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Pro Bono Spotlight: Morrison Foerster Represents Afghan Family of Asylum Seekers

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Vanshika Vij and Carrie Cohen were featured in the Tahirih Justice Center’s discussion of its Afghan Asylum Project, which launched in August 2021 to support Afghan citizens who recently arrived in the United States.

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Vanshika Vij and Carrie Cohen were featured in the Tahirih Justice Center’s discussion of its Afghan Asylum Project, which launched in August 2021 to support Afghan citizens who recently arrived in the United States.Morrison Foerster’s pro bono team represented 18 clients through the Afghan Asylum Project, including six asylum applicants along with their spouses and children, building strong connections as they guided them through the asylum process.“It was incredibly rewarding to get to know our clients on a personal level and hear about their experiences,” Vanshika said. “The whole family was involved in government service and really cared about making Afghanistan a better place. Their personal histories and work made it all the more urgent and of the moment to make sure that they were all being advocated for.”In addition to their Tahirih clients, MoFo’s assistance to Afghan refugees has been among the largest pro bono undertakings in the firm's history. Some 200 lawyers and staff conducted 150 detailed intake interviews to determine individual Afghans’ eligibility for relief, and 50 firm lawyers began representing Afghan refugees seeking asylum or other routes to permanent resettlement.“Law firms often partner with different organizations,” Carrie said. “Tahirih knows how to make that partnership successful and understands how law firms are structured and how people work. You give the attorneys working with you jointly on matters the resources and the background that we need to provide a truly successful representation.”In addition to Vanshika and Carrie, the MoFo team working on the Afghan Asylum Project includes Jasmine Arooni, Justin Young, Mohammed Alismail, Karen Leung, Katherine Kubak, Zach Fuchs, Lily Smith, Sara Stearns, Clara Chilian, Fahd Patel, and Shouvik Biswas.Read the <a href="https://www.tahirih.org/news/pro-bono-spotlight-morrison-foerster-represents-afghan-family-of-asylum-seekers/" target="_blank">full article</a>.

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Vanshika Vij focuses her practice on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, and advising clients in sensitive matters. She represents companies and individuals in connection with matters involving complex fraud, violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), data security, risk, crisis management.Vanshika is experienced in working with and defending clients in front of government agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as Congress. She has been deeply involved in several corporate cross-border investigations. She has also worked closely with individual clients on matters, including those involving potential criminal charges, Congressional oversight, and significant media attention. Recently, Vanshika was named to Best Lawyers 2022 in the “Ones to Watch” category for Criminal Defense: White-Collar.Vanshika is also an active pro bono lawyer. Most recently, her practice includes representing individuals and organizations challenging the Department of Education Title IX regulations issued in May 2020, which recently went to trial in the District of Massachusetts. In addition to her legal practice, Vanshika serves as an associate member of the firm’s Women’s Strategy Committee and is a co-chair of the DC office’s Attorneys and Paralegals of Color affinity group.While in law school, Vanshika clerked for the Honorable O-Gon Kwon at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands. She also previously clerked for the Texas Civil Rights Project in Austin, TX where she worked on a variety of impact litigation cases.Vanshika received her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law where she was the Associate Editor for the Texas Journal of Civil Liberties & Civil Rights and a Fellow at the Rapoport Center for Human Rights, as well as an Editorial Board Member of the Rapoport Center’s Working Paper Series. Additionally, she was a research assistant for Professor Susan Klein on issues of plea bargaining under federal criminal law.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Global Pharmaceutical Company: Representing a global pharmaceutical company in connection with a DOJ and SEC investigation in alleged violations of the FCPA.</li><li>Lobbying Firm Executive: Representing a former executive of a lobbying firm in connection with a criminal investigation into alleged violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.</li><li>Financial Institution: Represented a company and several of its employees in connection with the Special Counsel’s investigation into matters involving Paul Manafort, and the related 2018 trial in the Eastern District of Virginia.</li><li>Telecommunications Company Executive: Represented a former executive of a telecommunications company in connection with a DOJ and SEC investigation concerning alleged FCPA violations.</li><li>Oil Services Company: Represented a U.S.-based oil services company in connection with a global anti-corruption investigation, involving U.S. and Brazilian authorities, into alleged FCPA violations arising from the company’s dealings with Petrobras.</li></ul>

