Lathrop & Gage LLP announced today that Darren VanPuymbrouck has joined the firm’s business litigation practice as partner and Gregory Zinkl, Ph.D, has joined the firm’s intellectual property practice as of counsel.

“Darren and Greg are wonderful additions to our office and our continuing growth in Chicago is very exciting,” said Sue Charles, partner in charge of the Chicago office. “Each has tremendous experience in their respective practice areas and a broad client base. They add even greater depth to our litigation and IP practices and our national footprint provides an opportunity for them to better serve their clients at the local, regional and national levels.” More >>

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is pleased to announce that Pablo L. Petrozzi has joined the firm’s Chicago office as a partner in the Real Estate group. Practicing law for 15 years, Petrozzi focuses his practice on commercial real estate transactions including acquisitions and dispositions, financings and joint ventures. More >>

Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that LaDale K. George has joined the Chicago office as a partner in the firm’s Healthcare industry group. LaDale was previously a partner at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg.

“LaDale is a highly regarded advisor to innovative healthcare enterprises on regulatory compliance and business transactions,” said David Robbins, head of Perkins Coie’s Healthcare industry group. “His experience over the past 20 years providing strategic counsel to businesses in the healthcare industry and other heavily regulated industries fits well with our national practice and the high level of service our clients expect and receive from us. We are delighted to welcome LaDale to Perkins Coie.” More >>

Jenner & Block is representing Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) in its sale of its global cocoa business to Singapore-based Olam International Limited for $1.3 billion, subject to customary adjustments. The agreement was signed and announced on December 15, 2014. More >>

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is pleased to announce that nationally recognized trial lawyer James F. Hurst will join the Firm’s Chicago office as a partner in the Litigation and Intellectual Property Practice Groups. Mr. Hurst brings 25 years of experience trying cases in areas ranging from antitrust to intellectual property to appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court. More >>

DLA Piper represented Regent Properties (Regent), a multi-faceted real estate investment management firm, in its fundraising of US$300 million in equity commitments. The $300 million in commitments exceeds Regent Properties’ fundraising goals by 50%. More >>

Mayer Brown, a leading global law firm, represented the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in a competitive procurement for and structuring of a public-private partnership (PPP) for the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of Texas SH 183 managed lanes project, located in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. More >>