Arent Fox has brought on four lawyers to join its Customs and Import Compliance team over the course of 2021, the firm said. In the New York office are Angela Santos, a partner who leads Arent Fox's forced labor task force and focuses on customs enforcement actions, and Christine Hintze, an associate specializing in CBP's enforcement of forced labor laws and regulations. James Kim, an associate in the San Francisco office, advises clients on international trade and customs matters. Richard McManus, counsel in the Washington, D.C., and a former employee with the Office of the Chief Counsel at CBP, brings a wealth of customs experience, the firm said.

Nicole Bivens Collinson, who leads the lobbying arm of the Sandler Travis law firm, is the new legislative counsel for the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, the firm said. Collinson will take over from the association's previous Washington counsel, Whitmer and Worrall, which earned around $30,000 per quarter from lobbying on behalf of the NCBFAA, according to the two most recent quarterly disclosures filed this year. The NCBFAA recently named Sandler Travis lawyer Lenny Feldman the group's general counsel, adding to his ongoing role as customs counsel (see 2110010053).

Ronald Baumgarten, former deputy assistant U.S. trade representative in the Office of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, has rejoined BakerHostetler as of counsel on the International Trade and National Security team, the firm announced. Baumgarten left BakerHostetler in 2007 to join the USTR as assistant general counsel. He later served as senior director in the Office of Agricultural Affairs before becoming deputy assistant USTR.

Marianne Rowden, the former CEO at the American Association of Exporters and Importers, is now CEO of the E-Merchants Trade Council, a new trade group focused on micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) e-commerce issues. Asked about the group's membership, Rowden said that “EMTC is a brand new association so we are building our membership with a number of industry stalwarts as initial members, who will be public shortly.” Rowden helped start the group “because no organization represents the MSME e-seller,” she said. “Our goal is to educate MSMEs on basic trade issues to run their business, but also advocate for simplifying cross-border transactions.”

Brian Feito has been named managing editor at Warren Communications News' International Trade Today, Export Compliance Daily and Trade Law Daily. Feito succeeds Timothy Warren, who moves to executive managing editor of WCN's Communications Daily.

The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America has brought on Lenny Feldman as its general counsel and Ashley Craig as its transportation and logistics counsel, it announced in an email. Feldman is a senior member of Sandler Travis who serves on the firm's operating committee; Craig is a partner at Venable working as co-chair of his firm's International Trade Group.

Jason Kenner, a 14-year Department of Justice trial attorney, joined Sandler Travis to head the firm's litigation practice, the firm announced Sept. 27. At DOJ, Kenner most recently was senior trial counsel handling federal trial and appellate international trade litigation. He worked in DOJ's Civil Division, International Trade Field Office and the Trade Fraud Task Force, where he was responsible for formulating and implementing litigation strategies while representing CBP, the Commerce Department and other trade-related agencies, Sandler Travis said.

Jayme White, the longtime Democratic trade adviser for the Senate Finance Committee, was approved on a 80-18 vote to be the new deputy U.S. trade representative for the Western Hemisphere, Europe, the Middle East, labor and environment. "His intellect and understanding of the key issues are second-to-none, but he also asks the thoughtful questions about how the policies we develop in Washington will affect workers across the country," USTR Katherine Tai said as she hailed the Senate vote the evening of Sept. 22.

Former CBP Executive Assistant Commissioner for Trade Brenda Smith recently joined Expeditors as global director of government outreach, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Elaine Trevino, a former deputy secretary for California's agriculture department, has been chosen to be the next chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the White House announced. Trevino is president of the Almond Alliance of California. USTR Katherine Tai issued a statement after the announcement: “Elaine Trevino understands the importance of America’s farmers and farming communities to the vitality of our economy. Her experience will help the Biden-Harris Administration craft durable trade policy that creates broad-based prosperity. Throughout her impressive career serving in leadership positions at the state and federal level, Elaine has developed strong relationships with key stakeholders and demonstrated a keen understanding of trade and agriculture policy. If confirmed as Chief Agriculture Negotiator, Elaine would be the first woman of color and the first Latina in this critical position that will help USTR advance President Biden’s vision to increase American competitiveness and Build Back Better. I hope the U.S. Senate can quickly confirm her to fill this important role so she can get to work on behalf of the American people.”