Vanshika Vij

Associate

Carrie H. Cohen is global co-chair of the Investigations + White Collar Defense practice group as well as co-chair of the firm’s State + Local Government Enforcement team and DEI Strategy + Defense group. Prior to joining the firm, Carrie served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) and as Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office.As a former federal and state prosecutor, Carrie routinely advises and represents corporations, boards, and c-suite executives in government-facing investigative and regulatory matters with a particular focus on state and local government matters. Carrie’s extensive trial experience and distinguished record of success in high‑stakes, white collar defense and securities matters cement her position as a leading lawyer in these practice areas, and she is often called upon as trial counsel for particularly sensitive matters. Carrie’s trial and white collar expertise have been recognized by a variety of organizations including Chambers USA, which describes her as “. . . a terrific trial lawyer with great judgment and timing, [who] knows how to present complex cases in a digestible way.” Carrie also routinely prepares clients who are called to testify before Congress and state and city legislatures and works on matters that involve multijurisdictional investigations and significant media attention.While serving in the SDNY, Carrie investigated and tried public corruption, investment fraud, and securities cases, including obtaining the first convictions of former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. She also served as Chief of the Public Integrity Unit in the Criminal Division in the New York State Attorney General’s Office and as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Bureau, where she received the Louis J. Lefkowitz Memorial Award for outstanding service.Carrie is a recognized industry expert in public corruption and state and local government actions. Carrie is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she teaches a seminar on Public Corruption and the Law. Among other appointments, Carrie has served and presented written public reports as Special Counsel to the New York City Council, Special Independent Counsel to the City of Rochester, and Counsel to the California Department of Justice as well as being part of the Monitorship team appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice for the global Odebrecht corruption matter. She also was appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul to the Metropolitan Transit Authority Inspector General’s Board and now serves as its Acting Chair as well as having been appointed by the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York as Counsel to the Court’s Grievance Committee.Carrie serves on multiple bar committees and task forces as part of her effort to promote the public interest through criminal justice reform. She was appointed Chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Domestic Terrorism and Hate Crimes, whose report was adopted by the House of Delegates in June 2020 and as a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Racial Injustice and Police Reform and Task Force on Wrongful Convictions. As a leader of the Bar, Carrie serves as a Vice President and Trustee of the Federal Bar Council and President-Elect of its Inn of Court and was appointed Co-Chair of the Federal-State Judicial Advisory Council as well as prior service as a Vice President of the New York City Bar, Chair of its Executive Committee, and member of its Nominating Committee. Carrie also is a member of the Board of Directors of Volunteers of Legal Service, an organization that provides pro bono legal services to the New York community, and was appointed by the SDNY to its Criminal Justice Act Panel to serve as counsel to indigent defendants in federal criminal cases. In 2023, Carrie was appointed as a board member for the Beyond #MeToo Working Group to advance its mission of challenging workplace harassment, discrimination, and misconduct and promoting best practices for workplace inclusion and corporate diversity.Carrie has long been dedicated to advancing women in the legal profession, both in the United States and globally. She co-chairs Morrison Foerster’s Women’s Strategy Committee, a group that works with firm leaders to ensure the advancement of women remains a strategic priority, and serves as a member of the New York City Bar’s Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, where she spearheads a professional development program for women lawyers in Latin America and South Africa. She is also a member of the Women’s Forum of New York, which is comprised of a diverse group of recognized leaders in their respective fields who are proactive in the advancement of women.Carrie co-authored the acclaimed New York State Bar Association report adopted by the American Bar Association “If Not Now, When? Achieving Equality for Women Attorneys in the Courtroom and in ADR” and the follow-up report adopted by the House of Delegates “The Time is Now: Achieving Equality for Women Attorneys in the Courtroom and in ADR.” She serves on the Steering Committee of the When There Are Nine Scholarship Project, which she founded with other alumnae from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York to honor the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by providing law school scholarships and mentorship to the next generation of women leaders.<h4>Representative Matters</h4><ul><li>Public Corruption/Government Representation. Represent elected and appointed public officials, public entities, and individuals doing business with the government in a variety of public corruption-related matters with a focus on public-facing reports.<ul><li>Special Independent Counsel to the New York City Council related to investigations of certain Council Members for misconduct and corruption.</li><li>Special Counsel to the MTA related to an examination of time, attendance, and overtime, which included presenting a public report to the MTA Board.</li><li>Representation of the California Department of Justice’s Office of the Attorney General in leading and conducting an independent review of its public release of confidential personal information associated with firearms permit holders and applicants, which included the preparation and release of a public report.</li><li>Trial counsel for Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren for campaign finance charges; Hon. John A. Michalek for public corruption offenses; Hon. Sylvia Ash for obstruction of justice charges.</li></ul></li><li>Financial Institutions/Securities Matters. Represent banks and other financial institutions in investigations of regulatory and consumer-related matters. Represent corporations and individuals in a variety of criminal investigations and regulatory matters involving federal and state securities laws.</li><li>FCPA. Represent corporations in FCPA investigations. Service on the DOJ-appointed Monitorship team in the criminal prosecution of Odebrecht.</li><li>Workplace Misconduct. Conduct investigations for corporations and boards related to workplace misconduct and #MeToo issues and provide related advocacy and legal advice.</li><li>Cybersecurity. Conduct investigations of cybersecurity incidents and represent companies in related government and regulatory matters concerning disclosure of data breaches, theft of intellectual property, and other issues.</li><li>RICO/Civil Fraud/Commercial Litigation. Represent a wide variety of public and private corporations in civil fraud, RICO, and commercial litigation including at trial. Represent UPS at trial in SDNY case brought by the New York State Attorney General’s Office and the City of New York alleging illegal transportation of untaxed cigarettes.</li></ul>

