Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP has promoted seven of the firm’s lawyers to the partnership, effective January 1, 2012: Matthew C. Bate (Geneva), Jeremy R. Berry (Washington, D.C.), Estela Díaz (New York), Joseph K. Friedman (Los Angeles), Harry Keegan (London), Eric J. Klein (Dallas) and Tamer A. Soliman (Abu Dhabi).

R. Bruce McLean, Akin Gump’s chairman, said, “These talented attorneys have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their clients, their colleagues and the practice of law itself. I am proud to count them among the many outstanding attorneys at Akin Gump and am pleased to welcome them into the partnership.”

Mr. Bate is a member of the firm’s litigation practice. He focuses on international arbitration and litigation involving foreign direct investment, major infrastructure projects, joint ventures and cross-border transactions in the energy, mining, telecommunications, technology, financial and transportation sectors. Mr. Bate received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2001 and his B.A. cum laude from the University of Chicago in 1996.

Mr. Berry is a member of the firm’s investment funds practice. He focuses on private investment funds and complex corporate transactions, with a particular focus on private equity and hedge fund formation and other alternative investment matters. Mr. Berry received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2003 and his B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Kentucky in 2000.

Ms. Díaz is a member of the firm’s litigation practice. She focuses on commercial litigation and labor and employment matters. She also represents individuals and companies in white collar investigations and internal investigations. Ms. Díaz received her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2003 and her A.B. cum laude from Harvard University in 1997.

Mr. Friedman is a member of the firm’s real estate practice. He represents a broad spectrum of clients in a wide variety of complex real estate transactions. A particular focus of Mr. Friedman’s practice is representing private equity clients in connection with investments in distressed real estate assets. Mr. Friedman received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2001 and his B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1998.

Mr. Keegan is a member of the firm’s international corporate transactions practice. He focuses on UK and cross-border corporate finance transactions, including capital markets transactions, M&A, private equity and joint ventures. His recent experience includes representations in the energy, telecommunications, media and financial services sectors. He has previously been seconded to two investment banks. Mr. Keegan received his B.A. with honors from the University of Oxford in 1994.

Mr. Klein is a member of the firm’s intellectual property practice. He focuses on all aspects of intellectual property litigation, including patent, copyright and trademark matters. His broad background in engineering allows him to practice in many fields of technology. Mr. Klein received his J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2003, his M.S.E. (Electrical and Computer Engineering) from Purdue University, his M.B.A. from Texas Tech University and his B.S.C.E. from Texas A&M University.

Mr. Soliman is a member of the firm’s international trade practice. He advises corporate and government clients on a wide range of international trade and trade policy issues, including in the areas of defense trade/export controls, anticorruption laws, economic sanctions and customs/security-related issues. Mr. Soliman received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2000 and his B.A. with highest distinction from the University of Virginia in 1996.