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MoFo Advises Palo Alto Networks on Acquisition of Portkey

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Morrison Foerster advised Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), the global cybersecurity leader, on its intent to acquire Portkey, a...

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Morrison Foerster advised Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), the global cybersecurity leader, on its intent to acquire Portkey, a pioneer in AI Gateways. Portkey delivers a critical centralized control plane to manage and protect autonomous AI agents, already processing trillions of tokens per month with the low latency required for agent-to-agent communication. Portkey will serve as the AI Gateway for Prisma® AIRS™, Palo Alto Networks' leading AI security platform.The global MoFo team advising Palo Alto Networks was led by M&A partners Lauren Bellerjeau and Chere See. The team also included corporate associates Hannah Kim, Brayan Orozco Arreola and Ryan Gopar Ramirez; technology transactions partner Tessa Schwartz and associates Sophie Zander, Kevin Kallet and Eric Ahern; executive compensation + benefits partners Joshua Lerner and Yuan Xia and associate Sarah Doberneck; employment + labor partner Michael Schulman and associates Melissa Harclerode and Marcus Grimes; tax partner Dave Sturgeon and associate Seth Stowe; data, cyber + privacy partner Julie O’Neill and associate Joshua Fattal; antitrust partners Kerry Jones and Marie-Claire Strawbridge and associates Aaron Scheinman and Maria Requejo; export controls partner James Brower and associate Mason Gauch; and government contracts partner Locke Bell; and anti-corruption partner Ruti Smithline and associate Eduardo Schneider.Subject to customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close in Palo Alto Networks fourth quarter in fiscal 2026. More information can be found at <a href="https://investors.paloaltonetworks.com/news-releases/news-release-details/palo-alto-networks-acquire-portkey-secure-rise-ai-agents" target="_blank">Palo Alto Networks’ press release</a>.

MoFo Advises Palo Alto Networks on Acquisition of Portkey

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Lauren Bellerjeau is a corporate partner in the Austin office of Morrison Foerster.Lauren has served as a trusted advisor to boards of directors and executive management teams in the negotiation of their companies’ most significant combination, commercial and corporate governance transactions. Her extensive private practice experience includes representing both buy-side and sell-side clients on complex and transformative U.S. and cross-border combination and commercial transactions in a variety of industries, with a particular focus on technology, real estate investment trusts, government contracting and defense, life sciences, and manufacturing. She has also regularly counseled REITs and other companies with significant real estate holdings or real estate management businesses on complex restructuring and roll-up transactions, particularly in contemplation of initial public offerings, large equity investments, or strategic transactions.Lauren also has valuable in-house experience, having recently served as Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at onsemi, a leader in intelligent power and sensing technologies recognized as a Fortune 500® company and included in the S&P 500® index.While at Morrison Foerster, Lauren has been recognized by leading legal publications and directories, including The Legal 500 US for Real Estate Investment Trusts and M&A: Large Deals ($1bn+), as an Emerging M&A Leader – Legal by M&A Advisor and as a Rising Star – M&A by Law360.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Represented Plymouth Industrial REIT in its pending $2.1 billion sale to entities affiliated with real estate advisory firm Makarora Management and global alternative asset manager Ares Management (NYSE: ARES).</li><li>Represented SoftBank Group in its pending acquisition of U.S.-based semiconductor design company Ampere Computing Holdings LLC for US$6.5 billion.</li><li>Represented Palo Alto Networks in its pending $3.35 billion acquisition of Chronosphere, a next-generation observability platform built to scale for the AI era.</li><li>Represented Palo Alto Networks in its acquisition of Protect AI, an innovative leader in securing the use of AI and Machine Learning applications and models.</li><li>Represented Palo Alto Networks in its acquisition of Dig Security, an innovative provider of Data Security Posture Management (DSPM).</li><li>Represented Palo Alto Networks in connection with the acquisition of Cider Security, a pioneer in application security (AppSec) and software supply chain security.</li><li>Represented Uber Technologies with respect to its $3.1 billion acquisition of Careem, Inc.</li><li>Represented ON Semiconductor in its $2.4 billion acquisition of Fairchild Semiconductor.</li><li>Represented ON Semiconductor in its $1.07 billion all-cash acquisition of Silicon Valley-based public company Quantenna Communications Inc. (NAS: QTNA).</li><li>Represented SoftBank Group, in the $8.6 billion sale of its controlling stake in Finnish gaming company Supercell Oy to Chinese Internet company Tencent Holdings Ltd. </li><li>Represented SoftBank Group in connection with other merger and investment transactions in the technology industry, including with respect to its investment in OneWeb.</li><li>Represented SoftBank Group in its sale of 90.1% equity in Fortress Investment Group to Mubadala Investment Company, through its wholly owned asset management subsidiary Mubadala Capital.</li><li>Represented EdR (NYSE: EDR), one of the nation’s largest developers, owners, and managers of high-quality collegiate housing communities, in its US$4.6 billion all-cash sale to a newly formed perpetual life vehicle led by an affiliate of Greystar Real Estate Partners.</li><li>Represented MedEquities Realty Trust, Inc. in its merger with Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. for an approximate value of $600 million.</li><li>Represented Farmland Partners, Inc., a real estate investment trust with a portfolio comprised of 271 farms, in its acquisition of all outstanding common stock of American Farmland Company.</li><li>Represented General Electric Capital Corp. in its $23 billion divestiture of its commercial real estate business to affiliates of The Blackstone Group and Wells Fargo, N.A.</li><li>Represented Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo Securities, and Deutsche Bank Securities in the $2.3 billion IPO of Paramount Group, Inc.</li><li>Represented Equity Residential in its $16 billion acquisition of Archstone Enterprise LP from Lehman Brothers Holding, Inc.</li><li>Represented Playa Hotels & Resorts, B.V. in a series of real estate property and management related transactions..</li><li>Represented GE Healthcare in its acquisition of Thermo Fisher’s cell culture, gene modulation, and magnetic beads businesses for approximately $1.06 billion.</li><li>Represented Avanade, Inc., a joint venture between Microsoft Corporation and Accenture plc, in its acquisition of the U.S. CRM business of Ascentium Corporation.</li><li>Represented Lockheed Martin Corporation in several acquisitions of private companies in the government contracting industry, including the acquisition of CDL Systems Ltd., Gyrocam Systems, LLC, Universal System & Technology Inc., and QTC Holdings, Inc.; and the divestiture of Lockheed Martin Corporation’s Enterprise Integration Group business.</li><li>Represented PPG Industries, Inc. in connection with several acquisitions of private companies.</li><li>Represented Helsinn Healthcare S.A., a Swiss-based pharmaceutical company, and its U.S. based subsidiary Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.) Inc., in connection with a development and co-promotion arrangement with Eisai Inc. for the commercialization of combination drug products in the U.S.</li><li>Represented MGI Pharma, Inc. in its acquisition through a $4 billion cash tender offer by Eisai Co., Ltd.</li><li>Represented Black & Decker Corporation in its stock-for-stock merger with Stanley Works.</li></ul>

