Law firm Latham & Watkins LLP has added a group of attorneys with energy industry practices to its recently-established Houston office.

Independent oil and gas producer Devon Energy Corp. has elected Jeff Agosta and Jeff Ritenour as corporate officers.

HB Rentals, a Superior Energy Services company, has named Ken Ferguson the director of global business development.

US based oil and gas exploration and production company BNK Petroleum Inc. has hired Warren Nelson to serve in the company’s Camarillo office as vice president.

Brownstone Ventures, a Canadian-based oil and gas exploration company with projects in the US, Canada, Brazil, India and Argentina, has named Jonathan Schroeder president, COO, and a director.

Bucharest, Romania-based oil and gas services company Prospectiuni SA has named Jeffrey M. Rayner as vice president of equity investments.

Law firm Fulbright & Jaworski LLP has named James K. Dixon executive director of the firm, while Butch Hayes and Poe Leggette will head offices in Austin and Denver.

Law firm Bracewell & Giuliani LLP has hired Mark Lewis and Kirk Morgan, both formerly of Paul Hastings, to join the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as partners in its energy practice.

Jay Kelley has joined the Energy & Infrastructure Project practice as a partner in the Houston office of law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

Charles A. James, executive vice president at oil and gas giant Chevron Corp., will leave the company May 2, 2010.