at LiquidX in March 2024. At MoFo, Min was an associate from 2017 to 2020 in the New York office. Don Hunt was promoted to Executive Vice President & General Counsel at The Hartford in March 2024. At MoFo, Don was an associate from 1999 to 2004 in the San Francisco office. Alexandra Laks was promoted to Senior Managing Counsel at Cruise in April 2024. At MoFo, Alexandra was an associate from 2013 to 2020 in the San Francisco office. Erin Lupfer was promoted to Senior Appellate Court Attorney at the California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division One in October 2023. At MoFo, Erin was a Litigation associate from 2018 to 2023 in the San Diego office. Masayo Nobe was promoted to VP of Legal at Mozilla Corporation in September 2023. At MoFo, Masayo was an associate from 2007 to 2015 in the Tokyo and San Francisco offices. Eric Ow was promoted to Director & Associate General Counsel – Alexa, Photos, & Smart Home at Amazon Lab126 in September 2023. At MoFo, Eric was an associate from 2007 to 2013 in the San Francisco office. Tom Randall was promoted to Managing Counsel, Commercial at Figma in September 2023. At MoFo, Tom was an associate from 2017 to 2019 in the Virginia office. Rachel Rice was promoted to Associate General Counsel, IP at Nkarta in January 2024. At MoFo, Rachel was an associate from 2018 to 2022 in the San Diego office.
Accomplishments
MoFo Alumni Portal
We look forward to having you join us on the MoFo Alumni Portal, and we thank you for your support of the MoFo community. If you have any questions, please contact us at alumniportal@mofo.com.
Register
Stay connected with fellow MoFo Alums by joining the MoFo Alumni Portal! By becoming a member of the Alumni Portal, you will have access to:
A searchable database of MoFo attorney alumni and current MoFo attorneys
A job board listing in-house opportunities and the ability to post open roles at your company to the community
The ability to tailor your profile and connect with your fellow alumni
A communication feed, similar to social media platforms
Access to CLE offerings and additional resources
The MoFo Next center for career advancement will offer market-leading career development and advisory services to our alumni and the MoFo community.
COMING SOON!
MoFo Next will provide one-on-one support, including career-transition strategies, curated resources, and programming tailored to your professional aspirations at every stage of your career.
MoFo Next stands ready to help match your hiring goals with MoFo-trained talent seeking a transition.
The official launch is coming soon! If you would like to get a jump start, please reach out to Hillary Mann, Director of MoFo Next, to schedule a 30-minute conversation.
Contact
Seeking a transition for yourself?
Looking to build your teams?
Stay connected with MoFo’s diversity and inclusion efforts!
To receive communications regarding programming and events related to our affinity networks, please click here to sign up and select your preferences.
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