Lauren Bellerjeau

Partner

Chere See is a corporate partner in the Denver office of Morrison Foerster. Chere represents public and private companies in a variety of transactional matters, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A).Chere advises clients in domestic, cross-border, and multijurisdictional acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures, strategic investments, securities offerings, and general corporate matters. Chere has advised clients across a broad range of industries, including companies operating in the technology, finance, semiconductor, consumer goods and retail, and healthcare industries.Chere is a member of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Group and co-leads the firm’s AI M&A Initiative.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Chere was an associate in the New York and London offices of a top international law firm, where she advised on M&A and capital markets transactions.Chere earned her J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she served as vice president of the Harvard Law School Advocates for Human Rights. Prior to law school, she graduated as valedictorian from New York University College of Arts and Science.

Chere See

Hannah is a corporate associate in Morrison Foerster’s New York office.Hannah focuses her practice on Mergers & Acquisitions and Capital Markets. She represents issuers in connection with securities offerings, securities regulation as well as related corporate governance and public company matters. She advises on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions as well as private equity transactions across various industries.﻿Hannah earned her J.D. from Columbia Law School. While at law school, Hannah was a member of the Columbia Journal of Asian Law. She also holds a B.A. from Rice University.Hannah is fluent in Korean.

Hannah Kim

Associate

Brayan Arreola is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s San Francisco office and a member of the firm’s Transactions Department.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Brayan served as an immigrant youth advocacy extern for The Legal Aid Society and interned at LatinoJustice PRLDEF, a national civil rights organization in New York, where he contributed to civil rights and due process initiatives. Brayan also worked as a summer associate at the firm during law school.Brayan earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was actively involved in the Columbia Latinx Law Students Association, First Generation Professionals, and the Pathways Program, and was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. He received his B.A. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, earning both the Dr. Wolfgang Leadership Scholarship for Undergraduate Immigrant Students and the UC Berkeley Undergraduate Scholarship. During his undergraduate studies, Brayan also participated in study abroad programs at the University of Barcelona and the UC London Study Center.Brayan is fluent in Spanish.

Brayan Arreola

Ryan Ramirez is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s San Francisco office and a member of the firm’s Transactions Department.Ryan earned his J.D. from the University of California College of the Law San Francisco, where he served as a tutor for the Legal Education Opportunity Program, a research assistant for the First-Generation Program, and a teaching assistant for Civil Procedure.During law school, Ryan studied abroad at the Università Bocconi in Milan, Italy. He also participated in the UCDC Law Program, where he served as a law clerk at the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee for the Office of Senator Hirono in Washington, D.C. Ryan also spent two summers with Morrison Foerster as a Wetmore Fellow and summer associate in San Francisco.Ryan received his B.A. cum laude in sociology from Sonoma State University.

Ryan Gopar Ramirez

Tessa Schwartz has an active practice counseling companies on intellectual property issues, and negotiating complex intellectual property and commercial agreements. She advises on a range of strategic transactions, including key patent licenses and acquisitions, technology procurement agreements, and complex development, collaboration, joint-venture and distribution deals. Tessa also regularly advises companies on the IP aspects of their M&A transactions.In addition to maintaining an active practice and working with clients on a daily basis, Tessa is co-chair of the firm’s Technology Industry Group, founder and co-chair of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Group and previously served as co-chair of the global Transactions Department.Tessa advises clients primarily in technology and data intensive sectors, representing artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, machine learning, software, SaaS, cloud computing, hardware, consumer electronics and products, social media, Internet, mobility and wireless, space and satellites, e-commerce, advertising, healthcare, fintech, transportation, semiconductor, and other companies. Tessa’s M&A experience includes advising Autodesk, BlackBerry, Fortive, Honeywell, Salesforce, Uber, Unilever, Unity, Walmart, and others on the IP aspects of strategic transactions. Tessa provides clients with prelitigation and litigation advice. She frequently advises executives and senior management on strategic business, legal and commercial issues, including the structuring of transactions, risk management and contract compliance. She also counsels clients with respect to a wide variety of IP issues, including patent exhaustion and implied licenses, standing and standards, the protection of data and other trade secrets and the development and distribution of open-source software.In addition to her transactional expertise, Tessa’s litigation background includes representing clients in arbitration, as well as in state and federal courts in such areas as antitrust, false advertising, unfair competition, breach of contract, securities, trademark, copyright and trade secret law. Her litigation experience includes complex, multidistrict and class action litigation, as well as appellate advocacy.Tessa has been ranked in Chambers and Legal 500, with clients describing her as, “one of the best attorneys I've ever worked with.” Tessa has been recognized by Chambers USA 2022 as being highly experienced in the field of technology and intellectual property transactions. Clients have commented on Tessa as having "...the ability to translate complex topics into what's necessary to get a deal done. She does a good job of making our technology accessible”. Further, Tessa "ticks all of the essential boxes, timely, efficient, knowledgeable and helpful, but she really stands out by taking time to learn our business and our products so she can give practical and actionable advice. Tessa helps us focus on key issues and balance risks to make choices."Tessa’s pro bono efforts have included work for The Biomimicry Institute, Goodwill, Common Sense Media, Business for Social Responsibility, The World Wildlife Fund, Build Change and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). She also provides IP advice to a variety of cultural, media and arts organizations; and other assistance for nonprofits. She recently received the Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services from the State Bar of California.Tessa received her B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1991. In 1996, she earned her J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif.Tessa served as global managing partner of Morrison Foerster from 2016 to 2022 and previously served as co-chair of the firm’s Technology Transactions Group.

Tessa Schwartz

Sophie Zander is an associate in the Technology Transactions Group of Morrison Foerster’s New York office.Sophie advises clients on the intellectual property, data privacy, and technology aspects of complex transactional matters across a wide range of industries, including life sciences, software, media and entertainment, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, automotives, energy, chemicals, food and beverages, aerospace and defense, and financial services.Sophie routinely counsels clients on transactions involving the ownership, protection, and commercialization of intellectual property and technology, including issues arising in connection with licensing and development arrangements, distribution and commercialization activities, joint ventures, and other service arrangements, as well as general corporate transactions. She has experience structuring, drafting, and negotiating a wide range of technology and intellectual property-related agreements, including in connection with mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, divestitures, financings, joint ventures, securities offerings, licenses, collaborations and other complex corporate matters.Before joining Morrison Foerster, Sophie practiced as an intellectual property transactions associate at another leading law firm.Sophie earned her J.D. from New York University School of Law, where she served as a senior articles editor for the Journal of International Law and Politics.

