Atsushi Kono, a former Akin Gump law clerk and lawyer with Japanese firm Nishimura & Asahi, was named a deputy director of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, he announced Aug. 21 on LinkedIn. He said he is joining the International Economic Affairs Department within the ministry’s Trade Policy Bureau, where he will help the Japanese government work on international trade-related legal and policy issues.

Aydin Akgun, a former licensing officer and chief in the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s licensing division, has joined Ferrari & Associates as director of licensing and compliance, the law firm announced this week. Akgun, who worked at OFAC for more than 20 years, will help advise clients on various OFAC licensing issues, the firm said.

Nigel Cory, former associate director of trade policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, has joined Crowell & Moring as a director, the firm announced. Cory will aid attorneys in the firm's international trade practices and other areas, the firm said.

Blake Hulnick, former attorney-adviser in the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s chief counsel office, was named senior adviser to the Treasury Department’s general counsel, he announced on LinkedIn. Hulnick joined Treasury in 2023.

David Horn was named assistant chief counsel for the Office of Foreign Assets Control, he announced on LinkedIn. Horn joined OFAC last year as an attorney adviser.

Charlie Steele, former chief counsel for the Office of Foreign Assets Control, has joined London-based legal advisory firm Outer Temple Chambers as a professional associate, he announced on LinkedIn. Steele, who left OFAC in 2020, said his work at Outer Temple will focus on sanctions issues, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and anti-money laundering. He said he will continue to operate the Law Office of Charles Steele, his Washington, D.C.-based solo practice.

Samuel Cutler, a former sanctions and export control lawyer with Miller & Chevalier, joined the Office of Foreign Assets Control as an enforcement officer, he announced last week on LinkedIn. Cutler said he began the new role this month.

Square Patton opened an office in Geneva, Switzerland, focusing on practice areas including international trade, sanctions, international dispute resolution and government investigations. The office is the firm's 17th European shop and will be led by Kate Sherrard, a financial services partner and co-head of the commodities and shipping practice group, the firm said July 17.

Gerald Moody, former assistant chief for the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Unit of DOJ's Fraud Section, has joined Akin as a partner in the white collar defense and government investigations practice, the firm announced. Moody worked at DOJ for over eight years, starting as a federal prosecutor in the FCPA unit in 2016 and serving as assistant chief beginning in January 2021.

Neil MacBride, general counsel for the Treasury Department since February 2022, left the agency last week, he announced on LinkedIn. MacBride helped advise Treasury on issues relating to sanctions and terrorism finance, financial crimes enforcement and more, according to the department.