Morrison & Foerster and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft are both making strategic plays in securities and finance practices by adding practice area leaders from rival firms in Washington, D.C.

Morrison & Foerster has hired at least four DLA Piper lawyers in a calculated play to set up a D.C. team to advise on financing transactions for development finance institutions, multilateral agencies, regional development banks and export credit agencies around the world. To jump-start the practice area, Morrison & Foerster has added as partners Greg Smith and Ann Lilienthal.