Axèle Bastien has been appointed global head of legal for AXA Investment Managers - Real Assets, leading the global team in France, the UK and Belgium. She joined AXA Investment Managers in 2006 as a corporate lawyer within the legal team. She moved to AXA IM - Real Assets in 2009, and was initially in charge of real estate funds and partnerships structuring as well as mandates, before taking the responsibility in 2013 of a global team in charge of legal matters of all the equity investments (Real Estate, Alternatives and more recently Infrastructure) made on behalf of AXA IM - Real Assets’ clients. Her responsibilities included non-regulated products structuring, complex transactions across Europe and the US, asset management, developments projects and the negotiation of mandates. Before joining AXA Investment Managers, Ms Bastien was a M&A private lawyer at Landwell & Associés and Gide Loyrette Nouel for six years, where she advised several groups in their external growth and internal restructuring projects.

Kansas city headquartered card company Hallmark has appointed as executive vice president, general counsel and secretary. Jill Marchant brings nearly three decades of legal, litigation and business experience across multiple industries, for both public and private companies. She most recently served as senior vice president and general counsel at Farm Credit Mid-America in Louisville.  Ms Marchant replaces Brian Gardner, who is retiring from the company and will depart on 31 March. In this role, Marchant will be responsible for providing legal and business advice to Hallmark and its portfolio of businesses on a wide array of issues, including financing, contracts, litigation, acquisitions, mergers and other general corporate legal matters. Ms Marchant was also previously general counsel for Texas Roadhouse, advising executives and board of directors related to the company’s more than 400 restaurants, while leading a legal team of 20 lawyers, paralegals, specialists and administrative professionals. In addition, she has held leadership positions in the legal departments at Dine Equity, Applebee’s and Honeywell.

Network cable company Starz has recruited a new general counsel. Audrey Lee has joined the company from corporate parent Lionsgate, where she served as EVP and deputy general. She will report directly to Starz president and CEO Chris Albrecht. She takes over the role from chief legal officer David Weil, who joined Starz in 2014 and will continue in a consulting role. Based in the company’s Beverly Hills office, Ms Lee will be responsible for developing the strategic direction of business and legal affairs for the company, including affiliate negotiations, content acquisition and production, litigation and compliance.

Las Vegas casino gaming company Everi Holdings has announced the appointment of Harper Ko as chief legal officer and general counsel.  Ms Ko, who has direct responsibility for all of Everi’s legal and regulatory compliance affairs, brings  extensive expertise in the casino gaming industry with over 17 years of corporate legal and regulatory compliance experience on behalf of gaming equipment suppliers and casino operators.  She most recently served as deputy general counsel, gaming for Scientific Games Corporation, a $2.9 billion gaming and lottery equipment and services supplier.  During her time in this position she led a team of attorneys and related administrative staff with a wide responsibility for all commercial revenue matters within its global gaming and Interactive business units. She joined Scientific Games following its acquisition of Bally Gaming in November 2014 where she served as assistant general counsel. Prior to that Ms Ko was a contract lawyer with Harrah’s Operating Company and associate corporate counsel for Aristocrat Technologies. Ms Ko began her career in the gaming industry as staff counsel for WMS Gaming. 

Executive search company Heidrick & Struggles has announced a transition within the role of general counsel on 31 January. Associate general counsel Kamau Coar has been promoted to general counsel replacing Stephen Beard who was general counsel and chief administrative officer. Mr Beard has chosen to leave the firm to pursue other opportunities. The company is eliminating the role of chief administrative officer role. Mr Coar will be responsible for the firm's legal and regulatory matters globally.  Mr Coar joined Heidrick & Struggles in 2012 as associate general counsel. Most recently, he has served on the leadership team for the firm's Asia Pacific region, based in Singapore. Before he joined Heidrick & Struggles, he was a partner at Ungaretti & Harris and began his career at Proskauer Rose.