Jonathan Hale, former general counsel to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., has joined trade boutique firm LMD Trade Law as of counsel, LMD attorney T. James Min announced on LinkedIn. Hale worked for Cantwell for over 10 years, serving as general counsel and senior adviser on issues in trade, business, national security and foreign policy.
Glenn Leon, former chief of the DOJ criminal division's fraud section, has joined Jenner & Block as a partner in its Washington, D.C., office, the firm announced Jan. 15. At DOJ, Leon oversaw various criminal investigations on "healthcare fraud, commodities, securities, procurement fraud and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act" violations, the firm said.
David Neubacher, a former Commerce Department director, has joined Picard Kentz as a senior trade analyst, he announced on LinkedIn. Neubacher served as a director at Commerce's International Trade Administration for the past six years.
International trade firm Grunfeld Desiderio has promoted Kristina Barry to partner, the firm announced. Barry joined the firm in 2018 as an associate after graduating from Brooklyn Law School and serving as a law clerk at the Court of International Trade.
A group of former DOJ officials this week launched the National Security Division Association, a membership organization for current and former employees of DOJ's National Security Division. ​Matthew Olsen, chief of the division during the Biden administration, said on LinkedIn that the nonpartisan, nonprofit group aims to "foster a community of current and former employees" of the NSD and support its mission and workforce. The group also will sponsor events.
Regulatory attorney David Morrell left Jones Day on Jan. 9, according to a notice filed at the Court of International Trade. Morrell was serving as lead counsel for importer Wabtec in a case on the International Trade Commission's affirmative injury determination on freight rail couplers from China and Mexico (see 2510200045). Morell joined Jones Day as a partner in 2021 after holding various positions both in the first Trump administration and DOJ, leaving the agency in September 2020. According to the notice, Morrell said he "will be leaving the private practice of law" on Jan. 9.
Denise Calle, a customs and trade attorney, has been elevated to principal attorney at boutique regulatory firm OFW Law, the firm announced. Calle joined OFW Law in 2023 as an associate attorney, prior to which she worked as an associate at Benjamin L. England & Associates and Diaz Trade Law.
Josh Gelula, an international trade attorney in Hogan Lovells' Washington, D.C., office, has been promoted to partner, the firm announced on Jan. 6. Gelula joined the firm as a senior associate in 2018 and was promoted to counsel in 2023. In addition, Nicholas Laneville, another international trade attorney in the firm's Washington office, has been elevated to counsel. Laneville joined Hogan in 2017 as a senior associate. In Hogan's Shanghai office, international trade attorney Stephanie Sun was elevated to partner.
David Giordano, a former trade staffer with the House Committee on Ways and Means, has joined Akin as a senior policy adviser in its lobbying and public policy practice, the firm announced. Giordano served as an international trade policy adviser to Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., from January 2023 to December 2025.
Chase Dunn, an international trade attorney at Cassidy Levy Kent, has been promoted to counsel, he announced on LinkedIn. Dunn joined the firm in 2018 as an international trade and customs attorney.