Around the house

The PA Group, parent company of the Press Association, has appointed legal counsel Louise Irwin as its new general counsel and company secretary. She replaces general counsel Stephen Godsell who joined the Guardian Media Group earlier this year. An expert in commercial and intellectual property law, Ms Irwin joined PA Group as legal counsel in 2013, advising both the commercial and editorial sides of the company on a range of issues. Ms Irwin has also been instrumental to the expansion of PA Group’s racing and betting business, managing complex negotiations around the collection and distribution of racing data. She joined PA Group from professional services business Wolters Kluwer, where she provided legal counsel across their publishing, software, fee protection insurance and consultancy services departments.

Travel insurance company Generali Global Assistance,  which is part of the global Generali Group, has hired Tarik Ajami as general counsel and chief compliance officer, supporting all Generali business lines in North America. Mr Ajami heads up all legal and compliance functions for the company's diverse suite of North American businesses. Prior to joining Generali, Ajami served as deputy general counsel at AIG.

Google Ventures GC Jennifer Kercher is to join former Google Ventures CEO Bill Maris at his new California-based venture capital firm, Section 32, as general counsel and chief operating officer. Section 32 closed its first fundraising round in May, collecting $150 million from undisclosed investors. At Google Ventures, Mr Maris helped manage roughly $3 billion in investments including Nest and Uber Technologies.

MPLX general counsel Cory Bromley is retiring from the company after a 33 year career in the energy, minerals and construction industries. He will be replaced by Suzanne Gagle, currently vice president and general counsel of Marathon Petroleum, the parent corporation of MPLX. Ms Gagle will be appointed vice president and general counsel in October and will report to the company  president Michael Hennigan but will also continue to serve in her role at Marathon Petroleum. Mr Bromley joined MPLX in 2015, when it bought MarkWest Energy Partners, having served as general counsel to MarkWest since 2004. Prior to that, he was assistant general counsel at Foundation Coal Holdings and general managing counsel and senior environmental lawyer at Cyprus Amax Minerals. Ms Gagle began her career with Marathon Petroleum in 1992. 

Chicago-based private equity firm Kinzie Capital Partners has hired Nada Litwin as vice president and general counsel. Ms Litwin brings over a decade of experience in securities, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate law. She will manage all legal affairs and oversee general operating matters and investor relations at Kinzie. Prior to joining Kinzie, she was a partner at Fox Swibel Levin & Carroll in the corporate, securities and investment management group. Prior to that, she worked at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom  in the corporate and securities group.