By Sara Merken

Dec 11 (Reuters) - Morrison Foerster said on Wednesday that it has hired a team of seven lawyers from rival U.S. law firm Goodwin Procter, including partner Peter Fusco, who will co-lead its emerging companies and venture capital group.

Joining Fusco as partners at the San Francisco-founded Morrison Foerster are Jae Zhou and Frank Paz. The New York-based lawyers advise venture funds, startups and other early-stage technology companies, which can be an attractive client base for law firms.

The group's other co-chairs, Michael Glaser and Jim Krenn, are based in California. Glaser in a statement said Fusco's tech-focused team expands its presence in New York's "dynamic business market." Fusco was not immediately available for comment.

Morrison Foerster's website lists more than 100 lawyers in its emerging companies group. The firm has more than 1,000 attorneys globally.

At Goodwin, Fusco co-led a team of lawyers that advised Salt Lake City-based Pathology Watch on its sale to Sydney, Australia-based Sonic Healthcare in 2023, according to a Goodwin announcement of its work on the deal.

Fusco and other lawyers on the team joined Goodwin as part of a group hire of technology attorneys from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe in 2021.

Another lawyer from that group, William Wilson, joined Morrison Foerster's technology transactions group from Goodwin in July. In March, Morrison Foerster had hired five cybersecurity lawyers from Goodwin, including a practice leader.

A Goodwin spokesperson said the firm wishes Fusco well.

(Reporting by Sara Merken)