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Akin Elevates Trade Attorney to Counsel
January 8, 2026 by Jacob Kopnick|Trade People

Paul Bettencourt, trade attorney at Akin Gump, has been promoted to counsel, he announced on LinkedIn. Bettencourt started at Akin as a law clerk in August 2020 and has worked at the firm as an associate since October 2020. Prior to receiving his law degree, Bettencourt worked as a policy analyst at the National Federation of Independent Business from 2017 to 2019.

Export Control Prosecutor Leaves DOJ
January 7, 2026 |Trade People

Christopher Rigali left DOJ last week after working as a trial lawyer in the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section since 2022, he announced on LinkedIn. Rigali, who first joined DOJ in 2018, investigated and prosecuted cases involving export controls, sanctions, espionage and more.

DOJ National Security Division Director Retires
January 7, 2026 |Trade People

Longtime DOJ official Scott Damelin, who recently served as executive director of the National Security Division, has retired from the agency, he announced on LinkedIn this week. Damelin first joined DOJ in December 2003. The Washington Post reported in March that Damelin was removed from his position by the Trump administration as part of a purge of certain career officials.

OFAC Acting Chief Counsel Leaves Agency
January 7, 2026 |Trade People

David Horn has left his position as acting chief counsel at the Office of Foreign Assets Control after taking over the role in August, he announced on LinkedIn last week. Horn had worked at OFAC since 2023, including as assistant chief counsel and an attorney-adviser.

Trade Attorney at Holland & Knight Promoted to Partner
January 6, 2026 |Trade People

Ashley Akers, a former trade attorney at DOJ and current attorney at Holland & Knight, has been promoted to partner, she announced on LinkedIn. Akers joined Holland & Knight in February 2025 as senior counsel after serving for nearly eight years at DOJ as a trial attorney and senior trial counsel.

Longtime Commerce Lawyer Retires
January 6, 2026 |Trade People

Jennifer Lucas retired from her role as the Commerce Department's acting assistant general counsel for legislation and regulation, she announced last week on LinkedIn. Lucas worked at Commerce for more than 23 years.

Former WTO Deputy DG Joins CSIS As Nonresident Senior Adviser
December 17, 2025 by Jacob Kopnick|Trade People

Angela Ellard, former deputy director-general of the World Trade Organization, has joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies as a nonresident senior adviser with its Economic Security and Technology Department, the think tank announced Dec. 15. Ellard joined WTO as deputy director-general in 2021 after serving as chief trade counsel for the House Committee on Ways and Means.