Leading international law firm Hill Dickinson has announced the appointment of Sam Nichols, who joins the firm’s London City office as a construction partner.

Leading international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has hired Ziyanda Ntshona as a partner in the Corporate practice based in Johannesburg. She will lead the firm's South Africa Corporate practice.

Ziyanda is a M&A/private equity lawyer with two decades of experience and expertise in all aspects of M&A including reorganisations, private equity and general corporate transactions in South Africa and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa.

CMS is pleased to announce the appointment of George Metcalfe as a partner in the firm’s Funds practice, based in London. George joins from Freeths where he was also a partner.

International law firm DAC Beachcroft has appointed Sam Kneebone as a Partner in its Lawyers’ Liability practice in Bristol. Sam joins from RPC where he specialised in defending negligence claims and regulatory investigations primarily against solicitors, barristers, accountants and auditors.

Global law firm Ashurst announces the appointment of Teruma Naito as a partner in the Projects & Energy Transition (PET) practice, based in Tokyo, bringing extensive experience and expertise in energy transition and infrastructure projects.

Global law firm Ashurst announces the appointment of Antonio Azzara as a partner to lead and grow the Italian restructuring & special situations practice.

Antonio has over 20 years' experience specialising in restructuring and bankruptcy law and has been involved in some of the most significant restructurings in Italy, along with advising on complex Italian and cross-border distressed M&A deals.

Global law firm Ashurst announces the appointment of regulatory risk partner Tom Lodder in the Risk Advisory team, based in London, as the firm continues to strengthen its consulting capabilities and provide clients with comprehensive, integrated legal and risk advisory services.

The Rt. Hon. Alex Chalk KC will join Jones Day as a partner in the Global Disputes Practice based in the London Office.

Mr. Chalk is an English-qualified King's Counsel (KC). He served as Member of Parliament for Cheltenham from 2015-2024 and became the first MP from that seat to sit in Cabinet. His roles included Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Justice, Minister of State for Defence Procurement, HM Solicitor General for England & Wales, and Minister of State for Prisons and Probation.

Former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger will rejoin Greenberg Traurig, LLP Feb. 1 as co-chair of the firm’s Global Litigation Practice and founding chair of the New Jersey office. Prior to his appointment as U.S. Attorney in 2021, Sellinger founded Greenberg Traurig’s New Jersey office in 2002 and served as co-chair of the firm’s Global Litigation Practice.

International law firm Simmons & Simmons has announced the hire of leading competition lawyer Sarah Smith as partner and head of its UK competition and antitrust team based in London.

Sarah joins Simmons from another international law firm, where she was head of its UK competition team.