Boies Schiller Flexner (BSF) has made a double partner hire across its New York and Washington DC offices to strengthen its investigations and regulatory teams.

The incoming partners include Peter Skinner, who joins from Morrison & Foerster, and Andrew Smith, who joins from Holland & Knight. Skinner, who returns to BSF after two and half a years at MoFo, will be based in New York and co-lead its investigations and white collar team, while Smith will be based in Washington and cover regulatory, commercial and transactional matters.

Skinner, who helped set up BSF’s global investigations and white collar defence practice during his first stint at the firm, is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer. He will maintain a hybrid criminal and civil practice, advising companies, financial institutions, boards and individuals through all phases of investigation and litigation.

Smith, meantime, brings with him extensive government policy experience, as well as regulatory and corporate matters.

Matthew Schwartz, BSF’s chairman-elect, said: “We are thrilled to have Pete return to the firm and to welcome Andrew. Pete is a friend with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working for many years, and I look forward to continuing to grow our investigations and white collar capabilities with him.”

Skinner spent more than seven years at BSF during his first spell with the firm, leading its investigations and white collar defence practice. Prior to that he spent more than a decade working for the Department of Justice (DoJ) as an assistant US attorney in the Southern District of New York. He started his legal career as an associate at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.

He said: “It’s an exciting time to be rejoining my Boies Schiller colleagues. The range of interesting matters, the ability to take complex cases to trial, the first-rate associates who get stand-up courtroom experience regularly – Boies Schiller is a unique place to practice law. This feels like coming home, and I am energised by what the future of the firm holds.”

Smith arrives after two years as a senior counsel at Holland & Knight, having joined from US Department of Commerce where he was a senior director in its International Trade Administration. He also had spells at the DoJ and the Department of the Treasury, having previously worked in the financial services industry, first as a commodities broker at ICAP and then as a senior analyst at Bank of America.

He said: “Boies Schiller has a reputation for delivering better-than-expected outcomes in difficult situations. My background in the law, government and business gives me a wide perspective from which to support clients, and I am looking forward to growing my practice here while also assisting on a range of existing firm matters. BSF hires the best people to solve the most complex cases, and I am honoured to be joining its ranks.”

The duo’s arrival are the latest lateral hires as the firm continues to replenish its benches following a period of senior departures. Back in May it hired a trio of patent litigation partners from Shook Hardy & Bacon in Washington.