Laura Black, former director of policy and international relations in the Treasury Department's Office of Investment Security, has joined Akin Gump as senior counsel in the foreign investment and international practices, the firm announced. Based in Washington, D.C., Black will focus on investment screening within a national security context and advising clients on international investment risks, multijurisdictional review of transactions, cross-border M&A and outbound investment issues, the firm said. While at OIS, Black was the chief drafter of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018. She also served as the "point person" between the Biden administration transition team and the Office of International Affairs and Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, which includes the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., Akin Gump said.

Julia Webster, former senior associate at Borden Ladner, has joined Baker McKenzie as a partner in the international commercial and trade practice, the firm announced. Based in Toronto, Webster will focus on "trade remedies, free trade agreements, blocking measures, customs compliance, anti-corruption laws, economic sanctions, supply chain ethics, and cross-border M&A," the firm said. Webster previously worked as a senior associate in Borden Ladner's disputes and international trade practice. She is a sessional lecturer at law school of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

Julian Zou, former partner at Venable and international financing attorney, joined Procopio Cory as a partner in the Silicon Valley office, the firm announced. Zou's practice will center on his experience working on compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Chinese anti-bribery law counseling and investigations, the firm said.

Akerman LLP added two partners to its ranks, with Matthew Goldstein joining the Washington, D.C.-based Government Affairs and Public Policy practice, and Andrew Dominguez joining the International Litigation and Arbitration practice in Miami, the firm announced.

John Carlin, former acting deputy attorney general at DOJ, has joined Paul Weiss as co-head of the Cybersecurity & Data Protection practice and partner in the Litigation Department, the firm announced. Carlin's practice will focus on cyber incident responses, crisis management, national security issues, white collar defense and the work of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., the firm said. At DOJ, he held the acting deputy AG position from January to April 2021, later serving as principal associate deputy AG under Deputy AG Lisa Monaco and AG Merrick Garland. Carlin's work centered on oversight of the FBI, leading an initiative to stop corporate crime, and cracking down on individuals and entities helping Russia evade sanctions, the firm said.

Tatiana Clouthier, Mexico's economy secretary, announced her resignation at the Mexican president's daily news conference Oct. 6. She was on the verge of tears as she said it was time for her to retire. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he had asked her to stay on, but she said she couldn't. He said he would not announce her successor until the next day, so the focus could be on her contributions.

Liza Craig, former DOD attorney, has joined Goodwin as a partner in the Washington, D.C.-based Global Trade practice, the firm announced. Her practice will center on the procurement process; disputes over awards, administration and termination of government contracts; and on contract compliance proceedings, Goodwin said. Previously, Craig worked with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency and DOD on issues pertaining to the issuance of security clearances needed to carry out classified work. She also is an adjunct professor at the George Washington University Law School and the Georgetown University Law Center on government contracts and dispute resolution, the firm said.

Sohan Dasgupta, a former Department of Homeland Security deputy general counsel, joined Taft as a partner in its Washington, D.C.-based Litigation practice group, the firm announced. Dasgupta worked at both DHS and as special counsel at the Department of Education. In these positions, he worked on matters relating to international trade, including export controls, sanctions, customs compliance, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., Team Telecom and the supply chain, the firm said. Most recently, he was a partner and member at Frost Brown.

Jan Walter, former U.K. senior public servant, has joined Akin Gump as a senior policy adviser in the public law and policy practice, the firm announced. Walter will be based in Geneva, marking the practice area's first foray abroad, the firm said. Walter's experience includes working as a senior intellectual property adviser to the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Mission in Geneva and as a diplomat for the permanent mission of the Czech Republic in Geneva. At Akin Gump, he will represent clients before the World Trade Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Health Organization and other bodies, the firm said.

Adam Goldberg, former partner at Simpson Thacher in Hong Kong, has joined Pillsbury Winthrop as a litigation partner in San Francisco, the firm announced. Goldberg's practice will center around issues relating to Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, commercial bribery, violations of U.S. and Hong Kong securities laws, embezzlement and U.S. sanctions, the firm said. He also advises clients across a host of industries on matters involving the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., sanctions and export controls compliance. Much of his current practice, and practice at Simpson Thacher, revolves around China, though he has experience advising on matters involving South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, the firm said.