Sidley Austin announced its promotions to partner and counsel in its Chicago office.The new partners, effective Jan. 1, are: •Elizabeth Y. Austin (litigation); •Alina A. Azizian (mergers and acquisitions; private equity. Note: Her Illinois bar admission is pending.); •Neil H. Conrad (litigation); •James E. Croke (global finance); •Christian E. Pilhofer (mergers and acquisitions; private equity); •Andrea L. Reed (mergers and acquisitions; private equity); •Cameron S. Stanton (mergers and acquisitions; private equity …