Morrison & Foerster LLP - The Who's Who Legal 100 2012

What is the Who's Who Legal 100?

With 11 inclusions, the real estate chapter sees the firm’s strongest showing. The practice includes real estate development, financing, taxation and trust investment. Mark Edelstein is the chair of the real estate finance and distressed real estate groups and focuses on financing, restructurings, bankruptcies and defaults involving commercial properties. He is internationally recommended by a number of peers. In San Francisco, Peter Aitelli represents clients such as Wachovia, Hitachi and Citibank on financing of commercial property, real estate equity release and management of real estate portfolios, among other areas. Craig Etlin has a wide range of interests within the real estate sector, with an emphasis on distressed projects and disputes. Thomas Fileti is head of the Los Angeles real estate practice group and acts for financial institutions and REITs in connection with financing transactions and credit facilitation. In Palo Alto, Philip Levine specialises in distressed projects and debt and equity arrangements. His clients include REITs, private equity firms, institutional investors and real estate developers.

In Tokyo the firm has established an experienced and specialised Asia real estate team headed by Eric Piesner. He has acted for ING real estate Investment Management, Union Investment Real Estate and DEG, among others. Keisuke Mochizuki works on fund formations, innovative real estate finance transactions, and major property acquisitions and development projects. Theodore Seltzer acts for US and Japanese investors on financing, developing, acquiring and disposing of real estate.

In Shanghai, Gregory Sin Oon Tan represents US and Asia-based clients in a range of complex transactions, including M&As, joint ventures, foreign direct investments, project finance and corporate restructuring with significant experience in the real estate area. Managing partner of the Beijing office Paul McKenzie covers regulatory compliance matters and foreign real estate development in and out of China. He also earns a mention in the mining chapter for his representation of domestic mineral and mining companies on M&A deals and financing.

Morrison & Foerster’s environment practice enjoys six listings in our research this year, with peers praising its energy, regulation and litigation talents. Christopher Carr is chair of the environment and energy group, and co-chair of the cleantech group. He specialises in litigation on legislative suits, both state and federal, against government agencies. Peter Hsiao heads the environment and energy and product and chemicals teams in the Los Angeles office. As a former assistant US California district attorney he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to litigation practice. He is “excellent”. In San Francisco, Robert Falk is an expert on water-related litigation, regulation, rights and compliance.

Michael Jacob Steel advises clients on how to deal with hazardous substances, air quality issues, and employee safety, as well as effectively defend against Prop 65 lawsuits and other enforcement actions. Senior counsel, Edgar Washburn is a renowned lawyer in the field with over 30 years’ experience and knowledge in natural resources, energy, environmental and water law. Michèle Corash is held in high esteem for her environment and energy practice. She counsels major clients on environmental regulation, crimes, consumer and competition protection.

In the life sciences chapter, Rachel Krevans and Kate Murashige stand out as highly experienced professionals, and in the competition chapter, Stephen Smith in DC co-chairs the global antitrust and competition practice group and is praised for his “outstanding” work in this area. Similarly, in our patents chapter Patricia Martone is well known as a litigator and licence adviser.

The firm is also represented in a range of other areas, including tax, trademarks, insurance, labour and employment and private funds.