Sophie Zander

Kevin Kallet is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s San Francisco office and a member of the firm’s Technology Transactions Group.Kevin’s practice focuses on transactions involving a broad range of intellectual property and technology, with particular emphasis on software and SaaS licensing and emerging technologies. He regularly advises clients in the artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and digital media industries, and provides product counseling on technology development, deployment, and regulatory compliance.Kevin counsels both providers and customers of AI models and services on issues relating to the development, procurement, and deployment of AI technologies. His experience includes drafting and negotiating contracts and terms of use for the provision of AI services, developing internal and external AI governance frameworks, and advising on training data practices and related contractual commitments. Kevin also advises companies and their financial sponsors regarding intellectual property and AI-related aspects of M&A transactions.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster as an associate, Kevin was a summer associate in the Technology Transactions Group.Prior to law school, Kevin worked at Google as a legal specialist, supporting the commercial and product counsel teams for various global products. He draws on his background to provide comprehensive advice to clients based on their practical business needs.Kevin earned his J.D. from University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and received Pro Bono Highest Honors. Kevin held leadership positions for Berkeley Law’s Startup Law Initiative and the Berkeley Business Law Journal and was a member of the California Law Review. Kevin earned his B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Arizona Honors College.

Kevin Kallet

Eric Ahern is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s San Francisco office and a member of the firm’s Technology Transactions Group.Eric’s practice focuses on transactions involving a broad range of intellectual property and emerging technologies. He advises clients on novel issues arising from technology development, commercialization, and deployment, including IP licensing and M&A transactions. He also brings experience in cryptocurrency and privacy matters from his prior work with technology-focused law practices.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster as an associate, Eric was a summer associate in the Technology Transactions Group.While in law school, Eric participated in the Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic, where he focused on issues related to copyright and generative AI. He also served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Rudolph Contreras of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and later developed FitzCalc.org, a legal tool that calculates attorney fees under the Fitzpatrick Matrix.Eric received his J.D., with a certificate in law and technology, from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, where he received the Prosser Prize in copyright law and the American Jurisprudence Award in the law and governance of AI. He served as the podcast editor for the Berkeley Technology Law Journal. He earned his B.A., with distinction in general honors, from the University of California, Berkeley.

Eric Ahern

Josh Lerner is a partner in the Executive Compensation + Benefits Group based in the New York office of Morrison Foerster.Josh advises clients on all matters involving the compensation of senior executives, including employment, change in control, equity compensation, and severance arrangements.He counsels public and private companies on executive compensation issues in a range of corporate transactions, restructurings, and financings. He has experience designing, drafting, and negotiating employment agreements and administering equity incentive plans and awards. He also works regularly with public companies on compensation-related disclosures and corporate governance matters, including Securities Exchange Act of 1934 reports. Josh earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School where he was a senior articles editor of the Columbia Business Law Review.<h4>Representative Matters</h4><ul><li>Snow Software, a technology intelligence platform, on its acquisition by Flexera Software, a data-oriented SaaS solution company.</li><li>U.S. Silica Holdings, a global industrial minerals and logistics leader, in its $1.85 billion sale to entities affiliated with Apollo Global Management.</li><li>Rivian Automotive in the formation of an equally controlled and owned joint venture with Volkswagen Group to create next generation software-defined vehicle (SDV) platforms to be used in both companies’ future electric vehicles.</li><li>Palladium Equity Partners, in the $695 million sale of its majority interest in Trachte, a leading provider of highly engineered protection and control buildings with mission critical applications, to nVent Electric plc, a leading global provider of electrical connection and protection solutions.</li><li>The rock band KISS and its co-founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley in the sale of substantially all rights related to KISS to Pophouse Entertainment.</li><li>McGrath RentCorp, leading provider of temporary and permanent space solutions, in its $3.8 billion acquisition by WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp., a leader in innovative temporary space solutions.</li><li>Astellas Pharma in its acquisition of Propella Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company that combines medicinal chemistry with lymphatic targeting to create new oncology drugs.</li><li>SoftBank in connection with its $375 million acquisition of Berkshire Grey, a robotic automation company that went public via a SPAC merger in 2021.</li></ul><ul><li>Grant Thornton, one of America’s largest audit, tax, and advisory firms, in the sale of its Public Sector Advisory practice to Guidehouse, a portfolio company of Veritas Capital and leading global provider of consulting services to the public sector and commercial markets.</li><li>MTY Food Group, a leading franchisor in the North American restaurant industry, in its $200 million acquisition of BBQ Holdings, a franchisor and operator of fast casual dining.</li><li>Odevo AB, a Swedish company and a portfolio company of private equity client Fidelio Capital, in connection with its acquisition of KW Property Management & Consulting, LLC, a Florida-based company that provides property management services to homeowner associations, condominium boards, cooperative boards and townhome communities. </li><li>Tinicum and its portfolio company TSL Engineered Products in the sale of Advantek, a leading provider of highly engineered carrier tape and associated protective packaging products, to Cornell Capital.</li></ul>

Joshua Lerner

Yuan Xia is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Palo Alto office. She is a member of the firm’s Executive Compensation + Benefits practice.Yuan’s practice focuses on the transactional aspects of executive compensation matters in the context of domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, public offerings and restructurings. Yuan regularly counsels public companies, private equity funds, and startup companies on the design and implementation of equity, incentive and non-qualified deferred compensation agreements, change in control, retention and severance, and executive employment agreements. Yuan also has distinct experience advising public companies on executive compensation disclosures for annual proxy statements and merger proxies, initial public offerings and Form 8–Ks. Yuan was recognized by Legal 500 US as a Rising Star in Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Retirement Plans (Transaction) for 2024.Prior to joining the firm, Yuan was an associate at another international law firm headquartered in New York.

