A Columbia Law School adjunct professor has joined Life Biosciences as general counsel. Amit Shashank, a lecturer in law at Columbia Law who had a stint as a corporate attorney at Shearman & Sterling, joined the Boston-based biopharmaceutical company after serving as executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of global design and engineering company Aricent. Earlier this year, Life Biosciences, raised $50 million thereby doubling its initial financing target. 

Immersion Corporation (IMMR), a developer and licensor of touch feedback technology, has announced the appointment of Mike Okada as the company’s general counsel and senior vice president, IP licensing & legal affairs. Mr Okada will join Immersion’s executive team and manage the company’s legal, regulatory, and intellectual property affairs. He replaces Amie Peters, the outgoing General Counsel who served over a decade in a variety of roles at Immersion. Prior to joining Immersion, he held the position of vice president, IP transactions and legal affairs, at Dolby Laboratories.

Axalta Coating Systems has announced Brian Berube is appointed senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, effective July 15, 2019. He will be responsible for all legal functions and will report directly to Axalta's CEO Robert Bryant. Mr Berube will join Axalta after 25 years with Cabot Corporation, where he held roles of increasing responsibility. Currently, he is Senior Vice President and General Counsel, responsible for all legal affairs.

Los Angeles-based investment Firm Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors has hired a Bracewell partner as general counsel. Jarvis Hollingsworth succeeds Kayne’s current general counsel David Shladovsky, who has been with the firm since 1997 and also serves as secretary and senior managing director.

Michigan-based CMS Energy has looked in-house to appoint its new general counsel. Catherine Reynolds is retiring after 40 years at CMS Energy and Consumers Energy, and is to be replaced by Shaun Johnson. Mr Johnson started as senior vice president and general counsel of CMS Energy and Consumers Energy on May 16. He is currently vice president and deputy general counsel. In his new role Mr Johnson will head the legal team and be responsible for corporate secretary activities, corporate records, compliance and the enterprise risk and insurance functions. Kelly Hall succeeds Mr Johnson as vice president and deputy general counsel

Barclays senior in-house counsel has left the bank to launch her own consulting business. Stephanie Hamon, a former Clifford Chance business development head, had worked closely with the bank's legal panel.