German-based packaging machinery maker Krones AG said it is in mediation talks with a number of U.S.-based finance companies seeking compensation over the firm’s alleged participation in a large-scale fraud by U.S.-based Le-Nature’s.

Eric Simonson has joined Blank Rome as a partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity group, based in the firm’s New York office. Previously, he was a partner in the Corporate practice at K&L Gates.

Crowell & Moring announced it has elected two attorneys to the firm’s partnership: Matthew W. Cheney was named a partner in the Financial Services Group and Bankruptcy and Restructuring practice, and Kelly G. Howard was named a partner in the firm’s Corporate Group.

After more than 23 years of distinguished experience in corporate and finance law, Kevin Trabaris has announced the formation of Trabaris, P.C., a newly formed Chicago-area law firm focusing on corporate and commercial finance, bank lending, equipment leasing, factoring and other business financial products.

Senior bankruptcy lawyer Ancela R. Nastasi has joined Fulbright & Jaworski as the head of the New York office’s Bankruptcy and Insolvency practice group.

Deryck Palmer, Andrew Troop and Christopher Mirick joined Pillsbury in its Insolvency & Restructuring practice from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, where Palmer was the co-chairman of the financial restructuring department and a former member of the firm’s Management Committee.

Reuters reported that a federal judge refused to dismiss a lawsuit accusing GE and its CEO of misleading investors about the conglomerate’s financial health and exposure to risky debt during the 2008 financial crisis.

James F. Ritter has joined the Washington D.C. office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton in the firm’s Corporate practice group. Ritter was previously a partner with Latham & Watkins in Washington, D.C.

Loeb & Loeb announced that Bernard (Barney) R. Given II will join the firm’s Los Angeles office as a partner in the Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditor’s Rights Practice. He joins from the Los Angeles office of Frandzel Robins Bloom & Csato where he was a shareholder.