Yuan Xia

Sarah is an associate in the Executive Compensation + Benefits practice of Morrison Foerster’s San Francisco office.Prior to joining the firm, Sarah was a Summer Associate in the San Francisco office. Before that, she was a Student Legal Honors Extern for the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. She also spent time as a Judicial Extern at the U.S. District Court in Phoenix, Arizona.Sarah earned her J.D., cum laude, at Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where she was an editor of the Arizona State Law Journal. She also holds a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Sarah Doberneck

Michael Schulman is a partner in the firm’s Global Employment and Labor Group and co-head of the firm’s Washington, D.C. Litigation Department.Michael regularly advises clients in connection with important workforce-related matters, including hiring and negotiating employment agreements for senior executives, sensitive executive separations, internal workplace investigations, employment claims and disputes, and employment issues arising in the context of mergers, acquisitions, bankruptcies and other corporate transactions. Michael is known for using a pragmatic, efficient, and results-oriented approach, focused on achieving his clients’ desired business outcomes.Michael regularly guides clients through complex workforce issues, including, for instance allegations of workplace misconduct; restrictive covenant drafting, enforcement, and strategic evaluation; worker classification and wage-and-hour compliance practices; and the unique issues that arise in a unionized workplace. Michael’s experience covers a broad range of employment and labor laws at the federal, state, and local level, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Defend Trade Secrets Act, and corresponding state and local laws.Michael has unique experience addressing labor and employment matters that arise in connection with corporate transactions, particularly for private equity firms. Michael has represented clients in over 2,000 transactions, including many large-scale multinational mergers, acquisitions, and asset carve-outs. He regularly conducts acquisition-related labor and employment due diligence and advises clients on the employment and workforce integration or separation implications of mergers, acquisitions, sales, and financings.In the litigation context, Michael represents employers in U.S. federal and state court litigation, administrative agency proceedings, and arbitrations arising out of alleged labor and employment law violations. Michael defends employers against actions brought by government agencies, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Labor, as well as actions initiated by current and former employees. He also prosecutes suits against former employees and their new employers for breach of restrictive covenants.

Michael Schulman

Melissa Harclerode is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s Employment + Labor Group in the Washington, D.C. office.Melissa represents companies in a broad range of employment compliance and counseling matters, with a particular focus on navigating the employment dimensions of various complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, and restructurings. She also has in-depth experience negotiating and drafting various employment, separation, and restrictive covenant agreements. Melissa routinely advises employers on mitigating risks for a variety of HR issues, including hiring, terminations, wage-and-hour compliance, leaves of absence, and policy management, among other areas.Melissa has experience with internal investigations of employment claims, including MeToo claims. She has also defended clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, and other equivalent state agencies.Prior to joining the firm, Melissa was an associate at two international AmLaw 100 law firms.Melissa received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she received the Pro Bono Certificate of Recognition. During law school, she was the managing editor for Virginia Law and Business Review.

Melissa Harclerode

Marcus Grimes is an associate in the Litigation Department in Morrison Foerster’s San Francisco office.Marcus earned his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law, where he was an inaugural California Scholar, co-president of the Black Law Student Association, and a member of the Moot Court Board. During law school, Marcus worked as a summer legal associate for a popular ride share company and was a summer associate at Morrison Foerster for two years.He received a B.A., cum laude, in legal communications with a minor in business administration from Howard University.

Marcus Grimes

David Sturgeon is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Federal Tax practice.Dave advises clients on a broad range of complex business transactions, including domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, spin-offs and other divestitures, as well as financings, refinancings, restructurings and other business transactions.He earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was a member of the Chicago Journal of International Law, and received his Master of Laws in taxation from New York University School of Law.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Dave was an associate at a law firm in New York, where he represented public companies, financial institutions, private equity clients and other sponsor entities across industries in an extensive range of business transactions.

Dave Sturgeon

Seth Stowe is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s New York office and a member of the firm’s Tax Group.Seth advises clients on a broad range of transactional, structuring, and advisory tax matters, including U.S. federal income tax considerations related to joint ventures, debt and equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, financings, and real estate investment trusts. Before joining Morrison Foerster, Seth served as a law clerk to the Honorable Stacey W. Moreau, 22nd Judicial Circuit of Virginia, where he drafted legal memoranda analyzing a variety of civil and criminal issues.Seth received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he also served as a production editor for the Virginia Tax Review. Seth received his B.A. in history with a minor in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia.

Seth Stowe

Clients seek out Julie because of her practical advice on cutting-edge issues at the intersection of privacy and consumer protection laws. She provides clients with practical solutions to compliance challenges around a wide variety of both online and offline privacy issues, including tracking, interest-based advertising, geo-targeting and other mobile tracking, personalization, and cross-device tracking. Recognized in The Legal 500 US 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2020 and Chambers USA 2021 for her exceptional legal work, her clients praise her saying, “She is really good at giving practical, targeted advice and taking stock of what the risk profile of the client is, so that the advice is holistic.” (Chambers USA).Julie provides clients with creative and practical advice on meeting the requirements of state and federal privacy laws, including the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). She crafts guidelines and compliance programs for clients’ collection, use, and disclosure of personal information in diverse contexts and throughout the life cycle of their initiatives, such as for connected products (the Internet of Things) and mobile services. She also drafts privacy and cookies policies, online service terms of use, agreements involving online and offline advertising and marketing practices, and agreements concerning a variety of data uses. In addition, Julie helps clients assess and manage privacy risks, including in connection with mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions.Julie creates compliance programs for clients’ use of a wide variety of channels for communicating with and marketing to consumers, including email, telephone, text message, and fax, both in the United States and around the world. She works with clients to develop their social media strategies and to clear their social media content. She also reviews advertising in both traditional and new media for compliance with applicable laws, including Section 5 of the FTC Act and various FTC rules and guides. In addition, she works with clients to structure, market, and implement their sweepstakes, contests, and other promotions in compliance with applicable laws.As a former FTC staff attorney, Julie regularly defends companies in investigations by the FTC and before data protection authorities around the world.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>A company that creates online software used by schools in an FTC investigation of alleged COPPA violations.</li><li>A consumer services company investigated by the Korean data protection authority for alleged privacy violations</li><li>A manufacturer in connection with a challenge of its environmental advertising claims by the FTC </li><li>An advertising services company in an investigation of alleged privacy-related violations of the FTC Act</li><li>An online provider of entertainment services in an FTC investigation of alleged COPPA violations</li><li>A beverage company in an FTC investigation of alleged COPPA violations</li></ul>Before attending law school, Julie was a Peace Corps volunteer in The Gambia, West Africa.

