Sidley Austin LLP announced today that Peter Benudiz has joined the firm in Los Angeles as a partner and will be a co-leader of the firm’s more than 100-lawyer global Real Estate practice. Mr. Benudiz was co-head of the Gaming and Hospitality group at his prior firm and has advised clients on numerous high-profile hospitality and real estate transactions. At Sidley, he will be based in the Century City office and will focus on expanding the firm’s global hospitality practice. More >>

Dechert LLP is pleased to announce that Timothy Spangler has joined the firm as a partner in the financial services practice group. He advises clients on the structuring and formation of, and investment in, international and domestic private investment funds, including hedge funds, private equity funds, real estate funds, venture capital funds and fund-of-funds. More >>

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to welcome Michael C. Cohen to the Firm as a Partner in the Los Angeles office’s Corporate, M&A, and Securities group. Mr. Cohen focuses his practice on a broad range of corporate, real estate, and other business transactions, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, private equity, and general outside counsel representation. He joins Blank Rome from Morrison & Foerster LLP, where he was a partner for 16 years and head of the Los Angeles office’s Corporate practice group. More >>

Sidley Austin LLP announced today that Russell “Rusty” Weiss has joined the firm as a partner in Los Angeles. Mr. Weiss has built a substantial practice focused on the convergence of entertainment and technology. He is a member of the firm’s Technology & Intellectual Property (IP) Transactions practice and Media and Entertainment industry group and is based in Century City. More >>

James J. Thompson has joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in the firm’s Corporate practice group, based in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Thompson joins from Snell & Wilmer. More >>

Sidley Austin LLP announced today that Richard S. Petretti has joined the firm as a partner and will be a member of its expanding media and entertainment group. He will be based in the firm’s Century City office. Mr. Petretti is a highly experienced finance lawyer who concentrates his practice on transactions in the media and entertainment industry and leveraged financings. More >>

Sidley Austin LLP announced today that Jack S. Yeh has joined the firm in Los Angeles as a partner in its Complex Commercial Litigation practice. He will be based in Sidley’s Century City office. Mr. Yeh is an experienced trial lawyer who has represented some of the largest companies in the world. More >>

Jeffrey L. Kateman has joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in the firm’s Corporate practice group and co-leader of the firm’s Private Equity team, based in the firm’s Century City office. Kateman joins from Latham & Watkins.

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