Barclays plc — Gary Posternack has been named global head of mergers and acquisitions at the London investment bank. Previously, Posternack served as the head of M&A Americas at Barclays Capital and before that, head of natural resources M&A. Before Barclays, he was at Lehman Brothers Inc., where he served as head of industrial M&A from 1999 to 2004. The moves comes on the heels of Barclays’ losing a string of bankers in 2014, including investment bank chairman, Ros Stephenson, who is joining UBS AG.
Bryan Cave LLP — The New York law firm has announced leadership changes at three of its offices. LaDawn Naegle became managing partner of Bryan Cave’s Washington, D.C., location on June 1, succeeding John Peirce. Naegle, a federal securities lawyer with an active public company practice, joined the firm in 1984 and has served on the executive committee since 2011. Peirce served as the managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office since 2010. In London, Carol Osbornewas named managing partner. She succeeds Rodney Page, who had been managing partner since 2010 and is now retiring. A 25-year deal veteran, Osborne joined the London office when the firm combined with Holme Roberts & Owen in 2012. In Paris, Constantin Achillas steps in for Joseph Smallhoover as managing partner. Achillas, who joined the firm in 2013, also heads the litigation and arbitration teams. Achillas has 25 years of deal-related experience providing legal counsel on banking, finance and project finance disputes. Smallhoover served as the managing partner in Paris since the office was established in 2008.
Cantor Fitzgerald — The New York investment bank hired two bankers from Royal Bank of Scotland’s U.S. offices. Cass Tokarski, who ran the collateralized mortgage origination business at RBS, joins Cantor as senior managing director and head of mortgages and asset-backed securities; he will be responsible for broadening and expanding Cantor’s presence in the business. James Murray, who was a director at RBS, joins as Cantor as a managing director, focused on agency adjustable-rate mortgage trading. Prior to his decade with RBS, Torkarski held trading positions at UBS AG (NYSE: UBS) and Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS).
Carmel Partners — The real estate investment management firm named Michael LaHorgue president. LaHorgue is based in the firm’s San Francisco headquarters. LaHorgue will also serve as a member of Carmel’s investment committee and executive committee. The firm, which specializes in multifamily real estate investment strategies, recently raised a $1 billion U.S. multifamily value creation fund, its fifth.
Citrin Cooperman — Sylvie Gadant has joined the New York accounting and tax advisory firm as a partner where she will work closely with the firm’s private equity group and oversee transaction advisory services (TAS). Separately, Marilyn Garcia and Brendan Roberts are joining the firm in Los Angeles and Charlotte, North Carolina, respectively, as TAS managers. Gadant, Garcia and Roberts were each previously at Rothstein Kass.
Cornerstone Research — The Menlo Park, California consulting firm appointed Michael Burton as CEO. Burton, formerly a senior vice president, succeeds Cynthia Zollinger, who has held the position since January 2007. Zollinger will remain an officer and chairperson of the firm. Burton joined Cornerstone in 2000 to help build the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.
Deutsche Bank AG —The Frankfurt, Germany advisory services firm and bankhas hired Deepak Khanna as a managing director on the Deutsche equity investment team in the Americas. Khanna, who will step in as head of U.S. large cap value equities on July 16, will work mainly within the asset and wealth management business. Khanna, be based in New York, joins from Lord Abbett & Co., where he was a portfolio manager of large cap value and multi cap value strategies.
Greenberg Traurig LLP — The New York firm added James Null as of counsel, concentrating on federal tax matters, including U.S. inbound and outbound investments, and private equity deals. Null jumped over to Greenberg Traurig from Reed Smith LLP.
Mayer Brown LLP — The law firm is establishing a corporate and securities practice in Palo Alto, California. Overseeing the expansion are partners Jennifer Carlson and Nina Flax from Chicago, where Mayer Brown is headquartered. Separately, Mayer Brown added Michael Lennon Jr. as a partner in the litigation and dispute resolution practice and international arbitration group in Houston. Previously, he was a partner with Baker Botts LLP. The firm also hired patent litigator Colleen Tracy in New York as a partner in the intellectual property practice. Previously, she was a partner at Fitzpatrick Cella Harper & Scinto.
Oppenheimer Funds Inc. — Elizabeth Krentzman, who had worked for years developing news rules and regulations with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, was recently elected to the New York investment bank’s board, effective August 1. Krentzman recently retired from Deloitte LLP after serving as the firm's U.S. mutual fund leader. She formerly served as the general counsel of the Investment Company Institute, where she was responsible for legal and regulatory initiatives, including representing mutual fund interests before numerous U.S. regulatory agencies and the U.S. Congress. She also served as an assistant director in the SEC's division of investment management, where she was responsible for rules involving disclosure obligations and investment adviser regulation. Prior to joining the SEC, Krentzman was with law firm Ropes & Gray, where she advised clients on regulatory and compliance matters.
TMG Consulting — The Austin Texas advisory firm has agreed to merge with Langham Consulting, effective July 15. The deal is expected to enhance each company’s coverage of the technology sector, namely utility and energy companies. TMG’s Mario Bauer is slated to become CEO of the combined entity, while Bart Thielbar becomes chief operating officer. Langham’s Gary Thorson will be president, while Debra Ardoline and Tim Almond will each be vice presidents. Senior Consultants include Steve Banks, Ralph Lousteau and Brooks Yates.
For last week's column...
