Ruti Smithline of Morrison & Foerster. Ruti Smithline. Courtesy photo Welcome to another edition of our Litigation Leaders series, featuring the litigation practice leaders at some of the biggest and most innovative law firms in the country. Meet Ruti Smithline, the global co-chair of the litigation department Morrison Foerster, who is based in New York. Smithline, who focuses on white-collar defense and investigations work, is also co-chair of the firm's Latin America desk.