Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates is launching an investment management practice in London with the hire of partner Stephen Sims.

Davis Polk advised Barclays Capital Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and SG Americas Securities, LLC as joint bookrunners and representatives of the underwriters on an SEC-registered offering by Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited of $2 billion aggregate principal amount of notes guaranteed by Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited. The offering consisted of $500 million principal amount of 2.25% notes due 2016, $1.15 billion principal amount of 3.75% notes due 2021 and a reopening in an aggregate principal amount of $350 million of its 5.20% notes due 2040, first issued on November 2, 2010.

Ford & Harrison LLP, a national labor and employment law firm, announced today the opening of an office in Short Hills, N.J. with the addition of Salvador P. Simao as partner.  Mr. Simao will spearhead efforts in the firm’s newest office—the New Jersey office is the firm’s twenty-second location.

The law firm of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP (EAPD) is pleased to announce that Mitchell H. Stabbe will join the Firm on September 19 as a Washington, DC-based partner in the Intellectual Property Department.

Nossaman LLP announced today that Linda J. Morgan has joined the Firm as a partner in the Infrastructure and Public Policy Practice Groups.  Ms. Morgan has extensive legislative and regulatory experience in the transportation sector, including her roles as chair of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) and its successor the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and general counsel for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.  Her practice focuses on a broad range of rail and other transportation matters, as well as general legislative, regulatory, and policy issues. She is based in Nossaman’s Washington, DC, office and will work on projects across the country.

Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that James A. Brigagliano is joining the firm as a partner in the securities and futures regulatory practice. Mr. Brigagliano comes to Sidley after serving as the Deputy Director of the Division of Trading and Markets at the Securities and Exchange Commission, where he held a series of senior policymaking and management positions.