David Fertig/courtesy photo

Morrison & Foerster has hired David Fertig, a complex commercial litigator who has been a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges since 2006.

Fertig's addition in New York is part of the firm's "ambitious growth strategy" targeting key markets and practice groups, said Bradley Wine, a global co-chairman of Morrison & Foerster's litigation department. Last year, he said, the firm brought on more than 40 lateral partners. He said Fertig had "a well-deserved and excellent reputation" among clients.

Clients listed on Fertig's former Weil profile included Lehman Brothers, Sanofi, GE and Thomson Reuters.

Fertig, who joined Morrison & Foerster as a partner Wednesday after leaving Weil on Monday, said he "had a great run at Weil" but was attracted by the opportunities at Morrison & Foerster. The firm, he said, would serve as an "ideal platform" for his practice, which has included life sciences litigation, trade secret cases, government contracting disputes and a broad array of other complex commercial matters. He said his clients knew the firm's brand well.

"You get a lot of offers from firms that don't have the kind of reputation, that don't have the kind of world-class practice, or that don't have all the attributes that MoFo has," Fertig said in an interview. He said the firm had the same global footprint as Weil and he'll be able to service both his own clients and institutional clients of Morrison & Foerster.

A Weil spokesman didn't immediately respond to a comment request on Thursday.