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With more than 1,000 lawyers across 17 offices, Morrison & Foerster is a preeminent global law firm dedicated to delivering
business-oriented results to clients across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Dynamic technology and life science
companies, large financial institutions, leading consumer product companies, and other market leaders come to MoFo for
knowledge, innovation, and business aptitude. MoFo handles some of the world’s largest cross-border transactions and
resolves major disputes across multiple jurisdictions. It has a long-standing commitment to pro bono work and social justice.
Main Areas of Practice
Business Restructuring & Insolvency:
MoFo is counsel to debtors, creditors’ committees, secured
lenders, and other participants in the distressed markets
in large, complex matters. The firm is a market leader
in creditors’ committee representation, cross-border
insolvencies, distressed real estate, the restructuring of
financial institutions, insolvencies involving key intellectual
property, and hedge fund failures.
Capital Markets:
MoFo is a leading firm for issuer and underwriter
representations for IPOs, offerings of debt, hybrid, preferred
and structured securities, private placements, PIPEs, 144A/
Reg S offerings, continuous issuance programs, including
MTN, CP and covered bond programs. MoFo is a pioneer
in developing synthetic products, hybrid securities,
structured products and derivatives.
Financial:
MoFo has one of the most experienced finance practices
in the US. Finance attorneys maintain an impressive
borrower-side client roster, working extensively for private
equity funds and private companies in acquisitions and
refinancings, while also offering extensive experience in
acting for certain lenders and credit funds. In addition,
MoFo assists clients in all aspects of project finance and
development around the world with a focus on energy,
alternative energy, and renewable resources. The group has
also become very well known in the blockchain, cryptocurrencies,
and smart contracts space.
Intellectual Property:
MoFo is a global IP powerhouse, developing novel solutions
for protecting and enforcing some of the most prized IP
in the world. MoFo is called upon to represent clients in
their most high-profile and complex patent, copyright,
trademark, trade dress, trade secrets, and licensing matters.
Investigations & White-Collar Defense:
MoFo has experience handling internal and government
investigations on six continents and in more than 65
countries, bringing significant cross-border experience
to compliance and enforcement matters worldwide. It
provides advice on the many US and foreign laws regulating
international business transactions including the FCPA,
the UK Bribery Act, Sarbanes-Oxley, federal securities
laws, the whistleblower provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act,
international trade, export control and sanctions laws, and
AML/BSA. The team has successfully represented many
clients in obtaining favorable settlements or other resolutions
— often ending with the DOJ or other government
enforcement bodies closing their investigations with no
action taken.
Litigation:
MoFo's litigators are renowned for their success in
high-stakes, complex cases — representing clients in all
stages of federal and state litigation, from grand jury to
trial through to appeal. They drive strategy to position
their clients for the best possible outcome, whether that
is winning at trial or resolving a matter quickly. The team
includes top trial and appellate lawyers, as well as leading
practitioners in securities, financial services, consumer
and false advertising, product liability, environmental,
and employment litigation as well as white-collar
criminal defense, antitrust and unfair competition, and
international arbitration. MoFo is a top-tier firm for
class actions, no matter what the subject area is. The firm
understands the shortest pathway to win and resolve
cases for its clients.
Mergers & Acquisitions:
MoFo has a leading global M&A practice. The depth
and breadth of the practice, including a strong focus on
cross-border transactions, reflects the dynamic nature
of clients, which include Fortune 500 companies, private
equity sponsors, investment banks, and privately held
companies.
Privacy & Data Security:
MoFo’s market-leading privacy and data security group is
a destination for clients—from startups to sophisticated
global clients alike — seeking advice on every aspect
of privacy laws and regulations, as well as incident
preparedness and response. The team helps companies
fit compliance with evolving data protection laws
within the context of a truly global, consistent strategy,
and have also served as lead counsel and coordinated
all components of clients’ responses to some of the
highest-profile data breaches of recent years.
Real Estate:
MoFo is a recognized leader across a broad spectrum
of real estate activities, including development deals,
acquisitions and dispositions, leases, market standard
and complex financings, and restructurings. Its clients
include lenders, developers, equity investors, and REITs.
Tax:
MoFo’s tax practice enjoys a global reputation for innovative
tax planning and the successful resolution of important
tax controversies. The group advises on state and local tax,
federal tax, compensation, benefits and ERISA, and trusts,
estates and nonprofit organizations.