Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised Johnson Controls, a global leader in the automotive seating, interiors and electronics, on the acquisition of the automotive division of Spumotim SA. The acquisition means that Johnson Controls is now the leading automotive supplier in the region.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP today announced that it plans to open an office in Seoul, Korea in the first quarter of 2012.  The announcement follows the recent ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement by both countries and the resulting opening in 2012 of the Korea legal services market to U.S.-based law firms.

Covington & Burling LLP is pleased to announce that Kristian Wiggert has joined the firm’s European corporate group as a partner in London.

David Boyer has joined Nossaman as a partner in the Water Practice Group, the Firm announced today.  Mr. Boyer represents public agencies and private parties on water, environmental and natural resources, public policy, eminent domain and inverse condemnation, insurance coverage, and employment matters.  He is based in Nossaman’s Orange County office.

The law firm of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP has announced that Raymond C. Pierce, Dean of the North Carolina Central University School of Law, will be joining the firm as a partner beginning July 2012 at the end of his contract with NCCU.

Mallesons has acted for Securus Data Property Fund Pte. Ltd. (“Securus”), the world’s first Shariah-compliant data centre fund jointly managed by Keppel Data Centre Investment Management Pte. Ltd. and AEP Investment Management Pte. Ltd., on its acquisition of a data centre facility in Gore Hill, Sydney, Australia.

The data centre facility will be owned, managed and operated by a joint venture between Securus and Keppel Telecommunications and Transportation Ltd.

Clifford Chance advised Aareal Bank AG, Wiesbaden/Germany, as Lead Arranger and Senior Lender on the €300m secured refinancing of a logistics property portfolio, comprising properties throughout Germany and Poland.

International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised Tesco plc, the UK’s largest food retailer, on its new Yankee bond issue of US$1 billion in three-year and five-year senior notes, which were listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Arnold & Porter LLP and Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk & Rabkin PC today announced the combination of their two firms, which is expected to be completed by January 1, 2012. The combination substantially expands Arnold & Porter’s West Coast presence and provides Howard Rice’s clients with national and international capabilities and a broader range of services. Upon completion of the combination, Arnold & Porter will have more than 800 attorneys in the US and Europe. The combined firm will offer clients top tier litigation and regulatory capabilities, including in the areas of antitrust, banking, healthcare, environmental, intellectual property, and fully integrated transactional services, all addressing California, national, and international matters.