Kelley Drye announced that Alan Luberda, the chair of the firm's international trade practice for the past five years, was appointed office managing partner for its Washington, D.C., location. For the last three years, Luberda also served as a member of the firm's Earnings Allocation Committee while carrying out his practice, which focuses on U.S. trade remedy law, customs and export controls law. The job opened up after Kathy Cannon stepped down to focus on her international trade practice, the firm said. John Herrmann will serve as chair of the international trade practice group, the firm said.

Daniel Solomon, former anti-corruption and trade compliance attorney at Smith Pachter, joined Miller & Chevalier as a member its International Department, the firm announced. Solomon brings to his new practice experience with economic sanctions, export controls and U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement and investigations, the firm said.

Jeffrey Tafel, the CEO of the Home Builders Association of Western Michigan, will become president of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones as of Feb. 1, the trade group said on Dec. 28.

Richard Cunningham, a long-time Steptoe & Johnson trade lawyer, died at 79, his firm announced. Cunningham spent his entire career of over 50 years at Steptoe, where he handled "some of the most significant U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty cases over the past 50 years," including as lead on the firm's team in a successful Supreme Court case in 2009, Steptoe said. He also helped to launch the careers of many international trade lawyers at Steptoe and others in the trade bar, the firm said. "Dick was a fantastic mentor," said Eric Emerson, co-head of Steptoe's International Trade and Regulatory Group. "Dick is the best international trade lawyer that I ever saw," said Gary N. Horlick, former head of Import Administration at the Commerce Department and prior to that a lawyer with Steptoe. "He'd get this glint in his eye when he knew what it would take for his client to win -- and when you saw it, you knew you were about to hear something wonderful."

Meredith DeMent has rejoined Baker McKenzie as a partner in the North America International Commercial Practice Group, based in Washington, D.C., the firm announced. Returning from Sidley Austin, DeMent will grow her practice in which she will counsel companies on "all aspects of US customs and related trade laws, including current and rapidly evolving trade policy, compliance and duty mitigation strategies," the firm said. DeMent previously was an associate at Baker McKenzie from 2013 to 2019.

Monica Triana, a trial lawyer at the Department of Justice, has joined 15 cases at the Court of International Trade, according to a notice of appearance. All 15 cases are customs battles brought by Trimil S.A., an apparel importer, and concern the question of whether the entries should be appraised at the prices paid with royalties included. Triana joined DOJ in 2014, holding her position as a trial attorney since that time.

New CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus was sworn in Dec. 13 by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, CBP said. Magnus was confirmed last week (see 2112080029).

Sidley Austin promoted Shawn Higgins to partner in the Washington, D.C., office, the firm announced. Higgins' practice includes various trade remedy matters, antidumping and countervailing duty investigations at the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission, and international trade compliance.

The Senate confirmed Tucson, Arizona, Police Chief Chris Magnus as CBP commissioner on a vote of 50-47 on Dec. 7. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was the only Republican to vote for him. The agency hasn't had a confirmed leader since 2019.

Kenyen Brown, a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, has joined Hughes Hubbard as a partner in the White Collar and Regulatory Defense, and Anti-Corruption and Internal Investigations practices, based in Washington, D.C., the firm announced. Brown's practice will center on white collar criminal litigation, including corporate counseling on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the False Claims Act, the firm said. Prior to joining Hughes Hubbard, Brown was a partner at Maynard Cooper.