AFFINITY PROGRAM 2023 RECAP
2 Table of Contents Part I D+I Strategy and Execution Diversity Strategy Committee...................................................................................... 4 Affinity Program.......................................................................................................... 4 Part II New Affinity Networks Launch of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Affinity Network........................... 9 Parents + Caregivers Network .................................................................................... 10 Part III Affinity Group Reports Asia LGBTQ+ Affinity Group........................................................................................ 13 Boston AAPI Affinity Group.......................................................................................... 14 Boston Women’s Affinity Group................................................................................... 17 D C Attorneys and Paralegals of Color Affinity Group................................................... 18 D C Women’s Affinity Group........................................................................................ 21 Denver Women’s Affinity Group................................................................................... 22 London – MoFo Proud................................................................................................ 25 London – MoFo Together............................................................................................ 26 Los Angeles Asian/Pacific Islander American Affinity Group...........................................29 Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Affinity Group.............................................................................30 Los Angeles Multi-Cultural Affinity Group.......................................................................33 Los Angeles Women’s Affininity Group..........................................................................34 Los Angeles Working Parents Affinity Group..................................................................37 New York AAPI Attorneys Affinity Group........................................................................38 New York Black Attorneys Affinity Group.......................................................................41 New York LGBTQ+ Affinity Group..................................................................................42 San Diego AAPI Attorneys and Patent Agents Affinity Group.........................................45 San Francisco/Palo Alto AAPI Attorneys Affinity Group..................................................46 San Francisco/Palo Alto Black Affinity Group.................................................................49 San Francisco Latinx Affinity Group...............................................................................50 San Francisco LGBTQ+ Affinity Group..........................................................................53 San Francisco Women of Color Affinity Group...............................................................54 Part IV Affinity-Related Programming & Initiatives 2023 Heritage & Awareness Month Programming.........................................................57 Black Affinity Network Meetings....................................................................................70 MoFo Proud Affinity Network Meeting...........................................................................73 Wetmore Fellowship and SEO Law Fellows Mentorship Circles.....................................74
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4 PART I: D+I STRATEGY AND EXECUTION At Morrison Foerster, our vision is to be the premier law firm for all attorneys – including attorneys of color, women, LGBTQ+, and attorneys living with disabilities – and a role model for our peers in the legal industry. Our global diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (D+I) strategy focuses our efforts on promoting greater inclusion in four areas of priority: (1) inclusive recruitment, (2) attorney development and engagement, (3) workplace inclusion, and (4) strategic partnerships in the legal industry. Diversity Strategy Committee The Diversity Strategy Committee (DSC) guides the firm’s global D+I strategy and evaluates the firm’s progress toward our shared goals; while our Affinity Networks, Allies Network, and local Affinity Groups play a critical role in executing and informing that strategy. Through this structure, we connect and empower leaders at every level of the organization who model our shared value of being “inclusive to the core.” Affinity Program Morrison Foerster established its very first Affinity Groups in 2008. Since then, our Affinity Program has grown to include eight cross-office Affinity Networks and 35 office-specific Affinity Groups. The components of our Affinity Program work together to create a supportive internal community for its members. The program also provides all motivated attorneys, regardless of identity, with the tools and opportunities to work closely with the D+I Group to actively champion D+I. Affinity Networks (cross-office) MoFo Affinity Networks are cross-office groups of attorneys and business professionals who share a particular affinity. There are currently eight Affinity Networks: Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), Black, Disability, Latinx, LGBTQ+, Middle Eastern and North African (MENA), MoFo Vets, and Parents and Caregivers. These groups meet on a regular basis to network and build community among members. Within each network, the partners meet frequently to help further the firm’s D+I strategy as it relates to talent development; each network focuses on the recruitment, retention, engagement, and advancement of talented attorneys within their affinity. The MENA and Parents + Caregivers were newly formed in 2023 and detailed on subsequent pages. Alexis Amezcua Co-Chair Purvi Patel Co-Chair Mark Whitaker Co-Chair
5 Bonnie Lau Liason John Owen Co-Liason Eric Tate Co-Liason Julie Park Co-Liason Crystal Kaldjob Co-Liason David Cross Co-Liason Nate Mendell Co-Liason Alexis Amezcua Co-Liason Mark Whitaker Liason Joseph Palmore Co-Liason Whitney O’Byrne Co-Liason Mehran Arjomand Co-Liason Anthony Carbone Co-Liason Kate Driscoll Co-Liason Robert May Co-Liason AAPI-AN PROUD-AN B-AN D-AN L-AN VETS-AN MENA-AN ALLIES-AN P+C-AN
6 Affinity Groups (office-specific) MoFo Affinity Groups are associate-led groups (with partner sponsors) that operate at the office level and can be made up of both attorneys and business professionals. There are 35 Affinity Groups across our 17 offices, including San Francisco Women, Washington, D.C Attorneys and Paralegals of Color, Los Angeles Working Parents, and New York LGBTQ+. They are overseen by the DSC and the Women’s Strategy Committee (WSC) and supported by the D+I Group. Affinity Groups conduct in-office social, client or professional development, and recruiting programs throughout the year. The Allies Network In 2021, as a counterpart to our Affinity Networks, we became one of only two major law firms to launch an active Allies Network. The Allies Network was created by combining Morrison Foerster’s four engagement committees on racial equity, formed in response to the George Floyd tragedy, into a single firmwide network. The Allies Network is made up of individuals from across the firm who are committed to taking action to support D+I and engage in our diversity programs. Members complete specialized training, actively participate in D+I recruiting and retention efforts, and conduct outreach to others who have been less involved in the firm’s D+I efforts to encourage greater participation. Allies Network members also commit to “continuing allyship education” throughout the year to keep their skills sharp and find opportunities to advance D+I at the firm. See the Allies Network Pledge on the next page.
