Community Advocacy and Impact Initiative Finalist: Morrison & Foerster

The Recorder highlighted Morrison Foerster as a finalist for its Community Advocacy and Impact Initiative award. Whitney O'Byrne spoke to the publication about the firm's work, in partnership with Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, advocating for Los Angeles residents affected by the 2025 Eaton Fires.

Whitney stated, "The cases ultimately resulted in significant reforms, including Los Angeles County’s adoption of the “Altadena Presumption,” which guarantees inspections for tenants reporting wildfire contamination, and a landmark Pasadena settlement establishing formal inspection, remediation, and enforcement protocols. What I’m especially proud of is that this work combined immediate community support with longer-term systemic change. Alongside the litigation, our lawyers volunteered at disaster recovery centers, and the Morrison & Foerster Foundation and firmwide matching campaign raised more than $120,000 for wildfire relief organizations."

Read the full interview.