SoftBank Appoints Morrison & Foerster Partner to Top Legal Job

• Robert Townsend will also become senior vice president

• Appointment and establishment of legal unit effective Sept. 17

SoftBank Group Corp. is hiring Morrison & Foerster’s Robert Townsend for the newly created role of chief legal officer, as Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son steps up his dealmaking.Townsend, currently co-chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Global M&A Practice Group, will be responsible for leading SoftBank’s legal, compliance operations and corporate governance program on a global basis, the Japanese company said in a statement Tuesday. He’ll also take the role of senior vice president starting Sept. 17. Townsend will report to Son and Chief Operating Officer Marcelo Claure.

The 62-year-old ...