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MoFo Advises Valon on Sale of Its Mortgage Servicing Business to Carrington

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MoFo advised Valon Technologies, builders of an AI-native operating system for regulated finance in America (ValonOS), on the...

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MoFo advised Valon Technologies, builders of an AI-native operating system for regulated finance in America (ValonOS), on the sale its mortgage servicing business (Valon Mortgage) to Carrington Mortgage Services, a fully integrated mortgage company with lending and servicing operations. The transaction is expected to close in Q3 of 2026.Founded in 2019, Valon Technologies took an unusual approach: rather than selling software into the mortgage industry, it built and ran a full-scale mortgage servicer from the ground up — proving ValonOS could handle one of the most regulated industries in the world before opening the platform to others.Alongside Carrington acquiring Valon Mortgage, Carrington will adopt ValonOS as its core servicing platform.The MoFo team was led by corporate partners Chere See and Jim Ryan and associate Ludovica Gardani-Menendez. The broader team included corporate associates Lulu Sun and Hanna Balcha, technology transactions partners Lawrence Gallick and Tessa Schwartz and associates Eric Ahern, Scott Chen, and Kevin Kallet, tax partners Philip Jaworskyj and Dave Sturgeon, executive compensation partners Yuan Xia and Josh Lerner, antitrust partner Kerry Jones, data, cyber + privacy partner Nathan Taylor and associate Joshua Fattal, and employment and labor partner Andrew Turnbull and associate Melissa Harclerode.

MoFo Advises Valon on Sale of Its Mortgage Servicing Business to Carrington

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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

Partner

Jim Ryan is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Emerging Company + Venture Capital Group based in Palo Alto. He advises high-growth technology and life sciences companies, venture capital and growth funds, and corporate venture capital and other strategic investors.Jim’s work includes navigating domestic and cross-border venture capital and growth financings, secondaries and tender offers, recapitalizations, joint ventures, carve-outs and spinoffs, and mergers and acquisitions. He has particular experience in large complex financings and has advised companies and investors on dozens of venture capital and growth financings in which $100 million to over $1 billion were raised along with dozens more in the $25 million to $100 million range.His clients span a variety of technologies and industries including artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous and other software-defined vehicles, industrial tech, cloud computing and data center hardware and software, fintech and digital assets, SaaS, biotech, and medical devices.Beyond transactions, Jim writes and speaks on practical issues that shape venture capital-backed companies and boardrooms. He serves as the startup columnist for The Journal of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Law and is the lead editor of MoFo’s “<a href="https://scaleup.mofo.com/guidance">Ask a MoFo</a>” series, where he translates board governance, deal mechanics, and venture structures into actionable guidance for founders and investors.Jim was recognized as a 2026 Rising Star by Venture Capital Journal.He earned his J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law, where he served on the Santa Clara Law Review and published articles on cloud computing regulation. He received a B.A. in economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Jim Ryan

Ludovica Gardani is an associate in the firm’s Corporate Practice. She advises clients in the United States and Latin America on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securities and capital market transactions, and public and private offerings.Ludovica works with public and private companies on strategic investments, financings, and cross-border licensing in a wide range of industries, including technology, retail, infrastructure, and fintech. She also represents companies in connection with a wide range of securities matters such as public and private offerings, SEC reporting obligations, and offerings pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S.Ludovica graduated from University of Miami School of Law where she was Executive Editor of the Business Law Review.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Represented Petlove&Co. in connection with its financing round with existing major investors, Tarpon, SoftBank, L Catterton, Porto Seguro and Monashees, and a new initial investment by Riverwood Capital. This is the largest financing round in Petlove&Co’s history.</li><li>Represented SoftBank Latin America Fund in connection with a Series C funding round in Addi, a fintech startup based in Bogota, Colombia that offers buy-now-pay-later technology.</li><li>Represented Inchcape, the leading global independent multi-brand automotive distributor and retailer, in its cash-free and debt-free £47 million acquisition of Autolider, a distributor of Daimler brands in both Uruguay and Ecuador.</li></ul>

