Womble Bond Dickinson announced that Damian C. Georgino has joined the firm’s Corporate and Securities Group as a partner in the Charlotte, N.C. office. Damian advises U.S. and international corporations, including Fortune 50 companies, financial institutions, private equity funds, and other investors in complex transactions involving water and wastewater, energy, industrial/manufacturing, infrastructure, technology, and natural resource projects.

International law firm DAC Beachcroft is pleased to announce the appointment of restructuring and insolvency (R&I) partner Joe Bannister to develop the firm’s London focused R&I practice.

Joe joins DACB from Hogan Lovells, where he has spent his entire legal career to date. With over 35 years of experience, Joe brings with him an extensive track record of working on high profile matters in the national and international R&I markets.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has announced the appointment of Victoria Blanchard as a partner in the Real Estate Disputes practice in the UK.  She joins from Lawyers on Demand where as a consultant she has been working closely with BCLP and its real estate clients for a number of years. 

Simmons & Simmons has announced a double hire to its real estate team in London, with the arrival of Jonathon Wilkes and Ashley Davidson as partners.

Both Jonathon and Ashley join Simmons after more than a decade at Stephenson Harwood, where Jonathon has been head of real estate for ten years, and Ashley a partner since 2021. They have worked together for more than fifteen years, both at Wragge & Co and Stephenson Harwood.

Winston & Strawn LLP announced the addition of LeElle B. Slifer as a partner in the Dallas office and as a member of the Litigation practice.

LeElle has litigated a wide array of complex commercial matters, including disputes involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, oil and gas, securities fraud, antitrust, intellectual property (including patent and copyright infringement and theft of trade secrets), class actions, and mass torts.

Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A., has boosted its international tax capabilities with the addition of Scott J. Bakal as a shareholder in its Fort Lauderdale office. Bakal, who focuses his practice on advising domestic and international high-net-worth clients on tax and estate planning, joins Greenberg Traurig from Neal Gerber Eisenberg in Chicago, where he was a partner and co-chair of the firm’s taxation practice group.

To meet increasing client demand for intellectual property and emerging technology legal counsel, Greenberg Traurig, LLP has added Andrew (A.J.) Tibbetts as a shareholder in the firm’s Boston office. Tibbetts will focus his practice on Intellectual Property & Technology (IP) and Patent Prosecution, including Life Sciences & Medical Technology. He joins the firm from Wolf Greenfield & Sacks. In addition, the Boston office recently added Maksim Y. Mints to the IP & Technology Practice as a patent agent.

Akin Gump is pleased to announce that corporate lawyer Jason Koenig has joined the firm as a partner in its New York office. Mr. Koenig is a seasoned mergers and acquisitions lawyer with extensive experience in private equity and distressed M&A transactions and shareholder activism. His practice comprises M&A, private equity investments, joint ventures, and cross-border and restructuring transactions, with a particular focus on matters relating to corporate governance and shareholder activism.

Leading full service law firm Shakespeare Martineau has welcomed specialist partner Catherine Rustomji to head up its national charity team.

For more than 20 years, Catherine has been exclusively advising charities, social enterprises and not for profit organisations – specialising in charity law and governance, not for profit legal structures, trustee training and board development.

As part of its ambitious growth strategy, leading law firm Shakespeare Martineau has appointed corporate partner Michael Stace.
With more than 25 years’ qualified experience, Michael joins Shakespeare Martineau from Browne Jacobson, where he was head of the firm’s Birmingham office.

Specialising in corporate finance, Michael advises public and private companies, individuals, and institutions on domestic and international M&A, private equity investments, restructurings, joint ventures, and partnership matters.