Mayer Brown, a leading global law firm, announced today that Robert Klotz (49) has joined the firm as a partner in the Antitrust and Competition practice in Brussels. Robert comes from Hunton & Williams, where he was a partner and practiced for five years. Prior to that, for a decade, he had been an official of the European Commission’s Directorate General (DG) for Competition. In this role, he was involved in important antitrust cases in the energy and telecommunication sectors.

Mayer Brown client Nestlé has agreed to buy Pfizer’s infant nutrition business for $11.85 billion, in a move to expand the company’s presence in the global baby food market. The transaction is one of the largest acquisitions announced to date in 2012. The target business has a strong presence throughout the emerging markets, particular China. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval.

Hogan Lovells announced today that it advised Orthofix International N.V., a diversified, global medical device company focused on developing and delivering innovative repair and regenerative solutions to the spine and orthopedics markets, on its agreement to sell its sports medicine division in a $157.5 million all-cash transaction to private equity firm Water Street Healthcare Partners. The transaction is expected to close during the second fiscal quarter of 2012. Net proceeds to Orthofix from the sale of its sports medicine division will be used for the prepayment of debt as required by Orthofix’s existing credit agreement.

Wragge & Co has appointed another new partner to its real estate practice. Manches partner and head of projects and housing Giles Clifford joins the Planning and Regeneration team in May.

King & Wood Mallesons has acted as Australian legal counsel for its long standing client, Nestlé on Nestlé’s global acquisition of the Pfizer Infant Nutrition business which was announced on 23 April 2012.

Pryor Cashman LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Dennis Sughrue to its Real Estate Group where he will strengthen the firm’s already robust transactional capabilities. Sughrue comes to Pryor Cashman from Herrick, Feinstein, where he was a key member of that firm’s real estate practice.

Phelps Dunbar LLP announces today that Michael S. Hooker has joined the firm as a partner in the Tampa office.  Hooker, formerly a name shareholder at Glenn Rasmussen Fogarty & Hooker, has joined the firm’s commercial litigation practice.  He brings more than 30 years of experience representing clients in the areas of complex commercial and business tort litigation.  Joining Mr. Hooker is Guy P. McConnell, also formerly with Glenn Rasmussen, who joins the firm as counsel.  Their experience handling complex business disputes strengthens the firm’s services in the commercial litigation area for companies in Tampa and across the South.  This is the second lateral group that has joined Phelps in the last month.  In late March, Michael Brundage and Patrick Mosley moved to Phelps from Hill Ward Henderson and added new capabilities to the Tampa office in bankruptcy and creditors’ rights.