7 Allies Network Pledge: A-E-I-O-U Amplify A I E O U Ensure diverse voices are heard Tip: Review our allyship tip sheet Educate Learn about and teach people about inequity Tip: Attend an unconscious bias training Identify Get to know others personally; associate closely with them Tip: Attend an Allies Network event Optimize Leverage talent fully; give credit & highlight diverse colleagues for opportunities Tip: Check out the Sponsorship tip sheet Unify Bring in majority group members to participate in D+I Tip: Honor the pledge, bring a non-member to an event
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9 PART II: NEW AFFINITY NETWORKS To further recognize and support the unique needs of our diverse MoFo community, we launched two new affinity networks in 2023 – the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Affinity Network and Parents + Caregivers Affinity Network. We invite you to learn more about the two new networks below. In October 2023, MoFo launched the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Affinity Network. The MENA Affinity Network aims to further the firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion by raising awareness around the unique experience of navigating the professional space as MENA attorneys and business professionals, and by actively supporting the recruitment, engagement, retention, development, and advancement of our MENA employees across the firm. The kickoff event, moderated by San Diego associate Owen Grayson Hosseinzadeh, featured Los Angeles partners Mehran Arjomand and Whitney O’Byrne. The panelists reflected on the diversity of the MENA community, their personal and professional journeys, and what launching the MENA Affinity Network means to them. The network is co-chaired by LA Litigation partners Mehran Arjomand and Whitney O’Byrne.
10 Parents + Caregivers Network In the fall of 2023, MoFo launched the U.S. Parents + Caregivers Affinity Network. The network was kicked off in the United States and will be launching in Asia and Europe in early 2024. The Parents + Caregivers Affinity Network aims to further the firm’s commitment to D+I by focusing our efforts on raising awareness around the unique experience of navigating the professional space as an attorney/employee who identifies as a parent and/or caregiver and by actively supporting the recruitment, engagement, retention, development, and advancement of our attorneys/employees who identify as parents and/or caregivers across the firm. The kickoff event featured Keep Company co-founders in a presentation titled How to Drop the Ball: Strategic Decision-Making at Work & Home, focusing on balancing caregiving and work responsibilities, particularly during the busy holiday season. The U.S. Affinity Network will be co-chaired by D.C. partner Kate Driscoll and San Francisco partner Robert May.
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13 Part III: Affinity Group Reports We invite you to learn more about each affinity group’s activities over 2023. Our affinity group co-chairs have shown exceptional leadership, and we were thrilled to welcome four new groups into our community: Miami Women, New York Latinx Affinity Group, and Black Affinity Groups in New York and Washington, D.C. We appreciate their hard work and sense of community they foster. Asia LGBTQ+ Affinity Group The Asia LGBTQ+ Affinity Group sponsored five events in 2023: ■ Love is Love – Valentine’s Day Discussion on the Progress Toward Marriage Equality in Japan and Hong Kong – The group hosted a Valentine’s Day webinar on the (slow) progress toward LGBTQ+ equality, focusing on marriage equality, in Japan and Hong Kong. The event was co-sponsored by the Lawyers for LGBT & Allies Network (LLAN), Hong Kong LGBT+ Attorneys Network (HK GALA), and Women in Law Japan (WILJ). ■ Psychological Safety and Building Inclusive Teams – In celebration of Pride Month, MoFo held a training on “Psychological Safety and Building Inclusive Teams.” The session was led by Ms. Monica Zionede Hall, diversity and inclusion advocate, and facilitated by Hong Kong partner Chen Zhu. ■ Hong Kong Office Celebration of Pride + Farewell June Summer Interns – Pride was on colorful display as over 90 colleagues, clients, and friends joined Morrison Foerster and the Fund Finance Association to celebrate Pride and allyship in Singapore. Special thanks to MoFo Singapore’s managing partner Shirin Tang and head of Litigation Daniel Levison for spearheading this event and to our distinguished guest speakers, business leaders, and LGBTQ+ rights champions, Kathy Teo and Ali Potia. ■ Private Screening of W!LD RICE’s “Straight Acting,” Singapore – The Singapore office hosted a private screening of W!LD RICE’s original theatre production, Straight Acting. This comedy, which enjoyed a sold-out premiere run, centers on the story of two Singaporean couples trying to make a life together and build a family here. It was described by The Business Times as “the most honest and intelligent play about the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community in Singapore in recent history.” ■ Pink Friday Office Celebrations – Pink Friday first began in 2014 when a group of Goldman Sachs Hong Kong employees wore pink T-shirts to show their support for an LGBTQ+–inclusive work environment. In the following years, it expanded across other divisions and offices across the Asia Pacific region, then into Europe, and, for the first time, in North America in 2023. In 2023 the annual Pink Friday event has continued to expand into a week-long celebration in our Asia offices. Asia LGBTQ+ Affinity Group chair: Daisuke Alexander Gatanaga
