Around the house

Former Sony Pictures executive Audrey Lee has been named executive vice president and deputy general counsel at Canadian-American entertainment company Lionsgate. Ms Lee had been with Sony for over 14 years, serving most recently as senior vice president of legal affairs. Prior to joining Sony, Ms Lee supported start-up studio Idealab as associate general counsel and handled M&A, securities and intellectual property transactions at law firm Latham & Watkins.

Also in the entertainment sphere, World Series of Fighting (WSOF) has scooped up new general counsel and chief operations officer Michael Mersch from rival mixed martial arts promotion company and industry leader Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Mr Mersch quietly left US midway through last year after eight years with the company, and has since been serving as general counsel for the Nevada Attorney General's Office. In addition to drafting all talent, television, venue, sponsorship and merchandising legal agreements, Mr Mersch will help spearhead WSOF's government relations as it gears up for the legalisation of MMA fighting in New York.

Meanwhile, OneSavings Bank group general counsel and company secretary Zoe Bucknell has announced that she will exit the challenger bank after five years leading its legal department. Ms Bucknell joined OneSavings in 2011 and guided the bank through its listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2014. She will step down from her role on 31 March, though it is still unknown where her next position will be. 'If I was going to take on another GC role I think I'd really like to take on a startup for a transformational role,' Ms Bucknell hinted.

Southern Californian real estate investment trust Rexford Industrial Realty has appointed David Lanzer as general counsel. Mr Lanzer joins Rexford from fellow industrial property investor Prologis where he served as first vice president and senior counsel. Prior to coming in-house, Mr Lanzer worked at an attorney at law firm Wooden & McLaughlin.

Finally, Florida-based financial services firm Raymond James has named John Santelli as its new general counsel and corporate secretary. Mr Santelli will succeed incumbent GC Paul Matecki in both positions, who is retiring after 26 years with the company. Mr James will learn under Mr Matecki's guidance from May 2 until September 30, when Mr Matecki will finally step down. Most recently, Mr Santelli served as deputy general counsel for First Republic Bank, and prior to that as managing director and associate general counsel for Bank of America.