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.

Kenneth Juster, former U.S. ambassador to India under President Donald Trump, joined Freshfields as senior counselor in its New York office, the firm said a July 7 news release. He will work on cross-border and regulatory matters with a focus on U.S. and Indian issues, the release said.

Cynthia Whittenburg, who retired as CBP deputy executive assistant commissioner in the Office of Trade earlier this year (see 2102090059), joined the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Educational Institute (NEI) as an associate director, the trade association said in an emailed July 6 news release. Whittenburg will “assist in expanding the delivery of our content though institutions of higher learning as well as other appropriate avenues as well as assist in the development of additional courses needed to continue our mission,” NEI Executive Director Kiko Zuniga said. “Some of these courses will deal with current issues such as forced labor, USMCA, to name a few.” While at CBP, Whittenburg helped in examining the need for continuing education requirements for customs brokers (see 1910160056), an issue that CBP is still working on and that the NEI is following closely (see 2105040004).

Stu Seidel, a customs lawyer at Baker McKenzie for the past 19 years, retired, the firm said in a July newsletter. Seidel joined the firm in 2001 as a partner in the firm's International Trade group and was editor of the Baker McKenzie International Trade Compliance Update newsletter. Seidel previously was assistant commissioner for the U.S. Customs Service, now known as CBP.

Paul Jameson, trade attorney at Schagrin Associates, has retired after 42 years of practice, the law firm confirmed to Trade Law Daily. Jameson, 70, originally worked for Schagrin from 1985 to 1991, then rejoined the firm in 2013 and stayed until his retirement, according to the firm's website. He received his J.D. degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.