14 Boston AAPI Affinity Group The Boston AAPI Affinity Group sponsored five events in 2023: ■ Lunar New Year Celebration Lunch – The Boston AAPI Affinity Group hosted an in-office lunch with catered Chinese food to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday. ■ Spring Boba Social – The group hosted an in-office bubble tea social event for members to catch up in an informal setting. ■ AALAM Networking Dinner – The group hosted a networking dinner at local restaurant Citrus & Salt with executive board members of the local bar association, the Asian American Association of Massachusetts. ■ Summer Boba Social – The group hosted an in-office bubble tea social event for members to catch up in an informal setting. ■ Get Your Tiki on Summer Social – The group hosted a summer social event at Wusong Road Tiki Bar to welcome the AAPI-identifying and allied summer associates to the Boston office. 2023 Membership: approximately 12 attorneys Boston AAPI Affinity Group co-chairs: Yeram Choi and Hannah Koo
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17 Boston Women’s Affinity Group The Boston Women’s Affinity Group (WAG) sponsored two events in 2023: ■ Social Brunch – The Boston WAG gathered on the morning of March 28, 2023, for a social brunch. Folks dropped in whenever they were available and joined in conversations and chatted with fellow members. An array of breakfast quiches, bagels, yogurt, and other delicious treats were served. ■ Women’s History Month Viewing Event – The group gathered in-office to watch the event Celebrating Women’s History Month, featuring Reshma Saujani. Refreshments were served. 2023 Membership: approximately 25 attorneys Boston Women’s Affinity Group co-chairs: Julia Koch and Patricia Perez Elias
18 D.C. Attorneys and Paralegals of Color Affinity Group The D.C. Attorneys and Paralegals of Color Affinity Group hosted two events in 2023: ■ MoFo D.C. Attorneys and Paralegals of Color Affinity Group Happy Hour – The group hosted a kickoff meeting at the beginning of the year for both existing and prospective members to get to know one another and to select activities for the group. ■ Game Night for the Summer Associates – The group hosted a game night during the Summer Associate Program to introduce the summer associates to the Affinity Group and hopefully aid in their decision to return to MoFo the following year. 2023 Membership: approximately 50 attorneys and paralegals DD.C. Attorneys and Paralegals of Color Affinity Group co-chairs: Lyle Hedgecock and Nicole M. Ang
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21 D.C. Women’s Affinity Group The D.C. Women’s Affinity Group hosted four events in 2023: ■ Galentine’s Day Candle-Making Workshop – D.C. Women’s Affinity Group members were invited to attend an in-office, lunchtime candle-making workshop in honor of Galentine’s Day. ■ Trivia Night – The Affinity Group hosted a team-based trivia night where the teams were randomized to improve connections among associates and partners in the D.C. office. ■ Meet and Greet with Daralyn Durie – Members of the Affinity Group were invited for an informal meet and greet with Daralyn Durie, a visiting MoFo Litigation partner from San Francisco. The event was an opportunity to network across offices. ■ Introduction to Financial Planning with Amanda Campbell – Group members were invited to attend a presentation by a certified financial planner on the basic building blocks of developing a personal financial plan or strategy. 2023 Membership: approximately 80 attorneys D.C. Women’s Affinity Group co-chairs: Sophie Cash, Caitlin Crujido, Jaclyn Goldberg, and Meredith Stradley
22 Denver Women’s Affinity Group The Denver Women’s Affinity Group hosted three events in 2023: ■ Denver Women Social @ Upstairs Circus – The Denver Women’s Affinity Group hosted a DIY Workshop and happy hour at Upstairs Circus in downtown Denver. The event garnered great feedback as an activity-based social gathering that was structured to allow conversations to happen organically. ■ Charcuterie Arrangement Workshop – The group hosted an interactive charcuterie arrangement workshop at Blanchard Family Wines. The event included women clients with light programming that facilitated conversation and networking. ■ Barbie Movie Viewing and Discussion – The group watched the Barbie film and met at a nearby restaurant to discuss the movie’s messages and greater cultural implications over snacks. The movie served as a jumping off point to discuss the challenges women face in the professional workplace. 2023 Membership: approximately 9 attorneys Denver Women’s Affinity Group chair: Chere See
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25 London - MoFo Proud MoFo Proud hosted six events in 2023: ■ Out of America Drinks Reception – Out of America is an LGBT network for U.S. law firms in London. MoFo Proud members attended an evening of networking, drinks, and canapés at Mrs. Fogg’s in Broadgate Circle. ■ MoFo Proud Pride Party – MoFo Proud hosted a pride party for clients, attorneys, and business professionals at the Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch. Feedback from clients praised the event, entertainment (which included the MoFo London Choir), and inclusive nature of MoFo. Some described it as the one of the best client events they had attended. ■ Summer Associate Puttshack Event – An event organized with MoFo Together, MoFo Women, and the graduate recruitment team in London to showcase the Affinity Groups and the firm’s commitment to diversity in a social setting with the summer associates. ■ Afternoon Tea with London Affinity Groups – An introductory and informational session for the incoming class of new trainee lawyers to the London Affinity Groups, their purposes, and activities. ■ Red Run 2023 – Nine MoFo employees participated in the Red Run 2023 for World AIDS Day to raise money for a local East London HIV charity, Positive East, which organized the event and which we were introduced to via a contact at the MoFo Pride Party. ■ MoFo Steering Committee Dinner – A social dinner to thank all members of the Steering Committee for their contributions throughout the year. 2023 Membership: approximately 50 attorneys MoFo Proud co-chairs: Amrit Khosa and Kirsten Banks
