Project Development and Finance Associate Attorney

Clifford Chance expands US antitrust practice with partner Vittorio Cottafavi. October 6, 2026. Global law firm Clifford Chance adds partner Vittorio Cottafavi in Washington, DC, further strengthening its Antitrust practice. Joining from the U.S. Department of Justice, Cottafavi advises clients on complex antitrust and competition matters, including mergers, investigations, and litigation. With more than 20 years of experience spanning government and private practice, he has advised clients across the technology, media, telecommunications and financial services sectors on high-stakes antitrust matters in the US and internationally. Marc Besen, Chair of the firm's Global Antitrust & Trade Group, said, "We are delighted to welcome Vittorio to the firm. His experience in senior antitrust roles at both the US Department of Justice, and his secondment to the European Commission, combined with his deep understanding of technology sector competition issues, further strengthens our ability to advise clients on complex matters that increasingly demand coordinated cross-border solutions." Cottafavi said, "Clifford Chance has built an impressive global antitrust practice and a truly collaborative culture. I'm excited to join my new colleagues across the US, Europe and around the globe and help clients navigate the dynamic competition landscape." Clifford Chance has continued to strengthen its US platform in 2026, with Cottafavi becoming the firm's 11th lateral partner hire this year. With more than 450 attorneys across New York, Washington, DC, Houston and São Paulo, the firm combines deep market knowledge with the reach of a fully integrated global partnership. The Americas team advises clients on complex US, Latin America and cross-border transactional, regulatory and disputes matters across key sectors including private capital and financial services, healthcare and life science, technology, infrastructure, and energy.

Clifford Chance strengthens life sciences licensing and collaboration capabilities with Zhenghui (Alan) Wang, Ph.D. October 6, 2026. Global law firm Clifford Chance has added Zhenghui (Alan) Wang to its transaction advisory team in New York, strengthening the firm's offerings across the healthcare and life sciences sector. Wang represents pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology innovators and other life sciences organizations in licensing, collaboration, co-development and co-commercialization transactions. He advises on the structuring and negotiation of strategic alliances and intellectual property-driven transactions across the sector, from research-stage collaborations through commercial licensing and partnership arrangements. Wang holds a Ph.D. in biological chemistry and, fluent in both Mandarin and English, advises clients in China and internationally on acquisitions, licensing and commercialization of innovative pharmaceutical products worldwide, with particular experience in the growing cross-border transactions involving such products developed in mainland China. Sarah Jones, Global Head of Corporate Transactions & Advisory, said, "Alan's arrival further strengthens our ability to advise clients on the strategic transactions that are driving growth, innovation and investment across the life sciences sector. His experience navigating intellectual property and transactional issues complements our global platform and enhances the support we provide to our global biopharmaceutical clients pursuing sophisticated cross-border transactions." Corporate Healthcare & Life Sciences Partner Peter Laveran-Stiebar said, "Alan's experience with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on strategic collaborations and licensing arrangements will help clients pursue innovation and bring new products to market. His work across these and other life sciences transactions, combined with a Ph.D. in biological chemistry, allows him to bring unique value to clients working through scientific and commercial issues." Wang said, "I was drawn to Clifford Chance's momentum in the market, its significant investment in and expansion of its healthcare and life sciences capabilities, and, most importantly, the strength of its global platform. The firm's ability to bring together lawyers across jurisdictions to deliver seamless advice to participants in the biopharmaceutical industry on cross-border matters is a tremendous advantage for clients, and I am excited to be part of that team." Wang's arrival marks the latest step in Clifford Chance's strategic expansion of its US healthcare and life sciences platform, which has been strengthened in recent years through targeted investments in M&A, licensing, collaboration and antitrust capabilities. His addition follows the recent arrival of intellectual property partner Jonathan Chu in Hong Kong, further enhancing the firm's ability to advise on IP-driven transactions across key innovation sectors, including healthcare and life sciences. With more than 450 attorneys across New York, Washington, DC, Houston and São Paulo, the firm combines deep local market knowledge with the reach of a fully integrated global partnership. The Americas team advises clients on complex US, Latin America and cross-border transactional, regulatory and disputes matters across key sectors including private capital and financial services, healthcare and life science, technology, infrastructure, and energy.

Insurance leadership moves: Euna, ABI, Gallagher and Sompo announce key appointments. Published in: News Four organisations have announced leadership and senior appointments this week, covering personal lines, industry membership and commercial development, European M&A advisory, and commercial underwriting across Continental Europe. Euna appoints Steve Morse as head of personal lines. Specialist managing general agent (MGA) Euna has appointed Steve Morse as head of personal lines, reporting to chief executive Ross Dingwall. Morse joins Euna from Aviva, where he served as underwriting director for Aviva Private Clients. He previously held a similar position at AXA XL and spent more than 15 years with Hiscox, becoming a partner in 2017. His appointment follows Euna's expansion into personal lines in July with the launch of Specialist Home, its non-standard residential and contract works product. The offering covers areas including non-standard construction, listed buildings, unoccupied homes and high-profile clients. ABI appoints Dimitra Christakou as membership and commercial development director. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has appointed Dimitra Christakou as director of membership and commercial development. In the role, Christakou will oversee member relationships as well as the ABI's events, networking, and learning and development programmes. She joins the ABI after holding senior leadership positions at BusinessLDN and Bloomberg. Her background includes commercial development and stakeholder engagement rather than technical underwriting. Gallagher expands European PEMA practice with two appointments. Gallagher has strengthened its European private equity and M&A (PEMA) practice with the appointments of Philip Frerks as head of transaction solutions in Germany and Andrea Karkotis as associate director, warranty & indemnity, in the Netherlands. The appointments form part of Gallagher's continued expansion of its PEMA operations across Europe. The business has also appointed country heads in Italy, the Nordics and France since June. Based in Frankfurt, Frerks joins from Malakut Group, where he spent a decade advising on M&A-related risk. Karkotis, who will be based in Amsterdam, joins Gallagher from Clifford Chance. The latest appointments add to Gallagher's presence across multiple European markets as it continues to develop its PEMA practice on a pan-European basis. Sompo appoints Scott Toland as head of commercial lines in Continental Europe. Sompo has appointed Scott Toland as head of commercial lines and insurance in Continental Europe. Based in Zurich, Toland will report to Ralph Brand, president of insurance in Continental Europe & Turkey. In his new position, Toland will be responsible for defining and executing the company's commercial lines underwriting strategy across the region. His responsibilities will include underwriting, distribution, client management and risk control services. Toland brings more than 25 years of insurance experience across the US and Europe. He joins Sompo from a large international insurer, where he most recently served as chief underwriting officer for EMEA.