Allegiancy—The Richmond, Virginia, commercial real estate asset manager reports that it expects to double its staff size, now 18 employees, over the next two years. To accommodate its plans, the firm moved into new headquarters in Richmond with double the space. The new space includes a room where employees can play video games, to “unwind or recharge,” according to the company. The firm plans to expand its headquarters space again in two years. Allegiancy’s assets under management has grown more than 400 percent through a combination of organic growth and acquiring other asset management companies.

Barclays PLC–The London-based bank--one of the largest earners of U.S. investment banking fees from private equity firms-- has hired Christopher Turner, a Nomura Holdings Inc. managing director, the Wall Street Journal reports. According to the newspaper, Turner will join Barclays in October, reporting to Chris Sullivan, head of financial sponsors in the Amercia for Barclays (NYSE: BCS). Before starting with Nomura in 2013, Turner had worked nine years at Barclays plc and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., its predecessor. Turner advised Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC, Providence Equity Partners LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP, among others.

Guardian Mortgage Company Inc. – The Dallas-based residential mortgage originator and servicer has named Russell Anderson as its new president and CEO, replacing Marcia Phillips, who is retiring to become vice chairman of Guardian’s board of directors. Anderson joins from Bank of America, where he was senior vice president. He has 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry, including work at First Union National Bank and Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC). Phillips worked as Guardian’s president and CEO since 1988. Guardian is a subsidiary of Strategic Growth Bancorp Inc. with loan origination offices in Texas, Arizona and Michigan, and a $2.7 billion loan servicing portfolio.

Investcorp—The New York-based provider and manager of alternative investment products has hired David Tayeh as its head of corporate investment for North America. Tayeh joins from CVC Capital Partners, where he was a partner and led private equity deals that focused on partnering with management. At Investcorp, he will be responsible for the strategy and management of the firm’s corporate investment team, focused on investment opportunities in North-America-headquartered companies. Tayeh was previously a member of the Investcorp corporate team for more than 10 years, and also served as chief financial officer of Jostens Inc., a former Investcorp portfolio company. 

Kainos Capital—The Dallas-based specialist in acquiring and managing middle-market food and consumer businesses has added Kevin Elliott as a partner. Elliott has more than 25 years of operating, turnaround and M&A experience in the consumer goods, retail and distribution industries. Most recently he was president and chief operating officer of Nash Finch Inc. before the firm was sold to Spartan Stores Inc. Before Nash, Elliott was senior vice president of merchandising, marketing and distribution for 7-Eleven Inc., where he worked eight years.

Morrison & Foerster –The international law firm has added David Cross as a partner in its global antitrust practice group in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.  Cross is a trial lawyer with experience in antitrust and complex business litigation. Cross joins the firm from Crowell & Moring, where he co-chaired the electronic discovery practice.

O’Melveny & Myers LLP –The London-based international law firm has added Eve Ellis as a partner in its London office in the investment funds practice group. She starts Oct. 8, joining from Mishcon de Reya in London, where she was a partner and served as co-head of that firm’s funds and financial services group. Ellis, who worked at O’Melveny previously, specializes in advising clients on evolving UK financial services regulatory matters related to funds and other financial institutions. Ellis is the second partner to join O’Melveny’s London office—Andrew Weiler, specializing in M&A and corporate finance partner Andrew Weiler, started Aug. 3.

Platte River Equity—The Denver-based lower-middle market private equity firm made a follow-on investment leading to the owner of oil logistics business Texas Gathering LLC joining First River Energy LLC. Platte River made the follow-on investment in First River, and First River acquired Texas Gathering—its first acquisition since Platte River’s initial investment in July 2014. The Texas Gathering owner, Travis Davis, and his management team join First River as part of the transaction. With the Texas Gathering acquisition, Platte River intends to build a platform that it can continue adding to to create a large midstream energy company. Platte River Equity has raised funds with committed capital of more than $700 million.

Prairie Capital Advisors Inc.—The Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois-based corporate advisory and investment banking firm has hired Andrew O’Neill as director to lead its new Boston office. O’Neill has experience in valuation and economic analysis services; managing project development; and working with closely held companies, private equity funds and public companies. He has also worked in international markets with multi-lateral lenders and on the privatization of state-owned enterprises. With the Boston office, Prairie Capital six offices in the U.S., in addition to its headquarters, serving closely held companies.

The Riverside Co.—The private equity firm has promoted Peter Tsang to partner. Tsang, working out of the Riverside’s San Francisco office, focuses the firm’s education and training specialization and serves as the industry sector head. He joined the firm in 2004 and helped lead teams on more than a dozen platform acquisitions, more than 20 add-ons and several outstanding exits. He also sits on the boards of four Riverside portfolio companies. Before Riverside, Tsang worked as an investment banking analyst at Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin and as a staff auditor at Ernst & Young. Riverside is the winner of the 2014 M&A Mid-Market Seller of the Year award. In separate news, Riverside announced that it has expanded into a larger location in Dallas, where it has had an office since 2001.

Vinson & Elkins – The international law firm with 700 lawyers and 15 offices has added Bryan Loocke as a partner in its energy transactions practice to advise corporate and private equity clients in the energy sector. He is based in the firm’s Houston office. Loocke comes from Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, where he focused on oil and gas financing matters, representing private equity funds, purchasers, sellers, borrowers, lenders, developers and exploration and production companies in upstream and midstream oil and gas transactions.