26 London MoFo Together MoFo Together hosted eight events in 2023: ■ East Asian Lawyers Organization + MoFo Together Event – In May 2023, the group hosted a meeting of the East Asian Lawyers Organization (EALO) in MoFo’s London office, with a panel consisting of MoFo lawyers. The topic of discussion was working cultures in UK versus Asia as well as challenges facing East Asians in the legal profession. ■ Cultural Events Newsletter for Lunar New Year and Holi – The group circulated a newsletter to mark cultural celebrations containing information on the significance of the celebrations for minority groups, and shared snacks in the office. ■ Book Club – The group held a session to discuss the book, Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work by Ruchika Tulshyan. The group analyzed the book through the lens of inclusion at MoFo and the legal sector in general. ■ Jewish High Holidays Newsletter and Quiz – To celebrate the Jewish High Holidays, taking place in September and October 2023, MoFo Together published a newsletter, purchased honey cake for the office, and prepared a quiz. ■ Interlaw Diversity Forum: In Conversation Discussion on Coaching for Ethnic Minority Women in the Legal Profession – The group hosted a panel discussion with Interlaw Diversity Forum in the London office to discuss the importance of coaching and the role it can play in career progression, particularly for ethnic minority women in the legal profession. ■ UK Black History Month – MoFo Together hosted an office social event, sourcing food from local businesses and inviting artist Valerie Asiimwe Amani, whose work is showcased in the London office, to speak and share her insights. In addition to the event, the group hosted a meal at Roger’s Kitchen, a Caribbean restaurant in Camden, London. ■ Vacation Scheme Event for London Summer Interns – Alongside MoFo Women and MoFo Proud, MoFo Together hosted a vacation scheme event social at Puttshack, a miniature golf venue, to meet MoFo’s summer interns. ■ Afternoon Tea with London Trainees – With MoFo Proud and MoFo Women, group members met the London office new trainee lawyers for an afternoon tea to talk about MoFo in London. 2023 Membership: approximately 20 attorneys MoFo Together co-chairs: Stephanie Pong and Dan Alam
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29 Los Angeles Asian/Pacific Islander American Affinity Group The Los Angeles Asian/Pacific Islander American (LA APIA) Affinity Group sponsored three events in 2023: ■ Disneyland Summer Associate Event – This event was co-hosted by the LA APIA and LA LGBTQ+ affinity groups. The LA APIA sponsored the trip to Disneyland for the summer associate program as a team building and recruitment event. ■ Business Development Dinner – This event was co-hosted by the LA APIA and LA LGBTQ+ Affinity Groups. The groups hosted a dinner with in-house counsel and other business professionals as a business development event. ■ Holiday Drop-In Social – The group hosted an event with holiday treats for members to drop in and socialize before the holidays. 2023 Membership: approximately 18 attorneys LA APIA Affinity Group co-chairs: Allyson Bach and Kelly Kan
30 Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Affinity Group The Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Affinity Group hosted four events in 2023: ■ Drag Bingo – The LA LGBTQ+ Affinity Group organized an event for summer associates to attend Drag Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s. The group participated in Drag Bingo and enjoyed dinner together. ■ Dinner with In-House Attorneys – The LA LGBTQ+ and LA APIA Affinity Groups hosted a dinner with in-house attorneys to learn about their practices. The in-house attorneys shared their experiences both in their current roles and on how they got to their positions. ■ Disneyland Summer Associate Trip – As part of a yearly tradition in the Los Angeles office, the summer associates and some attorneys made a pilgrimage to the “Happiest Place on Earth.” This year, the LGBTQ+ Affinity Group co-sponsored the event with the Recruiting team, and our Affinity Group heads led some of the groups around the park. ■ LGBTQ+ Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Holiday Party – Group members and their guests attended the LGBTQ+ Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Holiday Party. One attendee reported that they were able to chat with lots of different attorneys and stayed until the event ended. She said, “Overall, really great time!” This event was co-sponsored by the LA MultiCultural Affinity Group. 2023 Membership: approximately 10 attorneys LA LGBTQ+ Affinity Group co-chairs: Eric Gebert and David Papas
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33 Los Angeles Multi-Cultural Affinity Group The Los Angeles Multi-Cultural Affinity Group hosted three events in 2023: ■ Sound Bath & Meditation – In collaboration with the Los Angeles Latinx Affinity Group, the Multi-Cultural Affinity Group hosted a sound bath and meditation for associates in the Los Angeles office. The event was well received and left attendees feeling very relaxed. ■ Sunset Dinner & Beach Games at Daralyn Durie’s Beach House – The group hosted a fantastic summer event that included both their Los Angeles and San Diego summer associates and attorneys from both offices as well as a handful of attorneys from San Francisco. Daralyn made amazing food from fresh farmer’s market produce. Everything was delicious, and everyone had a great time. We also had games for folks to play on the beach, including spike ball and cornhole, among others. ■ LGBTQ+ Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Holiday Party – Group members and their guests attended the LGBTQ+ Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Holiday Party. This event was co-sponsored by the LA LGBTQ+ Affinity Group. 2023 Membership: approximately 20 attorneys LA Multi-Cultural Affinity Group chair: Maya Harel