Julie O'Neill

Joshua R. Fattal is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s Data, Cyber + Privacy Group. He advises clients across industries on data protection best practices with a focus on emerging issues at the intersection of data privacy, security, and new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and national security regulations pertaining to sensitive U.S. personal data.Joshua regularly counsels clients ranging from startups to multinational corporations on the legal implications of using AI and large language models (LLMs). He advises on compliance with global AI regulations, including the EU AI Act and Colorado AI Act, and provides guidance on AI governance, responsible AI use, and generative AI best practices.He also advises clients on compliance with U.S. laws governing the protection of sensitive data from adversary countries. He has assisted in clients’ complex due diligence of their data use and disclosure practices and in developing cross-functional compliance programs to meet evolving cross-border data transfer requirements.Joshua’s experience spans a variety of industries, including technology, life sciences, edtech, fintech, crypto, and consumer services. He counsels clients on compliance under local, state, and federal privacy regulations such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), biometric and financial data privacy laws, and cybersecurity regulations. He also guides clients through compliance with international frameworks like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, and the EU ePrivacy Directive.His practice encompasses data incident response strategies, including breach investigations and regulatory notifications. He also conducts privacy and cybersecurity due diligence for corporate transactions and advises on information security policies, cybersecurity governance, vendor risk management, and privacy-by-design product development.Joshua maintains an active pro bono practice. He has successfully secured asylum for multiple clients, including a Cameroonian political activist and a Honduran survivor of gender-based violence. He has also represented tenants in housing litigation and advised nonprofits on privacy and cybersecurity matters.Joshua earned his J.D. from NYU School of Law, where he graduated cum laude, was a Robert McKay Scholar, and received the full tuition ASPIRE Cybersecurity Scholarship. He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Columbia University and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He previously served in the U.S. Intelligence Community, including as an attorney advisor in the Intelligence Law Division at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He also clerked for the Honorable Sarah Netburn, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of New York.

Joshua Fattal

Kerry Jones is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Global Antitrust Law Practice Group. Her practice includes supporting clients across the spectrum of antitrust and competition law matters, such as strategic counseling to manage antitrust risks, Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger notification filings, gun jumping and merger clearance advocacy, internal investigations, and antitrust litigation. Kerry has experience representing clients across variety of industries, including telecommunications, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, robotics, and life sciences. She has experience representing domestic and multinational companies in federal courts.Kerry received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she served on the editorial board of the Virginia Journal of Law and Politics. Kerry is admitted to practice in Virginia and Washington, D.C.<h4>Representative Experience</h4>Kerry has supported clients in all phases of the antitrust review process including:<ul><li>Sprint Corp. and SoftBank, the controlling shareholder of Sprint, in the landmark $59 billion merger of Sprint and T-Mobile US, Inc. The deal is one of the largest telecommunications deals in history.</li><li>TOPPAN in its $1.8 billion acquisition of Sonoco’s thermoformed and flexibles packaging business</li><li>Sekisui House in its $4.9 billion acquisition of M.D.C. Holdings</li><li>Unity Software in its $4.4 billion acquisition of ironSource</li><li>Palo Alto Networks in its $3.35 billion acquisition of Chronosphere</li><li>SoftBank in its acquisition of Ampere Computing for $6.5 billion</li><li>SoftBank in its $4.4 billion investment in WeWork, and later its $10 billion investment in the company</li><li>SoftBank ) in its $7.7 billion investment in Uber</li><li>Mobileye in its $15.3 billion acquisition by Intel</li><li>Axalta Coating Systems in its purchase of assets divested in connection with the Federal Trade Commission's review of an acquisition in its industry</li><li>Boyd Gaming Corporation in its acquisition of three casinos and in its purchase of assets divested in connection with the Federal Trade Commission’s review of an acquisition in its industry</li><li>ON Semiconductor in its $2.5 billion acquisition of Fairchild Semiconductor</li></ul>

Kerry Jones

An antitrust specialist with more than 15 years of experience, Marie-Claire advises clients on merger control and foreign investment aspects of complex global transactions, investigations, abuse of dominance, and complex vertical agreements. Drawing on this expertise, she also chairs the firm’s cross-practice Government Strategies group.She has advised corporate clients and financial investors across a range of sectors including technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy, retail, healthcare, sports rights and industrials. In addition to coordinating complex multi-jurisdictional advice and delivering EU and other global merger control and foreign investment clearances, she has extensive UK CMA experience, having acted for clients on a number of complex CMA investigations, both at Phase 1 and Phase 2 and having delivered multiple informal CMA clearances. She regularly advises on CMA engagement strategy in global deals.She also regularly counsels clients in relation to compliance across all aspects of competition law, including horizontal and vertical commercial agreements and dominance. She has also represented clients before the EU and UK regulators in relation to both cartels and abuse of dominance as well as in the context of market investigations.Marie-Claire is recognized in each of the annual editions of Who’s Who Legal: Competition – Future Leaders from 2017 to 2024.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Advising Unity Technologies in relation to its $4.4B Acquisition of ironSource</li></ul><ul><li>Advising Nikon Corporation, a globally active Japanese manufacturer of optical technology solutions, in connection with the public takeover of SLM Solutions Group AG, a Lübeck-based manufacturer of metal 3D printers</li><li>Advising SoftBank in Connection with $3.4 Billion Combination of Eutelsat and OneWeb</li><li>Advising Endurance Acquisition Corp in connection with its investment in Satixfy</li><li>Advising a major record label in relation to a CMA market study into music streaming</li><li>Advising a major energy company and fund manager, active in retail, generation and fund management in relation to the merger control and foreign investment aspects of strategic investment</li><li>Advising a global software company in relation to a CMA merger control investigation into its acquisition of a key competitor</li><li>Advising a UK grocery retailer in relation to a CMA investigation into a failed merger between two of the four major UK grocery retailers</li><li>Advising a consortium of financial investors on the global merger control and UK and foreign public interest aspects of a takeover of UK-based satellite telecommunications company</li></ul>

Marie-Claire Strawbridge

Aaron Scheinman is an associate in MoFo’s global Antitrust Law Practice Group.Aaron represents clients in a variety of antitrust matters, including complex civil litigation, government investigations, and all phases of the merger review process before federal and state enforcers. He helps companies identify and navigate antitrust risks created by new and evolving technologies, with experience in matters relating to artificial intelligence, online platforms, and the interplay between IP rights and antitrust claims.His active pro bono practice includes litigation in state and federal courts protecting tenants’ rights and the right to vote.Prior to joining the firm, Aaron received his J.D. with honors from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a technology law and policy scholar and the articles editor of The Georgetown Law Technology Review. During law school, he interned at the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal District Court for the District of New Hampshire. He earned a B.S summa cum laude in economics with a minor in computer science from the University of New Hampshire.

