Latham adds five to Hong Kong PE team

• In response to market developments in Asia, Latham & Watkinshas strengthened its Hong Kong private funds team with three new lawyers and two relocations. Simon Cooke, a prominent M&A lawyer in the region, joins after two decades at rival law firm Clifford Chance. Gary Hamp, who focuses on acquisition and leveraged finance, joins from Hogan Lovells. Amy Beckingham, who specializes in private equity and M&A, joins from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Latham London finance partner James Burnettand Chicago investment banking partner Josef Athanasrelocated to Hong Kong.

•  DLA Piper named Sang Kim, its former regional managing partner for northern California, as chair of the firm’s US tax practice. Kim succeeds David Colker, who is now co-chair of the firm’s global tax practice. Kim, also a member of DLA Piper’s executive committee, has extensive experience in international tax issues and operational structuring, global transfer pricing and cross-border M&A.

• Maarten Schellingerhout, former senior legal counsel at Dutch pension fund PGGM, has joined the investment funds practice at Hogan Lovellsin Amsterdam. Schellingerhout will advise managers and institutional investors on fund formation, primary and secondary fund investments, co-investments and restructurings, with a particular focus on private equity, infrastructure and private real estate.

• Stephen Levy, a former Pinsent Masons specialist in cross-border and UK M&A, has joined Dentons in London as a partner in the corporate practice. Levy is experienced in advising top private equity funds including KKR, HIG Capital, Anchorage and Montagu Private Equity.

• Ropes & Gray welcomed Catherine Skulan, a former senior attorney at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, as counsel in its investment group. Skulan advises asset management and private equity firms on fund formation, as well as ongoing operational and compliance matters.

• Vinson & Elkinshired Paul Dunbaras a partner in the firm's London office. Dunbar, whose practice focuses on private equity and special situations funds, was previously a partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.

• Foley & Lardner added Raj Tanden in the firm’s taxation and Private Equity & Venture Capital practices as a partner in the Los Angeles office. Formerly a partner at Buchalter Nemer, Tanden represents clients in corporate tax matters and fund formation.

• Faegre Baker Daniels bolstered its corporate practice with two hires from Locke Lord. Ted Cominos, a partner in Chicago, works on private equity-backed and cross-border M&A transactions, particularly in Europe’s emerging markets. Cristina Audran-Proca, counsel in the firm’s London office, focuses on private equity and venture capital transactions in central and southeastern Europe.

Know of any private fund lawyer moves we missed? Submit the news to katherine.b@peimedia.com.