Matthew Axelrod, the Bureau of Industry and Security's former export enforcement chief, has joined Gibson Dunn to help lead the firm's new sanctions and export enforcement practice group. Axelrod and former Treasury Department senior adviser Adam Smith will co-chair the new group, which they said will aim to help clients navigate rising export control and sanctions risks.
Kristine Carrillo, an international trade specialist with the Commerce Department, was told her position was “terminated” this week as part of the Trump administration's sweeping cuts of employees who are still on probationary status, she announced on LinkedIn. Carrillo joined the International Trade Administration in December 2023 and worked to "advance opportunities for U.S. companies" through meetings with foreign governments visiting the U.S. on trade missions.
Ted Dean, former trade adviser to former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, has joined DGA Group’s China practice, the consulting firm announced. Dean led Commerce Department activities in the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council and advised on China policy.
Alexandra Hess, a former official at CBP, has rejoined Cassidy Levy as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office, the firm announced on LinkedIn. At CBP, Hess served as branch chief for entry process and duty refunds in the Office of Regulations & Rulings, where she "issued rulings and advice" on "the entry process, duty drawback, de minimis, reconciliation, bonding, antidumping and countervailing duties, temporary importation under bond, foreign trade zones, right to make entry, broker compliance and management, and quota," the firm said.
The Coalition for a Prosperous America announced that its CEO Michael Stumo is joining the Office of Management and Budget as associate director for economic policy and Buy America. Jon Toomey, a former Republican House staffer and the group's lead government relations staffer, has been promoted to president of the organization.
The former chief counsel for trade enforcement strategy at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, who led the four-year review of Section 301 tariffs and the launch of a Section 301 investigation on mature chips, has joined DLA Piper as a partner in the national security and global trade practice. Brian Janovitz worked at USTR for more than 10 years, and also was involved in litigation, such as the biotech corn dispute, which the U.S. won.
The former chief textiles and apparel negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has been hired as the National Council of Textile Organizations vice president of policy. Katherine White previously worked as a trade counsel at the House Ways and Means Committee and as a program analyst at the International Trade Administration.
The Coalition of New England Companies for Trade (CONECT) named Amy Elmore of Bob's Discount Furniture as its president; and Erin Merkel of the Massachusetts Port Authority as its vice president, according to a LinkedIn post. Paula Connelly, who was previously CONECT's president, is now board chair. Connelly is a lawyer with Sandler Travis.
The White House announced this week it has selected Joseph Barloon to be its ambassador to the World Trade Organization, a role of a deputy U.S. trade representative. Barloon served as general counsel to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative 2019-2020, during the first Trump administration. He also was nominated to be a judge at the Court of International Trade by President Donald Trump in that first term but wasn't confirmed (see 2102050032).
Sohan Dasgupta has joined DHS as assistant secretary for trade and economic security, he announced on LinkedIn. Dasgupta will work on issues related to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, along with other trade and supply chain issues. He previously served as a DHS deputy general counsel before going to a private practice in 2021.