Joshua Levy, a DOJ attorney who oversaw multiple high-profile export control-related cases, will resign from the federal government Jan. 17, the agency announced this week. Levy most recently served as the U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, leading an office that charged two men in December for shipping sensitive drone technology to Iran (see 2412170021) and that fined American defense firm RTX in October to resolve allegations that it tried to defraud the U.S. government and commit defense export control violations (see 2410160058).

Hogan Lovells elevated international trade attorney Michael Jacobson to partner, the firm announced on Jan. 6. Jacobson joined the firm in 2013 in the international trade and investment practice, centering his practice on trade remedies litigation and investor-state arbitration. Hogan Lovells additionally announced that three trade attorneys were elevated to counsel: Mario Lara Rodriguez in the Mexico City office, Stephanie Sun in the Shanghai office, and Deborah Wei in the Washington, D.C., office.

International trade firm Sandler Travis expanded into Houston after five trade attorneys from customs firm The Law Office of Lawrence W. Hanson, P.C. joined the firm, Sandler Travis announced. The attorneys are Larry Hanson, a former attorney for the U.S. Customs Service, who joined as of counsel; James Amyx and Matthew Cummins, who joined as senior associates; and Bilal Hassan and Parker Edwards, who joined as associates.

Akin Gump elevated three of its international trade attorneys to partners, the firm announced. The attorneys are Katherine Padgett, who works in the international trade and outbound and inbound investment practices; George Pence, who focuses on national security and white collar criminal defense and investigations; and Devin Sikes, who focuses on trade remedies to assist clients.

James Ransdell, an international trade attorney at Cassidy Levy, has been elevated to partner, the firm announced. Ransdell joined Cassidy Levy in 2018 as an associate and works on trade remedies and customs issues.

International trade attorney Moushami Joshi is leaving Pillsbury Winthrop, the firm said in a notice to the Court of International Trade. Joshi joined the firm in 2014 as a foreign attorney in Washington, D.C., becoming a U.S. attorney in 2017. Prior to joining Pillsbury Winthrop, Joshi was an international trade partner at L&L Partners in India.

Jeffrey Neeley, international trade partner at Husch Blackwell, announced he is retiring after over 45 years as a trade attorney. Neeley began his career as an attorney at the International Trade Commission before moving to private practice.

Nathan Swinton is leaving DOJ to become the Bureau of Industry and Security's new chief counsel, he announced on LinkedIn. He was DOJ's senior counsel to the assistant attorney general for national security.

International trade attorney Bryan Cenko at Mowry & Grimson was elevated to partner, the firm announced. Cenko joined the firm in 2017 as an associate, becoming counsel in 2022. Before joining Mowry & Grimson, Cenko worked as a judicial law clerk for Judge Irma Raker at the Maryland Court of Appeals.

International trade attorney Benjamin Bay has been elevated to partner at The Bristol Group, the firm's managing partner Adam Gordon announced on LinkedIn. Bay joined Bristol in 2023, having previously worked as assistant general counsel in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.