John Meredith has become chief operating officer of Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry. In this newly created position, Meredith will manage more than 245 employees in the firm’s offices in Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia and San Antonio. He also will oversee strategic planning and budget management for the firm.

Peter Hays, a transactional oil and gas lawyer, has joined King & Spalding as a partner in the Houston office. Hays represents companies and entrepreneurs in upstream, midstream and downstream transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and project development.