Burges Salmon has recruited AJ Venter (1) as partner in its corporate and M&A team in Edinburgh, from Travers Smith, where he was senior counsel in its corporate M&A and equity capital markets group. He previously spent six years with Burges Salmon, having started his legal training with Deneys Reitz.

In Bristol, the firm has recruited M&A partner Andrew Mills (2) from MJ Hudson in London, where he was head of M&A. He previously worked for Clifford Chance and Hogan Lovells.

The firm has also promoted Alex Lloyd (3) to corporate and M&A partner in its Bristol office. He joined the firm eight years ago from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He previously worked for Baker McKenzie.

Oliver Hahnelt has joined Simmons & Simmons in Frankfurt as banking and finance partner, from McDermott Will & Emery, where he has spent the past six years as a partner. He previously worked for Ashurst; Millbank, Tweedy, Hadley & McCloy; and Allen & Overy.

Gibson Dunn has recruited Jason Cabral (1) and Sara Weed (2) as corporate partners in New York and Washington DC respectively. Cabral specialises in regulation, Weed in transactions.

Samantha McGonigle has joined Paul Hastings as private equity partner in its London office. She was co-founder of Fairview Equity Partners, following a 13-year career at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where she was a partner specialising in private equity. She trained as a corporate lawyer with Hogan Lovells.