Arent Fox tapped Canadian international trade lawyer Riyaz Dattu for its New York office, expanding the firm's International Trade and Investment practice, the group announced. Dattu will advise “multinationals with Canadian presence” and Canadian companies on their operations in the U.S. and globally.

David Peyman, former deputy assistant secretary of state for counter threat finance and sanctions in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, joined DLA Piper's Washington office as of counsel in the International Trade practice, the firm announced May 20. At the State Department, Peyman managed 25 sanctions programs and built the first economic sanctions targeting team. He also led the Office of Threat Finance Countermeasures, which roots out terrorist financing.

Benjamin L. England & Associates along with consulting group FDAImports.com hired Andrew Harrison to both firms to expand their practice of FDA law, regulation and enforcement, a May 20 news release said. Harrison joins as a senior attorney; he previously was general counsel and group compliance officer for PharMEDium Services and its associated FDA-registered 503B outsourcing facilities.

Vedder Price hired Brent Connor, previously in the Transportation and International Trade groups at Thompson Hine, as a shareholder to its International Trade and Compliance practice group in the firm's Washington office, according to a May 20 press release.

Arent Fox is launching a Forced Labor team led by Angela Santos to assist companies in implementing forced labor compliance procedures, the firm announced in a May 12 alert. Given CBP's increased focus on forced labor in global supply chains, the need for proper import compliance and supply chain due diligence is at an all-time high. The new team seeks to help with that compliance and offers other services such as protests and petitions for release of seized merchandise, forced labor codes of conduct, supplier forced labor agreements, supply chain evaluations, customs questionnaires, forced labor audits and protest, forfeiture and customs penalty cases, according to the alert.

Alvarez & Marsal Taxand hired Michael McGee to lead the consultancy's new Global Trade and Customs practice, it said in a May 12 news release. McGee was previously the global director of International Trade Regulations at BP America. “The political landscape and the pandemic have led to more regulations, increasingly complex tax regimes and the need to redraw supply chains. As a result, there is greater demand for expert tax advisory services, including for global trade and tariffs and duties,” said Ernesto Perez, managing director of the Houston firm. “In line with A&M’s leadership, action, results approach, A&M Taxand is responding to the shifting business environment by expanding and strengthening specialized tax services to maximize value for clients.” A&M said McGee has “expert knowledge of U.S. Customs Law, Department of Commerce Export Administration Regulations, Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Asset Control, and Department of Commerce Antiboycott Regulations.”

Seth DuCharme, previously the acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York and principal associate deputy attorney general of the U.S., joined Bracewell as a partner in its government enforcement and investigations practice, the firm said in a May 10 news release. “DuCharme will focus his practice at Bracewell on advising companies and individuals on matters related to cybersecurity and breach response, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) diligence and litigation, export controls, sanctions compliance and anti-money laundering,” the firm said.

Latham & Watkins hired Damara Chambers, previously with Vinson & Elkins, as a partner in the Litigation & Trial Department and a member of the White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, Latham said in a news release. “Chambers is a leading lawyer who focuses on cross-border investment matters, including national security reviews by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), and the Department of Energy, among other agencies,” the firm said.

Akin Gump added Cindy Owens, previously with Covington & Burling, as a counsel in its international trade practice, the firm said in a news release. Owens “represents multinational clients on customs matters, including classification, valuation, country of origin, drawback, transfer pricing, foreign trade zones, bonded warehouses, free trade agreements and general entry process requirements,” it said.

Angela Ellard, chief Republican trade counsel on the House Ways and Means Committee, will be one of the four deputy directors-general at the World Trade Organization, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala announced May 4. Ellard has served on the committee staff since 1995.