THE PASSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Yes, our numbers are impressive. But what really sets us apart? It’s more than rankings, revenues, and number of partners. It’s a distinct quality that can’t be measured or counted, but that makes all the difference in the world — our passion for what we do, how we do it, for whom we do it, and with whom we do it. It’s what brings all of us together, and what we hope brings you to us.
We’re proud of our colleagues’ achievements. See our long list of honors and awards.
ENGAGED IN NEW IDEAS
You’d expect our culture to change over 130 years, and it has. Yet MoFo has always been ahead of its time — not just open to new ideas, but engaged in creating new ideas. This is a place where you’ll find lawyers and business professionals who share a desire to see you contribute and succeed. We expect that you’ll like it here just as much as we do.
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Tiffani Figueroa
I’ve been fortunate to find not only wonderful colleagues at MoFo, but mentors and friends who are invested in my growth and success as a woman in this profession. Jessica Kaufman is one of those people. She challenges me to take on tasks I may not know I’m ready for, to take ownership of the knowledge and skills I’ve developed, and sometimes to just take a break. Teaming up with a partner like Jessica is more than working together to reach our goals on a particular matter; it’s having someone in your corner who is willing to give you the opportunities. So, when we’re in the middle of a hearing and learn the client is willing to let the associate on the team argue one of our motions, Jessica is there switching seats to give me first chair, whispering: “You got this.”
— Tiffani Figueroa, Associate, New York
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Jessica Kaufman
We work so hard to learn how to do what we do. To not pass on what we know would be a missed opportunity to shape what our firm might look like ten, twenty, or thirty years from now. Tiffani came to MoFo with her own set of awesome skills: whip smart, strong writing, integrity, and a sense of humor about my terrible driving to far-flung court appearances, to name a few. It has been so exciting to see her master some of the things it took me so long to know, as she takes on her first witnesses, arguments, and cases of her own. The more accomplished a litigator she becomes, the better a team we make. I’m proud to mentor Tiffani, because she exemplifies what the firm can and should be in the decades ahead.
— Jessica Kaufman, Partner, New York
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Anita Choi
Mike [Ward] encourages me to pursue my various interests, whether it be teaming with our TTG group on licensing projects or participating in a new Cleantech business plan competition at my alma mater, Caltech. The Caltech initiative was particularly compelling, since it gave me an opportunity to work with young entrepreneurs, leveraging the skills and experience I am developing at the firm with my passion for science and business. I feel fortunate to work with and learn from Mike. He takes a sincere interest in my development and success at the firm.
— Anita Choi, Of Counsel, San Francisco
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Mike Ward
From almost the minute I started working with Anita [Choi], it was clear that I could give her an unusually high level of independence and responsibility. For example, she came to me with an idea about working with Caltech to sponsor a business plan competition. I told her I would support it, but she should run with it — and she did a tremendous job. Working directly with Caltech, Anita set up the program, served as a judge and speaker, and traveled to D.C. to meet with the award winners. It was exceptionally well done and reflected very well on Anita and on this firm.
— Mike Ward, Partner, San Francisco
Love What You Do
Our firm was built on, and continues to succeed, because of the talent of our lawyers and their innovative approach to the practice of law. None of it has become boring to us. We’re just as excited to tackle each new deal or argue each new case as the day we started at MoFo.
Work As A Team
We practice in a collegial environment where we value teamwork and operate as one firm. No lawyer, office, or practice group has its own clients; every client is a client of the firm. This open environment makes it easier for our attorneys, regardless of their seniority, to collaborate and to conceptualize new solutions to complex problems.
Partner With Clients
Our work requires that we learn about our clients’ businesses, so that we can be effective trusted advisers, through good times and bad. We’re excited to hear about a client’s new technology, product, or transaction. We’re delighted to work alongside a client to help bring a new idea to fruition, protect its value, or sell it. We’re vigilant in protecting clients from risk, and zealously willing to defend them — in or out of court. We try clients’ tough cases and win.
