Mi-Yong Kim, former chair of the Operating Committee for Export Administration at the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security, joined Bass Berry as counsel in its Washington, D.C.-based International Trade Practice, the firm announced Aug. 10. Kim worked at Commerce for over 18 years, nearly 10 of them as a senior attorney with the Office of Chief Counsel for Industry and Security. Kim will work on national security issues, including matters involving the Export Administration Regulations, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., the firm said.
Two longtime career staffers at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative were nominated for deputy USTR positions. Maria Pagán, the deputy general counsel at the agency, has been chosen to serve as ambassador to the World Trade Organization. According to an announcement from the White House, Pagán handled the implementation package for USMCA and was the lead lawyer in the USMCA negotiation. USTR Katherine Tai said, "María Pagán has proven to be a shrewd negotiator with an unparalleled knowledge of our trade agreements that will serve the United States well as we re-establish relationships with our trading partners and work to reform the World Trade Organization."
Jahna Hartwig, former associate general counsel for ethics and compliance at Booz Allen, joined Wilson Sonsini as a senior counsel for the national security practice in the firm's Washington, D.C., office, the firm said in an Aug. 9 news release. Hartwig will look to bolster Wilson Sonsini's national security team using her experience with export control and sanctions compliance, International Traffic in Arms Regulations matters and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act proceedings, the release said. Prior to Booz Allen, Hartwig held director and associate general counsel positions at Sikorsky Aircraft.
Alex Amdur, previously director for antidumping/countervailing duty policy and programs at CBP, recently became a trade adviser in the Office of the Commissioner, an agency spokesperson said. Kristin Weaver is now in Amdur's role on AD/CVD policy in an acting capacity, the spokesperson said.
Gregg Sofer, former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas, joined Husch Blackwell in its White Collar, Internal Investigations and Compliance practice group, the firm announced Aug. 2. Sofer has a background in national security law, including experience in export controls, sanctions, trade secrets and regulatory compliance, the release said.
Breck Weigel has joined Squire Patton as part of the firm's global Litigation Practice Group in Cincinnati, the firm announced Aug. 2. He joins from GE Aviation, where he most recently served as chief compliance officer and deputy general counsel.
Timothy Bergreen, former staff director for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and chief of staff to Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has joined Hogan Lovells as a partner in the firm's Government Relations and Public Affairs practice, the firm said in a July 12 news release. With more than two decades on the Hill, Bergreen has legislative experience in policy issues related to national security, including intelligence, foreign policy, defense, trade, sanctions, cybersecurity, cryptocurrencies, telecoms, satellite communications and appropriations in the House, Senate and State Department, the release said.
Candice Andalia has joined Kirkland & Ellis as the firm's new litigation partner in the Washington, D.C. office, according to the firm's website. Andalia joins Kirkland from Orrick Herrington; she specializes in "managing and coordinating national defense and strategy for clients in the manufacturing, technology, and financial sectors," it said.
Christina Ondrick joined McKool Smith as a principal in the firm's Washington, D.C., office, the firm said in a July 7 press release. Ondrick joins McKool from Paul Hastings, where she litigated patent disputes before district courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the International Trade Commission.
Adam Kaufmann has joined Barnes & Thornburg as a partner in the firm's Chicago-based Intellectual Property Department. Kaufmann comes from Kirkland & Ellis, where he litigated patent cases in front of federal courts and the International Trade Commission. He also worked on America Invents Act proceedings.