Ludovica Gardani é associada da área empresarial. Ela assessora clientes nos Estados Unidos e na América Latina em fusões e aquisições, joint ventures, transações de valores mobiliários e de mercado de capitais e ofertas públicas e privadas.Ludovica trabalha com empresas públicas e privadas em investimentos estratégicos, financiamentos e licenciamentos cross-borders em uma ampla gama de indústrias, incluindo tecnologia, varejo, infraestrutura e tecnologia financeira. Ela também representa empresas em relação a uma ampla gama de questões sobre valores mobiliários, como ofertas públicas e privadas, obrigações de reporte da U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) e ofertas de acordo com a Regra 144A e o Regulamento S.Ludovica se formou na Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Miami, onde foi editora executiva da Business Law Review.<h4>Experiência Representativa</h4><ul><li>Representou a Inchcape, líder global independente na distribuição e varejo de carros multimarcas, na aquisição, por £ 47 milhões, da Autolider, distribuidora das marcas da Daimler no Uruguai e no Equador.</li></ul>

Ludovica Gardani es asociada en el Departamento Corporativo de la firma. Asesora a clientes en los Estados Unidos y América Latina sobre fusiones y adquisiciones, empresas conjuntas (joint ventures), transacciones de valores y mercado de capitales, y ofertas públicas y privadas.Ludovica trabaja con empresas públicas y privadas en inversiones estratégicas, financiamientos y licencias transfronterizas en una amplia gama de industrias, que incluyen tecnología, comercio minorista, infraestructura y tecnología financiera. También representa a empresas en relación con una amplia gama de asuntos de valores, tales como ofertas públicas y privadas, obligaciones de informes de la SEC y ofertas de conformidad con la Regla 144A y el Reglamento S.Ludovica se graduó de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Miami, donde fue Editora Ejecutiva del Business Law Review.<h4>Experiencia Representativa</h4><ul><li>Representó a Inchcape, el distribuidor y comerciante automotriz independiente líder a nivel mundial, en su adquisición de Autolider, un distribuidor de las marcas Daimler en Uruguay y Ecuador por £ 47 millones.</li></ul>

Ludovica Gardani-Menendez

Associate

Lulu Sun is a corporate associate in the New York office of Morrison Foerster.Lulu earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she served as a Subciter for the Harvard Civil Rights—Civil Liberties Law Review and an Editor for the Harvard Law School Bankruptcy Roundtable. While at Harvard, she also worked within the Harvard Law Entrepreneurship Program as a team member on the CloudStore Project, a startup B2B clothing brand-to-retailer platform. She was also a part of the Harvard Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. Lulu also has experience as an intern at Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts, working on special education related research matters.Lulu also holds a B.A. in English Language and Literature with a secondary major in Law from Tsinghua University.

Lulu Sun

Hanna is a corporate associate in Morrison Foerster’s Palo Alto office.Prior to joining the firm, Hanna was a Summer Associate in the Palo Alto office during the summers of 2021 and 2022, and an SEO Law Fellow in the Palo Alto office during the summer of 2020. She also spent time as a U.S. Squash Ambassador with the International Olympic Committee.Hanna earned her J.D. at New York University School of Law, where she was a Senior Editor of the Journal of Intellectual Property & Entertainment Law. She also holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College.She is also a native speaker of Amharic.