Succeed Through Commitment
The challenge we have to offer you requires a commitment to excellence, tenacity, and curiosity. Our clients have come to expect that from us, and we demand it of each other. So what will be expected of you? A bit more responsibility than you think you can handle. Don’t worry; we’ll help you grow. We’re dedicated to training and mentoring to help integrate students, laterals, and business professionals into the fabric of the firm. After all, our reputation depends on it.
73,000+
PRO BONO HOURS IN 2017
COMMITTED TO THE PUBLIC GOOD
An essential part of the MoFo difference is our tradition of service in the public interest. We use our talents in a range of pro bono activities, from staffing legal services clinics, to counseling more than 300 nonprofit organizations, to handling high-impact litigation. Our work focuses on assisting underserved groups and nonprofits that serve low-income people and communities. We approach pro bono work the same as our billable work — with passion, dedication, and an exacting standard of service — simply because that’s who we are.
MoFo lawyers and staff also actively participate in a wide range of community projects and organizations. We established the Morrison & Foerster Foundation in 1986 to make the best use of the firm’s charitable resources within our communities worldwide. Our partners donate approximately one percent of the firm’s annual income to the Foundation; we’ve given away over $40 million since 1986.
SINCE 2010, RANKED AS A TOP 10 FIRM FOR PERCENTAGE OF RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE LAWYERS IN THE AMERICAN LAWYER DIVERSITY SCORECARD
NAMED LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR FOR PROMOTING FLEXIBLE WORKING ENVIRONMENTS AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS FOR MOTHERS AT THE 2017 CHAMBERS WOMEN IN LAW AWARDS: USA
RANKED AMONG THE TOP 10 FIRMS FOR OVERALL DIVERSITY BY VAULT IN ITS GUIDE TO THE TOP 100 LAW FIRMS (2019)
7 CONSECUTIVE YEARS, GOLD STANDARD CERTIFIED BY THE WOMEN IN LAW EMPOWERMENT FORUM FOR INTEGRATION OF WOMEN INTO THE FIRM’S TOP LEADERSHIP
NAMED AMONG THE TOP 10 FEMALE FRIENDLY FIRMS BY YALE LAW WOMEN (2018)
NAMED MOFO ON WORKING MOTHER‘s BEST LAW FIRMS FOR WOMEN LIST FOR NINE YEARS, CONSECUTIVELY FROM 2014-2018
OUR DIFFERENCES MAKE A DIFFERENCE
We’re a collection of individuals with different personalities, outlooks, backgrounds, and experiences. Yet we share the view that our differences are a positive attribute, critical to achieving success for both our clients and ourselves.
We continuously work to attract, develop, and retain talented lawyers of diverse backgrounds, with 24 affinity groups that provide support networks and programming. We also actively seek to hire exceptional diverse law students. Our approach leads us to consistently rank at the top of surveys addressing workplace diversity.
Women
MoFo’s women lawyers represent the best talent the legal profession has to offer. Clients and competitors recognize them as exceptional contributors in both national and global rankings. Women account for 25 percent of MoFo partners, 50 percent of associates, and 52 percent of summer associates. And, as a firm, we’re intent on inspiring, motivating, and empowering those women.
Racial + Ethnic Diversity
MoFo’s commitment to diversity begins at the student level, with a grassroots pipeline strategy to attract 1Ls and pre-law interns, and runs throughout the firm to key leadership positions. Lawyers of color account for 15 percent of MoFo partners, 35% percent of associates, and 46% percent of summer associates. Vault (2017) ranks us in the top 20 for racial and ethnic diversity.
LGBT
MoFo has been a standard-bearer for LGBT equality in the legal profession for more than 30 years. From supporting LGBT lawyers in firm leadership, to sponsoring events for LGBT students, to working pro bono on behalf of LGBT issues, we proudly foster an atmosphere of inclusion and mutual respect.
