Ashurst bolsters US Projects practice with new counsel

Shmel joins from Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, where she has been a real estate and land use associate for nearly three years. Prior to that she spent over seven years working in various roles within the City of Los Angeles Mayor's office, where she focused on regional technology infrastructure projects, driving social infrastructure investments and leading citywide operational reform efforts. Shmel is experienced in delivering strategic large-scale projects in fast-paced, matrixed environments.

"We are delighted that Shmel is joining us," Anna Hermelin, Co-Head of Projects, Americas and Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office said. "Shmel brings years of valuable experience of innovative approaches to infrastructure delivery in Los Angeles. The addition of Shmel to our team further strengthens our ability to work together with clients to bring global experience into the local context in order to deliver their critical infrastructure programs."

Shmel added: "I am excited to join the team and to expand my practice on technological and infrastructure developments. I am excited to join a team in which my practice is so well integrated and where I will be able to contribute to the growth of the firm’s US projects team."

Shmel's appointment is demonstrative of Ashurst's continued investment in the US Projects practice and in the Los Angeles office where earlier in the year Talia Lake was promoted to the role of senior associate. The Ashurst US projects practice, ranked in Band 1 for Projects: PPP in Chambers USA 2021, is co-headed by Anna and partner Betty Cerini and now has a dedicated team of six partners and 16 counsel and associates based New York and Los Angeles.