Aaron Heath Scheinman

Maria Requejo advises clients with a focus on UK, European and Spanish antitrust and competition law, in particular antitrust proceedings before European courts, as well as in merger control proceedings before the European Commission.Before joining Morrison Foerster, Maria worked as an associate at international law firms in Brussels and Madrid, focusing on antitrust and competition law.She is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s London office and a member of the Antitrust Practice Group. <h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Vecco Instruments on the global antitrust aspects of its $4.4 billion all-stock merger with Axcelis Technologies, Inc.</li><li>Softbank Group on its $5.375 billion acquisition of ABB Robotics</li><li>Condor on its successful challenge to the European Commission’s approval of COVID-19 aid to Lufthansa.</li><li>Representing an international company on an European Commission’s antitrust investigation, particularly in the automotive sector.</li><li>A European airline on various disputes with another airline concerning feeder flights.</li><li>SoftBank Group on its $4 billion acquisition of DigitalBridge.</li><li>Palo Alto Networks on its $3.35 billion acquisition of Chronosphere.</li></ul>

Maria Requejo

James Brower is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Litigation Department, residing in the Washington D.C. office.James has extensive experience advising and representing clients in matters relating to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and other national security-related matters. He has worked across a variety of departments within the U.S. Federal Government, including the Defense Security Service (now the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency) within the Department of Defense and the Office of Investment Security within the Department of the Treasury. James, while with the Department of the Treasury, led the review, assessment, and investigation of over one hundred transactions and spent years handling complex filings, transactions, and policies. He also led CFIUS’s mitigation monitoring efforts and the deployment and implementation of the CFIUS Pilot Program.Directly prior to joining Morrison Foerster, James worked at a global law firm representing clients before CFIUS advising clients on various policies and processes in compliance with federal statutes, and leading engagements with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency.James received his B.A. in English as well as Government and International Politics from George Mason University, and his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.

James Brower

Mason Gauch is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s National Security Practice Group.Mason advises clients on economic sanctions, export controls, foreign investment, and tariffs. He has guided multinational companies through sensitive regulatory matters, including obtaining authorizations from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), preparing filings before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and conducting due diligence reviews of corporate transactions from an international trade perspective. He has also counseled technology companies on risk-based compliance programs tailored to their products, users, and jurisdictions.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Mason practiced at another international law firm, where he focused on cross-border trade compliance, foreign investment reviews, and regulatory frameworks affecting emerging technologies. He also gained additional relevant experience as an intern to Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. In addition, he maintains an active pro bono practice, representing clients in asylum, divorce, expunction, and criminal exoneration matters.Mason earned his B.A. and M.Ed from the Ohio State University and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was a Dean’s Scholarship recipient.

Mason Gauch

Locke is a partner in MoFo’s Government Contracts & Public Procurement practice. He has been recognized by Chambers USA for his “proficiency across the government contracts space,” with sources commending his deep experience in Intellectual Property and Data Rights.Locke counsels clients across industries through the full lifecycle of delivering technology and licensing software to U.S. federal, state, and local governments, and performing government-funded R&D through contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and other vehicles such as other transactions (OTs/OTAs), cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs), and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. He provides strategic advice for asserting, protecting, and enforcing patents, data rights, and other intellectual property under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and the Bayh-Dole Act, before statutory agencies such as NASA and the Department of Energy, and in engagements with OT consortia, federal laboratories, and federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs). He is a skilled negotiator of commercial and noncommercial licensing agreements, contracts and subcontracts, joint venture agreements, and teaming agreements. As a litigator, Locke represents clients in bid protests, complex contract claims, data rights challenges, patent and copyright infringement suits under 28 U.S. Code §1498, trade secrets misappropriation and reverse-FOIA disputes, and civil fraud and qui tam actions under the False Claims Act. Locke also regularly advises large and small businesses, private equity firms, and entrepreneurs on the complex government contracting and IP-related issues they face in M&A and other transactional matters.Locke has repeatedly been “Recommended for Government Contracts” by The Legal 500, and in 2024 he was ranked “Up and Coming” in Government Contracts by Chambers USA. He has also been recognized as a Rising Star by Law360 and the National Law Journal.Locke is a professorial lecturer in law at the George Washington University Law School, where he teaches Government Procurement of Intellectual Property. He is a current vice-chair and former co-chair of the Intellectual Property Committee for the American Bar Association Public Contract Law Section. Locke holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Virginia and formerly was a patent examiner for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He earned his J.D. with honors from the George Washington University Law School, where he received the Patricia A. Tobin Government Contracts Award. Locke clerked for Judge Mary Ellen Coster Williams at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Locke Bell

Ruti Smithline serves as global co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s Litigation Department and co-chair of the firm's Latin America Desk, in addition to being a member of the firm's FCPA + Global Anti-Corruption Group. Her practice focuses on complex litigation, with an emphasis on white collar criminal defense, SEC enforcement, and corporate internal investigations.Ruti regularly advises clients on cross-border investigations, global compliance programs and anti-corruption due diligence for acquisitions, joint ventures, and private equity transactions. Ruti has represented individual and corporate defendants in cross-border criminal investigations, SEC enforcement matters, and other regulatory proceedings, including matters related to trade sanctions and anti-money laundering. She has experience conducting corporate internal investigations both domestically and internationally, often advising clients on remedial measures responsive to the issues investigated.Ruti was born and raised in Colombia and is fluent in Spanish. She has conducted investigations, seminars and anti-corruption training in Spanish throughout Central and South America.Ruti has been recognized by industry leading publications including Chambers & Partners, where she is ranked in the USA guide for Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations in New York and nationally for their FCPA category, in addition to being ranked in the Latin America guide for Corporate Crime & Investigations across the LatAm region. She has also been recommended by Legal 500 US in their Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense category, was recently selected by LatinVex as one of "Latin America's Top 100 Lawyers: FCPA & Fraud" for 2022, and has also been named to Global Investigations Review's "Women in Investigations" 2018 survey, which recognizes the top 100 leading female investigations specialists from around the world.Ruti formerly served as co-chair of the Investigations + White Collar Defense Group. She received her J.D. from The George Washington University School of Law, where she graduated with honors and as a member of the Order of the Coif. She received her B.A. degree cum laude from Cornell University. She is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey.

