Spring 2020 has challenged the world and all of us in unforeseeable ways. The coronavirus pandemic has forced us to work from home, close our schools and businesses, communicate virtually, and change our public and private lives. We have been socially distant in unimaginable ways. We have witnessed a great deal of human suffering and loss. However, we also have seen courage, resilience, and creativity. Our students have fought to end this semester with grit, spirit, determination, dignity, and a deep resolve to use their legal education to overcome this crisis. I stand in admiration of all of them, and I will never forget them. This crisis also has displayed, once again, the importance of human rights, the rule of law, and international law in challenging and uncertain times. I hope we all continue finding ways to stay connected and to collaborate. I close by sending you my best wishes for health, safety, and wellness.   Rosa Celorio Associate Dean of International and Comparative Legal Studies and Burnett Family Professorial Lecturer in International and Comparative Law and Policy

NEW INITIATIVES

New International Law LLM Concentrations Launched The International and Comparative Law Program recently launched two new concentrations: International Human Rights Law and International Arbitration, Mediation, and Other Dispute Resolution. Both concentrations are open to students pursuing an LLM in international and comparative law. “Our hope is that offering these specialties will enhance the training that our LLM students receive at GW Law and prepare them well for the job market. The concentrations will also open spaces and opportunities for our LLM students to obtain practical experience in the areas of international human rights and international arbitration,” Associate Dean Rosa Celorio said. LLM students interested in pursuing these two concentrations will take 10 credits specifically tailored to their subspecialty in international human rights law or international arbitration, mediation, and other dispute resolution. The requirements also include experiential credits and a writing requirement. GW Law is accepting applications for its LLM program until June 1, 2020. Read more

STAYING CONNECTED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Students Hold Dialogue with Professor Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein

GW Law students held a virtual conversation on Thursday, April 23, 2020, with Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, Perry World House Professor of Practice of Law and Human Rights at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Professor Al Hussein is the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The students discussed with Professor Al Hussein human rights issues concerning the coronavirus pandemic, as well as present and future priorities in the field of international law. The dialogue was organized by Munise Gultekin, who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in international educational development at the University of Pennsylvania, and Ayşe Güzel Öztürk, LLM ’20. The conversation was attended by both LLM and JD students from GW Law and moderated by Associate Dean Rosa Celorio. The International and Comparative Law Program is very grateful to Professor Al Hussein for sharing his wisdom, experience, and time with our students in a challenging time for our global community.

STUDENT AWARDS AND HONORS

Janina Heller Awarded RFK Human Rights Fellowship

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights awarded the Donald M. and Susan N. Wilson Fellowship to Janina Heller, JD ’20. The one-year fellowship is granted annually to one outstanding recent law graduate and provides invaluable training to those wishing to enter the human rights field. Ms. Heller said about this opportunity, “I am so humbled and grateful to RFK Human Rights for the opportunity to continue working towards a more just and peaceful world. This has truly been a dream come true. I am very thankful to GW Law and the International and Comparative Law Program for providing me with a great foundation for a career in the human rights field. The classes I have taken and the incredible opportunities that I have been given have shaped me into the human rights lawyer that I dreamed of becoming. I am particularly grateful to Dean Celorio for her invaluable mentorship and unwavering support, which helped me reach my full potential. It has truly been an honor to serve as her research assistant.” Ms. Heller will support RFK Human Rights’ legal team with litigation before international tribunals and will contribute to its advocacy efforts before governments and international organizations.

