Ballard Spahr LLP — The Philadelphia law firm tapped Tom Sager, the former general counsel of chemical company DuPont Co., as a partner. Sager began his career with Wilmington, Delaware-based DuPont as an attorney in the labor, benefits and corporate security group. He went on to become chief litigation counsel and eventually senior vice president and general counsel in 2008.

Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC — The Houston office of Deloitte's investment bank unit has named Thomas Sloop managing director. In this position, Sloop will oversee the development of the oil and gas practice within Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP. Prior to Deloitte, Sloop led the midstream M&A advisory practice for Pace Global Energy, a subsidiary of Siemens AG. Before that, he ran his own principal investment firm focused on energy development. He began his investment banking career with Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) and later held positions at Barclays Capital and UBS Securities.

Duane Morris LLP — Ajay Mago has joined the corporate practice group of the Philadelphia law firm's Chicago branch. He jumps to Duane Morris from Jones Day, where he regularly handled mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyout transactions, divestitures, joint ventures and corporate restructurings. Mago specializes in emerging growth and technology companies. Prior to practicing law, he was a senior consultant at KPMG LLP.

Fifth Street Management LLC — The New York asset management firm appointed Todd Owens as co-president, effective Sept. 29. Owens joins Fifth Street from Goldman Sachs & Co. (NYSE: GS), where he worked for 24 years as a managing director and partner focused on the financial services industry. 

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP — The New York law firm hired two new partners, Mitchell Presser and James Douglas. Presser  has been named head of Freshfields’ US M&A practice while Douglass joins as head of the firm’s US leveraged finance practice. Presser comes to Freshfields following seven years as a founding partner of the private equity firm Paine + Partners. Douglas formerly served as head of the banking and finance practice at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP.

Haskell & White LLP — The Irvine, California-based consulting firm called upon Carlos Martinez to be the audit manager for Haskell & White's San Diego office. Martinez has more than 10 years of accounting and auditing experience, and he works with various life sciences, manufacturing, technology, aerospace and defense companies. His role includes assisting clients on mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buy-outs and recapitalizations. 

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP —  The Chicago law firm is set to merge with California-based firm Barger & Wolen LLP.  The combination is expected to be final by Oct. 1. Barger & Wolen's 45 attorneys on staff are expected to join Hinshaw & Culbertson, which currently has about 460 lawyers. The combined firm will keep the name Hinshaw & Culbertson and have offices across 11 states, with a presence in London.

Jones Day — Partners Michael McGuinness and George Flemma have joined the law firm's New York headquarters, while Benedict O’Halloran comes aboard in London. Flemma and O’Halloran previously worked at General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE). McGuinness previously led the Latin America M&A practice at Shearman & Sterling. Bob Profusek, head of Jones Day’s global M&A practice, said “these three lawyers are terrific additions to our M&A practice, each a first-rate practitioner with substantial cross-border experience and in very active sectors.” The hiring comes as M&A volume continues to rise, causing firms to bolster their ranks.

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP — The Los Angeles law firm brought in two new hires from Bingham McCutchen LLP: partner Joshua Dean and special counsel Thomas Reddy. Dean joins Sheppard Mullin's Orange County, California, office while Reddy will work out of the firm's San Francisco branch.

TrueNorth Capital Partners LLC — Michael Hunter is the private equity firm's latest hire. As managing director, Hunter will assist in sourcing deals and participate in both buy-side and sell-side assignments.

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