Cooley Adds MoFo Fintech Leaders to Build East Coast Presence

Cooley hired Obrea Poindexter and Sean Ruff, the Washington-based former co-chairs of Morrison & Foerster’s financial technology practice, in a coup for the Silicon Valley-founded firm’s East Coast expansion.

The fintech hires come after an “incredibly strong” year for Cooley in 2020 driven by robust markets for initial public offerings, corporate transactions, and venture capital financing, the firm’s vice chair, Mike Lincoln, said in an interview.

“We are trying to be opportunistic about talent that may be available because of the disruption that has occurred,” Lincoln said, referring to the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing recession.

With its roots in Silicon ...