King & Spalding and Baker & McKenzie have advised on a US$27bn real estate development in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Offshore firm Walkers has promoted eight finance and corporate attorneys to join its partnership – a response, according to the firm, to strong cross-border client demand. At the same time, 11 associates were promoted to the role of senior counsel.

DLA Piper, Arnold & Porter and Milbank have advised on a landmark Japanese investment into Venezuela’s national oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) valued at US$1.5bn – an important move as Japan seeks to diversify its energy resources in light of recent interruptions of traditional energy sources domestically.

Eversheds has scored a coup with the appointment of Morrison Foerster partner and former technology, media & communications (TMT) head Nigel Stamp, who is set to drive forward Eversheds’ TMT group in Hong Kong.

Herbert Smith has relocated two equity capital market lawyers, senior associate Siddhartha Sivaramakrishnan and associate Felipe Duque, from Hong Kong and London respectively, to form the core of its US securities team in Singapore.

Rouse has lured Dusanee Vanichpimonanan, a senior patent examiner from the Thai Patent Office to join the firm’s patent department in Bangkok.

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) has appointed two new partners to its Asian insurance practice – Antony Sassi in Hong Kong and Mark Errington in Singapore. Both appointments are part of BLG’s recent international partner promotions.

Hogan Lovells has transferred infrastructure and project finance partner, Christopher Cross, from its London, to Dubai office.

K&L Gates has added Amy Sommers as a corporate partner in its Shanghai office. She joins K&L Gates from Squire Sanders.

Son of founding partner, A.P. Rajah and head of Tan Rajah & Cheah’s dispute resolution team, Chelva Rajah is the first Singapore appointed member of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Arbitral Tribunal. He will serve on the panel for a term of four years.