DN CapitalImran Akram (pictured) joins the firm as a principal where he will focus on software and digital media investments. Previously, he was part of the founding team that started Fidelity Growth Partners Europe.


EverBank Commercial Finance Inc. — The Parsippany, N.J.-based lender has expanded its healthcare platform by hiring Mike Foster as business development manager. He was previously at Marlin Business Services Corp. and, before that, LNB Commercial Capital.


Goodwin Proctor — The law firm brought in David Van Horne as a member in its San Francisco office. Van Horne will be working with emerging growth companies and venture capital firms. Van Horne was most recently a partner at the law firm Gunderson Dettmer.


Hilco Trading LLC — Dick Lynch has joined SD Retail Consulting, Hilco’s retail advisory unit, as senior vice president of merchandising and strategy. Lynch, who has more than 30 years of retail experience, will assist management of retail clients, along with owners and lenders, to help generate shareholder value. Lynch has served in a number of leadership positions over the years, including as president and COO of The Sports Authority, interim CEO of Sur La Table and CEO of home improvement retail chain the Hechinger Co.


Houlihan Lokey — The investment bank announced a changeup of some of its top-ranking officials. Co-chief executive Jeff Werbalowsky, who ran Houlihan alongside Scott Beiser, his partner in the role for about ten years, is set to become co-chairman with Robert Hotz. Beiser will continue as chief executive. Scott Adelson, co-head of corporate finance, and David Preiser, chairman of the firm’s European operations, will become co-presidents. Irwin Gold will move from his present role as co-chairman to executive chairman. All changes are effective May 1.


Imperial Capital — The investment bank hired four equity sales professionals to its New York office, including Anthony Greer and Anthony Reiner as managing directors, along with Philip Minardo and Yves Lefebvre as senior vice presidents. Greer and Reiner were previously at Dahlman Rose & Co. and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., respectively. Minardo was most recently a sales trader at Wall Street Access. At Imperial’s Boston office, Dustin Sanza steps in as vice president. Sanza had previously been at Wedbush Securities since 2007.


Jefferies Group — The investment bank has hired a Morgan Stanley veteran to serve as co-head of leveraged finance origination in Europe. Nicholas Rodolakis, to be based in London, will lead the leveraged finance group along with co-head Chris Auld. Rodolakis was most recently a managing director in the leveraged finance group of Morgan Stanley. He previously served as a director in the leveraged finance group of Credit Suisse. Jefferies declined to comment.


Partnership Capital Growth Advisors (PCG)Christopher Spahr (pictured) has joined PCG as a partner and will head the merchant bank’s new office in Chicago. Prior to joining PCG, Spahr was at William Blair & Co. for roughly 20 years. He was most recently a managing director and head of specialty retail investment banking. Before that, he was an analyst at Goldman Sachs & Co. (NYSE: GS).


The Riverside Co. — The private equity firm recently announced a slate of promotions. New partners include Joe Lee and Jack Nestor, both based in Riverside’s Cleveland office, along with Peter Schaberger in Munich. Lee started at Riverside in 2006, while Nestor and Schaberger both started in 2005. Riverside also named four individuals to principal: Lars Eriksson in Stockholm, Marty Graul in Dallas, Jeremy Holland in Los Angeles and Meranee Phing in San Francisco. Monica Chase and Sarah Spencer each stepped up to director. Chase, who joined Riverside in 2007, works on the fundraising end—having participated in the raising of six fund vintage funds. Spencer, who has been with Riverside since 2005, is part of the firm’s strategic analysis and sourcing unit.


Ropes & Gray — Jonathan Gill and Robb Tretter are joining the New York law firm as partners in the private equity practice, focusing on distressed investing. Both were previously at Bracewell & Giuliani, also in New York. Ropes & Gray has also expanded its offices abroad by poaching a pair of lawyers from Fried Frank Harris Shriver and Jacobson LLP. Mark Wesseldine and Victoria Lloyd have each joined the firm as partners in London and Hong Kong, respectively.


Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP — John Hempill, Jack Kiley and MaryJeanette Dee have each joined as partners in the law firm's New York office. Hempill joins as a member of the corporate practice group from Morrison Foerster, where he was a former co-chair of the emerging companies and venture capital group. Kiley joins as a member of the labor and employment practice group from Kelley Drye & Warren. Dee was previously a member of the business trial practice group of Richards Kibbe & Orbe.

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