Hanna Balcha

Lawrence Gallick is a partner in the firm’s Austin office and a member of the Technology Transactions Group.Lawrence focuses his practice on technology transactions and licensing matters. His diverse experience includes advising on SaaS agreements, cross-licensing agreements, research and collaboration agreements, development agreements, and distribution agreements. He counsels a broad range of companies across the software, hardware, life sciences, biotech and FinTech spaces, as well as other entities including universities.He advises clients in connection with general corporate matters including contract negotiations, and leasing and technology placement agreements.In 2023, Lawrence seconded at Amazon Lab126, where he led the negotiation of high-profile licensing deals for a variety of Amazon device teams. The secondment was an immersive opportunity to gain additional insights and experience from the perspective of in-house counsel. Lawrence also serves as co-editor of <a href="https://www.sociallyawareblog.com/" target="_blank">Socially Aware</a>, the firm’s award-winning newsletter and blog devoted to the law and business of social media, and regularly publishes on various IP and technology-related topics.Prior to joining the firm, Lawrence was counsel at another major law firm. Before earning his law degree, Lawrence was a web consultant, project manager, and web developer in Portland, Oregon, where he managed and consulted on projects using industry methodologies and performed custom development and integration of content management systems.Lawrence was named a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in 2015 and 2018–2022, and is licensed in California, New York, and Texas. Lawrence earned his J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law, where he was the electronic systems editor for the Buffalo Law Review and awarded the ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law.

Lawrence Gallick

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

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

Scott focuses on complex technology and intellectual property (IP) transactions, with particular experience on matters involving advanced hardware and software platforms. His work includes substantial contributions to transactions relating to smart glasses, mixed‑reality devices, and other next-generation wearable technologies.He prepares, analyzes, and revises a wide range of technology and IP-related agreements, including licensing and IP transfer agreements; bespoke IP licensing and services contracts involving novel technologies; development and collaboration arrangements; distribution and commercialization agreements; joint venture and services arrangements; manufacturing and supply agreements; SaaS and cloud services agreements; and other agreements arising in the technology space. His experience spans issues throughout the product life cycle, from early-stage development through launch and commercialization.Scott also contributes to the IP components of strategic investments and M&A, including IP and technology diligence across diverse technology sectors. He is an active participant in the firm’s pro bono efforts.Scott earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law, where he served as notes editor for the NYU Environmental Law Journal. He holds a B.S. in neuroscience and behavioral biology from Emory University. Prior to joining the firm, Scott was a summer associate in the San Francisco office in 2019.

Scott Chen

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

Phil advises clients on U.S. federal income tax considerations in connection with domestic and cross-border transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, capital markets transactions, derivatives, and other financial products. He regularly represents clients in a wide variety of industries, including foreign and domestic banks, financial institutions, technology and Fintech companies, investment funds, and companies in the consumer and hospitality industries.Phil’s practice also includes advising on all U.S. federal income tax aspects of formation, ongoing operations, and compliance matters for public and private REITs and real estate funds, private equity funds, and joint ventures. This broad experience allows him to provide commercially minded advice and deliver practical solutions to the firm’s clients. In addition to transactional tax matters, Phil enjoys helping clients navigate and successfully resolve administrative matters with the IRS, as well as complex tax controversies. Phil regularly contributes to MoFo’s pro bono and community engagement initiatives, including education policy and advocacy matters.

Philip Jaworskyj

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

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

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

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

Recognized as an authority on financial privacy issues, Nathan helps financial institutions and other companies develop practical solutions for complying with privacy and data security laws. In particular, Nathan tackles the most complex issues relating to the privacy and security of financial information.Co-author of the leading financial privacy treatise, The Law of Financial Privacy, Nathan is recognized in the industry for his exceptional legal work, including being named as an Up and Coming Nationwide Privacy & Data Security practitioner on Chambers USA’s 2018, 2019, and 2020 lists. In his many accolades, his clients praise him as “a tremendous lawyer” who is “smart and quick on his feet,” with a “strong depth of knowledge and experience.” Nathan is also known as “a go-to guy for a deeper dive on bank privacy issues, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other matters. When he gives you a memo, it is gold-plated – you know that you can rely upon it and that it will be thoughtful” (Chambers USA 2021). Nathan is ranked in Chambers USA and Chambers Global 2021, with clients noting his exceptional work in financial privacy law, proficiency at handling various governmental investigations, and his “deep well of knowledge, which he delivers in a well-organised, thoughtful and extremely helpful manner."As state privacy law appears to be entering a new era with the adoption of the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), Nathan is assisting many banks, insurance companies, broker dealers, and other financial institutions in making sense of the complex law and the challenges presented by significant, but often confusing, new privacy obligations. Given the breadth of his work on CCPA issues, Nathan provides clients with valuable benchmarking across the financial industry.Nathan also continues to help companies across industries develop solutions to comply with the myriad state data breach and data security laws that have been enacted since 2003. Understanding the complexities that businesses face in complying with these laws, Nathan testified before Congress on the <a href="https://financialservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/02.14.2018_nathan_taylor_testimony.pdf" target="_blank">challenges</a> that the ever-growing patchwork of state laws present. These are complexities that he understands intimately, having advised companies on hundreds of significant data incidents, including many of the nation’s largest and highest-profile data breaches.Nathan also has defended companies in Congressional and state AG investigations regarding data, cyber, and privacy. He represented Target in its defense of a multistate AG investigation into the company’s 2013 data breach, resulting in a settlement with 47 states and the District of Columbia, at the time the largest-ever multistate settlement for a data security incident.Nathan contributes to the development of the firm’s <a href="/privacy-library/">Privacy Library</a> and MoFoNotes subscription database, which help companies keep apprised of data, cyber, and privacy compliance requirements in jurisdictions around the world.

