Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced the continuing growth of the firm’s capabilities in the real estate sector with recognized environmental lawyer and litigator Richard G. Leland and transactional lawyer Ian Tattenbaum, who join as partners in the New York office.

“Rick and Ian build upon the firm’s core strength in the real estate sector and add a new depth of experience for clients facing complex environmental issues and zoning challenges,” said Richard Bezold, chair of the Real Estate Practice Group. “We are committed to hiring exceptional lawyers like Rick and Ian who mirror the core strengths of our firm and who bring heightened experience in the areas where our clients need us the most.” More >>

Shearman & Sterling is advising Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and UBS Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers, in connection with the proposed $16.2 billion of financings related to the $37 billion acquisition of Humana Inc. by Aetna Inc. More >>

Chapman and Cutler LLP is pleased to announce that Steven Wilamowsky and Ryan Jackson have joined the firm as partners in the firm’s New York City office. The addition of these accomplished attorneys marks continued growth for Chapman’s New York practice.

Wilamowsky focuses his practice on representing investors, creditors, and lenders in complex restructurings, both in and out of bankruptcy court. “Steve’s extensive litigation experience, in addition to representing investors and buyers of distressed assets through Chapter 11 sales, will contribute valuable support to Chapman’s Litigation, Bankruptcy and Restructuring practice,” noted Franklin Top III, co-head of the group. Prior to joining Chapman, Wilamowsky was a partner with Bingham McCutchen and subsequently Morgan Lewis, which acquired Bingham last year. More >>

Joseph F. Daniels has joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP’s New York office as a partner in the firm’s Corporate practice group. Daniels joins from Loeb & Loeb.

“We are very pleased to welcome Joe, who brings additional emerging company and venture capital expertise to our New York offices. His transactional practice mix, which includes VC financings, M&A, public offerings and buyouts, is both complementary and supplementary to our existing capabilities,” said Jon W. Newby, vice chairman of Sheppard Mullin. More >>

On June 29, 2015, Element Financial Corporation, one of North America’s leading fleet management and equipment finance companies, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with GE to acquire GE Capital’s fleet management operations in the United States, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand for an all-cash purchase price of approximately $6.9 billion. Upon closing of the transaction, Element’s combined fleet management operations will include more than one million vehicles under contract. More >>

Latham & Watkins LLP1 is pleased to announce that Thomas W. Christopher has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the Corporate Department and a member of its Mergers & Acquisitions Group. Christopher brings almost 30 years of experience advising multinational companies, special committees and financial advisors in negotiated and hostile public M&A transactions. He has also built a strong reputation in corporate governance matters, including shareholder activism and takeover defense matters. More >>

Cravath represented AerCap Ireland Capital Limited and AerCap Global Aviation Trust in connection with their US$1 billion registered debt offering. AerCap Ireland Capital Limited and AerCap Global Aviation Trust are wholly owned subsidiaries of AerCap Holdings N.V., the world’s largest independent aircraft leasing company. The transaction closed on June 25, 2015. More >>

On June 24, 2015, leading international food retailers Delhaize Group and Royal Ahold N.V. announced that they have entered into an agreement to merge in a transaction that will create a combined company, Ahold Delhaize, valued at approximately $29 billion based on their closing share prices on Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Cravath is representing Delhaize in connection with this transaction. Under the terms of the merger agreement, each Delhaize shareholder will receive 4.75 Ahold ordinary shares for each Delhaize ordinary share. More >>