Akin Gump promoted export controls and economic sanctions senior counsel Kim Myers to partner in the Washington, D.C., office, the firm announced. In her practice, Myers helps clients obtain required authorizations, identify opportunities to implement compliance solutions and "operationalize trade compliance programs," the firm said.

FTI Consulting hired Brian Papp, previously staff director on the Senate Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness, as a managing director in the government affairs practice, FTI said.

Jonathan Engler, former Adduci Mastriani partner and former lawyer for the federal government, joined Mintz as a member of its Washington, D.C.-based Intellectual Property Practice, the firm announced. Engler will bring with him his practice specializing in patent, trade secret, copyright and trademark litigation, Mintz said. Engler's government experience includes positions at the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission; he also frequently worked on CBP enforcement cases.

Christopher Monahan has joined Faegre Drinker as a partner in its Washington, D.C.-based customs and international trade practice, the firm announced. Monahan, formerly of Winston & Strawn, has advised clients on U.S. international trade and investment regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Export Administration Regulations and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the firm said.

Ana Hinojosa, who was executive director of CBP's Trade Remedy Law Enforcement Directorate, is now retired, she said in a Nov. 1 LinkedIn post. CBP didn't immediately comment on who is now in the role she left.

Arent Fox has brought on four lawyers to join its Customs and Import Compliance team over the course of 2021, the firm said. In the New York office are Angela Santos, a partner who leads Arent Fox's forced labor task force and focuses on customs enforcement actions, and Christine Hintze, an associate specializing in CBP's enforcement of forced labor laws and regulations. James Kim, an associate in the San Francisco office, advises clients on international trade and customs matters. Richard McManus, counsel in the Washington, D.C., and a former employee with the Office of the Chief Counsel at CBP, brings a wealth of customs experience, the firm said.

Michael Casey, former partner at Kirkland & Ellis, joined Wilson Sonsini as a partner in the London office's national security practice, the firm announced. Casey brings a history of advising clients on national security and international economics matters, including "investigations and regulatory compliance matters related to economic sanctions, export controls, money laundering, corruption, and white-collar fraud," the firm said.

Nicole Bivens Collinson, who leads the lobbying arm of the Sandler Travis law firm, is the new legislative counsel for the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, the firm said. Collinson will take over from the association's previous Washington counsel, Whitmer and Worrall, which earned around $30,000 per quarter from lobbying on behalf of the NCBFAA, according to the two most recent quarterly disclosures filed this year. The NCBFAA recently named Sandler Travis lawyer Lenny Feldman the group's general counsel, adding to his ongoing role as customs counsel (see 2110010053).

Intellectual property litigator John Cox has joined Barnes & Thornburg as a partner in the Intellectual Property Department of its Atlanta office, the firm announced. Cox will focus on patent litigation and strategic counseling related to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and chemical matters, the firm said. He previously was at Womble Bond for seven years.

Marianne Rowden, the former CEO at the American Association of Exporters and Importers, is now CEO of the E-Merchants Trade Council, a new trade group focused on micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) e-commerce issues. Asked about the group's membership, Rowden said that “EMTC is a brand new association so we are building our membership with a number of industry stalwarts as initial members, who will be public shortly.” Rowden helped start the group “because no organization represents the MSME e-seller,” she said. “Our goal is to educate MSMEs on basic trade issues to run their business, but also advocate for simplifying cross-border transactions.”