Richard Sofield has joined Vinson & Elkins as a partner in its National Security and International Trade practice in Washington, the firm said. Sofield joins from Wiley Rein, where he led the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. practice group, focusing on cross-border investment and national security matters, the firm said. For 24 years before joining Wiley Rein, Sofield worked as a government attorney, including as director of the foreign investment review staff for the National Security Division at the Department of Justice. Overseeing DOJ's participation in CFIUS, Sofield reviewed more than 1,000 acquisitions for national security purposes, the firm said.

The National Foreign Trade Council announced that NFTC Vice President Jake Colvin will become the NFTC president on Oct. 1, replacing Rufus Yerxa. “I am thrilled that the NFTC Board has selected Jake Colvin as the next President,” Rufus Yerxa said. “Jake has been a huge asset to the organization for many years and nobody else knows its mission better." Yerxa said he relied on Colvin as the group worked on the issues of e-commerce, World Trade Organization reform, and China issues. "I have no doubt that NFTC’s leadership and influence in these and other areas will continue growing through Jake’s efforts.”

Dawn Shackleford, the assistant U.S. trade representative for the World Trade Organization and multilateral affairs, has been chosen to be assistant USTR for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, which covers Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands, in addition to Southeast Asia. "Dawn has demonstrated great skill and expertise across multiple positions at USTR,” USTR Katherine Tai said. “Her diplomatic experience and judgement will be invaluable as we engage our trading partners and resume our work to enhance U.S. economic cooperation in Southeast Asia and across the Pacific.” Shackleford was the lead negotiator on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and the lead negotiator for customs and trade facilitation in European trade talks that faltered. She joined USTR in 2004, after working at the Pentagon. Kent Shigetomi will serve as acting assistant USTR for WTO and multilateral affairs.

Fenwick & West will open an office in Washington, D.C., adding two partners for the new office, the firm announced on Aug. 31. Thomas Ensign and Melissa Duffy will both serve as partners in Fenwick's Antitrust and Trade Regulation practice. Duffy, who comes from Dechert, "advises on export controls, sanctions, trade policy, programs under the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), regulation of emerging technologies, digital trade, CFIUS and national security issues involving U.S. agencies," Fenwick said. Ensign is an antitrust adviser on issues including intellectual property agreements, distribution arrangements and joint ventures. Fenwick, which says it concentrates on serving the technology and life sciences industries, has offices in California, New York City, Seattle and Shanghai.

The Bureau of Industry and Security recently named John Johnson the assistant director for investigative programs at the Office for Export Enforcement, a BIS spokesperson said. Johnson, who has been with OEE since 2007 and previously served as a special agent at the State Department, began his new role Aug. 1. He will oversee OEE's investigative programs.

A retired undersecretary of state, Nicholas Burns, has been named by the White House as its nominee for ambassador to China, and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who also was chief of staff in the Obama White House, has been chosen to be the ambassador to Japan. The announcement came Aug. 20.

A former assistant U.S. trade representative for services and investment is joining Rock Creek Global Advisors as a managing director. A founder of the firm noted that Daniel Bahar led in digital trade policy and negotiations and represented USTR on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). "His experience in negotiating investment rules with China, developing cutting-edge digital trade policy, and dealing with the intersection of national security and global commerce will be of great benefit to our clients," Daniel Price said.

After the sudden death of Richard Trumka, Liz Shuler was elected president of the AFL-CIO, the federation of unions announced Aug. 20. Shuler is the first woman to lead the AFL-CIO. Shuler started as an organizer at Electrical Workers (IBEW), and worked at that union's political/legislative affairs department in Washington, D.C., before becoming secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO.

Chris Pelham, former assistant U.S. attorney in the Central District of California, joined Norton Rose as a partner in the global investigations team at its Los Angeles office, the firm announced earlier this month. Pelham joins from Jones Day, where he most recently served as counsel in Shanghai, China. He is the sixth U.S. lateral partner to join the global investigations team and will focus on cases of money laundering, healthcare fraud, embezzlement allegations, conflicts of interest, and commercial and public bribery, the firm said.

Erik Autor, president of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones, will leave the group as of Sept. 1, he said in an email. A replacement hasn't been named.