Boston-headquartered commercial bank Eastern Bank has named Kathleen Henry as its new general counsel and secretary. A graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, Ms Henry was a partner at law firm Choate, Hall & Stewart before moving in-house to Plymouth Rock Assurances, where she served first as deputy general counsel then as general counsel. She replaces outgoing Eastern general counsel Terence McGinnis, who is retiring from the post after 12 years to become state Commissioner of Banks.

Peer-to-peer lending company Lending Club has appointed Russell Elmer to the position of general counsel. Mr Elmer is a Lending Club alumnus who is rejoining the company after a stint as deputy general counsel and corporate secretary at PayPal Holdings. He is succeeding Jason Altieri, who has served as the company’s GC for the last seven years.

Dublin-based UDG Healthcare recruited former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer lawyer Damien Moynagh as its new legal chief. Mr Moynagh joins from Sysnet Global Solutions where he has served as chief operating officer and general counsel since 2012 and as chief corporate development officer since March last year. A graduate of Columbia Business School and University College Dublin, Mr Moynagh was a senior associate at both Freshfields and Maples and Calder before moving in-house.

Massachusetts-headquartered Syros Pharmaceuticals has appointed Gerald Kirk as its first ever chief legal officer. Mr Kirk is an industry veteran with more than 20 years’ experience of senior leadership and legal experience in the biotechnology industry. Most recently, Mr Kirk served as executive vice president of business operations and general counsel at Tokai Pharmaceuticals. Previously, he was a partner and co-chair of the life sciences practice at Choate, Hall & Stewart.

Finally, in-house heavyweight and former BG Group general counsel Graham Vinter is returning to law firm life as a partner at Covington & Burling. A veteran of the project finance industry and one of the most highly regarded GCs of his generation, Mr Vinter joined BG Group in 2007 after a 27-year career with Allen & Overy.  He retired from the GC post in April last year and was succeeded last September by current BG Group GC Tom Melbye Eide.