Williams Mullen hired Chris Skinner, previously at Squire Patton, as a partner in the International Trade practice, the law firm said in a news release. Skinner has “represented a range of U.S. and non-U.S. importers and exporters with respect to compliance with U.S. international trade laws and regulations” and is the “co-chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) International Law Section’s Export Controls and Economic Sanctions Committee.”
Steptoe & Johnson hired Jeff Weiss, previously at Venable, to co-lead the firm's International Trade Policy practice, Steptoe said in a news release.
Former acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and former CBP commissioner Kevin McAleenan will be a distinguished guest lecturer at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point during the spring 2020 semester, for its course on Homeland Security and Defense, the United States Military Academy said in a news release.
Commerce Department Deputy Chief of Staff and Policy Director Earl Comstock is leaving the department, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said March 2 in a news release. Comstock was reportedly heavily involved in the export restrictions on Huawei Technologies and the Section 232 investigations.
The American Apparel and Footwear Association hired Beth Hughes, previously with the International Dairy Foods Association, as vice president, Trade & Customs Policy, the AAFA said in an emailed news release.
Crowell & Moring hired Caroline Brown, who previously was an attorney at the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), as a partner, the law firm said in a Feb. 20 new release. “Brown will work with financial institutions, multinational corporations, and companies launching emerging technologies to advise clients on anti-money laundering (AML) and economic sanctions compliance and enforcement challenges,” the firm said. “She will also help clients navigate review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).”
Mike Miller began serving as the State Department’s permanent deputy assistant secretary for defense trade on Feb. 3, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls said in a Feb. 14 notice. Miller previously served in the position in an acting capacity.
The Satellite Industry Association named Kirsten Shumway of Boeing chair of its export control working group, it said in a press release. SIA also named as its treasurer Ross Vincenti, who oversees “legal matters along with export and trade compliance” at Intelsat.
Sandler Travis hired Elizabeth Chiavetta, previously “director of audit policy at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, where she oversaw three branches within Regulatory Audit’s Audit Policy Division,” to the firm's auditing team, it said in a news release. Sandler Travis also added David Thomas, previously chairman of Trade for America and vice president for trade policy at Business Roundtable, as a member of the firm, it said. “As an attorney and lobbyist, David Thomas will advise and represent clients on international trade issues before Congress and the Executive Branch as well as assist on issues related to customs rules, policies, and procedures,” the firm said.
Akin Gump hired Hagir Elawad, previously legislative affairs director for the United Arab Emirates Embassy in the U.S., as a senior policy advisor in the firm's international trade practice, it said in a news release. While at the embassy, she worked on “a wide array of issues, including sanctions, export controls, aviation and aerospace, Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States matters,” the firm said.