Baker Botts L.L.P., a leading international energy, technology, and life sciences law firm that Mark Castillo-Bernaus has joined the firm as a Global Projects partner and co-chair in its Project Finance group. Based in the London office, Mark is a leading lawyer in the project finance sector and brings a wealth of experience in handling large-scale project financings, with expertise in energy, oil and gas, power, renewables, mining, and infrastructure sectors. Mark Castillo-Bernaus previously served as the Global Head of Project Finance at a leading global law firm.

Knights has strengthened its Family team in Sheffield with the appointment of Demelza Wrigley as a Partner.

Demelza brings more than 20 years of experience in Family law. She has built a strong reputation for delivering pragmatic, clear, and commercially focused legal advice to her clients

Demelza has built a reputation for working with clients on a wide range of challenges, including divorce and financial remedy, grandparent rights, domestic abuse cases, and specialist advice on the Children Act.

Global law firm Hogan Lovells has announced that Andrea Pretti is joining the firm’s Corporate & Finance team as a partner in Milan.
His arrival demonstrates the firm’s ongoing commitment to supporting clients in Italy and follows quickly on the heels of seven partners joining the Corporate & Finance team in Italy in January. Hogan Lovells has welcomed over 50 people to its Italian practices in the last 12 months.

Global law firm DLA Piper has appointed leading Merger and Acquisition (M&A) lawyer David Holland as a partner in its Sydney office.

Global law firm Dentons has strengthened its Brussels office with the recruitment of partner Tom Geudens as Head of the Banking and Finance practice in Belgium. He joins along with his team consisting of senior associate Matthias De Cock and associate Brandon Cheliotis.

Global law firm Ashurst announces the appointment of Raheel Butt as partner in the financial regulatory practice, based in Saudi Arabia, as the firm continues to expand its capabilities in the Middle East.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP announced the addition of four partners—Anne C. Choe, Justin L. Browder, Neesa Patel Sood and Bissie K. Bonner—in Washington, D.C. and New York, where they will focus on registered funds and regulatory and enforcement matters.

Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that Michael Podolny has joined the Palo Alto and San Francisco offices as a partner in the firm’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital (ECVC) practice. Prior to joining Sidley, Mr. Podolny was a partner in the Silicon Valley office of Latham & Watkins LLP.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, the global litigation powerhouse, announced that Rajat Rana has rejoined the firm as a partner in the New York office. Recognized for his prowess in bet-the-company litigations and arbitrations, Rana advises multinational corporations, sovereign clients and high-net-worth individuals in their most complex, high-stakes disputes. Rana joins the firm from Selendy Gay.

Amy Ruhland, a seasoned trial lawyer with an impressive track record of success in high-stakes litigation, has joined Pillsbury’s Austin office. She joins from litigation boutique Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP, where she served as managing partner of the Austin office, and was previously a partner with DLA Piper.