Carrie Cohen

Partner

Jasmine Arooni is an associate in the firm's Privacy + Data Security Practice Group and is based in the Washington, D.C. office.Jasmine's practice focuses on advising clients across multiple industries on privacy and cybersecurity matters, with particular experience in data breach and security incident response and matters related to health information. She regularly counsels clients on federal, state, and international data privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and state data breach statutes. Jasmine has experience defending clients in regulatory inquiries regarding data security practices, including investigations by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, state attorneys general, and foreign regulators. She supports clients with implementing privacy compliance programs and developing risk management strategies, as well as privacy and data security aspects of M&A transactions. Jasmine also has experience advising and representing clients in matters relating to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Jasmine received her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School, where she was a member of the Federal Communications Law Journal and authored a student note, “Debugging the System: Reforming Vulnerability Disclosure Programs in the Private Sector,” 73 Fed. Comm. L.J. 445 (2021). During law school, Jasmine worked at the Word Bank Group’s Data Privacy Office and at a Washington, D.C. think tank, where she assisted with briefing congressional offices, technology companies, and investors about digital rights, data privacy, and emerging technologies. She is also a recipient of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Westin Scholar Award for Excellence in Privacy, recognizing emerging leaders in the field of data protection. Before law school, Jasmine worked in cybersecurity program management at a multinational technology company, as well as at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.Jasmine received her B.A. in political science and entrepreneurship from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Jasmine Arooni

Justin Young is an associate in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s New York office.Justin’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation. He has counseled and represented clients in matters related to federal securities law, mass tort defense, government contracts, and corporate governance disputes. Justin has achieved several victories for his clients, including summary judgment and favorable settlement negotiations.Justin also maintains an active pro bono practice. He has assisted Afghan nationals seeking asylum in the United States, litigated in support of reproductive rights, and submitted an amicus brief to the Ninth Circuit on behalf of an LGBT rights client.In addition, Justin is a regular commentator on matters related to federal securities law and enforcement. Justin’s insights have been published in leading industry publications including New York Law Journal, Law360, and Insights – The Corporate & Securities Law Advisor.Justin recently served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable LaShann DeArcy Hall of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Justin graduated magna cum laude from Tulane University Law School and received his B.A. summa cum laude in Political Science from the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Won summary judgment in favor of Farmland Partners Inc. and its CEO and CFO, ending a federal securities fraud class action regarding alleged defrauding of investors, false statements pertaining to due diligence, and failure to disclose loan information.</li><li>Successfully negotiated a settlement for LaunchCapital LLC and a director of co-defendant Atonomi in a securities class action in the Western District of Washington alleging violations of state securities laws.</li><li>Representation of a private investor in an SEC investigation related to a reverse merger involving a cryptocurrency company with no action taken by the SEC.</li><li>Representation of a Fortune 500 company in a class action and individual cases alleging environmental contamination and toxic torts in excess of $1 billion, which also includes advising the client on related regulatory issues.</li></ul>

Justin Young

Mohammed Alismail is a Corporate associate in the New York office of Morrison Foerster.Mohammed’s practice focuses on advising on a range of corporate matters, including public and private M&A, private equity transactions, and general corporate and securities matters.Prior to joining MoFo, Mohammed spent nearly two years at the Saudi office of another international law firm, where he advised on domestic and inbound M&A transactions, as well as general corporate, securities and antitrust matters.Mohammed received his LL.B. from the University of Reading (UK) and his LL.M. from the NYU School of Law. Mohammed is a native Arabic speaker.