• Strong links to the technology sector, with a focus on AI and fintech, and previous experience working on very high profile tech matters such as representing Instagram in the US courts.
• Notable clients include SoftBank, the Pioneer Group, Instagram, Nikon, Wells Fargo Securities and Vendor Capital.  
• The firm was named by Lex100 as winners in the categories of Social Life, Inclusiveness and Approachability, indicating that it has a strong, positive culture.
• Strong commitment to social-focused pro bono, for example through its ongoing partnership with Z2K, a charity tackling poverty in London, and the establishment of the Black Venture Accelerator programme, which aims to support black founders and black owned businesses. 
• The firm leads the way in identifying issues within the technological sector and providing clients with solutions, as evidenced by its MoFounders offering and its recognition as a leader by the European Tech Survey 2023. 

We cover these selling points in more detail below, alongside other relevant firm facts and characteristics.

Practice areas / services

Morrison Foerster is a full-service law firm, with a broad range of practice areas including: 

• Business + Finance 
• Litigation 
• Intellectual Property 
• Regulatory 
• Tax 

Chambers and Partners, a leading analyst of the legal market, has awarded Morrison & Foerster its ‘Band 3’ ranking for its Information Technology & Outsourcing department. See here for more information

Key sectors / industries

Morrison Foerster, or MoFo as it is affectionately dubbed, services a broad range of sectors, with its most notable clients in the following sectors: 

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) 
• Fintech 
• Food + Agriculture 
• Technology 

In addition, Morrison Foerster services the following sectors: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Finance, Life Sciences + Healthcare, Media + Entertainment, and Real Estate. 

Work

Morrison Foerster’s most recent work includes: 

• Nikon: The firm advised Nikon on its public takeover bid for SLM Solutions Group AG, a Lübeck-based manufacturer of metal 3D printers. 
• Wells Fargo Securities: Morrison & Foerster advised deal managers including Wells Fargo Securities in connection with Shell’s $12 billion exchange offer. 
• Vector Capital: The firm advised Vector Capital, a leading investment fund focused on investments in middle market technology businesses, on the first investment from its newly launched direct credit strategy, Vector Velocity.
• SoftBank: The firm advised SoftBank in connection with the $40 billion sale of UK headquartered multinational semiconductor and software company Arm Limited to US chip company NVIDIA. As a result of this deal, Morrison Foerster was awarded the 2022 Deal of the Year by LexisNexis at its annual Legal Awards. 
• Pioneer Group: Morrison Foerster advised Pioneer Group, an owner and operator of life sciences and high-tech campuses and ecosystems, and Oxford Properties Group, on their joint venture to convert Victoria House in central London into a state of the art life sciences hub. 
• Instagram: The firm represented Instagram in its dispute with two photographers who alleged that the company secondarily infringed their exclusive display right by allowing third-party websites to embed copyrighted pictures that they posted on their Instagram profiles. The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in Instagram’s favour. 

Offices / global footprint / expansion

Headquarters: San Francisco, 425 Market Street.

Offices: Morrison Foerster has 18 offices globally, including in cities across the US, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Berlin and Brussels to name but a few. Its London office is 52 Lime Street. 

Insights, internships and other opportunities

Morrison Foerster offers two summer vacation schemes, which each last two weeks. There are around seven people on each scheme. The scheme is the sole method the firm uses to recruit future trainees. The vacation scheme gives participants the opportunity to learn more about the firm and socialise with its employees. 

Training contract

The firm’s training contract is comprised of four seats, each lasting six months. The London office’s three core practice areas are Corporate M&A, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, and Finance and Banking. Other seats on offer include Business Restructuring and Insolvency, Capital Markets, Antitrust/Competition, Data Privacy, Employment, Equity Derivatives, Financial Regulation, Litigation, Private Equity Real Estate, Real Estate Finance, Tax, and Technology Transactions. Formal training sessions are provided throughout the training contract via the MoFo Academy, which sits alongside on the job training (which is a key feature of the training contract). 

The training contract also includes tailored training programmes and practice group presentations to ensure trainees are developing the appropriate skills. Trainees also have one or more mentors to help them acclimatise to the firm. 

Secondments

Trainees at Morrison Forester have the opportunity to apply for an international secondment at the firm’s Singapore or Brussels offices. Client secondments are sometimes possible, depending on business need. 

Morrison Foerster’s pro bono work is driven by the principles of “equal dignity” and “equal rigour.” Its pro bono efforts include: 

• Z2K: The firm works with this charity which tackles poverty in London. 
• Black Venture Accelerator Programme: This programme is run by the US offices and aims to support black founders and black owned business. 
• The Chancery Lane Project: The firm works with the Chancery Lane Project, which is the largest global network of lawyers and business leaders using the power of climate contracting to deliver fast and fair decarbonisation. 

Diversity and inclusion

Morrison Foerster states it has been committed to diversity for over 40 years, and this commitment is reflected in the following examples: 

• MoFo Women: This is one of the key diversity and inclusion groups within the firm. It hosts various events, whilst also developing work-life programmes to support female employees. The group in London has been known to host monthly breakfasts and host speeches from inspirational women in business and law.
• Diversity in Practice Podcast: This podcast produced by the firm seeks to highlight its existing diverse talent, whilst discussing best practice in the context of clients, colleagues, communities and prospective talent.
• Affinity Groups: The firm has 37 affinity groups, which were established to create a sense of community among the firm’s diverse, LGBTQ+ and women lawyers. These groups are safe spaces in which lawyers can share their thoughts (they are also open to allies).