34 Los Angeles Women’s Affinity Group The Los Angeles Women’s Affinity Group hosted three events in 2023: ■ Galentine’s Day Tea – The LA Women’s Affinity Group provided tea and pastries in the Los Angeles office to provide an opportunity for socialization and community development. ■ Duffy Boating and Dinner – The group rented Duffy boats and rode around the Long Beach Harbor at sunset with Mediterranean food, beer, wine, and sodas. The event provided an opportunity to get to know the summer associates. ■ Family Holiday Party – The group co-sponsored a family holiday party with the LA Working Parents Affinity Group. The holiday party targeted MoFo internal and MoFo alum working parents. The group hosted families at Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena for a holiday party with food, a photo booth, and activities and presents for the kids. 2023 Membership: approximately 20 attorneys Los Angeles Women’s Affinity Group chair: Laura Lively
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37 Los Angeles Working Parents Affinity Group The Los Angeles Working Parents Affinity Group hosted four events in 2023: ■ Baby Shower for Associate Matt Wyatt – The group hosted an in-office lunch and baby shower for Matt Wyatt to kick off the year with a fun social event. Group members played games like Baby Jeopardy and Mad Libs and had a good turnout. ■ Mother’s Day Lunch – Partners, associates, and staff members got together for a Mother’s Day lunch (all parents included). We enjoyed a nice lunch at Joey, and everyone was given a book of poems about motherhood. ■ A Candid Conversation About Being a Working Parent at MoFo – The group got together in the afternoon for some tea and sweet treats in a conference room in the LA office. Five LA associates spoke to five summer associates interested in learning more about what it is like to be a working parent at MoFo. We discussed everything from announcing you are expecting, to planning for your leave, to returning from leave, and navigating parenthood while back at work. The event was very well received and appreciated by the summer associates. ■ Family Holiday Party – Guests were invited to join a family holiday party with their children at the Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena. The group rented a room and over 12 families joined the event, including several former MoFo associates and partners, now at other companies. Families enjoyed a bagel breakfast spread, a photobooth, and exploring the museum grounds. Kids were each sent home with an age-appropriate gift. It was a great event co-sponsored by the LA Women’s Affinity Group. 2023 Membership: approximately 15 attorneys Los Angeles Working Parents Affinity Group chair: Maya Harel
38 New York AAPI Attorneys Affinity Group The New York AAPI Attorneys Affinity Group hosted three events in 2023: ■ AAPI MoFo Summer Program Dinner at Blue Willow – The Affinity Group hosted a dinner with AAPI attorneys and summer associates at local restaurant, Blue Willow. The dinner featured Hunan- and Szechuan-style Chinese food and was an opportunity for attorneys within the network to get to know the summer associates. ■ New York Asian Affinity Group Dinner – The group hosted a casual dinner at Aroqa, a modern Indian restaurant in Chelsea. The event was an opportunity to enjoy South Asian food while networking in an informal setting. ■ AALDEF’s Summer Cocktail Party – Members of the AAPI Affinity Group attended the MoFosponsored Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund summer cocktail party. The organization fights against anti-Asian hate; provides free legal representation to immigrants, lowwage workers, young people, and the elderly; and protects the voting rights of Asian Americans and all Americans nationwide. 2023 Membership: approximately 25 attorneys New York AAPI Attorneys Affinity Group chair: Aarti Gupta
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41 New York Black Attorneys Affinity Group The New York Black Attorneys Affinity Group hosted four events in 2023: ■ Ice Cream Social – The group hosted an in-office social to introduce the new group and its members. The event was an informal discussion of the group’s aims and objectives and an opportunity to hear what members are interested in doing throughout the year. ■ Pottery Class – The group hosted a pottery-making class and dinner with the summer associates. The event was informal and creative, and allowed the group to get to know the summer associates in a different way than other events. ■ Happy Hour – The group held a happy hour at a nearby restaurant with New York attorneys of color and summer associates of color. This was an opportunity to socialize with the summer associates in an informal setting. ■ Zoom Social Hour – The Affinity Network hosted a Zoom get-together for Black Affinity Network attorneys and summer associates across MoFo offices. The event allowed summer associates to ask questions of partners and provided cross-office networking opportunities. 2023 Membership: approximately 8 attorneys New York Black Attorneys Affinity Group co-chairs: Sabienne Brutus and Daeyna Grant
42 New York LGBTQ+ Affinity Group The New York LGBTQ+ Affinity Group hosted one event in 2023: ■ Celebrate the Season with the NY LGBTQ+ Affinity Group – The group gathered at The Dickens, an iconic queer bar in Hell’s Kitchen. They had a fabulous evening of camaraderie, great food, and drinks. The event was a celebration of the community, their achievements, and their togetherness. 2023 Membership: approximately 23 attorneys New York LGBTQ+ Affinity Group co-chairs: Jocelyn Greer, John Tawadrous, and Patrick Keeler
