Lowenstein Sandler started a new global trade and policy practice in Washington, the firm said in a news release. Doreen Edelman, previously of the global business team at Baker Donelson, will lead Lowenstein's new practice, it said. Abbey Baker, Andrew Bisbas and Megan Bodie also joined the new practice group from Baker Donelson.
Crowell & Moring International hired Himamauli Das, previously senior director for international trade and investment at the White House National Security Council and National Economic Council, as a senior adviser to consult "on trade, investment, and market access issues," the consultancy said in a news release. CMI is the consulting arm of the Crowell & Moring law firm. Das also works as chief legal officer and senior vice president of the Financial Integrity Network, the law firm said.
American Association of Port Authorities CEO Kurt Nagle will retire in the fall of 2019, the trade group said in a news release. "The process to identify Mr. Nagle’s successor will begin immediately, with the goal to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of the work of the association on behalf of the public port industry," the AAPA said.
The Outdoor Industry Association hired Patricia Rojas-Ungar, previously vice president of public affairs at the U.S. Travel Association, as vice president of government affairs, the OIA said in a news release. Among other responsibilities, she will work to "support sensible and smart tariff reforms," the OIA said.
Anu Gavini was hired by Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg as a senior consultant to assist clients with import and export compliance. Earlier, she was president and chief operating officer of the Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services global trade compliance management firm, which is now a subsidiary of new parent firm UPS. Before joining STTAS, Gavini spent many years with Chrysler Corporation, now DaimlerChrysler.
Deborah Augustin, who previously worked as executive director of the Trade Transformation Office at CBP, is now executive director of the Trade Remedy Law Enforcement Directorate, a CBP spokesman said.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., was nominated to be director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the White House said in an announcement.
The Walt Disney Company added Michael Froman, who was a U.S. trade representative during the Obama administration, to its board of directors, Disney said in a news release. Froman is currently an executive at Mastercard.
Crowell & Moring hired David Stepp as a partner in the law firm’s international trade group in Los Angeles, it said in a press release. Stepp, who advises multinational companies and importers on customs and trade compliance, was previously at Bryan Cave.
The Solar Energy Industries Association hired John Smirnow, who previously worked at a law firm he founded, as general counsel, the SEIA said in a news release. This is a return to the association for Smirnow, who while previously with the SEIA "led the organization’s efforts to overturn a key customs ruling," according to a bio on the Smirnow Law website.