Standard Life has hired Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) deputy general counsel Rushad Abadan as its new legal chief, replacing interim head David Burns. Mr Abadan has been deputy general counsel at RBS for nearly a decade and prior to that was a solicitor at legacy Dundas & Wilson. He will join Standard Life in early 2016. 

Prudential Financial has named Timothy P. Harris as executive vice president and general counsel. He succeeds Susan Blount, who is retiring in January next year after a 30-year career at the company. Mr Harris will assume his role on 1^st October and report to chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. He joined in 1988 and had served as chief investment counsel for Prudential and chief legal officer for Prudential Annuities prior to assuming his current role. Before joining the company, he was an associate at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in New York. 

Westport Properties has announced the appointment of Peter Watson as general counsel. His responsibilities will include overseeing all legal and risk management matters. Prior to joining the company, Mr Watson was an attorney with Wright, Finlay & Zak, where he specialised in commercial real estate transactions. His previous legal experience also includes work at Ballard, Wimer, Brockett & Edwards, and the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Vanda Pharmaceuticals has named Richard Gulino as its senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. Prior to joining Vanda, he served as vice president and general counsel of Ameritox, a clinical drug testing laboratory. He was also a senior commercial attorney at Zeneca and began his legal career in private practice with Dow, Lohnes & Albertson in Washington, DC.