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45 San Diego AAPI Attorneys and Patent Agents The San Diego AAPI Attorneys and Patent Agents Affinity Group hosted three events in 2023: ■ AAPI Summer Associate Dinner – The Affinity Group hosted a recruitment dinner at the home of partner sponsor Julie Park. The theme of the dinner was traditional Korean food. ■ 45th Annual Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego (PALSD) Dinner – The group sponsored and provided a table for MoFo associates to attend the 45th annual PALSD Dinner. The dinner was hosted at San Diego Mission Valley Marriott and featured keynote speaker Andrew Yang. ■ 2023 San Diego Asian Film Festival – Members gathered for a dinner and attended the 2023 San Diego Asian Film Festival. 2023 Membership: 10 attorneys and patent agents San Diego AAPI Attorneys and Patent Agents Affinity Group co-chairs: Wesley Chen and Jessica Hsieh
46 San Francisco/Palo Alto AAPI Attorneys Affinity Group The San Francisco/Palo Alto AAPI Attorneys Affinity Group hosted two events in 2023: ■ Summer Associate Happy Hour – The group hosted a happy hour for members and summer associates at Spark Social. The group provided food and beverage tickets for attendees to choose their own meals and reserved a tent space for the group. ■ AAPI End of the Year Dinner – The group hosted an end of the year banquet dinner for members in the San Francisco and Palo Alto offices. The event was held at local Cantonese restaurant R&G Lounge. 2023 Membership: approximately 40 attorneys San Francisco/Palo Alto AAPI Attorneys Affinity Group co-chairs: Karen Leung and Evangeline Phang
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49 San Francisco/Palo Alto Black Affinity Group The San Francisco/Palo Alto Black Affinity Group sponsored two events in 2023: ■ Black Affinity Network Summer Social – The group hosted a Summer Social welcoming summer associates to the firm. They attended Ungrafted in San Francisco. ■ Black Affinity Network/Latinx Benefits/ Financial 101 – The Bay Area Black Affinity Group hosted a joint discussion on benefit elections and managing finances with the new first-year associates. Attorneys shared their advice and best practices for savings, retirement, and more. 2023 Membership: approximately 9 members San Francisco/Palo Alto Black Affinity Group Chair: Tristan Davis
50 San Francisco Latinx Affinity Group The San Francisco Latinx Affinity Group hosted five events in 2023: ■ Monthly Group Coffees – The group held standing monthly group coffee meetups for associates and partners to have a casual touchpoint throughout the year. ■ Corporate Latinx Welcome Dinner – The group hosted a dinner to welcome the new (Corporate) SF Latinx associate to MoFo. ■ Welcome/Holiday Happy Hour – Group members gathered for a holiday happy hour, hosted at the San Francisco office. ■ Finance & Benefits 101 – The San Francisco Latinx and Black Affinity Groups co-hosted a panel discussion with partners and senior associates to provide advice and answer questions regarding finance and benefits election. ■ Holiday Treat – All members received a small gift in celebration of the holidays. 2023 Membership: approximately 20 attorneys San Francisco Latinx Affinity Group chair: Samantha Rose
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53 San Francisco LGBTQ+ Affinity Group The San Francisco LGBTQ+ Affinity Group sponsored two events in 2023: ■ Summer Coffee Chats – During the summer, the group held weekly coffee meetups with summer associates to provide advice and discuss firm life. This gave the summer associates a chance to network and feel more deeply connected to folks at MoFo. ■ Summer Associate Cooking Class – The group hosted a cooking class for members and summer associates. The event was very fun, interactive, and accessible. 2023 Membership: approximately 18 members San Francisco LGBTQ+ Affinity Group co-chairs: Daniel Quintana, Morgan Mitruka, and Jack Haisman
54 San Francisco Women of Color Affinity Group The San Francisco Women of Color Affinity Group hosted three events in 2023: ■ de Young Museum and Dinner – The group met at the de Young Museum to host a viewing of the Kehinde Wiley exhibit, the iconic portraitist who famously painted President Barack Obama, among others. Afterward, they gathered at Omma Restaurant for a debrief discussion. ■ Summer Associate Watercolor Class – The group joined San Francisco summer associates for a watercolor painting class taught by a woman of color. The event was well attended and a great way to foster bonding with the summer associates. ■ Holiday Happy Hour – The group hosted a Holiday Happy Hour for partners and associates at Camila Tapernoux’s home. There, first-year associates were paired with partners to facilitate networking discussions and share tips and tricks for building their practice. 2023 Membership: approximately 32 attorneys San Francisco Women of Color Affinity Group co-chairs: Camille Framroze and Camila Tapernoux
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57 2023 Heritage & Awareness Month Programming Heritage and awareness month programming is a vital part of our commitment to celebrating diversity and inclusion. In a collaboration between our D+I Group and Affinity Networks, MoFo celebrated the following in 2023: Black History Month, Women’s History Month, AAPI Heritage Month, Pride Month, Latinx Heritage Month, and National Disability Employment Awareness Month. MoFo Vets also held events in honor of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. We invite you to learn more about our 2023 heritage and awareness month programming in in the subsequent pages. We held two events in honor of Black History Month: ■ A Conversation with Bruce Jackson, Associate General Counsel at Microsoft and Author of Never Far from Home – Bruce Jackson sat down for a conversation with partner Eric Tate to celebrate Black History Month. From growing up in the housing projects of Manhattan, to a career in tax and entertainment law, and climbing the ranks in the largest software company in the world, Bruce has defied the odds of inequality in America. The discussion explored the challenges, stereotypes, and threats facing underrepresented individuals in society, the unique experience of attorneys of color, and best practices for creating a corporate culture of inclusion and leveling the playing field for all. ■ The Black Affinity Network (BAN)’s Paint & Sip Social – The BAN hosted a virtual paint & sip social to celebrate Black History Month. Attendees received individual paint kits to complete at home, with the option to paint with the colors of the pan-African flag. PART IV: AFFINITY-RELATED PROGRAMMING & INITIATIVES
