Morrison Foerster - True Picture

Firm profile

Morrison Foerster is a leading global firm, with over 1,000 lawyers in key technology and finance centres in the US, Europe and Asia. In Europe we have a team of elite lawyers in our strategic hubs of London, Berlin and Brussels. We work alongside our colleagues in the U.S. and Asia, drawing on cultural, jurisdictional and market knowledge to deliver the best advice and client service.

Dynamic technology and life sciences companies, some of the largest financial investors and financial institutions, leading consumer product companies, and other market leaders come to MoFo for our expertise, knowledge, advice, and individually tailored client service. We handle some of the world’s largest cross-border transactions and resolve some of the biggest disputes across multiple jurisdictions.

Our firm was built on, and continues to succeed, because of the talent of our lawyers and their innovative approach in the practice of law. We practice in a collegial environment where we value teamwork, diverse perspectives and employee wellbeing. As our nickname MoFo suggests, we take our work seriously but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.  

Main areas of work

Capital Markets, Competition/Antitrust and National Security, Corporate/M&A, Data Privacy, Employment, Financial Transactions, Intellectual Property, Investigations, Disputes, Arbitration, Real Estate Finance, Outsourcing, Tax and Technology Transactions. Training opportunities.

Training opportunities

Our approach at Morrison Foerster enables trainees to start strong in their legal careers, with an induction that is carefully crafted to enhance professional and practical skills developed during formal education. This equips trainees with the essential tools to meet the needs of our colleagues across the firm and clients. Trainees have access to a variety of mentors and a network of support and resources to guide them through new experiences and ongoing learning and development opportunities required to underpin their legal skills.

This varies from initial core trainee orientation sessions, regular training via our regional and global Attorney Learning & Development offering, practice group sessions, relevant industry associations, significant daily responsibility and autonomy, and contributions to our culture and future of the firm. This combined approach stretches trainees to develop their core skills and behaviours and understand the business of law to deliver exceptional client service on complex global matters.

From day one, you’ll have direct contact with clients. You will feel valued and involved. The hands-on experience we offer will help you understand the legal and commercial context of the advice we give. You will quickly experience the satisfaction of going the extra mile for our clients.

We’ll provide the opportunity for you to work with lawyers from a wide range of jurisdictions and indirectly with lawyers in our network of offices across the United States, Asia and Europe.

During your training, you’ll have the opportunity to work in at least three distinct areas of law and typically spend six months in four different departments. Corporate M&A and Litigation & Dispute Resolution are two of our core areas of practice in London, but there’s also a wide range of specialised practice areas to get involved in across transactional and contentious work, such as Finance and Banking, Capital Markets, Antitrust/Competition, Data Privacy, Employment, Intellectual Property, Private Equity Real Estate, Real Estate Finance, Tax and Technology Transactions. Trainees have numerous opportunities to work with colleagues across the firm on both matters and pro bono projects.

We believe that exposure to the broader MoFo network is an invaluable part of your development, so there are also opportunities to gain experience in our international offices or with our clients, through our trainee secondment scheme.

Partners, associates and business professionals at the firm are committed to supporting trainees succeed, so you will receive plenty of formal and informal support, including a trainee buddy (a second-year trainee), trainee supervisor (for each of the four seats) and trainee liaison. Your liaison will be an associate who will act as your mentor throughout your training, helping you to identify strengths, areas for development and stretch opportunities, and offering personalised career insights.

There is an active mentoring programme, a formal evaluation and feedback process every quarter and career development workshops tailored to individual needs and interests. Trainees also have access to our health and well-being resources, such as free subscriptions to the Calm app, the Walking on Earth (WONE) app and Talkspace, subsidised gym membership, lifestyle coaching, and a wealth of online information on our portal. In addition to the above, the Attorney Talent and Graduate & Trainee Leadership Team is a constant source of guidance and stewardship.  

Vacation scheme

A vacation scheme at Morrison Foerster is a great opportunity to see what training at MoFo can offer. Morrison Foerster recruits all London trainees solely from our vacation schemes, so it’s vital that you apply for one if you’re interested in a training at MoFo.

In 2025, MoFo will be running two, two-week summer vacation schemes from 16 June to 27 June and from 30 June to 11 July. Our vacation schemes provide insight into life at MoFo and offer the opportunity to consider whether it is the right firm for you. Summer associates will gain a good picture of how much responsibility trainees are given; it’s also a chance to meet others on the scheme as well and the Firm’s partners, associates and business professionals. You’ll have the chance to complete real client work, conduct legal research and attend client meetings. The firm’s partners, associates, trainees and graduate & trainee committee will be on hand to provide support, and you’ll be able to ask them any questions you might have. You’ll also have the chance to attend social events, allowing you to get to know everyone in a more relaxed setting.