Ayşe Güzel Öztürk Awarded International Court of Justice Fellowship Ayşe Güzel Öztürk, LLM ’20, was selected to participate in a fellowship at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague. She will serve as a law clerk for Judge Patrick L. Robinson of the ICJ during the 2020-21 year. Ms. Öztürk, from Turkey, pursued an LLM in international and comparative law with a human rights concentration as a Thomas Buergenthal Scholar. This is the third year in a row that a GW Law LLM student has been invited to participate in the ICJ Judicial Fellows Program. Ms. Öztürk also worked this spring as a legal intern in the Environmental and International Law Practice Group at the World Bank Legal Vice Presidency, conducting research on different areas of public international law. Among her duties, she completed research for a project on the relevance of international criminal law to development, specifically in countries affected by fragility, conflict, and violence. Read more

GW Law Team Successful at Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition

In April 2020, the GW Law team at the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition was awarded second place for the Hardy C. Dillard Award, which is given every year to the best combined memorials (briefs) at the competition’s international championships. Jessup is the world’s largest moot court competition and simulates arguments before the International Court of Justice. This year, Jessup had competitors from 100 jurisdictions and over 700 law schools. The Dillard Award is calculated by comparing the top memorial from every national qualifying round with the 20 best memorials at the international rounds. GW was the only U.S. law school to place in the top 10 internationally. The team was composed of JoAnna Adkisson, Christine Coogle, Hayden Pendergrass, Griffin Simpson, and Alexandra Utech, all JD ’20. (Pictured from left to right: Griffin Simpson, Alexandra Utech, Hayden Pendergrass, JoAnna Adkisson, Christine Coogle, and coach Trent Buatte)

GW Law Only U.S. Semifinalist in Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Court

From April 2 to 4, 2020, GW Law students Andrew Ruskin and Taylor Kilpatrick, participated virtually in the Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Court Competition. They were coached by Achinthi Vithanage, Visiting Associate Professor of Law and Environmental and Energy Law Fellow. The students and Professor Vithanage began preparing for the competition in October 2019, spending many hours in-person and virtually in the wake of COVID-19 events. They were also fortunate to have special assistance from Program Director and Visiting Associate Professor Lin Harmon-Walker, Professor Sean Murphy, and Environmental Law Research Librarian Germaine Leahy. The students performed extremely well in a truly international competition and did so in a completely new, virtual environment. Professor Vithanage is incredibly proud of their hard work, their commitment in the wake of the pandemic limitations and virtual challenges, and their impressive and professional performances in the competition rounds.

SJD PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENT

Nudrat Piracha Successfully Defends Dissertation on International Investment-Arbitration

Nudrat Piracha concluded her SJD in May 2020, defending her dissertation centered on the topic “Toward Uniformly Accepted Principles for Interpreting MFN Clauses: Striking a Better Balance Between State Sovereignty and the Protection of Investors.” The dissertation advances a set of interpretive principles that should guide international courts and tribunals when interpreting MFN clauses and provides recommendations for a more balanced regime. Her dissertation defense committee was led by Professor Sean Murphy, and included Judge Charles Brower, Adjunct Professor Stanimir Alexandrov, and Associate Dean Rosa Celorio. Regarding the completion of her SJD, Ms. Piracha said, “On April 9, 2020, I successfully defended my dissertation before a committee consisting of eminent scholars and jurists, including Professor Sean Murphy, Dean Rosa Celorio, Judge Charles Brower, and Professor Stanimir Alexandrov, making me the first woman and fourth lawyer in Pakistan to qualify as an SJD. It has been an honor, privilege, and enriching experience working with giants in the field.” The International and Comparative Law Program congratulates Ms. Piracha on the successful completion of her SJD degree and this wonderful achievement.

Omri M. Sender Successfully Defends Dissertation on International Law

The dissertation, titled "Stronger Together: The International Court of Justice, the International Law Commission, and their Special Relationship in Shaping International Law," investigates the nature and impact of the relationship between the International Court of Justice and the International Law Commission as it has been shaped through their decades of co-existence in the United Nations system. The dissertation defense committee was led by Professor Sean Murphy, and included Professors Thomas Buergenthal and Michael Matheson, Former GW Law Associate Dean Susan Karamanian, and GW Professor Martha Finnemore. Regarding this milestone, Mr. Sender said, “It has been a long and demanding journey, yet one which I have thoroughly enjoyed. I am very pleased to have been able to shed some light on the fascinating process of international law-making, and am deeply grateful to the supervisor of this study, Professor Sean Murphy, and to all the other distinguished members of the dissertation committee.” The International and Comparative Law Program congratulates Mr. Sender on the successful completion of his SJD degree and this outstanding achievement.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Lindsey Ricchi Joins Sidley Austin

