Michelle Lee, former Google Deputy GC and head of patents and patent strategy, has been nominated by President Obama to become the next direct of the US Patent & Trademark Office. She has, in effect, been running the office since the last director, David Kappos, left last year. Ms Lee had been director of the Office’s Silicon Valley office in 2012/13 after leaving Google. Her appointment has stil to be confirmed by the Senate. Source BroadCastingCable 

The UK-based retail partnership John Lewis has appointed Keith Hubber as company secretary and GC with effect from February 1. He is joining from BG Group where he moved up the legal ranks over 13 years, ending up as Deptuy GC. Source: StockMarketWire

Bank of America’s GC for Latin America (except for Brazil and Mexico), Jesus Beltran, has joined Ferrere, the Uruguayan firm, as a partner. Source: LaccaNet

Among a series of recent high-level appointments, First Data has recruited Adam Rosman to become its first GC. He joins from Willis Group, a global top three insurance broker, where he was GC. He had previously been a partner in Washington DC-based Zuckerman Spaeder, and had also spent a year in the White House as Deputy Assistant to the President, then Bill Clinton. Source: Insurance News

Anne E Sutherland, formerly the GC of Nationwide Mortgage Holdings, is joining Ballard Spahr LLP, the 500-lawyer US law firm. She will be advising clients on compliance. Source: Law 360