Charles Russell Speechlys announces the appointment of James Stewart as a Partner within the Firm’s Corporate Tax and Incentives team.

Further strengthening its preeminent Chambers Band 1-ranked employment practice, Paul Hastings LLP announced that the premier four-partner employment team of Paul Evans, Krissy Katzenstein, Blair Robinson, and Jeffrey Sturgeon has joined the firm in New York.

Kirkland & Ellis announced that Jared Axelrod and Suril Patel are joining the Firm as partners in the Debt Finance Group, where they will be part of the Structured Finance & Structured Private Credit Practice. Mr. Axelrod will lead the build out of the Firm’s global collateralized loan obligation (CLO) practice, and Mr. Patel will be Kirkland’s first structured finance lawyer in London.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP announced that financial regulatory lawyer Revathi Raghavan will join the firm as a partner in the Investment Funds Group of the Corporate Department, resident in London. Raghavan advises on the regulatory aspects of fund formation, as well as on M&A in the financial services sector and on regulatory change projects.

International law firm Gowling WLG has strengthened its UK Tax team with the appointment of Kate Featherstone as a partner.

Kate specialises in all aspects of business related and transactional tax, regularly advising on mergers and acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, reorganisations, lending and investments. Her clients commonly comprise corporates, management teams, banks and other financial institutions.

Kate joins the firm from Irwin Mitchell, where she was a partner in the corporate tax team. She will operate from the firm's offices in Birmingham and London.

International law firm Bird & Bird grows its Tech & Comms group with the arrival of tech and data expert Nick O’Connell. Nick will support the firm’s technology clients on their business needs across the Middle East.

Described in Chambers & Partners as “the best Saudi-based lawyer for IT matters”, Nick has unrivalled experience in building and managing a successful regional technology, media and telecommunications practice.

CMS is pleased to announce that Austin Judson is joining its real estate practice as a partner. Initially based in the firm’s Manchester office, Austin will relocate to Riyadh in early 2025 to strengthen CMS's real estate capabilities in the Middle East. Alongside his focus on Saudi Arabia, Austin will work closely with CMS’s established real estate team in the UAE, led by partner Geoff Smith.

CMS is delighted to announce the appointment of Stuart Tait as a partner, launching its Restructuring & Insolvency (R&I) offering in the North of England.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP announced that Gillian Emmett Moldowan has joined the Firm’s New York office as a Partner in the Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Practice.

“We are delighted to welcome Gillian to Simpson Thacher,” said Alden Millard, Chair of Simpson Thacher’s Executive Committee. “Gillian’s diverse experience in this area will be the perfect complement to the Firm’s stellar Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Practice, and clients across our platform will benefit from her addition to the team.”

Womble Bond Dickinson announced that David L. Attanasio has joined the firm’s Business Litigation Practice as a partner in Washington, DC. Attanasio focuses on international arbitration and cross-border litigation, with extensive experience representing clients in the energy and natural resources sector and disputes relating to Latin America. His international arbitration advocacy has been recognized in leading legal directories, including Chambers USA, Who’s Who Legal, and Legal 500 US.