Baker Botts L.L.P., a leading international technology, energy and life sciences law firm, announced today that Michael W. Ward has joined the Litigation Department as a partner in the Palo Alto office. He focuses on government investigations and white collar criminal defense. He has been appointed as an Independent Compliance Monitor and regularly advises clients on best practices in corporate compliance programs. Ward, who will split his time with the San Francisco office, joins the firm from Vinson & Elkins, prior to which he served as a chief risk and compliance officer for Juniper Networks.
Dahesh Patel Joins Holland & Knight’s Global Private Wealth Services Group in Philadelphia
Holland & Knight’s Global Private Wealth Services Group has welcomed Dahesh Patel as a partner in the firm’s Philadelphia office. Mr. Patel focuses his practice on estate planning, general taxation and estate administration for clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He was previously a partner with Reed Smith.
Latham Expands Real Estate Practice With Addition of Two Commercial Real Estate Finance Lawyers
Latham & Watkins LLP1 is pleased to announce that David Freedman and John Spears have joined the firm’s New York office. Freedman joins as a partner and Spears as counsel in the Real Estate Practice and members of the Corporate Department. Freedman and Spears join Latham from Alston & Bird in New York.
Weil Adds Private Equity Partner Robert Rizzo in New York
International law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP announced today that Robert Rizzo has joined the Firm as a partner in the global Private Equity practice, based in Weil’s New York office. Robert joins Weil from the New York office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, where he was a partner.
Tags: Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP | New York 
Corporate Partner Zach Cochran Returns to King & Spalding
King & Spalding today announced that Zach Cochran has rejoined the firm as a partner in the Corporate, Finance and Investments (CFI) practice group in the Atlanta office. Cochran rejoins the team from his role as corporate counsel at C3 AI in Redwood City.
Litigator joins Mayer Brown’s growing Salt Lake City office
Lauren Shurman, a lawyer with wide-ranging litigation experience in a number of industries, has joined Mayer Brown’s Salt Lake City office as a partner in its Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice. Shurman joins the firm after over fifteen years in the SLC office of Stoel Rives LLP.
Tags: Mayer Brown LLP | Salt Lake City 
Locke Lord Bolsters Bench Strength on West Coast With Addition of Experienced Four-Lawyer Litigation Group in Los Angeles
Locke Lord has strengthened its Los Angeles office Litigation Practice Group with the additions of Partners Amin Al-Sarraf, who will serve as Head of the Firm’s Entertainment Industry Group, Eric Herzog and Rory Miller, who will serve as Head of Private Equity Litigation for California, and Associate David Rutan. Their additions mark eight attorneys to join Locke Lord’s Los Angeles office since the beginning of the year. Al-Sarraf, Miller and Rutan join Locke Lord from Glaser Weil, and Herzog joins the Firm from Norton Rose Fulbright.
Polsinelli Expands Corporate and Transactional Capabilities with Addition of New Shareholder Craig M. Spierer to Growing New York Office
Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli welcomes attorney Craig M. Spierer as Shareholder in the firm’s New York office. Spierer joins the firm’s growing national Corporate and Transactional Practice. Spierer comes to Polsinelli from Harris Beach LLP.
Tags: Polsinelli PC | New York
K&L Gates Adds Labor and Employment Partner in Chicago
Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has added Brian E. Spang as a partner in the labor, employment, and workplace safety practice. He joins K&L Gates’ Chicago office from Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
Akin Gump Welcomes Energy-Focused Tax Partner Julia Pashin in Dallas
Akin Gump is pleased to announce that Julia Pashin has joined the firm as a partner in its tax practice in Dallas. Ms. Pashin advises clients on the tax aspects of a broad range of mergers, acquisitions and private equity transactional matters, with a focus on the energy/oil & gas sector. She joins Akin Gump from Shearman & Sterling.
