Jina Choi has joined Morrison & Foerster as partner in the firm’s Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White-Collar Defense group in San Francisco.
Choi spent the last 16 years at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where she was head of the SEC’s San Francisco Regional Office for five years and developed a reputation for her work on high-profile, complex, and novel enforcement actions.
At the SEC, Choi led a staff of 130 attorneys, accountants, and other professionals responsible for the SEC’s enforcement and compliance programs in Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska. She supervised teams of attorneys in the investigation and litigation of cases involving violations of the federal securities laws, including financial reporting fraud, investment fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations, insider trading, market manipulation, and investment adviser/broker-dealer fraud. As Regional Director, Choi also made significant contributions to the SEC’s examination program, leading a talented group of examiners whose work involving developing technology was particularly strategic.
In addition to her time at the SEC, Choi’s government experience includes serving as an Assistant US Attorney (AUSA) in the Northern District of Texas, as a Trial Attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice, and as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert P Patterson, Jr in the US District Court, Southern District of New York. She also has experience in private practice at other large law firms.
At Morrison & Foerster, Choi will represent and counsel companies and individuals on enforcement-related litigation, government and internal investigations, whistleblower complaints, and compliance programs.
“Jina’s insight into the investigation process makes her an exceptional resource to clients in high-stakes matters,” says Craig Martin, firmwide Managing Partner and co-head of the firm’s Investigations + White-Collar Defense Group. “Her unique vantage point on SEC enforcement and regulation will be essential to clients facing a complex enforcement and compliance environment.”
“Jina’s reputation, insights, and unparalleled experience will greatly serve our clients on multiple fronts,” adds Jordan Eth, co-chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White-Collar Defense Group. “Jina is uniquely qualified to manage bet-the-company matters and help our clients build strong compliance programs.”
“Morrison & Foerster is a top tier law firm with global capabilities. The firm’s impressive client roster, market-leading position in the Bay Area, and deep bench of lawyers with government experience were all a significant draw for me,” says Choi. “I look forward to working with the outstanding team at MoFo and providing counsel and advocacy for any clients facing a crisis implicating the federal securities laws.”
Choi joining Morrison & Foerster highlights the firm’s commitment to adding exceptional lawyers in the San Francisco Bay Area market. Recent additions to the Litigation team in the Bay Area include white-collar litigators Christine Wong and Joshua Hill, Jr, both former AUSAs in the Northern District of California; and a group of six intellectual property litigators led by Stefani Shanberg and Jennifer Schmidt.
