Simmons & Simmons boosts its global practice with the hire of employment partners Vicky Wickremeratne in London and Colleen Cleary in Dublin.

Vicky Wickremeratne is a highly recognised and experienced UK employment partner and re-joins Simmons after moving from an in-house role for a global investment firm and, prior to this, another international law firm.

Her practice focuses on high-value litigation - including discrimination, whistleblowing, trade secret and business protection claims - workplace investigations, and strategic people risk management.

Freshfields announced that John Rousakis has joined the firm’s Corporate practice in New York.

DWF, the global provider of integrated legal and business services, has further strengthened its Major Injury and Casualty practice with the appointment of five senior lateral hires.

Jennifer Harris, Richard West, Claire Mulligan and Gareth Thomas will all join as partners from Kennedys, while Victoria Kennedy will join as a partner from DAC Beachcroft. Jennifer joined DWF earlier this month, while Richard, Claire, Gareth and Victoria will all join the firm in the coming months.

Boies Schiller Flexner LLP announced that former supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jacqueline Kelly has joined the firm as a partner in its New York City office. 

Alston & Bird announced that Emily Stephens has joined the firm as a partner in Los Angeles. Emily will work primarily with the firm’s Investment Funds Group, Fund Finance Group, and Private Credit Group. Her arrival further expands the firm’s investment funds and fund finance / private credit offerings and strengthens its West Coast impact.

Knights, the UK’s regional professional services business, has strengthened its national Planning team in Portsmouth with the appointment of Bernard Ralph as a Partner.

Having worked in private practice in both the UK and Australia, Bernard brings more than 20 years of experience to the business and is an expert in all elements of the planning process.

Global law firm Freshfields has announced the appointments of private equity (PE) real estate lawyers David Seymour and Will Bryant, who will join the firm from Ropes & Gray in London.

Seymour and Bryant focus on cross-border transactions, advising European and global private equity real estate funds, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, family offices and operating partners across all types of real investments, assets and businesses. Their industry experience includes data centres, logistics, major retail and social and educational investments.

DLA Piper is pleased to welcome Joshua Gardner as a Partner in the White Collar, Investigations, and Government Enforcement practice. He will be based in the Washington, DC office.

Global law firm Reed Smith announces the hire of Evelyn Wang as partner in its Hong Kong office.

Wang joins from Haitong International Securities Group, a leading Chinese financial institution, where she was a director in the Loan Capital Markets team. Haitong International provides comprehensive financial services including corporate finance, asset management, etc., for Chinese and international private equity sponsors, enterprises, and institutions.

Proskauer, a leading international law firm, is pleased to welcome Lawrence (Larry) Berkovich as a partner in the Firm’s Structured Credit practice in New York.