Lindsey Ricchi, JD ’20, will join Sidley Austin's Global Arbitration, Trade, and Advocacy practice this fall, where she would like to specialize in export controls and economic sanctions. “While I have focused on these issues from a policy perspective since completing my graduate degree at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, GW Law's expansive course offerings and international law speaker series helped me hone my knowledge of these fields from a legal perspective,” she said. Last summer, Ms. Ricchi was a summer associate at Sidley, where she drafted a submission to the World Trade Organization and drafted memoranda on novel issues of software as an export and commercial parties' rights under bilateral investment treaties.

Ana Carolina Fisher Interns at OAS Inter-American Commission of Women

Ana Carolina Fisher, LLM ’20, worked this semester as an Intern for the Organization of American States (OAS) at the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM). During her time at the CIM, she conducted research about the economic empowerment of women in the Americas and worked with the MESECVI, the follow-up mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention. “My internship at the CIM was the perfect way of complementing the human rights studies and gender-focused research I have been conducting at GW since I started the LLM program. Besides confirming my interest in this field, it gave me valuable insight into the work of an institution that shapes international agreements, as well as local legislation and policies. The staff is incredibly welcoming and willing to teach you. It was particularly interesting to be involved with their work during the COVID-19 pandemic and to witness their efforts to raise awareness about gender issues and, at the same time, to work closely with government institutions and civil society to monitor the measures adopted by OAS member states to protect women, who are subject to further discrimination and violence in times of a global crisis,” she said.

Tamar Morchiladze Clerks for Judge and Adjunct Professor Charles N. Brower

Tamar Morchiladze, LLM ’20, is pursuing a fellowship with the Honorable Charles N. Brower, working on international arbitration matters. This spring, she completed an LLM in international and comparative law at GW Law with a concentration on international arbitration. She is from Tbilisi, Georgia. Regarding this opportunity, Ms. Morchiladze said “I am grateful for having the opportunity to assist the Honorable Judge Brower in his private practice. During the fellowship, I have been involved in the research and analysis of complex legal issues arising in international investment arbitration. The working process was well-coordinated, challenging, and uplifting. The guidance that I received during the fellowship is invaluable. I greatly benefited from the opportunity to provide input in preparations for hearings and tribunal deliberations. This experience enabled me to be involved in the actual practice of international arbitration and reinforced my interest in the field.”

Emma Timan Interns at International Rescue Committee

Emma Timan, JD ‘20, worked at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) during spring 2020 as a U.S. policy and advocacy Intern. The IRC is one of nine U.S. private agencies operating under a cooperative agreement with the State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration to provide reception and placement services for refugees arriving in the United States. As an intern, Ms. Timan worked on a range of projects. She was responsible for drafting a public comment that was submitted to the federal register. The comment rejected a proposed rule expanding bars to asylum eligibility. She worked extensively on legal research related to President Trump's Executive Order 13888, which required that state and local governments affirmatively consent to resettle refugees in their jurisdictions. She developed policy documents related to U.S. asylum developments and the Special Immigrant Visa Program for former Iraqi and Afghani wartime allies seeking resettlement in the United States. One of her favorite experiences in her internship were hearing oral arguments in the Maryland District Court case HIAS v. Trump, which argued the unconstitutionality of Executive Order 13888. She also enjoyed attending markup hearings in the House Judiciary Committee for the NO BAN Act. Ms. Timan previously interned for the Public International Law and Policy Group and was a member of the GW International Human Rights Clinic—experiences that served her well in her internship at the IRC.

