Orrick has announced that Pietro Merlino has joined our Rome office as a partner and head of the firm’s Italian antitrust and competition practice. He joins from Cleary Gottlieb.

Reed Smith has expanded its global finance practice with the addition of Kevin-Paul Deveau as a partner in its Financial Industry Group in London. Kevin-Paul joins from Dechert, and will play a key role in the further growth of Reed Smith’s funds finance practice and wider banking team.

Global law firm White & Case LLP has expanded its Global International Arbitration Practice with the addition of David Robertson as a new partner in London.

Baker Botts, L.L.P., a leading international law firm has announced that Euan A. Pinkerton has joined the firm's Global Projects Department as a Partner. Mr. Pinkerton will be based in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“The Middle East is an important market for our clients and our firm. Euan has a deep understanding of the market, and his background in projects and project finance, encompassing conventional, Islamic and capital market modes of financing, will add tremendous value for our local and international clients,” said Andrew M. Baker, Managing Partner for Baker Botts.

Squire Patton Boggs has advised the UK’s largest independent hotel group, Bespoke Hotels, on an agreement to design and develop a new five-star luxury hotel in Sun Street, part of the One Crown Place mixed-use development in London. The firm also acted for Bespoke Hotels on the launch of Hotel Gotham in Manchester, which opened in 2015.

San Francisco – Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that the firm advised Saba Software, a portfolio company of Vector Capital, in its execution of a definitive agreement to acquire Lumesse, a leading provider of talent acquisition, talent management and learning experience technology in Europe.

CMS Russia has advised Ovoca Bio Plc on its acquisition of a controlling stake in IVIX, a Russian biomedical R&D company.

The transaction represents a strategic move by Ovoca and an opportunity to tap into the unique potential of the global demand for novel reproductive health products. Fuelled by the creativity of its researchers and the funding provided by Ovoca, IVIX is looking to develop an effective medicinal product and, following completion of the required clinical trials, to put it on the Russian and other markets.

Allen & Overy advised Estera, a provider of corporate, trust, fund and accounting services, on its acquisition of Allegro, a Luxembourg-b ased third-party Management Company with circa EUR8.2 billion in AUM.

The Allen & Overy team was led by Luxembourg-based corporate partner Fabian Beullekens, counsel Jacques Graas and senior associates Clemence Colson and Matthieu de Donder. Founded ten years ago, Allegro is a licensed and regulated fund management company which provides comprehensive services in the alternative asset space.

Muscat—Dentons has advised the National Bank of Oman SAOG ("NBO"), one of the largest banks in the Sultanate of Oman, in relation to the update of its US$1.5 billion Euro Medium Term Note programme (the "Programme"), the upsize of the Programme from US$600 million to US$1.5 billion, and the issue of US$500 million 5.625% notes due 25 September 2023 with strong local and international support. The Programme and issue are rated (Baa3, Moody's) and listed on Euronext Dublin (formerly, the Irish Stock Exchange).

Generali Real Estate has acquired the prime high-street property Købmagergade 39 from a private investor. The property spreads over a total surface of 1.700 sqm.

The transaction marks the first direct asset acquisition ever closed by the company in the Nordics real estate market. The property was built in 1780 and has recently been fully refurbished, and the retail area is fully let to Beauty by Boozt.