DLA Piper has hired a former general counsel of the African Development Bank to co-chair the firm’s U.S.-Africa practice out of its Washington, D.C., office.

Kalidou Gadio spent 27 years at the AfDB, including eight years as general counsel. He joins DLA Piper from Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle, where he practiced as a partner for three years, according to his LinkedIn profile.