International law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP announced the opening of an office in Luxembourg, focused on assisting private equity clients with the establishment of funds and related regulatory matters. By adding on-the-ground capabilities in Luxembourg, an increasingly important jurisdiction for private equity firms, the new office strengthens Debevoise’s position as a leading advisor for private funds.

Squire Patton Boggs is pleased to announce the appointment of partner Brian Gordon in its Global Corporate Practice. He joins from Holman Fenwick Willan. Mr. Gordon’s appointment follows the recent arrival of Corporate partners Simon Adams and Caroline Brown from Holman Fenwick Willan to the Squire Patton Boggs Perth office.

Squire Patton Boggs is pleased to announce the appointment of partners Chris Swart and Katie Pritchard in the Commodities and Shipping Group. They join from Holman Fenwick Willan and are accompanied by director John Rollason, senior associate Gabriella Martin, and associates Joseph Magoon and Patrick Greaney. Mr. Swart and his colleagues will play a key role in the leadership of the firm’s Commodities and Shipping Group, working closely with partners Barry Stimpson and Jessica Kenworthy, who recently joined the firm from Reed Smith.

Eversheds Sutherland has appointed project finance lawyer, Ashley Halewood, as a partner in its Projects team in Dubai. Ashley joins the firm from Linklaters’ Energy & Infrastructure team in Dubai.

With nine years’ experience working in the Middle East, Ashley has advised on a number of high profile transactions in the infrastructure, renewables, oil & gas, petrochemicals and power and water (IWP, IWPP and ISTP) sectors across the MENA region.

DLA Piper announced that Julie Dunne has joined the firm’s Employment practice as a partner in San Diego.

For over two decades, Dunne has represented leading employers and management, particularly in the retail industry, in a wide range of employment-related matters. She frequently defends employers in wage-and-hour class, collective and private attorney general representative actions under California laws and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Dunne also advises employers on compliance with California wage-and-hour laws and the FLSA.

DAC Beachcroft is pleased to announce the hire of employment partner David Speakman, who joins the firm’s London Walbrook office on 1 June. David, who previously held the role of Counsel at Linklaters, specialises in handling complex employment matters for clients across the financial services and commercial sectors.

This appointment marks a return for David who was a solicitor in the firm from 1999 to 2005. Since then he served as a Conservative (and latterly Independent) Member of Parliament from May 2005 to November 2019. During his political career he was Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor. He was the first solicitor to hold the office of Lord Chancellor.

Baker McKenzie has hired seasoned private equity partner Derek Poon from Kirkland & Ellis in Hong Kong, as part of the Firm's continuous efforts to bolster its bench strength in Hong Kong and its transactional capabilities in Asia Pacific.

International law firm Ashurst announces the appointment of Alinta Kemeny as a partner in its restructuring and special situations group in Melbourne.

Sidley is pleased to announce that Frank Rahmani has joined the firm in Palo Alto as a partner in the Corporate practice, with a focus on emerging companies and capital markets. Mr. Rahmani will also be a member of Sidley’s award-winning Global Life Sciences practice. He was previously a partner at Cooley LLP.