Jonathan Stoel, international trade attorney, will serve as co-practice area leader for Hogan Lovells' international trade and investment practice along with Ajay Kuntamukkala, the firm announced. A partner in the practice area, Stoel focuses on "treaty-based claims, international investment protections, public international law, and international trade and customs issues," according to his bio on the firm's website. Stoel succeeds Deen Kaplan.

John Sullivan, former deputy secretary of state and U.S. ambassador to Russia, has rejoined Mayer Brown as a partner in the Washington, D.C., and New York offices, the firm announced. Sullivan's practice will center on issues relating to clients' business operations, "including global risk, US sanctions and export controls, international trade disputes and regulation, and foreign investment." Sullivan served as ambassador to Russia from 2020 to 2022 and as acting secretary of state from March to April 2018. He is also a distinguished fellow at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and a distinguished senior fellow at Columbia University School of Law's National Security Law Program.

International law firm Hogan Lovells promoted 38 of its lawyers starting Jan. 1 to partner in offices across the globe, the firm announced. Sara Lenet was elevated to partner and Josh Gelula was promoted to counsel, both of whom work in the firm's Washington, D.C.-based International Trade and Investment practice.

Timothy Brightbill, trade attorney at Wiley Rein, was named co-chair of the International Trade Practice with Alan Price starting Jan. 1, the firm announced. Brightbill has worked at Wiley for over 25 years, where his practice has centered on trade remedy matters, including antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings, global trade policy and trade negotiations, the firm said. He also currently heads the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Services and Finance Industries and has taught at Georgetown University Law Center for 20 years.

Akin Gump promoted 15 lawyers to partner, effective Jan. 1. Among the new partners are Alexis Guinan and Jingli Jiang. Guinan's practice, based in Washington, centers on sanctions and international trade laws, the firm said. She has advised clients looking to evaluate sanctions and other trade restrictions "associated with their portfolio companies." Jiang's practice touches on international trade proceedings, "including export controls, sanctions, antitrust and other types of regulatory and corporate advice," the firm said. She is in the Beijing office.

Law firm Polsinelli on Jan. 3 announced the launch of a new practice group covering International Trade Commission Section 337 litigation and trade remedies proceedings. The ITC Section 337 Litigation and Trade Remedies Practice is made up of seven international trade attorneys and will be based in the Washington, D.C., office. Five of the attorneys join Polsinelli from AMS Trade: Deanna Tanner Okun, former commissioner and two-time chair of the ITC, who will head the new practice; Louis Mastriani; Daniel Smith; Lauren Peterson; and Lydia Pardini, the firm said.

Long-time trade lawyer Spencer Griffith retired on Dec. 31 from Akin Gump after working at the firm since 1990, according to the firm. Griffith most recently worked as a partner in the Washington, D.C.-based International Trade Section, though he formerly served as the managing partner of Akin Gump's Beijing office. His practice centered on antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings, World Trade Organization cases and international arbitration proceedings derived from trade disputes. He will now work as partner emeritus.

Victor Ban, former senior associate at Covington & Burling, has joined the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as special counsel, the agency confirmed in an emailed statement. At USTR, Ban will coordinate the development of supply chain policy. Ban had practiced law at Covington & Burling LLP since 2015.

The International Trade Commission Trial Lawyers Association (ITCTLA) has elected Eric Namrow, intellectual property lawyer at Morgan Lewis, president for a one-year term, his firm announced. The ITCTLA works to improve Section 337 administration and inform attorneys, international trade officials and legislators about matters before the ITC. Namrow has served on the ITCTLA's executive committee for eight years in various roles and on various ITCTLA committees, including working groups on practice before CBP and the Court of International Trade.

Jerrob Duffy, former head of the Litigation Unit in the Fraud Section of DOJ's Criminal Division, has joined Squire Patton as a partner in the Government Investigations & White Collar practice, the firm announced. Duffy worked for over two decades at DOJ, rising to the role of chief of the Fraud Section's Litigation Unit, where he oversaw matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, money laundering, securities and other violations, the firm said.