Events & Partnerships

2024 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel

The MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel held in February 2024 in Brooklyn, NY brought together over 200 leaders in the legal industry for a day filled with substantive panels and breakouts, professional development sessions, networking opportunities, and an inspirational keynote discussion.

We are thankful to our co-chairs, Carrie H. Cohen and Crystal Kaldjob, for their work and unwavering dedication in spearheading the event. We are also appreciative of our MoFo panelists and guests who made this year’s event an enormous success.

Our panelists explored a variety of relevant topics, such as:

• Artificial Intelligence Compliance Challenges – A Double-Edged Sword

• Navigating the Evolving Regulatory Landscape: Digital Assets and FinTech in Today’s Climate

• Understanding and Preparing for Emerging Global Anti-Money Laundering & Sanctions Risks

• Parallel Government Enforcement Actions and Class Actions: 2023 Trends and Best Practices

• The SEC’s Cyber Disclosure Regime – Best Practices for Disclosures and Enforcement Risk Mitigation

• Hot Topics in the Life Sciences Industry

We were also honored to welcome Jill Ellis, renowned soccer coach and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, as our keynote speaker. Her inspirational discussion with MoFo partner Carrie H. Cohen, global co-chair of the Investigations + White Collar Defense Practice Group, resonated with attendees as she shared her personal journey of leadership, perseverance, and how she defined success in her career.

2022 MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel

In October 2022, Morrison Foerster brought together more than 250 legal leaders for the MoFo Summit for Women In-House Counsel with a full day of programming. The theme for the 2022 Summit was Women Leaders Sparking Change focused on how in-house counsel can embrace innovation and creativity to adapt to change, foster new ideas, generate business growth, and elevate confidence.

We are thankful for the dedication and tireless work of our co-chairs, partners Julie Park and Lisa Phelan, as well as the 2022 Steering Committee, including partners Alexis Amezcua, Ali Connaughton, Crystal Kaldjob, Bonnie Lau, Haima Marlier, Julie O’Neill, Tritia Murata, Carrie Cohen, and Stacey Sprenkel. We are also appreciative of our complete slate of speakers and guests who made this year’s event a huge success.

2020 Summit for Women In-House Counsel Virtual Event Series

Over the several months in 2020, Morrison & Foerster hosted a virtual event series in lieu of the firm’s in-person Summit for Women In-House Counsel. We held eight virtual events with nearly 700 attendees total that represented over 300 companies. The theme for the 2020 Summit was Women Leaders in Law: Driving Innovation, with a focus on how women in-house counsel can embrace innovation and creativity to adapt to change, foster new ideas, generate business growth, and elevate confidence. The theme proved particularly appropriate in 2020, as we and our clients faced unprecedented challenges.

The virtual event series featured programs covering a variety of topics, including:

• In-House Collaboration, with Dr. Heidi Gardner of Harvard Law School
• Remembering RBG: The Legacy of Justice Ginsburg and the Future of the U.S. Supreme Court, with CNN legal analyst Joan Biskupic and MoFo partner Deanne Maynard
• A Cybersecurity Attack with No Risk: Experience the Challenges, Tough Decisions, and Ramifications of a Cyber Attack, with MoFo partners Carrie Cohen, Kristen Mathews, and Nancy Thomas
• Cross-Border Compliance and Investigations, with Saheli Datta of Universal Music Group, Ana Iacovetta of VMware, and MoFo partners Lisa Phelan, Ruti Smithline, and Christine Wong.

2018 Women’s Summit: Creating Sustainable Platforms for Women Leaders

Since its inception in 2012, MoFo’s Summit for Women In-House Counsel has brought nearly 700 attorneys together for a day of enlightenment and empowerment. The 2018 event, held at the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn, New York, welcomed over 200 attendees for a day-long, inspirational program that has been a pillar of MoFo’s long-standing commitment to championing the advancement of women.

The 2018 event, Creating Sustainable Platforms for Women Leaders, influenced a program of curated content for current and future generations of leaders. In the spirit of creating a sustainable environment, invitations were extended to mentees of senior in-house counsel and senior East Coast associates at the firm for the first time in the Summit’s history.

This inspirational and empowering day would not have been possible without the leadership of the 2018 Summit co-chairs, Jamie Levitt and Jennifer Marines, along with the work of countless others. We want to thank all of the speakers and guests who made the 2018 Summit such a huge success.

Tokyo Women in Business Series

The Women in Business Series is one of the only programs continuing to address the unique needs of women business professionals in Japan,  and the only one in the legal industry to focus on nongender issues.

Japan lags behind other developed nations with respect to gender equity in the workplace. According to the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index, Japan ranks 101 on a list of 145 countries.

Under the leadership of Louise Stoupe, co-chair of MoFo’s Commercial Litigation & Trial Group and a partner in our Intellectual Property Group, the Tokyo office has responded to this challenge by establishing a forum that supports women business leaders through knowledge sharing and relationship building.

Since 2014, more than 200 women business professionals and lawyers have participated in the series.

Resources:

• Women Gain Traction in Japanese Legal Landscape
• What It’s Like to Practice Law in Japan as a Woman

MoForever Alumni Network Events

In 2017 the WSC launched MoForever Women’s Network, a women’s alumni network; this also resulted in MoFoLink, a searchable directory and in-house job opportunity site visible to both current lawyers and alumni. Networking events are held throughout the year and are great opportunities for current and former MoFo attorneys to stay connected. To learn more about our MoForever Network and alumni resources, visit MoFo’s Alumni Center.

Institutional Partnerships

We partner with law schools, bar associations, and other professional organizations that share our commitment to provide women with equal opportunities to succeed in the legal profession.