International trade attorney Michelle Avrutin has left Schagrin Associates, the firm said in a notice to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Avrutin joined Schagrin in 2020. The firm declined to comment on the reason for her departure.

Alejo Cabranes, former senior policy adviser with the Treasury Department, is joining DOJ as an attorney in its National Security Division, he announced on LinkedIn. Cabranes has worked at Treasury since 2023, where he helped implement sanctions and anti-money laundering policies.

Trade attorney Kristen Smith has departed Sandler Travis, the firm said in a notice to the Court of International Trade. Smith worked at Sandler Travis for over 20 years, joining in 2005, most recently as a practice leader and member of the trade remedies practice.

International trade attorney Neil Helfand was elevated to partner at Grunfeld Desiderio, the firm announced. Helfand, a former CBP attorney in the Office of Regulations and Rulings, is based in New York and works on various customs issues, including country of origin determinations, tariff classification and detentions, and seizures.

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.