On August 3, 2011, a Nigerian company, Continental Transfert Technique Limited (“Continental”) won the right to enforce an arbitration award of 29.6 billion Nigerian naira (approximately US$252 million at the time of the award and US$423 million after interest is included) against the Government of Nigeria.  The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted summary judgment to Continental confirming the arbitration award under the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.  This will allow enforcement of the award in the United States.

Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that Roger Strode has joined the firm’s Health Care Industry Team as a partner in its Chicago office. Previously, Strode was a partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP.

The statewide Florida law firm of Fowler White Boggs (Fowler) and the Ft. Lauderdale based firm of Atkinson, Diner, Stone, Mankuta, & Ploucha, P.A. (Atkinson) announced their plans to merge in the first half of 2012.  This merger is a continuation of the dynamic expansion of the Ft. Lauderdale office of Fowler which will grow to nearly thirty attorneys in less than two years. The Firm is meeting its goal of attracting quality lawyers through the addition of the highly regarded and successful Atkinson attorneys.

Shearman & Sterling represented the borrower and lead sponsor The AES Corporation (AES) in relation to the project financing for the US$1.95 billion 1240 MW coal-fired Mong Duong 2 IPP in northern Vietnam. This will be the first independent power producer (IPP) in Vietnam to reach financial close since Phu My 3 in 2003.

The international law firm Chadbourne & Parke LLP announced today that Michael Socarras has joined the firm as a partner in the Washington, D.C. office.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP announced today that it has expanded its project finance and renewable energy capabilities with the addition of partners Thomas B. Trimble and Jeremy R. Schwer, who have re-joined the firm’s Washington, D.C., office from Hunton & Williams LLP, where both were partners. Mr. Trimble was co-head of the renewable energy practice group at his former firm and a leading practitioner in the emerging markets practice.