San Francisco, CA (September 13, 2011) – Morrison & Foerster announced that Bernie Pistillo has joined the firm as a partner in the Tax Department, resident in the San Francisco office. Mr. Pistillo's practice is focused on the federal tax aspects of international M&A transactions and representation of private equity funds.

Mr. Pistillo provides tax advice to many of the world's largest investment banks, hedge funds and other financial institutions and advisors. He regularly advises on the U.S. tax planning aspects of international and domestic mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate restructurings and divestitures, a wide variety of capital market transactions and other investments.

Thomas Humphreys, head of the firm's Federal Tax Practice Group and co-chair of the Tax Department, said, "Bernie is an excellent addition to our Tax Practice and a great complement to our Corporate Practice. His domestic tax expertise, coupled with his international experience, particularly in Asia, will support and enhance the range of corporate transactional work we handle for our clients throughout the firm."

Susan Mac Cormac, co-chair of the firm's Business Department, said: "Morrison & Foerster has worked on some of the most noteworthy cross border deals in technology, healthcare, and consumer products over the last year. As our M&A practice continues to thrive, the need for additional tax support rises in tandem. The addition of Bernie, along with the recent arrivals of David Strong and Eric Roose, substantially enhances our capacity to execute complex, cross-border M&A deals and other transactions."

Mr. Pistillo added: "Morrison & Foerster has a large global footprint, growing tax capabilities, and a leading M&A practice. As deal flow continues to surge, I look forward to making significant contributions to the expansion of the firm's international tax practice."

Mr. Pistillo is a member of the Dean's Advisory Board at Tulane University School of Law, the Committee on Taxation of Business Entities of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and the Tax Review in New York City.

He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Tulane University School of Law in 1981 and his B.A., summa cum laude, from Creighton University in 1978.

He arrives from the New York office of Shearman & Sterling.