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.
Margaret Cekuta, a former chief of staff to the U.S. trade representative general counsel, has been hired as senior director for trade and innovation policy at the National Foreign Trade Council. Her portfolio will include intellectual property, digital trade, environment and health, and she will lead on NFTC engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
AnnaLou Tirol, former deputy director of the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, has joined O'Melveny & Myers as a partner in the Washington, D.C.-based White Collar Defense & Corporate Investigations Practice Group, the firm announced. Tirol also will work in the Fintech and National Security Groups, where her practice will center around financial services, digital assets and fintech sectors on regulatory issues involving the Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 and Corporate Transparency Act, the firm said. While at FinCEN, Tirol oversaw the network's anti-money laundering programs including regulatory matters and enforcement of anti-money laundering laws.
Deborah Connor, former chief of DOJ's Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, has joined Morrison Foerster as a partner in the Washington, D.C.-based Litigation Department, the firm announced. While at DOJ, Connor oversaw various investigative actions, including matters involving violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and economic sanctions. Before taking over MLARS, Connor served at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia for 16 years, working in various roles, including as chief of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section, where she led the prosecution of cases involving violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the firm said. At Morrison Foerster, Connor will center her practice on anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act matters.
Brianna Krominga, former trade attorney at Stanton, joined business law firm LimNexus as a senior associate in the Washington, D.C.-based International Trade & Regulatory Compliance group, the firm announced. Krominga previously co-led a court-appointed compliance monitor team for the "largest criminal monitorship in U.S. history for export controls and sanctions violations," the firm said. Krominga also helped lead the Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security corporate audit of a Chinese multinational telecom company. Her practice will center on export controls, economic sanctions, customs and Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. matters, LimNexus said.
Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, former regulatory and multilateral affairs analyst at the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Control's Policy office, has rejoined Crowell & Moring, the firm announced. Del-Cerro will serve as a partner in the International Trade and Government Contracts group, advising clients on aspects of export compliance including export controls, sanctions and Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. matters. At the State Department, del-Cerro worked to amend and interpret the International Traffic in Arms Regulations in promoting bilateral defense trade working groups' priorities, the firm said.