Diversity
For over 40 years, MoFo has been committed to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment where everyone’s contributions are valued. It is essential to who we are as a firm. By each bringing our diverse experiences and perspectives to work, we strengthen the quality of the service that we provide to our clients, the legal profession, and our communities.
About MoFo Diversity
Allyship is Action
Allyship is Action showcases a diverse variety of our attorneys’ voices and viewpoints promoting the concept of allyship and helping both ourselves and others understand how to be a more effective ally to marginalized and underrepresented communities.
Diversity in Practice Podcast
Diversity in Practice, was launched as a way to not only share best practices with our clients, colleagues, communities and prospective talent, but also as a way to highlight and profile some of our diverse talent.
Responding to Racial Injustice
“We will not be casual observers to injustice. We will do more, and we will do it together.”
Inclusive Recruitment
MoFo strives to create an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels they can grow professionally and make a meaningful difference.
Growing Tomorrow's Leaders
Investing in the development of the next generation of diverse, LGBTQ+, and women leaders is essential to the success of our firm.
Spotlight on Diversity
Meet some of the many diverse, LGBTQ+, and women lawyers who are leading the way for MoFo.
Affinity Groups
Thirty-seven global affinity groups create a sense of community for our diverse, LGBTQ+, and women lawyers.
Events + Partnerships
From professional development workshops to alumni events, MoFo ensures that our diverse, LGBTQ+, and women lawyers stay engaged and connected.
Mansfield Rule
Certification Plus MoFo has participated in the Mansfield Rule initiative since its inception, earning Mansfield Certified Plus status since 2017.
Diversity Strategy Committee
Formed in 2003, MoFo’s Diversity Strategy Committee (DSC) supports a variety of internal diversity, LGBTQ+, and women’s initiatives, programs, and groups designed to recruit, train, mentor, and retain diverse lawyers and staff.
The DSC comprises senior and mid-level partners, including the firm’s chair, two office managing partners, the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, and the Chief Legal Talent Officer.
Co-Chairs
- Alexis A. AmezcuaPartner
- Mark L. WhitakerPartner
- Haimavathi V. MarlierPartner
- Alexis A. AmezcuaPartner
- Mark L. WhitakerPartner
- Haimavathi V. MarlierPartner
Committee Members
- Brian Bates, Senior Counsel, London
- Anthony J. Carbone, Partner, New York
- Diane Cardona Downs, Chief Legal Talent Officer, San Francisco
- David D. Cross, Partner, Washington, D.C.
- Trevor James, Partner, London
- Crystal N. Kaldjob, Partner, Washington, D.C.
- Natalie Kernisant, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, New York
Bonnie Lau, Partner, San Francisco
- Daniel Levison, Partner, Singapore
- Craig Martin, Partner, San Francisco
- Eric McCrath, Chair, San Francisco
- Tritia M. Murata, Partner, Los Angeles
Whitney R. O'Byrne, Partner, Los Angeles
- John Owen, Partner, New York
Joseph R. Palmore, Office Managing Partner, Washington, D.C.
- Julie Park, Office Managing Partner, San Diego
- Purvi G. Patel, Office Managing Partner, Los Angeles
- Alfredo B. D. Silva, Partner, San Francisco
- Eric Akira Tate, Partner, San Francisco
- Yemi Tépé, Partner, Singapore
- Anna Erickson White, Partner, San Francisco
- B. Chen Zhu, Partner, Hong Kong
Who We Are
We invite you to take a closer look at MoFo’s ongoing and ever-evolving diversity, women’s, and LGBTQ+ initiatives. In the gallery below, you’ll find a series of regularly distributed brochures featuring stories from some of MoFo’s talented lawyers, as well as highlights from recent events and programs.
Awards + Recognitions
Recognized as one of the top 20 firms on its 2023 A-List based on a combination of factors, both financial and cultural. Ranked #10 on its 2023 Diversity Scorecard. This is the 13th year in a row that MoFo has earned a top 10 spot.
Named “Outstanding Firm for Diversity & Inclusion” as part of the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: USA 2023. This prestigious award recognizes a firm that is demonstrating measurable impact in advocating for and implementing an inclusive work environment.
Achieved “Mansfield Certification Plus” for the fifth year in a row in 2022, having completed a rigorous 12-month collaboration with Diversity Lab and demonstrated that the firm has affirmatively considered at least 30 percent women, underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions. This certification also reflects that MoFo has met or exceeded the baseline requirements to reach at least 30 percent underrepresented lawyer representation in a notable number of our current leadership roles.
Named Women in Business Law "International Firm of the Year" and "Firm of the Year: U.S. – West" at the Americas Women in Business Law Awards 2023. The awards recognize high achieving woman lawyers and progressive law firms that best support women in law.
Honored with a 100 percent rating on the 2022 Corporate Equality Index, marking the 19th year of inclusion as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ+ equality.
Ranked first overall among firms with 601+ lawyers in Law360's 2023 Diversity Snapshot for the third year in a row. MoFo pushed past benchmarks for the ranking, which is based on the pipeline score methodology, by more than three points.
Recognized as one of the Best Law Firms for Women for the 14th time, including every year since 2014. We are one of the few law firms that has been recognized more than 10 times, which, as of 2019, earned us a designation on the Hall of Fame list. Additionally, the firm has been ranked in the top five every year since 2018.
Awarded the Gold Standard Certification for meeting objective benchmarks pertaining to the number of women among equity partners and firm leadership and in the ranks of their most highly compensated partners. MoFo was one of 6 2022 Gold Standard Certified firms that have received the honor every year since the WILEF award program started in 2011.
Recognized as the Top Firm for Diverse Leadership in its Sixteenth Annual Top Firms for Gender Equity & Family Friendliness Report.