Steptoe is pleased to announce that Pablo Bentes, a native of Brazil who most recently served six years as a legal officer in the Appellate Body Secretariat of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, has joined the firm’s International Trade and International Regulatory Compliance practice groups as a director.  Mr. Bentes will reside in the firm’s Washington office, traveling regularly to Brazil and other parts of Latin America in connection with Steptoe’s expanding practice in Brazil and South America more generally.

Cozen O’Connor announced that Michael D. Klein will join the firm’s energy, environmental & public utility practice group, splitting his time between the firm’s Washington, D.C., and Harrisburg, Pa., offices. He joins from Dewey & LeBoeuf where he was a partner and practiced for more than 20 years. Also joining the energy, environmental & public utility practice group are former Dewey & LeBoeuf associates Ahren S. Tyron, who will join the firm as a Member, and Joshua L. Belcher who will join as an associate.

DLA Piper today announced that prominent lawyers Neal Aizenstein, Andrew Weil and Michael Legamaro have joined the firm in Chicago as partners. Aizenstein and Weil join the firm’s Corporate and Finance practice, while Legamaro joins the Tax practice. The team joins DLA Piper from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, where Aizenstein also served as Chicago office managing partner.

Allen & Overy, through its association with leading local law firm Abdulaziz AlGasim Law Firm, has advised Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), on the successful closure of its USD1.75 billion dual-series sukuk issue.