Morrison & Foerster
| Company type | Limited liability partnership |
|---|---|
| Industry | Legal services |
| Founded | 1883 |
| Founder | Alexander Francis Morrison |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | United States, Asia, Europe |
| Products | Legal services |
| Website | www |
Morrison & Foerster LLP, commonly referred to as MoFo, is a global law firm based in San Francisco, with 17 offices situated throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe.
History
The firm traces its origins back to 1883 when Alexander Francis Morrison, an alumnus of both the University of California, Berkeley and Hastings College of the Law, established it under the name O’Brien & Morrison, primarily concentrating on corporate law. In 1891, Morrison joined forces with Constantine E.A. Foerster; however, Foerster passed away in 1898. Over subsequent decades, the firm experienced multiple name changes as various partners entered and exited.
By 1924, the partnership had expanded to seven members but was dissolved by the end of that year due to internal conflicts involving Herman Phleger, William I. Brobeck, and Peter F. Dunne. Despite opposition from Morrison’s widow regarding the continued use of the Morrison name, the firm's lawyers created two separate entities in 1925: Dunne, Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison (which later became Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison) and Morrison, Hohfeld, Foerster, Shuman & Clark. The latter firm preserved the Morrison heritage with Roland Foerster, son of the original partner, remaining involved.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the firm established a loyal client base that fueled steady growth over the following decades. In the 1960s, partners John Austin, Dick Archer, and Bob Raven introduced modern management practices such as implementing budgets, recruiting graduates from law schools, promoting female attorneys, and revitalizing litigation through smaller banking cases.
The firm's geographic expansion beyond San Francisco commenced in 1974 with an office opening in Los Angeles to serve Crocker National Bank. Subsequent offices were launched in Washington, D.C. (1979), London (1980), Tokyo (1987), and Berlin (2013), reflecting a deliberate strategy to penetrate key markets.
Noteworthy mergers include integrating with New York-based litigation firm Parker Auspitz in 1987; Ciotti & Murashige in 1991; and Tokyo’s Ito & Mitomi in 2001—solidifying Morrison & Foerster’s status as a prominent international legal presence in Japan.
In 2003, the firm achieved a perfect rating on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for its inclusive policies supporting LGBT employees and clients.
The European footprint was further enhanced with the establishment of its Berlin office in late 2013, soon after which it advised Axel Springer on acquiring N24 Media.
Following changes in legal environments after Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, Morrison & Foerster became a founding participant of the Legal Alliance for Reproductive Rights in 2022, providing pro bono legal assistance related to abortion rights.
Clients
Morrison & Foerster acted as lead bankruptcy counsel for Residential Capital (ResCap), successfully facilitating their chapter 11 restructuring plan.
In July 2013, the firm represented SoftBank during its $21.6 billion acquisition of a 78% interest in Sprint Nextel. The Wall Street Journal characterized this transaction as "one of the most complex and unusual takeovers." Additionally, Morrison & Foerster advised SoftBank on Alibaba’s U.S. initial public offering—the largest IPO ever recorded.
Morrison & Foerster Foundation
Founded in 1986 and mainly supported by contributions from the firm's partners, the Morrison & Foerster Foundation has contributed $44 million to various nonprofit entities. In 2015, Law360 recognized Morrison & Foerster as one of the Top 10 Most Charitable Law Firms.
Distinguished affiliates
- Beth Brinkmann, former U.S. assistant solicitor general (1993–2001), served as partner until 2009
- Drew S. Days III, U.S. Solicitor General (1993–1996), held of counsel status until 2011
- LaShann M. DeArcy, appointed U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York since 2015
- Ketanji Brown Jackson, Supreme Court justice; previously U.S. District Judge and U.S. Sentencing Commission commissioner; served as of counsel until 2013
- Justin Fairfax, Virginia lieutenant governor from 2018 to 2022
- Paul Goldstein, intellectual property specialist and Stanford Law professor, currently of counsel
- Shirley Hufstedler, inaugural U.S. Secretary of Education (1979–1981), held of counsel position
- Tony West, former acting U.S. Associate Attorney General, partner until 2009