MoFo Builds in London with Tech Transactions Trio From Morgan Lewis, Baker McKenzie

Why It Matters

The addition strengthens MoFo’s cross‑border tech M&A platform, positioning it to capture growing AI, fintech and data‑centre work. It also signals continued consolidation among elite law firms competing for high‑value technology mandates.

Key Takeaways

• MoFo adds three senior tech‑transactions lawyers from Morgan Lewis and Baker McKenzie
• New hires expand MoFo’s London tech M&A, outsourcing, and data‑centre expertise
• Firm now has ~30 partners in London, 10 hires in past year
• 2025 revenue topped $1.5 bn, net income $567 m, up 9.2% and 6.6%

Pulse Analysis

Morrison Foerster’s latest London recruitment underscores a broader wave of lateral moves among elite firms seeking to dominate the technology‑focused legal market. By poaching senior partners from Morgan Lewis and Baker McKenzie, MoFo accelerates a hiring spree that added ten lawyers to its UK capital in the past twelve months, spanning litigation, tax, private equity and fintech. The strategy reflects the firm’s ambition to deepen its cross‑border capabilities at a time when London remains a hub for multinational tech transactions, and rivals such as Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy are similarly beefing up their tech benches.

The three newcomers bring complementary skill sets that map directly onto high‑growth sectors. Will Holder’s track record includes the $1.9 bn Universal Music Group acquisition of EMI and fintech joint‑ventures, positioning him to advise on complex public‑private M&A. Mike Pierides adds expertise in outsourcing, data‑privacy, cybersecurity and emerging “GPU‑as‑a‑service” structures, while Oliver Bell focuses on large‑scale IT outsourcing and data‑centre projects. Their arrival dovetails with MoFo’s 2025 financial results—a 9.2 % revenue rise to over $1.5 bn and a 6.6 % net‑income increase—demonstrating that technology‑heavy work is a key profit driver.

Beyond London, MoFo’s 2026 launch of a Seattle office housing a 15‑partner litigation team signals a coordinated global expansion aimed at serving U.S. tech clients on both sides of the Atlantic. The Seattle move, timed before Perkins Coie’s merger with Ashurst, illustrates how top firms are pre‑emptively securing talent to capture market share in the post‑pandemic tech boom. For corporate clients, the expanded MoFo platform promises seamless advice across jurisdictions, while the firm’s aggressive hiring may intensify competition for top legal talent and drive further consolidation in the sector.