Hayden Pendergrass Interns at ICAR

Hayden Pendergrass, JD ‘20, interned at the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR) during spring 2020 as a Shapiro Fellow. During his time at ICAR, Mr. Pendergrass worked on strategies to combat strategic lawsuits against public participation and supported ICAR's work documenting corporate capture in federal agencies and developing federal corporate human rights accountability legislation modeled on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. “My internship allowed me to see nonprofit coalitions in action while giving me the opportunity to engage in substantive legal research on pressing state and federal human rights issues. My time at ICAR has given me invaluable insight into the public policy world and the many possibilities there,” he said. Mr. Pendergrass served as the Director for Public Interest and Pro Bono for the Student Bar Association at GW Law during the 2019-20 academic year.

GW LAW CONTRIBUTIONS TO INTERNATIONAL LAW

GW Law Undertakes First Human Rights Fact-Finding Trip to Belize on Indigenous Peoples

On March 1, 2020, Janina Heller, JD ’20, traveled to Belize for a week to support the work of Associate Dean Rosa Celorio, who has been appointed to serve as the International Dispute Resolution Authority between the Maya Peoples and the Government of Belize. Associate Dean Celorio is overseeing compliance with the Caribbean Court of Justice rulings advancing the human rights of indigenous peoples. Ms. Heller visited several indigenous villages to document human rights violations and assist Associate Dean Celorio in interviewing victims, civil society organizations, and government officials. “When I found out that I was going to have the opportunity to travel to Belize, I knew this trip would give me great practical experience on human rights, but I just did not anticipate that it would also be a lesson on humanity. During our visit to the indigenous villages, the village leaders and members shared their pain, hopes, and dreams with us. They narrated their stories so eloquently and wholeheartedly that we could feel every word of their messages despite the language barrier. I left the villages with a new understanding of indigenous peoples’ customs and traditions. This human rights fact-finding trip has truly been the highlight of my law school years,” Ms. Heller said.

Immigration Law Clinic Wins Asylum Claim

The Immigration Law Clinic, led by Professorial Lecturer in Law Paulina Vera, supported client A.A. and her 11-year-old son in their asylum claim. A.A. told Immigration Judge Cynthia S. Torg, “I don’t know how much longer I’ll be alive, but my children will always thank you,” after Judge Torg granted her asylum claim on February 24, 2020. A.A.’s husband was politically involved in their home country of Venezuela, actively protesting against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Because of her husband’s political involvement, both A.A. and their 11-year-old son were targeted by security forces and threatened with their lives should the political opposition continue. In addition, A.A. has been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer and feared that she would not be able to get medical treatments in her home country due to a shortage of medical supplies. After a 15-minute hearing, the judge agreed to grant relief, which the trial attorney did not oppose. Both the judge and trial attorney commended student-attorney Halima Nur, JD ’20, for her preparation. The judge commented that because of the amount of documentation and the legal arguments presented, she was able to issue a decision quickly. In addition to their 11-year-old son, the couple has a 1 1/2-year-old son, who was born in the United States. With this grant, the family will remain together in the United States. GW Law congratulates Halima Nur and Madeleine Delurey, JD ’20, for all their hard work on the case. (Pictured from left to right: Madeleine Delurey; Halima Nur; Paulina Vera; Clinic client A.A. holding U.S.-citizen son, M.A.; client H.A.; client's son, N.A.; and Professor Benitez)

FACULTY AND DEAN ACTIVITIES

Francesca Bignami Leroy Sorenson Merrifield Research  Professor of Law  Francesca Bignami's book EU Law in Populist Times was published by Cambridge University Press in 2020. GW Law held a book launch on February 25th, chaired by Professor Sean Murphy, and featuring remarks by Professor Bignami, and American University Professors Fernanda Nicola and Michelle Egan. The book provides a thorough and ground-breaking analysis of contemporary and thought-provoking areas of EU Law, including economic policy, human migration, internal security, and constitutional foundations at the national level.

The text underscores key lessons to advance the rule of law, rights, and democracy in many domains of E.U. Law. Professor Bignami also spoke about Professor Wojciech Sadurski's book Poland's Constitutional Breakdown at American University Washington College of Law, as part of the first event of the “Comparative Law Initiative in Washington, D.C.,” a new speaker series co-sponsored by GW Law.