58 2023 Heritage & Awareness Month Programming (continued) We held four events in honor of Women’s History Month: ■ Celebrating International Women’s Day, featuring Shirin Neshat – Associate Narges Kahvazadeh spoke with award-winning Iranian American artist and filmmaker Shirin Neshat. Shirin’s critically acclaimed art aims to raise issues of power, religion, race, gender, individuality, and more through the lens of her firsthand experiences as an Iranian woman living in exile. Shirin highlighted some of her pieces, shared her story of immigrating to the United States, and discussed how her art is giving voice to women in Iran, and around the world, in their fight for equality. ■ International Women’s Day 2023: #EmbraceEquity (Asia) – Partner Marcia Ellis joined guest speakers Puja Kapai, Preet Grewal, Zainab Javid Patel, and Aramide Fields. The discussion explored intersectionality in the workplace and shared perspectives on how business in Asia can broaden the application of their D+I policies and programs to cover a wider range of diversity, including race, ethnicity, socio-economic class, sexual orientation, and disability. ■ Celebrating Women’s History Month, featuring Reshma Saujani – MoFo partner Meghan Poon, Ph.D. spoke with Reshma Saujani – bestselling author, activist, and the founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First. Reshma has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and girls’ economic empowerment, working to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and, most recently, advocating for policies to support mothers impacted by the pandemic. ■ #EmbraceEquity: How to Win Your Way in Work & Life (Europe) – Partner Polly Ehrman moderated a conversation with Dr. Pippa Grange, applied psychologist, author, podcaster, motivational leadership speaker, and former head of people and team development at the Football Association. Pippa discussed the impact of fear on wellbeing and diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges, sharing how to fear less, win, and succeed every day through connections, elevating others, and motivational purpose.
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61 2023 Heritage & Awareness Month Programming (continued) We hosted two events in honor of AAPI Heritage Month: ■ A Conversation with Helen Wan, Author of The Partner Track – MoFo partner Haima Marlier moderated a conversation with Helen Wan, speaker, lawyer, and author of The Partner Track, which has been adapted as a Netflix series. Before becoming an author and consultant, Helen practiced media law in New York, first at law firms before becoming in-house counsel at companies including Time Inc. and A&E Television Networks. Most recently, she was VP and associate general counsel at Hachette Book Group USA. Copies of The Partner Track were offered to attendees. ■ The AAPI Affinity Network’s Dumpling-Making Social – To celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, the network hosted a virtual dumpling-making social for members.
62 2023 Heritage & Awareness Month Programming (continued) We hosted two events in honor of Pride Month: ■ A Conversation with Andrew Solomon, Writer on Politics, Culture, and Psychology – In recognition of Pride Month, partner Katherine Erbeznik had a conversation with Andrew Solomon. Andrew is a writer and lecturer on politics, culture, and psychology; winner of the National Book Award; and an activist in LGBTQ+ rights, mental health, and the arts. As the author of groundbreaking works like Far from the Tree and The Noonday Demon, Andrew has shed light on the complexities of family, mental health, and resilience. The event was open to clients and friends of the firm. ■ The LBGTQ+ Affinity Network’s Paint & Sip Social– The LGBTQ+ Affinity Network hosted a virtual paint & sip social for the network’s members to celebrate Pride Month.
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65 2023 Heritage & Awareness Month Programming (continued) We hosted two events in honor of Latinx Heritage Month: ■ A Conversation with Monica Ramirez, Gender Equity Activist, Civil Rights Attorney, and Founder of Justice for Migrant Women – MoFo hosted a webinar discussion with partner Anthony Ramirez and Monica Ramirez, activist, author, civil rights attorney, entrepreneur, and public speaker. Monica is the founder of Justice for Migrant Women, a national advocacy and technical assistance project focused on representing female farmworkers and other low-paid immigrant women who are victims of workplace sexual violence. She is also co-founder of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, or the National Farmworker Women’s Alliance, where she created the first legal project in the United States focused on representing farmworker women in legal cases involving sexual harassment and other forms of gender discrimination. The event was open to clients and friends of the firm. ■ The Latinx Affinity Network’s Paint & Sip – To celebrate Latinx Heritage Month, the network hosted a virtual paint & sip party for the members.
