Voice of Experience: Anna Pinedo, Partner, Morrison Foerster

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“If you’re good at what you do, most people will understand different approaches and work styles,” said Anna Pinedo, a Partner in the Capital Markets Group at Morrison Foerster. She advises women entering law “not to assume that there is any one right path.”

“The one rule I’ve leanred is that there aren’t any hard and fast rules to follow,” Pinedo said. She continued, “All along, colleagues, clients, and friends have given me career advice. I listen carefully, but decide things for myself.”

Having been named one of the Best Lawyers in America 2010, as well as featured in Crain’s New York Business “Forty Under 40,” Investment Dealer’s Digest “Forty Under 40,” and Hispanic Business‘s “100 Most Influential Hispanics, Pinedo has build a successful, globally recognized career in capital markets and derivatives law.

Her leadership advice for professional women is: “Spend time being involved in professional organizations, talking to colleagues at other firms, and building close relationships with clients – it’s amazing how helpful other people can be.”

Building a Career in Law

Pinedo attended Georgetown‘s School of Foreign Service, and then went straight to the University of Chicago Law School. She said, “I went to law school with the notion that I would not be a litigator – I’ve always been interested in business and finance and really enjoy transactional work.”

After law school, Pinedo began working at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP and was soon made partner. In 2003, she joined Morrison Foerster with a group of colleagues. “I am a partner in the capital markets group, dealing with securities offerings as well as derivatives questions,” she said.

In addition to maintaining her practice, Pinedo is also an author. “With my partner Jim Tannenbaum, I’ve written three books in the last three years – I’ve put a fair bit of effort in, to do that while keeping up with client work,” she explained. Pinedo’s books include Covered Bonds Handbook, Exempt and Hybrid Securities Offerings, BNA Tax and Accounting Portfolio, and SEC Reporting Issues for Foreign Private Issuers. She has also contributed to several other publications as well. Covered Bonds Handbook will be released this summer.

Looking forward, Pinedo said, she’d like to do more writing. She said, “Perhaps not necessarily legal writing though. Something fictional, something for myself.”

Industry Issues – Law and the Capital Markets

According to Pinedo, this is a very interesting time to be practicing law in the financial services industry. “As a general matter, even being a spectator right now is interesting – of course, being involved in many cases – helping my clients deal with the financial crisis and with Dodd Frank – has been fascinating,” she said.

She continued, “Having the government as a stockholder is a novel experience, and it’s very interesting trying to help work through the reorganization of business lines and financing approaches, coming to terms with regulation, and anticipating how to conduct different lines of business in the future.”

Dealing with lawmakers has also been a new experience for Pinedo. She said, “Except for a little time at Georgetown when I was an intern, I was never involved in the legislative process. Watching such fundamental regulatory changes take place has been a unique experience. We probably won’t see a period like this ever again.”

She explained, “A lot of what I have focused on in recent years involves creating new financial and derivatives products. It’s interesting to see how the debate has continued, asking ‘are derivatives risky? Is financial innovation dangerous in some way? How can we design regulation that still permits financial innovation and still lets the US be competitive?’”

Women in Law

One of the most difficult aspects women in law encounter is the erratic schedule, Pinedo said. “It’s a challenge to juggle different obligations. For both business and law, one of the most challenging things is that it’s very difficult to control your schedule. In a client service business, you have to be available when clients need help… and that doesn’t necessarily follow a set schedule.”

Work life balance can be attained, but, she mused, “I’m probably the prototype for all of the things not to do!”

She continued, “It’s helpful if you accept that at any period of time, you’re going to be a little off balance. Making time is essential – but how one approaches all of these matters involves many personal choices that no one can make for you. I tend to function better the more I have to do. I find I’m more efficient that way.”

Pinedo is concerned about the growing number of women leaving the practice of law. “In the past five years – maybe more – many more women are leaving law firms to pursue other opportunities. It’s a disappointing development and bears watching. I worry that our profession is becoming less attractive for women.”

“We have been very fortunate at Morrison Foerster. We have been quite focused and committed to diversity in the workplace,” she said, explaining that the firm allows for flex scheduling, part time work, and makes a point to include women in management roles and firm committees,” she continued.

“It’s a very good environment, with a real focus on evaluating the types of programs that are useful to associates, senior associates, and female partners.”

In Her Spare Time

Pinedo is involved with a number of non profit organizations, including the New York Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). “They do such important work for women. …But [many people] are not focused on how relevant the organization remains today, including working on legislation in New York state on human trafficking, providing useful programs for women who are unemployed, and working on family law matters. There is a lot that still remains to be done.”

She continued, “The Executive Director, Sonia Ossorio, who, like me, is a Cuban American lawyer, really brings such enthusiasm to her role. It really is contagious.”

The other project Pinedo mentioned was Cristo Rey, a series of Jesuit-run schools in New York that provide low income students with a college-prep education as well as work experience. Particularly, Pinedo is involved with a school in Harlem.

She explained, “The kids spend time working in law firms, investment banks, consulting firms, and other professional services firms, and that pays for part of their tuition. It’s a wonderful program that serves different purposes – a great education and preparation for college, and also the benefit of starting to see the work setting, very often helping them see things they wouldn’t otherwise have insight into.”