Clayton Utz has advised long-standing client Transpacific Industries Group Limited (TPI) in connection with its proposed equity capital raising of approximately A$309 million and new A$1.525 billion debt facility, announced to the market yesterday.

The firm’s Paris office recently advised Ecomouv, a consortium lead by Autostrade per l’Italia, the leading European concessionaire for toll motorway construction and management, and its parent company, Atlantia, on the negotiation of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract with the French State and of the financing documents and the drafting and negotiation of all industrial contracts for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the Eco-tax project, an automatic taxation system of heavy-trucks on the French motorway’s network. The project is expected to generate €1.2 billion annually in revenue for the State.

Venable LLP announced that experienced investigative attorney Janet C. Fisher has joined the firm’s Washington, DC, office as a partner in its Commercial Litigation Group. Ms. Fisher was most recently a member of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, where she handled classified counterterrorism and counterintelligence matters. She will work closely with the firm’s white collar and government investigations groups.

DLA Piper announced today that Darryl Steinhause has joined the Real Estate Capital Markets group as a partner in the San Diego office. Prior to joining DLA Piper, Steinhause was a partner at Luce Forward LLP.

Fasken Martineau, a leading international law firm, announced today that Stuart Hills has joined the firm’s London office as a partner.

Hogan Lovells has advised the Ecuadorian state-owned energy company, Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador (CELEC), in the closing of a US$570 million credit loan agreement with the Export-Import Bank of China (Chexim).

Wragge & Co has advised private equity firm H2 Equity Partners on its acquisition of a majority share in automotive car part supplier Unipart Automotive for an undisclosed sum.

As part of its Middle East practice, Pillsbury is opening a new law office in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to better serve its clients’ interests in the region and throughout the world. The move expands Pillsbury’s global reach and capabilities in areas such as energy, infrastructure development, finance and international arbitration and dispute resolution. Pillsbury has selected a LEED-gold-certified office tower in Abu Dhabi’s Sowwah Square, a newly-developed island in Abu Dhabi’s financial center, as its newest international address.