66 2023 Heritage & Awareness Month Programming (continued) We hosted two events in honor of our inaugural celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month: ■ A Conversation with Haben Girma, Disability Rights Lawyer, Author, and Speaker – MoFo partner Tushna Gamadia moderated a discussion with Haben Girma in celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, Haben Girma is a human rights lawyer advancing disability justice. President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change. She received the Helen Keller Achievement Award, a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and was honored by TIME100 Talks. President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Chancellor Angela Merkel have all honored Haben. The event was open to clients and friends of the firm, and opening remarks were provided by San Francisco managing partner Caitlin Blythe. ■ Ableism Webinar Training – This virtual training hosted by Disability Solutions covered what ableism is, how to recognize it in the workplace, and providing actionable tips that can be used to create awareness and stop ableism in its tracks. Disability Solutions, a division of Ability Beyond, is the leading nonprofit consulting and services group bringing real-world, proven solutions to help smart, forward-thinking employers create world-class hiring and retention programs for people with disabilities.
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69 2023 Heritage & Awareness Month Programming (continued) MoFo Vets hosted two events in honor of Memorial Day and Veterans Day: ■ In commemoration of Memorial Day, MoFo Vets hosted a webinar with guest speakers from two pro bono veteran programs: ■ FourBlock, a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting service members in their transition from military service to meaningful civilian careers. Its flagship Career Readiness Program is taught by corporate executives in major cities across the United States and now serves more than 600 transitioning veterans annually. ■ Home Base, a U.S nonprofit organization dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war for veterans of all eras, service members, military families, and families of the fallen through world-class, direct clinical care, wellness, education, and research – all at no cost to them – regardless of era of service, discharge status, or geographical location. ■ Military Leaders’ Forum – In commemoration of Veterans Day, MoFo Vets hosted a webinar panel of retired and currently serving military leaders. These leaders shared their experiences in their military and post-military, civilian careers, focusing on mentorship of people, task management, overcoming personal and professional challenges, and other lessons learned on leadership. The guest speakers included: ■ Captain Christopher “Kit” Chope, U.S. Navy ■ Colonel Sherdrick Rankin, U.S. Army ■ Lieutenant Commander Allison Murray, U.S. Coast Guard The events were moderated by MoFo associate Matt Blum and partner Mark Whitaker.
70 Black Affinity Network Meetings In January and February 2023, the Black Affinity Network held two discussions on Navigating the Firm During an Economic Downturn for associates in the Litigation and Transactions Departments. The Sessions were facilitated by Black Affinity Network partner liaisons Crystal Kaldjob and Eric Akira Tate. In each session, partners shared practical “dos and don’ts” and other best practices on how to remain busy and secure work during times of low demand. The sessions were attended by a total of 24 attorneys from across the firm, including an associate from our London office. On September 26–27, 2023, the D+I Group held a Black Affinity Network meeting in Washington, D.C. The meeting provided an opportunity for Network members to gather in person, build community,and participate in interactive professional development sessions. A few highlights from the events were as follows:t ■ Cooking Class at Mr. Smith’s of Georgetown – The events were kicked off for the BlackAffinity Network meeting with an interactive cooking class facilitated by Mangia DC. ■ Ask Me Anything Session – In this interactive discussion, associates asked our Black AffinityNetwork partners for their opinions on the path to partnership, law firm economics, andelevating one’s profile at the firm and in the legal profession, more broadly. ■ Together We Rise: How to Own Your Value and Thrive at Work – In this interactive session,diversity, equity, and inclusion expert and speaker Michelle Silverthorn took attendees on ajourney to recognize their own pathway to success at work. ■ Black Diamond Dinner – MoFo hosted a Black Diamond Dinner with the Black In-HouseCounsel Network. The dinner brought together MoFo partners and in-house counsel for anevening of networking and celebrating Black talent. MoFo partner, and co-chair of the DSC, Mark Whitaker provided welcome remarks. AFFINITY NETWORK MEETINGS
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73 Mofo Proud Affinity Network Meeting On September 19, 2023, the MoFo Proud Affinity Network held a virtual meeting where partners Katherine Erbeznik, Gene Novikov, and Brian Radigan shared about their career paths as well as pertinent advice on navigating law firm life. The session was moderated by San Francisco associate and SF Bay Area LGBTQ+ Affinity Group co-chair Morgan Mitruka.
74 Wetmore Fellowship and SEO Law Fellows Mentorship Circles The Keith Wetmore 1L Fellowship for Excellence, Diversity, and Inclusion is designed to provide exceptional law students with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession with the training, mentorship, and exposure necessary for their professional development and engagement. The Fellowship is just one of the many ways Morrison Foerster actualizes its commitment to removing barriers and creating opportunities for talented individuals with diverse experiences in the legal industry. Each year since 2008, the firm has sponsored a group of pre-law interns through the Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) program. SEO provides educational and career programs to students from underrepresented communities to ensure their professional success. During the summer program, we held biweekly mentoring circles with our Wetmore Fellows and SEO Law Fellows, and diverse summer associates. These mentoring circles were opportunities for Affinity Network partners to connect with the Fellows and impart invaluable advice. All topics for the circles were pre-determined by the Fellows themselves. The topics and partner panelists this year were: ■ Time Management and Goal Setting ■ Panelists: Natalie Fleming Nolen, Arturo González, and Rich Hung ■ Navigating Big Law as a Diverse Attorney ■ Panelists: Daphne Higgs, Christin Hill, and Nate Mendell ■ Mentorship and Sponsorship ■ Panelists: Victor Liang, Purvi Patel, and Fredo Silva
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