In an effort to strengthen its national security and international investigations skills on the West Coast, Akin announced today that Sarah Gerdes has joined the firm as senior counsel in its international trade practice in Los Angeles.

Drew Snyder, the former Director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services and Deputy Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has joined Baker Donelson as a strategic advisor.

Recently, Banco BTG Pactual Chile, as arranger, Banco Itaú Chile, as administrative agent, and the lender syndicate received advice from Arnold & Porter about a dual-currency transaction that involved a loan of US$35 million and CLP$55 billion to Caja de Compensación de Asignación Familiar La Araucana.

With great pleasure, Baker McKenzie announces that Dean Gerakiteys has joined the firm’s Sydney intellectual property practice as a partner.

It is with great pleasure that Dentons LuatViet announces that we were hired to assist Appirits Inc. (TSE: 4174) in acquiring 100% of Bunbu Joint Stock Company from individual shareholders.

Dentons, along with Kirkland & Ellis and Bär & Karrer, provided advice to SK Capital LP for the purchase of Swixx BioPharma Holding AG, which was valued at more than €1.5 billion.

Brookfield has received advice from Baker McKenzie about two real estate projects in Europe that will increase its market share in the residential and hotel sectors.

In the purchase of Dayton Tool Crib, a provider of industrial and automotive tools, Akerman represented Spartan Tool Supply LLC, a distributor of industrial power tools and equipment and a portfolio company of the private equity firm Foundation Investment Partners LLC (FIP).

Abeille Assurances has received advice from Norton Rose Fulbright on the sale of its direct insurance business to Allianz Direct under the Eurofil brand.

Anadolubank has received advice from Dentons for the private placement of three series of senior unsecured notes with a total principal of US$250 million. The notes were only bought by SFI Markets.