Joshua Snead, who has worked for Republicans on the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee for more than five years, has been promoted to chief trade counsel, since longtime chief trade counsel Angela Ellard is headed to a deputy director-general position at the World Trade Organization. Before going to Ways and Means, Snead was an associate for King & Spalding’s International Trade Group, and worked for the National Pork Producers Council on trade policy.
The National Foreign Trade Council hired Ben Wastler, previously a lawyer at CBP, as senior director for international supply chain policy, the trade group said in a news release. "In his new role, he will help NFTC expand its capacity on customs, international trade-related regulatory issues, and key supply chain issues including counterfeiting, product safety, labor rights policies and illicit trade, trade facilitation, customs best practices, and other policies to support the resilience and stability of global supply chains," it said.
Sarah Bianchi, whose nomination for a deputy U.S. trade representative role was previously announced (see 2104160066), will have the textiles, services and industrial competitiveness portfolio, and will cover Asia and Africa at the agency, if she is confirmed.
Arent Fox tapped Canadian international trade lawyer Riyaz Dattu for its New York office, expanding the firm's International Trade and Investment practice, the group announced. Dattu will advise “multinationals with Canadian presence” and Canadian companies on their operations in the U.S. and globally.
The American Iron and Steel Institute's board on May 25 elected Nucor Corp. CEO Leon Topalian to serve as chairman of AISI for a two-year term.
The Semiconductor Industry Association hired Meghan Biery, previously the senior national security policy adviser at the Bureau of Industry and Security, as director of global technology and security policy, the SIA said in a May 24 news release. “A seasoned policy practitioner with high-level experience in technology security, export control, and related issues, Meghan Biery will be a strong and capable advocate for our industry’s interests in Washington and around the world," SIA CEO John Neuffer said.
Benjamin L. England & Associates along with consulting group FDAImports.com hired Andrew Harrison to both firms to expand their practice of FDA law, regulation and enforcement, a May 20 news release said. Harrison joins as a senior attorney; he previously was general counsel and group compliance officer for PharMEDium Services and its associated FDA-registered 503B outsourcing facilities.
Vedder Price hired Brent Connor, previously in the Transportation and International Trade groups at Thompson Hine, as a shareholder to its International Trade and Compliance practice group in the firm's Washington office, according to a May 20 press release.
CBP Deputy Commissioner Robert Perez will retire (see 2105180051) at the end of June, said John Leonard, acting executive assistant commissioner for trade, while speaking during a Foreign Trade Association World Trade Week event May 20. Executive Assistant Commissioner for Enterprise Services Carry Huffman will be the acting deputy commissioner after Perez retires, Leonard said.
Alvarez & Marsal Taxand hired Michael McGee to lead the consultancy's new Global Trade and Customs practice, it said in a May 12 news release. McGee was previously the global director of International Trade Regulations at BP America. “The political landscape and the pandemic have led to more regulations, increasingly complex tax regimes and the need to redraw supply chains. As a result, there is greater demand for expert tax advisory services, including for global trade and tariffs and duties,” said Ernesto Perez, managing director of the Houston firm. “In line with A&M’s leadership, action, results approach, A&M Taxand is responding to the shifting business environment by expanding and strengthening specialized tax services to maximize value for clients.” A&M said McGee has “expert knowledge of U.S. Customs Law, Department of Commerce Export Administration Regulations, Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Asset Control, and Department of Commerce Antiboycott Regulations.”