Phillips auction house has appointed Martin Wilson as its chief general counsel. Mr Wilson was previously global managing director of Christies and general counsel to the president. Ed Dolman, the CEO of Phillips, said of Mr Wilson: 'He brings with him considerable knowledge and a long track record of successfully negotiating high value art transactions and resolving complex disputes, with extensive experience working throughout Europe, Asia and the US.'

It's all change at shipping centre operator Westfield as its UK and European general counsel steps down following its takeover by French property group Unibail-Rodamco. Leon Shelley worked at the company for 13 years having joined from US law firm Skadden. Deputy general counsel Amanda Beattie will take on the role of UK GC with senior legal counsel Maurizio Redondi heading up legal in Italy.

Healthcare and financial services company LeapFrog Investments has hired Frances Holliday as its general counsel. She joins from Kazimir Partners, an asset manager focused on emerging markets, where she was general counsel. Prior to that, she was a specialist mergers and acquisitions lawyer at Slaughter and May for nearly a decade. The company is particularly interested in Ms Holliday's experience of the regulatory environments for both financial services and healthcare in Asia and Africa, particularly key Sub-Saharan markets such as Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria. She replaces Tom Brunner, who remains a partner with LeapFrog.

FMC Corp has appointed Sara Ponessa as the general counsel for FMC Lithium. Ms Ponessa, who has worked for the company since 2012, will be responsible for all the new company’s legal affairs and government relations and will serve as corporate secretary. The move comes at a time when FMC Lithium is planning a $500 million IPO and is a new role for the company. She has previously worked for Saul Ewing, the Wilmington Trust Co and AstraZeneca.

The Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) has announced the appointment of Samir Sabharwal as general counsel, effective immediately. Mr Sabharwal has been serving as acting general counsel since the May 2018 appointment of Kari Horn to the role of vice-chair. 'Samir is highly qualified for this role, having served as the ASC’s associate general counsel for the past nine years,' said Stan Magidson, chair and chief executive officer said. As general counsel, Mr Sabharwal will be a member of the ASC’s senior management team, leading the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). Before joining the ASC in 2005, he was Legal Counsel at the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), where he provided legal advice on issues related to the regulation of the financial services sector, and conducted hearings and trials before tribunals, arbitrators and the Ontario Courts in administrative, civil and quasi-criminal proceedings.