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.
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.
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.”
Thea Lee, a former AFL-CIO trade economist and top official for 20 years, will be leading the Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs, which is involved in both enforcement of the USMCA labor chapter and in investigating forced labor and the worst forms of child labor. The AFL-CIO reacted to the news of her appointment by saying “there is no better person to help strengthen enforcement of labor standards that increase the power of workers in the U.S. and around the world. She will also help shape policies to end forced labor and egregious worker rights violations throughout global supply chains.” The job is not one that requires Senate confirmation.
International Bond & Marine hired Lee Barther as vice president of operations, the company said in a May 3 news release. Barther previously “spent the majority of his career at C.A. Shea & Company,” IB&M said. IB&M was acquired by OneBeacon Insurance Group in September 2020.
Akin Gump added Cindy Owens, previously with Covington & Burling, as a counsel in its international trade practice, the firm said in a news release. Owens “represents multinational clients on customs matters, including classification, valuation, country of origin, drawback, transfer pricing, foreign trade zones, bonded warehouses, free trade agreements and general entry process requirements,” it said.
Angela Ellard, chief Republican trade counsel on the House Ways and Means Committee, will be one of the four deputy directors-general at the World Trade Organization, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala announced May 4. Ellard has served on the committee staff since 1995.
Arent Fox hired David Tafuri as a partner, Richard Griffiths as a senior adviser and Jasmine Zaki as an associate in the International Trade and Investment practice, the law firm said in an April 29 news release. All three previously worked at Dentons.