Nathan Taylor

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

Andrew Turnbull is a partner in the firm’s Global Employment + Labor Group and co-leader of the firm’s Anti-Bias Strategy + Defense Task Force. He has extensive experience advising, defending, and investigating high stakes and class discrimination, harassment, and whistleblower claims, including enforcement actions by EEOC, DOL, DOJ Civil Rights, ICE, and similar state agencies.  He is also well versed in defending and pursuing employee mobility and trade secret misappropriation claims, including breach of non-competes, non-solicits, and non-disclosures claims as well as and duty of loyalty and trade secrets claims. Andrew also routinely defends and advises companies, board of directors, and executives on the significant reputational, business, and compensation issues arising from executive disputes.A primary focus of Andrew’s practice involves helping companies handle the unique employment issues and challenges from doing business with the federal government, including:<ul><li>Defending whistleblower qui tam and retaliation claims under the False Claims Act, the National Defense Authorization Act, and other whistleblower laws;</li><li>Advising and defending government investigations and litigation under the Service Contract Act, the Davis-Bacon Act, and other prevailing wage laws;</li><li>Compliance and litigation defense relating to federal and state affirmative action requirements and DEI related risks;</li><li>Advising on unique compliance issues for federal contractors, such as mitigating discrimination risks when screening for export control compliance under ITAR and EAR, conducting E-Verify audits and compliance, and navigating the Drug-Free Workplace Act.</li></ul>Andrew is problem-solver. He routinely provides clients from Fortune 100 companies to startups with practical and business-minded risk mitigation strategies for various employment and labor issues, including:<ul><li>Developing DEI, affirmative action, pay transparency, antidiscrimination, and antiharassment programs and policies;</li><li>Conducting pay equity studies, adverse impact analysis, and bias testing of employment tests and tools, including for artificial intelligence;</li><li>Developing trade secrets protection and restrictive covenants strategies;</li><li>Reductions in force, furloughs, and high-risk terminations;</li><li>Risks related to 1099s and other contingent workers; and</li><li>Risks related to I-9 and E-Verify compliance, audits, and raids.</li></ul>Andrew also advises companies and executives on a wide range of employment agreements, including drafting and negotiating executive employment agreements, separation agreements, non-competes and non-solicits, and commission and bonus plans.Andrew also represents employers in matters involving union avoidance, negotiating and drafting collective bargaining agreements, handling union grievances, and avoiding and defending unfair labor practice charges.Prior to joining private practice, Andrew worked as a human resources manager for a company recognized on the Inc. 500, an annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States.  Andrew received his J.D. with honors from the George Washington University Law School, where he served as a notes editor for The George Washington Law Review.  While in law school, Andrew interned at the Commercial Litigation Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice.Andrew is an active member of the steering committee of the Washington Metro Industry Liaison Group.

Andrew Turnbull

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.