The Mount Sinai Medical Legal Partnership, which offers free legal services to vulnerable patients, has appointed Barbara Berger Opotowsky as president. She joins MSMLP after serving for 15 years as the executive director of the New York City Bar Association.

• Outten & Golden has announced the promotion of Melissa E. Pierre-Louis, Melissa Lardo Stewart, and Gregory S. Chiarello to partner. The promotions became became effective Jan. 1.

• Richards Kibbe & Orbe has named Paul J. Devlin as a partner. Mr. Devlin practices in the firm's Investigations & Enforcement and Civil Litigation practice groups. The firm has also elevated Victor Ludwig to counsel.

• Phillips Nizer has added Lauren J. Wachtler as partner. She joins from Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp.

• Cole Schotz has elevated Matthew S. Schneid as a member of the firm.

• Christopher Gerson and Damien Dombrowski have been named partners at Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto.

• Dechert has announced that former special counsel Violetta Kokolus has been elected as a partner of the firm.

• Brady O'Malley has been named partner at Smith Sovik Kendrick & Sugnet.

• Akin Gump has announced the election of the following individuals to partner at the firm's New York office: Brett Daniel Fieldston, Jonathan R. Pavlich, Jonathan A. Ross, Jason P. Rubin and Jacqueline Yecies.

• Seward & Kissel has promoted Debra Franzese to partner.