Typically, you will sit in two departments during your time with us and get a good understanding of both our transactional and contentious work. We ask our vacation scheme associates to complete assessed tasks and so you should expect to learn a lot about the role of a trainee at MoFo and what is expected of you.  

Apply here: https://phg.tbe.taleo.net/phg03/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=MOFO&cws=70&rid=9715

Other benefits

25 days’ holiday; pension; private medical insurance; dental plan; group life assurance; group income protection; employee assistance programme; free Calm app subscription; WONE app subscription; Talkspace access; WorkLife Central access; subsidised gym membership; back-up dependents care; season ticket loan; cycle scheme; lifestyle coaching.

University law careers fairs 2024/25

We will be attending a number of the law fairs and events scheduled for this autumn, including, but not limited to: TO BE PROVIDED SOON 

Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing
Morrison Foerster is a place where you can be your personal and professional best; belonging and inclusion is in our DNA. It’s at the heart of everything we do, a core value of our culture and our ethos. We are an international firm with a global diversity and inclusion strategy that is tailored to regional and local needs, while maintaining a one-firm approach, reflective of our people and the communities we serve.

Diversity in Action
For over 40 years, MoFo has been committed to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment where everyone’s contributions are valued. It is essential to who we are as a firm. By each bringing our diverse experiences to work, we strengthen the quality of the service that we provide to our clients, the legal profession and our communities.

We’ve been a long-time champion for diversity within the legal profession and take pride in our diverse workplace. We believe that lawyers with different backgrounds, interests and experiences work together to create better solutions and offer innovative perspectives for our clients. We continuously work to attract, develop and retain talented lawyers from all backgrounds.

Our London attorneys Trevor James and Charlotte Walker-Osbourn (Partners) are co-chairs on the European firmwide Diversity Strategy Committee, reporting to the firmwide Diversity Strategy Committee, founded in 2003. The primary mission of the Committee is to recommend major diversity goals and objectives to our board of directors. We also have a number of active London affinity groups that collaborate with regional and global colleagues to deliver initiatives that are important to us. 

London Diversity Initiatives
Globally, MoFo has over 35 affinity groups that provide support networks and programming for various employee groups. In the London office specifically, we have affinity groups for members and allies of LGBTQ+, for women, and MoFo Together, which focuses on raising awareness and addressing some of the barriers facing underrepresented communities in the legal profession and beyond. Our senior women lawyers in London also play a role in the firm’s global women’s strategy committee, which works closely with firm leadership, including the firm’s chair, firmwide managing partners and board of directors, to ensure that the advancement of women is a constant strategic priority.

• MoFo Together
MoFo Together aims to address the barriers facing underrepresented communities (including ethnic minorities) by raising awareness and providing dedicated support to help every individual at Morrison Foerster live their potential. Valuing, respecting and celebrating cultural differences are fundamental to growing and sustaining a diverse workforce, improving the experience of underrepresented groups and looking at the role that each MoFo colleague has as allies to support. MoFo Together seeks to do this, and more, by spearheading initiatives to create an inclusive workplace for all through four pillars of inclusion, education, empowerment and representation.

• Women’s Strategy Committee
MoFo Women holds regularly events addressing global topics and regional ones, with a packed agenda of programmes for women and allies. Based on the four pillars, their strategic approach ensures that topics facing women in the profession now and in the future are explored and openly discussed to enhance the support needed and available. Our senior female lawyers in London also play a role in the firm’s global Women’s Strategy Committee, which works closely with firm leadership, including the firm’s chair, firmwide managing partners and the board of directors to ensure that the advancement of women is a constant strategic priority.

• LGBTQ+ Affinity Group
MoFo London’s active LGBTQ+ affinity group brings together members of that community as well as its supporters. The LGBTQ+ affinity group provides a forum to discuss issues of concern to the LGBTQ+ community and works to advance networking opportunities within the London office and the broader firm, with clients and across the broader London business community. We’re proud that our chair emeritus was the first openly gay managing partner of an international law firm.

• Healthy Minds Focus Group
Healthy MoFo is our global firm initiative dedicated to creating awareness, promoting healthy habits and providing tools to support overall physical and mental workplace well-being. Our London Healthy MoFo group has developed an active programme, partnering with neuroscientists, psychologists, nutritionists and financial experts to provide information, resources and opportunities for discussion about topics that contribute to a healthy lifestyle.