Morrison & Foerster Alumni News - Winter 2020

27 | MoForever Winter 2020 Author Heather Benedict Terrell Returns to MoFo Proving you can come home again, alumna and New York Times best-selling author Heather Benedict Terrell (aka Marie Benedict) recently visited MoFo’s New York office to discuss her latest novel, The Only Woman in the Room . Hosted by MoFo’s Women’s Strategy Committee and the MoForever Women’s Network, the inspiring discussion presented a wonderful opportunity for staff, lawyers, and alumni to reconnect with Heather and other former colleagues. The discussion was broadcast to a number of MoFo offices, and attendees received a copy of Heather’s book. MoFo litigation partner and close friend Jamie Levitt introduced Heather with warm praise. Before becoming a best-selling author, Heather was a member of MoFo’s New York litigation team. During the luncheon, Heather spoke about her journey from litigator to author and how, while practicing law, she often dreamed of trying her hand at writing. She eventually did become a full-time novelist, most recently focusing on telling the largely untold stories of women who changed history, but whose most important contributions to society nevertheless remain largely obscure. Heather shared some excerpts from The Only Woman in the Room , which tells the story of Hedy Lamarr and her secret work for the Allies against the Nazis. The novel follows the real-life heroine’s journey, fleeing Austria for America and eventually inventing the technology that we know today as WiFi. Explaining why she felt it was important to tell Hedy’s story, Heather said, “Because she challenged the status quo of who an inventor could be, and now we all hold a piece of her history in our hands . . . our cell phones.” ALUMNI UPDATE DIVERSITY Left, MoFo Litigation partner Jamie Levitt and MoFo alumna and author Heather Benedict Terrell ALUMN I UPDAT ES