Jonathan Hale, former general counsel to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., has joined trade boutique firm LMD Trade Law as of counsel, LMD attorney T. James Min announced on LinkedIn. Hale worked for Cantwell for over 10 years, serving as general counsel and senior adviser on issues in trade, business, national security and foreign policy.

David Neubacher, a former Commerce Department director, has joined Picard Kentz as a senior trade analyst, he announced on LinkedIn. Neubacher served as a director at Commerce's International Trade Administration for the past six years.

Mary Thien Hoang has left her role as the Federal Maritime Commission's chief of staff after about two decades working for the agency, she announced last week on LinkedIn. She has held multiple senior roles with the FMC, including chief of staff for several commission chairs and deputy director of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services.

Nathaniel Moulton left his position last week as an information and communications technology specialist within the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration, he announced on LinkedIn. Moulton first joined Commerce in 2024 in the Office of Information and Communication Technologies, where he said he worked to "grow the U.S. quantum computing ecosystem and strengthen U.S. supply chain resilience." He also had a stint in 2021-2022 in policy coordination with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

David Giordano, a former trade staffer with the House Committee on Ways and Means, has joined Akin as a senior policy adviser in its lobbying and public policy practice, the firm announced. Giordano served as an international trade policy adviser to Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., from January 2023 to December 2025.

Jennifer Lucas retired from her role as the Commerce Department's acting assistant general counsel for legislation and regulation, she announced last week on LinkedIn. Lucas worked at Commerce for more than 23 years.

Customs and trade attorney Michael Jackson has joined Sandler Travis, he announced on LinkedIn. Jackson joins the firm from California trade firm Meeks Sheppard, where he worked since 2003.

Taylor Budowich, a former White House aide in the second Trump administration, has been appointed to a two-year term on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, starting Jan. 1. Leland Miller, an expert on China’s economy, and Jonathan Stivers, a former Democratic congressional aide, were reappointed to two-year terms on the panel.

The Senate confirmed the nomination of Laura DiBella late Dec. 18 to fill a vacancy on the Federal Maritime Commission. The Senate Commerce Committee approved DiBella’s nomination in November (see 2511190051). A second FMC nominee, Robert Harvey, awaits consideration by the committee.

The Senate on Dec. 18 confirmed the nomination of Julie Callahan to serve as chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and approved Jeffrey Goettman to be deputy USTR for Africa, the Western Hemisphere, Europe, the Middle East, Environment, Labor and Industrial Competitiveness.