Firearms trade expert Michael Andersen is the new director of regulatory services for Orchid, a federal firearms license business and compliance software company. Andersen will lead Orchid's international trade practice related to import/export licensing, alcohol, tobacco and firearms compliance, and firearms e-commerce regulations, the company said in a news release. Previously, Andersen was the director of compliance at Brownells, working on federal firearms compliance and international trade programs.

Todd Owen, who was executive assistant commissioner-CBP Office of Field Operations until last year (see 2008070012), recently joined Diaz Trade Law as senior trade adviser, Jennifer Diaz said by email.

In the Senate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is being added to the Finance Committee, the Senate majority leader announced Feb. 2. In the House, Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., and Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., are joining the Trade Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee, the committee chairman announced Feb. 2. Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., who has been a very active member of the Trade Subcommittee, will now head the Oversight Subcommittee. Republicans added three members to the Ways and Means Committee to replace two members who retired, and to reflect their larger numbers in the House: Reps. Carol Miller, R-W.Va.; Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa.; and Kevin Hern, R-Okla.

Clifford Chance hired international trade regulatory and national security expert Renee Latour as a partner at its Washington office, the firm announced in a news release Jan. 19. Latour was previously at Greenberg Traurig. She has 15 years of experience in matters concerning U.S. trade controls and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.

FTI Consulting recently hired Thomas Andrukonis, previously director of the Bureau of Industry and Security Export Management and Compliance Division, a post on LinkedIn by Matt Bell, FTI's Export Controls and Sanctions practice leader, said.

President Joe Biden announced his acting agency leadership choices as he waits for the Senate to approve his nominees. María Pagan, deputy general counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, will be acting head until Katherine Tai can be approved as the next U.S. trade representative. Pagán also served as acting USTR during the last transition (see 1701300020).

Alexandra Whittaker, a trade counsel on the House Ways and Means Committee, is being promoted to chief trade counsel, with the departure of Katherine Tai, the U.S. trade representative nominee. Before joining Ways and Means in 2019, Whittaker worked at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in both Washington and Geneva. She graduated from Spelman College and the Howard University School of Law.

Jenner & Block hired Rachel Alpert, previously with Latham & Watkins, as a partner, the firm said in a news release. Alpert also previously worked in the State Department Office of the Legal Adviser. Her work “supports organizations in the oil and gas, communications, travel, and other industries on legal issues involving export controls and US sanctions laws and regulations under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations,” Jenner & Block said.

Akin Gump promoted two trade lawyers to partners, it said Jan. 4. Jaelyn Edwards Judelson advises clients on sanctions and export controls, and Yujin Kim McNamara advises clients on international trade issues, including dispute settlements and trade remedies.

American Association of Exporters and Importers CEO Marianne Rowden will step down effective March 31 “to pursue new opportunities,” AAEI Board of Governors Chairperson Susie Hoeger said in a Jan. 5 message. “The Board has named a committee to lead the search for the next leader of AAEI, and hopes to make the transition as smooth as possible,” Hoeger said.