Debevoise & Plimpton appointed litigation partners Helen Cantwell and David O'Neil co-chairs of the White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group following the end of Bruce Yannett's tenure as chair, the firm announced. Cantwell is a former assistant U.S. attorney and a former prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney's Sex Crimes Unit. O'Neil, a former DOJ official, centers his practice on matters involving corporate malfeasance, cybercrime, fraud and money laundering, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, healthcare fraud and securities fraud, the firm said.

Navpreet Moonga, former attorney with Dechert and Barnes Richardson, joined Wilson Sonsini as an associate, she announced on LinkedIn. Moonga arrives at Wilson Sonsini directly from Dechert, where she worked for two years as a special legal consultant on national security and trade issues.

Heather Holman, a 2023 graduate of the American University Washington College of Law, has joined the Commerce Department's Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance as an attorney, Holman announced on LinkedIn. Holman previously clerked in the chief counsel's office.

Jenner & Block partner Rachel Alpert was tapped to serve as the chief counsel to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, the firm announced on Oct. 24. Alpert has worked at Jenner & Block since 2021 and has fleshed out the firm's national security, sanctions and export controls practice, along with the human rights and global strategy practice. Her practice centered around export controls and sanctions proceedings under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Export Administration Regulations and OFAC regulations, among other things. Prior to working at Jenner & Block, Alpert worked as an attorney-adviser to the State Department and as counsel at Latham & Watkins.

Ben Glassman, former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, has been appointed deputy practice group leader for Squire Patton's Government Investigations and White Collar Practice group. As U.S. attorney from 2016 to 2019, Glassman prosecuted cases involving national security, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, antitrust and the False Claims Act, among other things, the firm said. Among other Squire Patton announcements was the appointment of Kendra Sherman as the firm's first U.S. national hiring chair.

Timothy Hruby, former chief of staff for the assistant secretary for enforcement and compliance at the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration, has joined Blank Rome as of counsel in the International Trade practice group. Hruby's practice will center on "international trade regulation," including trade remedies and customs proceedings, the firm announced. During his time at Commerce, Hruby worked as the lead negotiator for Commerce on trade remedies issues as part of the USMCA talks and "prepared high-level government officials for meetings with other U.S. and foreign government officials," the firm said. He is a U.S. roster member of binational panels for USMCA disputes.

Akin's Devin Sikes was appointed to the Court of International Trade's Rules Advisory Committee. The commiAn international trade counsel at Akin, Sikes adjudicates trade remedies and customs matters.

Over 99% of the partners at Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling voted for the two global firms to combine, with both parties beginning "active integration planning," aiming to complete the transaction by May, the Oct. 13 announcement said. Both have international trade and financial sanctions practices. The new firm, A&O Shearman, will have around 3,950 lawyers and 800 partners worldwide, the announcement said.

Joshua Drew, former assistant U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, has joined Miller & Chevalier as a member. Drew's practice will center on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act proceedings, corporate compliance and internal and external investigations, the firm said. He served as assistant U.S. attorney 2003-2009, and before that as a DOJ trial attorney in the agency's fraud section. More recently, Drew helped lead international communications company Veon through an FCPA monitorship.

Russell Semmel, former international trade attorney at Bryan Cave, has joined Sandler Travis as of counsel in the Miami office, the firm announced in an email. His practice will center on international trade law, regulation and policy matters, including tariff classification, economic sanctions and free trade agreements, among other things. Semmel worked at Bryan Cave for the past two years as counsel, and before that at ArentFox as a trade attorney.