Geneva-based Waypoint Capital Group, a business associated with the investments of the billionaire Bertarelli family, have appointed Ron Cami as their new general counsel. Waypoint also has offices in London, Jersey, Boston and Luxembourg. Mr. Cami will report to Waypoint’s Chairman, Ernesto Bertarelli, and serve as a member of the Group’s board of directors. Commenting on the appointment, Ernesto Bertarelli said ‘Ron has a reputation as an exceptional professional; he possesses a highly experienced and accomplished legal mind; and, he has always showed a deep responsibility in how he discharges these capabilities.’ Joining Waypoint from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, where he was a partner in its Corporate Department in Northern California and New York, Mr Cami is also a visiting professor at Berkeley School of Law, where he teaches classes on the law of M&A transactions. 

Mary Beth Buchanan, a Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner partner, is now the general counsel of Kraken, a bitcoin exchange operator. Ms Buchanan is also former federal prosecutor, appointed by President George W. Bush. She was the first women, and youngest, to be appointed US Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Kraken is the world’s eight largest exchange, valued at $350 million. The exchange has been prominent in the news of late, due to its public defiance of the New York Attorney General's Office.

Houston-based pharmaceutical company Bellicum Pharmaceuticals has announced that Shane Ward will become the company’s general counsel and corporate secretary. Mr Ward will report to ceo Rick Fair and lead the legal, compliance, and corporate governance functions. Mr Fair said, Mr Ward’s ‘expertise in managing public company governance and in navigating the legal and regulatory requirements for development and commercialization of novel biotechnology products will be vital.’ Mr. Ward said he is ‘thrilled to join Bellicum.’ Mr Ward has over 20 years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry experience, most recently as general counsel for Versartis Inc, a development-stage biotechnology company.

Another Houston-based company, the oil and gas company Noble Energy, has hired Rachel Clingman as their new legal chief. Ms Clingman replaces Arnold "Arne" Johnson, who was serving on an interim basis for the role when Mr Johnson left in 2017 to “pursue personal interests, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. She most recently was a vice president and general counsel at Australia-based BHP Billiton Ltd. David Stover, Noble’s CEO, president and chairman, said ‘We are thrilled to have Rachel as a key part of the Noble Energy team. She joins us at a strategically important time in the history of the company, as we are rapidly increasing cash flows from our onshore business and offshore major projects. Her experience and perspective will bring significant value to our leadership team.

Australia's AMP Ltd, Australia’s largest wealth manager, has appointed David Cullen as its new group general counsel. Mr Cullen’s appointment comes after an independent inquiry into Australia’s financial sector revealed AMP lied to the corporate regulator for a decade, leading to the departure of its top management. Former Chief Executive Craig Meller was the first to resign, followed by Chairwoman Catherine Brenner and in-house lawyer Brian Salter, who Cullen is to replace.