Arturo Carrillo Professor of Clinical Law  Professor Carrillo’s article “Are There Universal Standards for Network Neutrality?” was published in the University of Pittsburgh Law Review (summer 2019). He is the author of Primer on Researching International Law to Advance Digital Rights, which was translated into Spanish and French and published online as part of the Internews Tools and Resources Series (2019). Professor Carrillo’s forthcoming article “The Price of Prevention: Anti-Terrorism Pre-Crime Measures and International Human Rights Law” will published by the Virginia Journal of International Law in summer 2020. Since 2019, Professor Carrillo has been Co-Chair of the American Society of International Law’s (ASIL) Technology and International Law Interest Group (ILTechIG). In this capacity, he organized and will moderate a panel at ASIL’s 2020 Annual Meeting on the prospect and peril of global data protection regimes. In February 2020, Professor Carrillo participated in an ASIL panel program at Tillar House called “Discerning the Rules: The Application of International Law to State Cyberattacks.” The panel, co-sponsored by ILTechIG, was part of a series of events advancing the society’s signature topic, “Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.”

Rosa Celorio  Associate Dean of International and Comparative Legal Studies and Burnett Family Professorial Lecturer in International and Comparative Law and Policy In October 2019, Associate Dean Celorio was appointed to be the International Dispute Resolution Authority between the Maya Peoples and the government of Belize, to supervise compliance with the judicial orders adopted by the Caribbean Court of Justice to protect the rights of the Maya peoples to their land, territories, and natural resources. She also was invited to join the Organization of American States electoral mission to Costa Rica to observe the municipal elections on February 2, 2020 as the senior gender expert. She was an invited professor at the Masters’ of Human Rights Law of the University of Diego Portales in Santiago, Chile on May 8 and 9, 2020. She recently published “Several Steps Forward, One Backward: Climate Change, Latin America, and Human Rights Resilience” in the Maryland Journal of International Law (2019), in which she contends that due to the gravity and global nature of climate change and its adverse effects, it is imperative that Latin American governments continue adopting immediate steps based on international human rights law to achieve the goals of the Paris agreement. On December 10, 2020, she was part of a group of discussants highlighting the importance of International Human Rights Day in an event organized by the Center of Justice and International Law in Washington, D.C. On January 24, 2020, she was also a speaker on the panel “We are all Equal Under the Law: The Role of Women Defending Human Rights and Democracy” in the plenary session of the U.S. Department of State Global Ties National Meeting, attended by more than 1,000 ambassadors, judges, U.S. government officials and civil society organizations from around the world. (Pictured from left to right, Carol Stevens, Executive Director for Media Relations, American Bar Association; Justice Meaza Ashenafi, Supreme Court of Ethiopia; Judge Susan Braden; and Associate Dean Rosa Celorio)

Sean D. Murphy Manatt/Ahn Professor of International Law  In December 2019, Professor Sean D. Murphy spoke at The Hague, at the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, regarding the International Law Commission’s articles on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity. Also in December, he was appointed by Nigeria as an ad hoc judge in Case No. 29 of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, known as the M/T “San Padre Pio” (No. 2) Case (Switzerland/Nigeria). He previously served as ad hoc judge in Case No. 27 on provisional measures of protection. In January 2020, he published “Peremptory Norms of General International Law (Jus Cogens) and Other Topics: The Seventy-First Session of the International Law Commission” in the American Journal of International Law (2020). In April 2020, Professor Murphy was appointed by Croatia as an arbitrator in Raiffeisen Bank International AG and Raiffeisen Bank Austria d.d. v. Croatia, which is convened under the UNCITRAL Arbitration rules. That month, Professor Murphy also completed a two-year term as President of the American Society of International Law.

