Lawrence Friedman of Barnes Richardson took over as president of the Customs and International Trade Bar Association, effective Jan. 1, following outgoing president Joseph Dorn’s retirement from the CITBA Board of Directors. Friedman will finish out the rest of the current term through May, and run for CITBA president for the next term beginning in June. William Sjoberg, current CITBA treasurer and a lawyer with Adduci Mastriani, was also named the group’s vice president.
Jennifer Diaz, previously a lawyer with Becker & Poliakoff, opened a new law firm, named Diaz Trade Law (here), she said in a news release. The new firm is located in Miami and will specialize in customs and international trade, she said.
Bill Lane, global director of Government Affairs for Caterpillar, will retire as of Dec. 31, said the Washington International Trade Association in an email. Lane, a WITA board member, helped create several trade business coalitions, including USA Engage and the Coalition of American Steel Using Manufacturers, said WITA.
King & Spalding hired Stephen Vaughn, previously at Skadden, Arps, as a partner in in the Washington office, the law firm said (here). Vaughn, who represents "U.S. manufacturers in antidumping, countervailing duty, and safeguard trade remedy cases against dumped and subsidized imports," will work in King & Spalding's international trade practice, it said.
Akin Gump hired Tyson Smith, previously a consultant with TradeMoves, as a customs and international trade specialist in the Washington office, the law firm said (here). Smith is a licensed customs broker and will work with Akin Gump clients on tariff classification, valuation and binding rulings, among other things, the firm said.
McDermott Will & Emery hired former USTR Assistant General Counsel Benjamin Kostrzewa to its international trade practice in Washington, said the law firm. Kostrzewa will advise clients on matters including World Trade Organization proceedings, import relief, export controls, customs, and market access, the firm said.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 9 named Ed Mortimer its executive director of transportation infrastructure, where he will oversee the crafting and implementation of the chamber’s transportation and infrastructure policy, and will represent the chamber on Capitol Hill, before the Obama administration, and other industry organizations, the chamber said (here). Mortimer comes to the chamber from construction firm AECOM, where he served as director of government relations.
Juanita Duggan, CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association, will step down to lead the National Federation of Independent Business, the NFIB said (here). The AAFA is developing a "leadership transition plan" and Duggan will remain on the board of directors through the remainder of the year, said the AAFA (here). Duggan joined AAFA in June of 2014 (see 14060912).
Wiley Rein named Lori Sheetz as of counsel in the law firm's International Trade Practice, it said (here).
The Information Technology Industry Council hired Ashley Friedman, previously policy adviser for international trade and investment to the Commerce Department deputy secretary, as director of Global Policy. Friedman will lead the group's work in Latin America and "engage on a range of trade and innovation issues," it said (here).