Bracewell LLP announced that Alamdar S. Hamdani, the former United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in the government enforcement and investigations practice. Hamdani served as the 24th Presidentially Appointed, Senate Confirmed United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas from December 2022 until January 2025, culminating a 17-year career with the Department of Justice in which he held various leadership roles.

International law firm Bird & Bird bolsters its international Intellectual Property (IP) practice in Sweden with the hire of patent litigator Wendela Hårdemark.

With almost 20 years of specialised experience in IP rights and commercial disputes, Wendela’s practice spans matters related to patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs, marketing law and trade secrets. She has significant courtroom experience, notably in District Courts and arbitrations, with an emphasis on serving clients in the Life Sciences & Healthcare sector.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP announced that real estate lawyers John Bain and Wes Smith have joined the Firm as partners in the Dallas office. John has significant experience in real estate and real estate finance transactions, particularly in the hospitality and leisure sectors. Wes focuses on complex real estate financings, as well as workouts and restructurings.  They are joined by four associates.

Global law firm White & Case LLP has expanded its Global Intellectual Property Practice in London with a team led by partner David Stone and that includes partners Karla Hughes and Adrian Dykes.

Global law firm White & Case LLP has added a group of three top litigation partners to its New York office. The elite team is led by Jonathan Polkes, one of the United States' preeminent litigators who joins the Firm as Co-Head of its Global Litigation Practice, and includes Stacy Nettleton and Adam Banks.

International law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP announced that private equity partner Frances Dales has joined the Firm as a partner in the U.S. Private Equity Group, based in the Los Angeles office.

Sidley is pleased to announce that Jason Mills and Alana Genderson have joined the firm’s Regulatory and Enforcement group as partners in the Environmental practice in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., respectively. Mr. Mills and Ms. Genderson join from Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, where they were co-leaders of the firm’s workplace health and safety practice.

Steptoe LLP has further enhanced its renowned International Trade and Regulatory Compliance practice with the addition of Kevin Garvey as a partner in Washington, DC.

Proskauer, a leading international law firm, is pleased to welcome Mark Rutter as a partner in its Los Angeles office. Mark will join the Firm’s Real Assets Group, bringing his strong mix of experience across real asset transactions. Mark’s practice encompasses a variety of real asset skills including the negotiation of purchase and sale, management, franchise, licensing and branding agreements. He also has experience negotiating restaurant leases and management agreements, technical service agreements and executive compensation and consulting agreements.

Praveen “Prav” Reddy joins Orrick as a partner on its London Restructuring team.
Prav acts for office holders, creditors, debtors, private equity funds, banks and distressed companies in cross-border restructurings. He also advises on insolvency litigation and brings deep experience in office holder driven contentious work including fraud, undervalue, preference, misfeasance and avoidance actions.