Baker Botts LLP has hired a senior attorney who previously served at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the federal agency focused on investing in developing countries. The lawyer joins the firm as senior counsel in Washington, D.C.. The addition strengthens Baker Botts’ capabilities in international development finance and government-related matters.

The former chief operating officer of K&L Gates has departed the firm after more than six years in the role. The executive has joined Jackson Lewis P.C. as its new chief operating officer. The move represents a senior leadership transition between two major U.S. law firms.

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP has added industrial real estate attorney Rick Pilch as a partner in its Atlanta office. Pilch joins from Alston & Bird LLP, becoming the first lateral partner hire since Taft launched its Atlanta office. He focuses on large-scale leasing transactions for distribution centers and warehouse facilities.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP has expanded its Litigation and Intellectual Property & Technology practices with the addition of Phillip Aurentz as a shareholder in its Dallas office. Aurentz joins the firm from Sidley Austin LLP, bringing significant experience in complex litigation and technology-related matters.

Norton Rose Fulbright has advised funds managed by Sofidy, including SCPIs Sofidynamic and Immorente, as well as AIF Meilleurimmo, on the acquisition of the Magnetik building in southern Paris. The transaction highlights continued investor interest in prime office assets in the Paris region. The Magnetik building represents a strategic addition to Sofidy’s diversified real estate…

Guillermo Bailach Miró has joined Dentons as a partner in its Tax practice in Madrid. His arrival strengthens the firm’s capabilities in handling complex transactional matters. Bailach Miró brings significant experience in transactional tax, international structuring, and tax risk mitigation.

Winston & Strawn LLP has expanded its intellectual property capabilities in Washington, D.C., with the addition of an experienced patent litigator from McDermott Will & Schulte.

White & Case has strengthened its global mergers and acquisitions practice with the addition of two prominent deal lawyers, recruiting Jennifer Cheng from Reed Smith and Andrea Merediz Basham from Freshfields, the firm announced Thursday.

A Utah federal judge ruled that the claimed patent covering authentication procedures for third-party transactions was directed to an abstract concept, leading a Gibson Dunn Intellectual Property team to obtain a dismissal with prejudice of a patent infringement lawsuit against financial services company Plaid, Inc.

B. Riley Financial obtained the dismissal with prejudice of a shareholder derivative suit alleging that its board should have discovered fraud at Franchise Group Inc. before it led a group of investors in the $2.6 billion purchase of the company. This case clarifies a board’s due diligence duties when pursuing an acquisition.