David O'Sullivan, a former European Union ambassador to the U.S., joined Steptoe and Johnson in the firm's Brussels office, it said in a news release. “O'Sullivan will contribute in areas ranging from global trade to regulatory matters to compliance,” it said.

Aurelia Skipwith, the deputy assistant secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks at the Department of the Interior and the nominee for director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, was confirmed as the vice-chair of the Border Interagency Executive Council, CBP said in a Nov. 22 news release. The confirmation occurred at the most recent BIEC quarterly meeting on Nov. 18, CBP said. The BIEC is meant to help with “federal coordination across multiple missions within the customs arena, such as transport security, consumer health and safety.” Efforts within the BIEC include the “Global Business Identifier Initiative, which aims to develop a systematic, accurate and efficient method to identify legal entities, supply chain roles, and foreign addresses for the purpose of enabling One U.S. Government (1USG) to use a 'common language' employed by the trade community to better position the 1USG to focus on high-risk shipments,” CBP said. It is also working on preparedness for the Entry Type 86 for low-value shipments.

Myles Harmon, director of the CBP Commercial and Trade Facilitation Division within the Office of Regulations and Rulings, is retiring at the end of the year, according to multiple customs lawyers. CBP didn't comment.

The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America will use lobbying firm Whitmer & Worrall as Washington counsel, the association said in a Nov. 21 email. “Whitmer & Worrall is honored to support NCBFAA in representing the business of customs brokers, forwarders and OTI's, as transportation facilitators and logistics professionals," said Gabe Pellathy, partner at Whitmer & Worrall. "We look forward to achieving results for NCBFAA members through our collaboration including strategic planning, issues management and stakeholder engagement." Jon Kent, who previously lobbied for the NCBFAA, is retiring (see 1909030030).

Bradley Hayes, who was previously acting assistant commissioner for CBP’s Office of Congressional Affairs and executive director of CBP's Office of Trade Relations, recently joined the Office of Management and Budget, a CBP spokesperson said. Stephanie Talton, who was previously chief of staff in the Office of Trade, is now in the assistant commissioner role at the Office of Congressional Affairs, the spokesperson said.

Hun Quach, previously vice president for international trade at the Retail Industry Leaders Association, is now senior director, government relations, at Under Armour, she said in a recent tweet.

William Sjoberg joined Clark Hill in the International Trade Law practice, the firm said in a news release. Sjoberg previously was a partner in the trade practice at Porter Wright.

Crane Worldwide Logistics hired Alexandra Kleinschmidt as vice president-customs brokerage and trade advisory services, the company said in a news release. Kleinschmidt previously worked at DHL Global Forwarding. She "brings a dynamic approach to providing solutions and adds a different approach of driving success in Crane Worldwide’s brokerage division by having expertise in multiple countries as well as being considered an expert in multiple border crossings," VP and Chief Compliance Officer Tracey Anthony said. "Understanding the rules of engagements globally also makes her the right fit for Crane Worldwide’s trade consulting division.”

Duane Morris hired Geoffrey Goodale, previously a partner at FisherBroyles, as a partner in the corporate practice group, Duane Morris said in a news release. Goodale advises companies on import and export legal compliance, the firm said.

Greenberg Traurig hired customs lawyer Laura Siegal Rabinowitz, previously special counsel at Kelly Drye, as a shareholder in the firm's New York office, it said in an emailed news release. During the 1990s, she was an attorney with the U.S. Customs Service, Assistant Chief Counsel’s Office, and represented Customs in litigation at the Court of International Trade.