Newly-merged firm Jones Day Gouldens has made its first lateral hire with the appointment of Alain Checri as a partner from the London arm of Dewey Ballantine. Checri, who specialises in securitisation and capital markets, has acted for numerous major banking clients, including Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley. The appointment is the first lateral hire made since February’s merger between Gouldens and US giant Jones Day.

First reported on www.legalweek.net (14 March).