Former CBP Executive Assistant Commissioner for Trade Brenda Smith recently joined Expeditors as global director of government outreach, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Elaine Trevino, a former deputy secretary for California's agriculture department, has been chosen to be the next chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the White House announced. Trevino is president of the Almond Alliance of California. USTR Katherine Tai issued a statement after the announcement: “Elaine Trevino understands the importance of America’s farmers and farming communities to the vitality of our economy. Her experience will help the Biden-Harris Administration craft durable trade policy that creates broad-based prosperity. Throughout her impressive career serving in leadership positions at the state and federal level, Elaine has developed strong relationships with key stakeholders and demonstrated a keen understanding of trade and agriculture policy. If confirmed as Chief Agriculture Negotiator, Elaine would be the first woman of color and the first Latina in this critical position that will help USTR advance President Biden’s vision to increase American competitiveness and Build Back Better. I hope the U.S. Senate can quickly confirm her to fill this important role so she can get to work on behalf of the American people.”

Joe Walker, former head of Squire Patton's white collar practice, joined the white collar team at Orrick as a partner, the firm announced. Walker has expertise on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters and cases before the Securities and Exchange Commission, Orrick said. Walker also served as a prosecutor in the Department of Justice Criminal Division, Fraud Section, where he led the first joint FCPA enforcement action between the SEC and DOJ. He has represented “major financial institutions in enforcement matters” and was “a DOJ- and SEC-appointed FCPA compliance monitor for Weatherford International as well as counsel to the monitor in the first-ever FCPA monitorship by an arm of the U.S. Department of Transportation,” the firm said.

The Biden administration announced it is nominating Marisa Lago to serve as the undersecretary of commerce for international trade, a position that directs the International Trade Administration, which has an annual budget of about $483 million. Lago is the director of the New York City Department of City Planning, and served in the Obama administration as the Treasury Department's assistant secretary for international markets and development. If confirmed by the Senate, she would replace the acting undersecretary, Diane Farrell.

Richard Sofield has joined Vinson & Elkins as a partner in its National Security and International Trade practice in Washington, the firm said. Sofield joins from Wiley Rein, where he led the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. practice group, focusing on cross-border investment and national security matters, the firm said. For 24 years before joining Wiley Rein, Sofield worked as a government attorney, including as director of the foreign investment review staff for the National Security Division at the Department of Justice. Overseeing DOJ's participation in CFIUS, Sofield reviewed more than 1,000 acquisitions for national security purposes, the firm said.

The National Foreign Trade Council announced that NFTC Vice President Jake Colvin will become the NFTC president on Oct. 1, replacing Rufus Yerxa. “I am thrilled that the NFTC Board has selected Jake Colvin as the next President,” Rufus Yerxa said. “Jake has been a huge asset to the organization for many years and nobody else knows its mission better." Yerxa said he relied on Colvin as the group worked on the issues of e-commerce, World Trade Organization reform, and China issues. "I have no doubt that NFTC’s leadership and influence in these and other areas will continue growing through Jake’s efforts.”

Dawn Shackleford, the assistant U.S. trade representative for the World Trade Organization and multilateral affairs, has been chosen to be assistant USTR for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, which covers Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands, in addition to Southeast Asia. "Dawn has demonstrated great skill and expertise across multiple positions at USTR,” USTR Katherine Tai said. “Her diplomatic experience and judgement will be invaluable as we engage our trading partners and resume our work to enhance U.S. economic cooperation in Southeast Asia and across the Pacific.” Shackleford was the lead negotiator on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and the lead negotiator for customs and trade facilitation in European trade talks that faltered. She joined USTR in 2004, after working at the Pentagon. Kent Shigetomi will serve as acting assistant USTR for WTO and multilateral affairs.

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.

The Bureau of Industry and Security recently named John Johnson the assistant director for investigative programs at the Office for Export Enforcement, a BIS spokesperson said. Johnson, who has been with OEE since 2007 and previously served as a special agent at the State Department, began his new role Aug. 1. He will oversee OEE's investigative programs.

A retired undersecretary of state, Nicholas Burns, has been named by the White House as its nominee for ambassador to China, and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who also was chief of staff in the Obama White House, has been chosen to be the ambassador to Japan. The announcement came Aug. 20.