Ruti Smithline é co-líder do grupo de investigação criminal e defesa de colarinho branco e co-líder do Latin America Desk. Sua prática se concentra em litígios complexos, com ênfase em defesa criminal de colarinho branco, conformidade com a Securities and Exchange Commission dos Estados Unidos (SEC), litígios sobre valores mobiliários e investigações corporativas internas.Smithline é membro da equipe e do grupo de trabalho FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) + Anticorrupção escritório. Ela representa regularmente clientes em investigações internacionais, programas de conformidade global e due diligence anticorrupção para aquisições, joint ventures e transações de private equity. Ruti representou indivíduos e empresas acusadas em investigações criminais cross-border, questões de conformidade com a SEC e outros procedimentos regulatórios, incluindo questões relacionadas a sanções comerciais e lavagem de dinheiro. Ruti tem experiência na condução de investigações corporativas internas, nacionais e internacionais, assessorando frequentemente clientes em ações corretivas que respondem aos problemas investigados.Smithline nasceu e foi criada na Colômbia e fala espanhol fluentemente. Ela conduziu pesquisas anticorrupção, seminários e treinamento em espanhol nas Américas Central e do Sul.Smithline foi nomeada recentemente na pesquisa "Mulheres em Investigações” da Global Investigations Review em 2018, que reconhece as 100 principais especialistas em investigações no mundo todo. Ela também foi recentemente selecionada pela LatinVex como uma das "100 melhores advogadas da América Latina: FCPA e fraude" em 2018. Ela também foi anteriormente reconhecida pelo Ethisphere Institute como uma das "Advogadas que importam" em 2016 e pela Global Investigations Review como uma dentre 40 dos principais advogados de investigação do mundo com menos de 40 anos. Além disso, Ruti foi selecionada para a Lista de Estrelas em Ascensão do Metrô de Nova York em 2014 e 2015 pela Super Lawyers, com base no reconhecimento de colegas e em conquistas profissionais.Smithline recebeu se formou em direito na Faculdade de Direito da Universidade George Washington, onde se formou com honras e como membro da Order of the Coif. Ela recebeu seu diploma de bacharel cum laude da Universidade de Cornell. Ela é admitida para exercer advocacia em Nova York e Nova Jersey.<h4>Casos Representativos de FCPA</h4><ul><li>Comércio varejista global. Representou um executivo sênior de um comerciante de varejo global em uma investigação do Departamento de Justiça, da SEC e de outras agências sobre possíveis violações do FCPA no México, Brasil e outros países.</li><li>Empresa Fortune 500. Conduziu uma investigação interna sobre possíveis violações do FCPA em uma subsidiária estrangeira de uma corporação multinacional Fortune 500. Conduziu mais de 60 entrevistas com funcionários, revisou linhas de negócios e relacionamentos com os principais clientes e canais de distribuição, e realizou análise forense de registros contábeis e controles internos. A pesquisa incluiu uma análise de unidades de negócios em mais de 15 países para avaliar os riscos de FCPA.</li><li>Empresa Fortune 50. Representou uma empresa multinacional Fortune 50 com sede nos EUA em uma investigação interna sobre supostas violações de FCPA e compliance na região Ásia-Pacífico. Após a conclusão da investigação e compliance, nem a SEC nem o Departamento de Justiça tomaram medidas contra nosso cliente.</li><li>Comitê de Auditoria de Empresa Internacional. Representou o comitê de auditoria de um fornecedor internacional de produtos agrícolas em sua investigação interna, oriunda de uma denúncia de irregularidades alegando violações de FCPA no Oriente Médio. Esse assunto foi um dos primeiros casos a serem relatados à SEC sob suas regras de denúncia decretadas em maio de 2011. Após concluir a investigação e relatar o resultado à SEC, a SEC desistiu de conduzir sua própria investigação e arquivou o caso.</li><li>Empresa de investimento global. Representou uma empresa de investimento global com a due diligence anticorrupção com operações no Japão, China, Tailândia e México. Com base nos resultados da devida diligência, aconselhamos a empresa sobre a implementação de um programa de conformidade pós-aquisição.</li><li>Empresa Fortune 500. Representou uma empresa Fortune 500 em due diligence anticorrupção relacionada à aquisição de uma empresa estrangeira de telecomunicações com operações substanciais na África, América Latina, Sudeste Asiático e Oriente Médio.</li><h4>Outros casos representativos</h4><li>OFAC e BSA/AML. Conduziu a investigação interna de um grande banco estrangeiro sobre possíveis violações de sanções da OFAC e de práticas de combate à lavagem de dinheiro.</li><li>BSA/AML. Representou várias pessoas na América do Sul que trabalham para um Banco com sede na União Europeia em uma investigação do Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos sobre possíveis violações da Lei de Sigilo Bancário e leis sobre lavagem de dinheiro.</li><li>Ex-executivo de hipoteca. Representou o Diretor Financeiro de um dos maiores emissores nacionais de hipotecas, agora falido, em uma investigação da SEC e em litígios relacionados aos seus acionistas decorrentes da crise de crédito.</li><li>Investigação multifacetada de bolsas universitárias. Assessorou uma importante universidade de pesquisa nos EUA em uma investigação criminal e civil sobre alegações falsas relacionadas a subsídios e contratos federais de pesquisa.</li></ul>

