Adam Hensel-Briscoe, former official at the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, has joined Squire Patton as a principal in its Washington, D.C., government investigations and white collar practice. Joining the firm from Akin Gump, Hensel-Briscoe worked at OFAC for over 12 years, serving as assistant director of the Office of Global Targeting's Narcotics, Crime, Africa and Western Hemisphere Division. His practice will center on "international trade, economic and trade sanctions laws, export control laws and other foreign policy and national security trade and investment controls," the firm said.

David Last, former chief of DOJ's Foreign Corrupt Practices Act unit, has joined Cleary Gottlieb as a partner in the Washington, D.C.-based white-collar and enforcement practice. Last's practice will key in on "criminal and civil FCPA matters, internal investigations, and defending companies and individuals in high-stakes enforcement actions," the firm said.

International trade attorney John Anwesen left Crowell & Moring to found Lighthill, a boutique international trade law firm. Per his LinkedIn page, Anwesen founded the firm in June after working at Crowell for two years as an associate. He previously worked at BakerHostetler as an associate and at the Commerce Department as an attorney and trade compliance analyst. With Lighthill, Anwesen will focus on trade remedy proceedings, "customs matters, export controls, and sanctions."

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced June 23 that Sarah Ellerman was named the new assistant U.S. trade representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. She had been acting in the same role, USTR said in a news release.

The Federal Maritime Commission has hired Alex Chintella as an administrative law judge, FMC Chairman Daniel Maffei announced June 21. Chintella was previously an attorney and administrative hearing officer with the Federal Railroad Administration.

CBP named Daniel Mercado the port director for Presidio, and he was sworn in on June 22. Mercado has a long tenure with CBP and was most recently liaison to the State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Ajay Kuntamukkala, partner at Hogan Lovells, has been named office managing partner in the firm's Washington, D.C., office, effective July 1, the firm announced. Succeeding Michele Farquhar in D.C., Kuntamukkala currently sits as a co-leader of the International Trade & Investment practice. His practice centers on "economic sanctions, export controls, and compliance with government licenses and authorizations," among other things, the firm said.

Deborah Curtis, a former export control and sanctions official, has joined Arnold & Porter as a partner in its White Collar Defense & Investigations practice in Washington, the firm announced. Her practice will center on "national security investigations and defense, and other litigation and enforcement matters." Curtis previously served as the chief counsel for the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security, a trial attorney for export control and sanctions at DOJ, and as deputy general counsel for litigation and investigations for the CIA.

Charlie Steele, former chief counsel at the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control during 2019-2020, launched a solo law practice called the Law Office of Charles Steele, the attorney announced on LinkedIn. The firm's work will center on "U.S. economic sanctions matters, including counseling, compliance advice, license applications, enforcement matters, and delisting petitions," along with proceedings involving the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and national security. Steele added that he will continue his practice at Forensic Risk Alliance, where he has worked as a partner since 2020.

Trade attorney Dariya Golubkova, former associate at Holland & Knight, moved to Kasowitz Benson, she recently announced on LinkedIn. Golubkova worked in Holland & Knight's international trade and national security practice and will move to Kasowitz Benson's litigation and sanctions practices. According to her new firm, Golubkova's practice centers on "complex commercial and international litigation," given her experience with "compliance, licensing and enforcement issues" stemming from U.S. sanctions and import and export control laws.