Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has continued to expand its aviation finance practice with the hire of partner Asheesh Das.

Ash specialises in asset and project financing in the transportation and energy sectors, and joins HFW's London office from Elix Aviation Capital, where he was Head of Legal. He previously spent 25 years in private practice at firms including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Norton Rose Fulbright and Clifford Chance, and was a partner at Stephenson Harwood for almost eight years in London and Singapore.

Dentons has continued to strengthen its Corporate team in London with the hire of M&A and private equity specialist Paul Doris. Paul was most recently a partner in Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe's London office.

Dentons has expanded its corporate offering in Australia with the appointment of Partner Daniel Kirk in Perth.

With over 20 years’ experience in corporate and commercial transactions, Daniel’s areas of focus span the industrial, property, financial services and energy sectors. He has worked with a number of leading national and international firms and developed strong transactional experience within Australia and also in China, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Europe, Brazil and the United States.

Johannes has extensive experience of advising international and domestic clients (including family-owned businesses) on mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate advisory work (including set-ups with all related regulatory and licensing requirements), corporate restructuring, and commercial and employment issues. He has worked with clients from across a broad range of business sectors, including education, energy, defence, healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications, and the public sector.

McDermott Will & Emery, a leading international law firm, announced that eight new partners have joined the newly-created Insurance Transactions and Regulation Group.

Andrea Best, Dan Brown, H. Michael Byrne, Thomas Dawson, John Finston, Parimah Hassouri, Michael Halsband and John Mulhern will dramatically expand the Firm’s capabilities in the insurance, transaction and regulation sector.

This international group of Partners will be based in the Firm’s New York, San Francisco and London offices.

Experienced environmental lawyer Tom Van Wyngarden, who represents major energy companies in regulatory investigations and related disputes, has rejoined Pillsbury as a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Van Wyngarden returns to the firm after a stint as partner with Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP.

Steven Trybu‎s, a veteran litigator who focuses on complex patent disputes, has joined Locke Lord’s Chicago office as a Partner in the Firm’s IP Pharmaceutical Practice Group. Trybus brings to Locke Lord a wealth of litigation experience across a variety of cutting-edge technologies in the fields of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and life sciences.

King & Spalding has added international arbitration specialist Peter Chow as a partner. Chow joins from Squire Patton Boggs, where he led the international dispute resolution practice in Asia-Pacific.

Chow focuses on complex arbitrations across Asia-Pacific, with a particular emphasis on disputes arising out of large energy and construction projects. He has represented clients in some of the largest arbitrations in Asia involving multi-billion-dollar claims.

Paweł Stykowski has been appointed head of insurance from Wierzbowski Eversheds Sutherland, where he headed the financial services and compliance practice. He has 13 years of experience providing legal advice to the insurance and banking industry, including four years as head of legal/compliance officer for an insurer.

Addleshaw Goddard has appointed Rebecca Kitson as a partner in its Employment, Incentives & Immigration Group. Rebecca will be based in Leeds as part of a team that spans the UK, Europe, the Middle-East and Asia. Rebecca joins from Eversheds Sutherland.

She is already a well-established figure in the Leeds market and her new role will see her utilise her extensive skills and experience to further develop Addleshaw Goddard's practice in the region and beyond.