Ruti Smithline es copresidenta del grupo de Investigaciones + Defensa Criminal de Cuello Blanco de la firma y copresidenta del Latin America Desk de la firma. Su práctica se centra en litigios complejos, con énfasis en defensa criminal de cuello blanco, cumplimiento de la Comisión de Bolsa y Valores de EE. UU. (SEC), litigios de valores e investigaciones internas corporativas. Ruti es miembro del equipo de trabajo FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) + Anticorrupción de la firma. Regularmente asesora a clientes en investigaciones transfronterizas, programas de cumplimiento global y diligencia debida anticorrupción para adquisiciones, empresas conjuntas (joint ventures) y transacciones de capital privado (private equity). Ruti ha representado a individuos ​​y corporaciones acusadas en investigaciones penales transfronterizas, asuntos de cumplimiento de la SEC y otros procedimientos regulatorios, incluyendo asuntos relacionados con sanciones comerciales y contra el lavado de dinero. Tiene experiencia llevando a cabo investigaciones corporativas internas tanto a nivel nacional como internacional, con frecuencia asesorando a clientes sobre medidas correctivas que responden a los problemas investigados.Ruti nació y se crió en Colombia y habla español con fluidez. Ha llevado a cabo investigaciones, seminarios y capacitación anticorrupción en español en América Central y del Sur.Ruti fue nombrada recientemente en la encuesta "Investigaciones de mujeres" de Global Investigations Review en 2018, que reconoce a las 100 mujeres principales especialistas en investigaciones de todo el mundo. También fue seleccionada recientemente por LatinVex como una de las "100 mejores abogadas de América Latina: FCPA y fraude" para 2018. También fue reconocida anteriormente por Ethisphere Institute como una de las "Abogados que importan" en 2016 y por Global Investigations Review como una de 40 de los principales abogados de investigaciones del mundo con menos de 40 años. Además, Ruti fue seleccionada para la lista de estrellas en ascenso del metro de Nueva York en 2014 y 2015 por Super Lawyers con base en el reconocimiento de pares y el logro profesional.Ruti recibió su J.D. de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad George Washington, donde se graduó con honores y como miembro de la Orden de la Cofia. Ella recibió su título de B.A. cum laude, de la Universidad de Cornell. Está admitida para practicar leyes en Nueva York y Nueva Jersey.<h4>Asuntos Representativos de la FCPA</h4><ul><li>Comerciante al por menor global. Representó a un alto ejecutivo de un comerciante al por menor global en relación con una investigación realizada por el Departamento de Justicia, la SEC y otras agencias sobre posibles violaciones de la FCPA en México, Brasil y otros países.</li><li>Compañía Fortune 500. Llevó a cabo una investigación interna sobre posibles violaciones de la FCPA en una subsidiaria extranjera de una corporación multinacional Fortune 500. Realizó más de 60 entrevistas a empleados, revisó líneas de negocios y relaciones con clientes clave y canales de distribución, y realizó análisis forenses de registros contables y controles internos. La investigación incluyó una revisión de las unidades de negocio en más de 15 países para evaluar los riesgos de la FCPA.</li><li>Compañía Fortune 50. Representó a una compañía multinacional Fortune 50 con sede en E.E.U.U. En una investigación interna de presuntas violaciones de la FCPA y el auto-trato en la región de Asia y el Pacífico. Tras la conclusión de nuestra investigación y autoinforme, ni la SEC ni el Departamento de Justicia tomaron ninguna medida contra nuestro cliente.</li><li>Comité de Auditoría de Empresa Internacional. Representó al comité de auditoría de un proveedor internacional de productos agrícolas en su investigación interna resultante de una denuncia de irregularidades alegando violaciones de la FCPA en el Medio Oriente. Este asunto fue uno de los primeros casos en ser reportados a la SEC bajo sus reglas de denuncia de irregularidades promulgadas en mayo de 2011. Después de completar la investigación e informar el resultado a la SEC, la misma se negó a realizar una investigación propia y cerró el archivo.</li><li>Empresa de inversión global. Representó a una empresa de inversión global con la debida diligencia anticorrupción de un objetivo estadounidense con operaciones en Japón, China, Tailandia y México. En base a los resultados de la diligencia debida, asesoramos a la compañía con respecto a la implementación de un programa de cumplimiento posterior a la adquisición.</li><li>Compañía Fortune 500. Representó a una compañía Fortune 500 con la debida diligencia anticorrupción en relación con la adquisición de una compañía de telecomunicaciones extranjera con operaciones sustanciales en África, América Latina, Sudeste de Asia y Medio Oriente.</li></ul><h4>Otros Asuntos Representativos</h4><ul><li>OFAC y BSA / AML. Llevó a cabo una investigación interna de un gran banco extranjero con respecto a posibles violaciones de las sanciones de la OFAC y las prácticas contra el lavado de dinero.</li><li>BSA / AML. Representó a varias personas en Sudamérica que trabajan para el Banco con sede en E.E.U.U. en una investigación del Departamento de Justicia sobre posibles violaciones de la Ley de Secreto Bancario (Bank Secrecy Act) y las leyes contra el lavado de dinero.</li><li>Ex ejecutivo hipotecario. Representó al Director Financiero de uno de los mayores emisores de hipotecas nacionales, ahora en bancarrota, en una investigación de la SEC y litigios relacionados con los accionistas que surgieron de la crisis crediticia.</li><li>Investigación multifacética de subvenciones universitarias. Asesoró a una importante universidad de investigación de E.E.U.U. en una investigación penal y civil de presuntas afirmaciones falsas relacionadas con subvenciones y contratos federales de investigación.</li></ul>

Ruti Smithline

Eduardo is an associate in the firm’s Investigations + White Collar Defense practice who focuses his practice on internal and government-facing investigations, white-collar defense matters, and regulatory and global compliance. As a native Portuguese speaker and fluent Spanish speaker, Eduardo has particular experience in matters involving Latin America.Eduardo has extensive experience in matters involving allegations of bribery and other wrongdoings related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other global anti-corruption laws, accounting violations, misappropriation of confidential information, and fraud, among other areas. He has particular expertise in multijurisdictional matters, often involving both U.S. and non-U.S. regulators, such as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Brazilian Ministério Público Federal (MPF).  Eduardo has experience working in cases in most major jurisdictions in Latin America including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster full-time, Eduardo was a legal extern at the Office of Internal Oversight Services, Investigations Division, for the United Nations in New York where he supported investigations related to corruption, fraud, and sexual harassment. Prior to that, Eduardo was a Visiting International Attorney at Morrison Foerster and worked at several prominent law firms in Brazil as a senior associate and associate, where he focused on compliance, investigations, and white collar defense matters. He also served as a law clerk and intern for the Superior Tribunal de Justiça, Brazil’s highest appellate court for non-constitutional questions of federal law.Eduardo received his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Brasilia and also studied Compliance at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV). He received his Master of Laws from New York University School of Law (NYU), where he was a Student Fellow in the Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement. Eduardo is admitted to the bar in Brazil.<h4 dir="ltr">Representative Experience</h4><ul><li dir="ltr">Serving as a key team member for the independent compliance monitor as appointed by the DOJ and two separate multilateral development banks for Odebrecht S.A. (now known as Novonor) in the wake of a multijurisdictional resolution worth billions of USD.</li><li dir="ltr">Representation of a global customer solutions company in conducting an internal investigation of the client’s operation in Mexico regarding accounting irregularities with respect to inventory control. </li><li dir="ltr">Representation of an Asia-based multinational company in conducting an internal investigation into allegations raised by a whistleblower that a business contract was won through misappropriated confidential information involving a subsidiary in Mexico.</li><li dir="ltr">Representation of a multinational agricultural company in conducting an internal investigation into allegations of improper payments made to a government official in Costa Rica, which included assessing appropriate remedial measures and incorporation of the lessons learned from the matter into the continual enhancement and improvement of the company’s compliance program.</li><li dir="ltr">Representation of a multinational pharmaceutical company in investigating allegations that employees in Brazil sought improper discounts for certain clinics, which were in turn using the extra margin to pay referral fees to doctors who prescribed our client’s products. If true, this practice could violate the FCPA and cause significant issues for our client under DOJ’s tough new stance on corporate recidivism.</li><li dir="ltr">Representation of a Colombian company in conducting an internal investigation into internal controls issues.</li></ul>