International law firm Gowling WLG has appointed Thomas Mayer as a partner in its Munich office.

Thomas joins from Maiwald in Munich, where he was an intellectual property (IP) partner and one of the firm's managing directors. He brings significant additional experience to Gowling WLG's growing IP team in Germany, with his appointment coming at a time when substantial new work is being generated by the IP team around the world.

International law firm Simmons & Simmons will expand its Dispute Resolution practice following the recruitment of a new partner*, Leonardo Giani. Leonardo will join the firm on 01 February 2018 to lead the Insurance Litigation team in Milan, he joins from Baker McKenzie where he was partner.

Morrison & Foerster served as sole counsel to SoftBank in facilitating the successful close of SoftBank’s primary and secondary investment in Uber, the largest ever private secondary transaction in the technology space.

The MoFo deal team was led by Suz Mac Cormac, a partner in the firm’s San Francisco office, and included partner Alex Kaufman (Palo Alto), partner Noah Carr (Tokyo) and Ken Siegel, managing partner of the firm’s Tokyo office.

Skadden is representing DIXY Group in connection with a buyout of approximately 20 percent of PJSC DIXY Group shares from funds managed by Prosperity Capital Management.

Skadden is advising L1 Retail, the retail arm of the LetterOne Group, on the increase of its shareholding in Distribuidora Internacional de Alimentación, S.A.

Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised Goldman Sachs Private Capital, as mandated lead arranger and original lender, on the facilities agreement for a term loan facility, multicurrency super senior revolving credit facility and multicurrency uncommitted accordion term loan facility, entered into by Goldman Sachs and Corsair Capital as borrower to part finance the acquisition of RGI S.p.A., an independent software developer of systems and platforms for insurers, agents, brokers and financial consultants.

Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised J.P. Morgan as Global Co-ordinator, and Banca IMI, Santander, Banca Akros and Kommunalkredit, on a landmark project bond financing for the construction of the Superstrada Pedemontana Veneta toll road in the Veneto region of Italy.

The transaction comprises the issuance of €1.221 billion variable rate senior secured amortizing notes and €350 million step-up subordinated secured notes in an innovative "bond only" capital structure where the junior notes provide a capital cushion during the construction phase.

Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has added Laurie J. Rust as a shareholder in its Denver office. Rust, an experienced labor and employment litigator, joins from Gordon & Rees.

“Laurie is a seasoned attorney whose client-centered approach will be an excellent addition to the firm,” said Alan McLaughlin, Denver office managing shareholder. “Her deep experience complements Littler’s singular employment law focus and we are excited to have her as part of the team in Denver.”

Loyens & Loeff advised Invesco Asset Management on the acquisition of a hotel portfolio from Apollo Global Management.

A team comprised of members from various offices, led by Stuttgart-based partner Dr. Peter Ladwig, advised TimePartner Group, one of Germany's leading personnel service providers, on the acquisition of the HR services division from Weiderer Holding GmbH and accompanied the transaction. The transaction comprised all shares held by Weiderer Holding GmbH in aartos Personalservice, Weiderer Personaldienste, and opTEAMum Personaldienstleistungen.