France

French boutique law firm Kalliopé has hired Rondolphe Cavroy to head up the firm's Finance/Investment Funds Department. Prior to joining Kalliopé, Rodolphe practised for five years at Krief Gordon & Associés in Paris and for five years in the Banking, Finance & Capital Markets Department of De Pardieu Brocas Maffei in Paris.
His principal clients are banks, financial institutions and companies specialising in the industrial and real estate sectors. Mr Cavroy said his decision 'to join a firm like Kalliopé was prompted by their entrepreneurial approach, which tallies perfectly with my professional ambitions" stated Rodolphe Cavroy. Kalliopé has a structure suited to adapting to market changes, combining proximity, responsiveness and flexibility with high added value services to satisfy client needs” he added.

UK

It's a double first for health and social care law firm Hempsons as the promotion of five associates to partner is the first time the firm has promoted at all four of its UK offices in one go, and the first time it has recruited a barrister as a partner. At the office in Manchester, associate Simeon Bower and barrister John Sharples have been made partners. Similarly, associates Faisal Dhalla at the Harrogate office, Tania Francis at London and Stephanie Green at Newcastle have all been promoted to partner. In addition, Hempsons have added four more promotions to the list with Helen Baxter and Bryn Morgan at London and Jennie Chapman and Lukman Patel at Manchester all being made associates.

Squire Sanders in Leeds has built up its corporate finance practice in a response to increased client demand with the appointment of corporate partner Hannah Kendrick to the team. Ms Kendrick joins from Eversheds and boasts over 15 years of experience in corporate transactions, acquisitions, disposals, fundraisings and takeovers amongst a wide range of other arrangements.

Germany

At the recently opened Frankfurt office and Real Estate practice of Herbert Smith Freehills, Hans Thomas Kessler has been recruited as the firm's first real estate partner in Germany. As former head of SJ Berwin's German real estate practice Mr Kessler is more than well-versed in many matters of real estate and has worked with clients both in Germany and internationally.

Hong Kong

International law firm giant Jones Day is taking further strides to boost its Asian offices after adding to their Hong Kong team Michelle Taylor - a specialist in banking, structured and real estate finance and debt capital markets, reports ALB. Prior to this appointment Ms Taylor was the Asia managing partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. Ms Taylor's welcome to the firm follows in quick sucession to Jones Day's hirings earlier in the year of partner Gene Buttrill in Hong Kong, and counsels Ross Keene and Yang Xu in Shanghai.  

The Hong Kong office of DLA Piper add extensive experience in structured finance, securitisation and debt capital markets to their Finance & Projects team with the appointment of Benjamin Sandstad. Joining after two years as a partner at Mayer Brown, Mr Sandstad's experience includes advising on debt capital markets, acting for financial institutions, acting on debt market transactions and practicing  law in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Australia.

Singapore/India

After relaunching its Singapore office less than a year ago, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer hastaken a step to further establishing its growing Asia practice with the appointment of Arun Balasubramanian, former Linklaters capital markets partner, as co-head of the firm's India practice based in Singapore, Legalweek reports. Mr Balasubramanian is ranked first for India capital markets work by the directory Chambers and Partners, is US-qualified and isa specialist in high-profile securities offerings by Indian companies. He will work from the new Singapore base alongside India group chairman Pratap Amin, who is based in London.

Offshore

Well-known Jersey figure Michael Cushing has been appointed to the role of Office Managing Partner for the Jersey office of Appleby, which provides offshore legal, fiduciary and administration services. Working at Appleby since 2005 and as a partner since 2008, Mr Cushing is no stranger to the firm, specialising in trust and complex commercial and corporate litigation.

Global

International law firm giant operating in 18 offices in 15 countries, Gide Loyrette Nouel, has announced the appointment of 11 new partners ranging from all of the firm's different regions to expand and strengthen its vast international network.
In London, Gide have appointed as partners: member of the New York Bar and the Beirut Bar Fernand Arsanios (Banking & Finance), Fiona Gulliford (Banking & Finance - Projects (Finance & Infrastructure) who has advised borrowers, banks and ECAs on complex project finance matters, specialist in OTC derivatives products Karine Imbrosciano (Banking & Finance / Derivatives), and hedging and swap transactions specialist Phung Pham (Banking & Finance / Derivatives).
Gide's Hong Kong office has appointed member of Paris Bar and international solicitor Gilles Cardonnel (Projects (Finance & Infrastructure) - M&A / Corporate), and Rebecca Finn (Banking & Finance), who has over ten years of experience working in London and Asia.
In Beijing, Guo Min (Tax - Projects (Finance & Infrastructure), specialist in PRC taxation and accounting and member of the Chinese Bar joins the team.
At Gide's Budapest office, member of Budapest Bar and Paris Bar Ákos Kovách (Competition & International Trade - M&A / Corporate) has been appointed partner.
Multilinguist and experienced German-qualified lawyer Christina Renner (Competition & International Trade) has joined the office in Brussels.
Mariam Rouissi (Banking & Finance) brings vast expertise in financing matters to the firm's office in Casablanca, and finally, member of New York Bar and the Law Society of Alberta Tim Théroux (Banking & Finance) is appointed in Moscow.