International firm Morrison & Foerster was founded in San Francisco in 1883. Over 135 years later, the firm has expanded to 17 offices across the US, Europe and Asia. In the United States, the firm has offices in Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Northern Virginia, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington DC.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is active across all financial and corporate practice areas as well as project development, but is best known for its outstanding work in restructuring and insolvency.
In financial services regulatory the firm acts for companies on compliance matters related to investments and acquisitions. It also is active in fintech and payment related matters.
In derivatives the team advises banks and other companies in financial services on margin loans, options, swaps, futures, forwards and cryptocurrency related transactions. Many of these transactions had a related regulatory component.
The investment funds team represents investment and private equity firms in fund formations. The restructuring and insolvency practice advises creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings.
The firm has taken great strides in diversity. In addition to being Mansfield Plus certified, it has won numerous awards for their diversity initiatives.
Key clients
Key clients for the firm include the Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority Funds, official committee of unsecure creditors of The NORDAM Group, ad hoc group of holders of debt issued or guaranteed by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Visa, Walmart, Cathay Bank, Oxygen, Adara, GoldPoint Partners, GSSG Solar Partners and CGI Merchant Group.
Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)
Within the research period the financial services regulatory team advised clients on compliance issues stemming from acquisitions and financial investments. It was also very active in matters relating to payment agreements and fintech matters.
The derivatives practice advised clients in the banking and financial services industry on OTC products as well as cryptocurrency matters.
The investment funds group continued to act for private equity and investment management clients in fund formations, investing in different industries.
The restructuring and insolvency team represented groups of creditors across numerous ongoing Chapter 11 proceedings. Energy, especially oil, gas and coal, was a heavily hit industry. Additionally, the team did a lot of work across many of the separate and related proceedings associated with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy.
The corporate finance and capital markets brought over New York based partner Ann Becchina, who specializes in derivatives, from Davis Polk. The Boston office brought over private funds partner Todd Boudreau from Foley & Lardner. In the restructuring and insolvency department, partner Jonathan Levine left for Arnold & Porter.
The year 2019 marked the opening of Morrison & Foerster’s Boston office.
Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Title III restructuring
Windstream Holdings Chapter 11 restructuring
