Russell Semmel, former Arent Fox attorney, joined international law firm Bryan Cave's New York office as counsel in the International Trade Practice, the firm announced Aug. 30. With more than a decade of experience, Semmel will continue to advise importers on issues of “tariff classification and valuation; free trade agreements and preference programs; country of origin and marking; drawback; seizures and forfeitures; civil customs penalties; antidumping and countervailing duties; and other laws and regulations enforced by" CBP, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission, Bryan Cave said.

Fenwick & West will open an office in Washington, D.C., adding two partners for the new office, the firm announced on Aug. 31. Thomas Ensign and Melissa Duffy will both serve as partners in Fenwick's Antitrust and Trade Regulation practice. Duffy, who comes from Dechert, "advises on export controls, sanctions, trade policy, programs under the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), regulation of emerging technologies, digital trade, CFIUS and national security issues involving U.S. agencies," Fenwick said. Ensign is an antitrust adviser on issues including intellectual property agreements, distribution arrangements and joint ventures. Fenwick, which says it concentrates on serving the technology and life sciences industries, has offices in California, New York City, Seattle and Shanghai.

Chris Pelham, former assistant U.S. attorney in the Central District of California, joined Norton Rose as a partner in the global investigations team at its Los Angeles office, the firm announced earlier this month. Pelham joins from Jones Day, where he most recently served as counsel in Shanghai, China. He is the sixth U.S. lateral partner to join the global investigations team and will focus on cases of money laundering, healthcare fraud, embezzlement allegations, conflicts of interest, and commercial and public bribery, the firm said.

Juan Moreno will serve as Sandler Travis' director of trade compliance based in California, the firm announced in an email. Moreno most recently held the same position at Zisser Customs Law Group, based in San Diego, for 14 years and has been working in international trade since 1994. He advises traders in the U.S. and Mexico, and has been especially active on USMCA compliance, the firm's press release said.

Mi-Yong Kim, former chair of the Operating Committee for Export Administration at the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security, joined Bass Berry as counsel in its Washington, D.C.-based International Trade Practice, the firm announced Aug. 10. Kim worked at Commerce for over 18 years, nearly 10 of them as a senior attorney with the Office of Chief Counsel for Industry and Security. Kim will work on national security issues, including matters involving the Export Administration Regulations, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., the firm said.

Two longtime career staffers at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative were nominated for deputy USTR positions. Maria Pagán, the deputy general counsel at the agency, has been chosen to serve as ambassador to the World Trade Organization. According to an announcement from the White House, Pagán handled the implementation package for USMCA and was the lead lawyer in the USMCA negotiation. USTR Katherine Tai said, "María Pagán has proven to be a shrewd negotiator with an unparalleled knowledge of our trade agreements that will serve the United States well as we re-establish relationships with our trading partners and work to reform the World Trade Organization."

Alex Amdur, previously director for antidumping/countervailing duty policy and programs at CBP, recently became a trade adviser in the Office of the Commissioner, an agency spokesperson said. Kristin Weaver is now in Amdur's role on AD/CVD policy in an acting capacity, the spokesperson said.

Jahna Hartwig, former associate general counsel for ethics and compliance at Booz Allen, joined Wilson Sonsini as a senior counsel for the national security practice in the firm's Washington, D.C., office, the firm said in an Aug. 9 news release. Hartwig will look to bolster Wilson Sonsini's national security team using her experience with export control and sanctions compliance, International Traffic in Arms Regulations matters and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act proceedings, the release said. Prior to Booz Allen, Hartwig held director and associate general counsel positions at Sikorsky Aircraft.

Breck Weigel has joined Squire Patton as part of the firm's global Litigation Practice Group in Cincinnati, the firm announced Aug. 2. He joins from GE Aviation, where he most recently served as chief compliance officer and deputy general counsel.

Gregg Sofer, former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas, joined Husch Blackwell in its White Collar, Internal Investigations and Compliance practice group, the firm announced Aug. 2. Sofer has a background in national security law, including experience in export controls, sanctions, trade secrets and regulatory compliance, the release said.