Morrison & Foerster took home several marquee honors in the
Financial Times' 2011 U.S. Innovative Lawyers Report.
Client feedback put MoFo among the FT Law 25, which according to the report, "shows firms that were consistently found to be creating transformative solutions for clients." The firm also appeared in two of the report’s practice-specific categories: Corporate Law and Litigation.
In the Corporate Law category, FT gave the firm its highest ranking, "stand-out," for our representation of AmericanWest Bankcorp. The team, led by
Henry Fields,
Ken Kohler and
Larry Engel, was honored for its pioneering use of Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to recapitalize AmericanWest through its sale to a private equity buyer.
In the Litigation category, FT gave the firm its second-highest ranking, "highly commended," for our pro bono work on behalf of inner-city students in the Los Angeles Unified School District. A team led by
Sean Gates and
Jack Londen was recognized for its innovative approach in winning an injunction and landmark settlement stopping teacher layoffs at the troubled Los Angeles schools. The FT writes, "The landmark education rights decision has repercussions for schools across the U.S."
The FT U.S. Innovative Lawyers Report, now in its second edition, presents “a unique analysis of the American legal sector, highlighting the cutting-edge firms and lawyers and the most innovative legal thinking.”