FEATURED EVENTS

Patricia Saiz Delivers Lecture on ICC Court of Arbitration

On January 21, 2020, Associate Dean Rosa Celorio moderated a discussion with Patricia Saiz, Professor of International Arbitration at ESADE Law School (Spain) and member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Court of Arbitration. Professor Saiz discussed the advances, challenges, developments, and procedures of the ICC International Court of Arbitration. (Pictured from left to right: Associate Dean Celorio and Patricia Saiz)

International Experts Discuss Past, Present, and Future of Atrocities and Crimes

On January 22, 2020, Professor Emeritus and Judge Thomas Buergenthal joined Professor Sean D. Murphy and Professor Philippe Sands QC for a discussion on the events of the 1930s and 1940s, and their impact on developments concerning international and human rights law. The participants discussed the legacy of the Nuremberg Trials, the ongoing work and challenges faced by the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, and the process leading to a Convention on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity. The event was moderated by Associate Dean Rosa Celorio. The panel discussion was followed by a question-and-answer session and a reception. (Pictured left to right: Associate Dean Celorio; Judge Thomas Buergenthal; Professor Philippe Sands QC; and Professor Sean D. Murphy)

Networking Event Promotes Careers in International Law

On February 13, 2020, the International Law Society and the Human Rights Law Society, with support from the International and Comparative Law Program, organized a Careers in International Law networking event. The event included the participation of 15 experts from different areas of international law, with attendance by representatives from the U.S. Department of Treasury; U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Human Rights and Special Prosecutions; Baker Hostetler; U.S. Department of State; U.S. Agency for International Development; Herischi & Associates; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Human Rights Violations and War Crimes Unit; International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP); Center for Justice and International Law; Inter-American Development Bank; RFK Human Rights Foundation; and many more. The International and Comparative Law Program is grateful to all the experts for their time and advising of our law students. (Pictured: Jessica Ramirez from the Center of Justice and International Law advising our law students.)

Students Attend Washington Foreign Law Society Gala

On February 13, 2020, a group of GW Law students attended the annual Washington Foreign Law Society Gala along with Associate Dean Celorio. This year, the Washington Foreign Law society awarded Meg Kinnear, Vice President of the World Bank Group and Secretary-General of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, with the Harry LeRoy Jones Award. (Pictured with Associate Dean Celorio in no particular order: Aisha-Maria Gringel, Andronikos Stylianou, Christina Saad, Idil Muge Karata, Janina Heller, Lea Main-Klingst, and Sarah Takyi-Micah)

10th Annual “Live from L” with the State Department

On February 27, 2020, GW Law, the American Society of International Law, and the American Bar Association Section on International Law co-sponsored the tenth Annual “Live from L” with the Office of the Legal Adviser of the U.S. Department of State. This year’s topic was space law. Panelists included Marik String, Assistant Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State; Kathryn Youel Page, Assistant Legal Adviser, Office of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; Gabriel Swiney, Attorney-Adviser, Office of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; Michael Aktipis, Attorney-Adviser, Office of Economic and Business Affairs; and Samuel McDonald, Attorney-Adviser, Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control. The discussion was moderated by Associate Dean Celorio. The International and Comparative Law Program is grateful for the support that Ronald Bettauer always provides in the organization of this yearly event. ( Pictured left to right: Associate Dean Celorio, Gabriel Swiney, Kathryn Youel Page, Samuel McDonald, Michael Aktipis, Marik String)

MENA Hosts First Event

On February 27, 2020, the Middle Eastern and North African Law Society (MENA) organized their first event, “Do No Harm: Rescuing Children from the Consequences of Disaster, Poverty, and War,” in collaboration with several student associations and with the support of the International and Comparative Law Program. The event featured Mutasim Ali, LLM ‘20; Professor Ralph Steinhardt; Professorial Lecturer in Law Paulina Vera; and Fatema Dariani Keenan, Senior Law Career Counselor. Associate Dean Celorio moderated the discussion. (Pictured left to right: Associate Dean Celorio, Mutasim Ali, Fatema Keenan, Professor Ralph Steinhardt, Adjunct Professor Paulina Vera)