The International Law Section Gazette | | iLaw is Less than Two Weeks Away, Register Now! | |
| |
Mark your calendars: The Florida Bar International Law Section’s flagship conference returns February 13, 2026, at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami.
Expect to join legal practitioners from 20+ jurisdictions for plenary sessions, a stand-out keynote, incredible networking, and three breakout tracks: International Litigation, International Business Transactions, and AAA-ICDR International Arbitration.
Registration for iLaw 2026 is now open. With keynote Robert Mahari and attendees from 20+ jurisdictions, the program is expected to sell out.
➡️ Register Here: https://bit.ly/4rKe15W
➡️ Hotel Block: https://bit.ly/3MmcJxX
Make sure to secure your registration and hotel room early! See you there.
| | |
Dear colleagues and friends,
We are just 10 days away from iLaw, and the momentum could not be stronger. If you have not registered yet, now is the time—this year’s conference is shaping up to be a standout.
At iLaw, we are also excited to debut the International Law Section’s International Law Deskbook, which will be available for pick-up onsite or shipped directly to you. The Deskbook is a practical, wide-ranging resource for practitioners well beyond Florida, with chapters addressing doing business in jurisdictions such as Mexico, Canada, China, India, the European Union, and Africa. It also covers timely and highly relevant topics including international finance, foreign investment and U.S. regulation, international property rights, tax, estate planning, and more. Stay tuned for additional details.
If you are already planning to attend iLaw, consider staying through Saturday to serve as a volunteer arbitrator at the Richard DeWitt Vis Pre-Moot. This is a unique opportunity to earn CLE credit while helping students from Florida and around the world prepare for the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna. There is still time to register here: https://internationallawsection.org/vis-pre-moot-2/
We are also now accepting submissions for the Spring 2026 edition of the International Law Quarterly, which will focus on Compliance in International Law. If you are interested in being published, please submit a statement of interest to ILQ Editor Jeniffer Mosquera at jmosquera@sequorlaw.com by February 27, 2026.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for our Orlando Lunch & Learn last week, and special thanks to Brock McClane for hosting, Michael Tessitore for his thoughtful insights, and Greenberg Traurig for sponsoring and hosting the event. If you missed this installment, I hope to see you at the next one.
I look forward to seeing many of you next week at iLaw.
Un abrazo,
Cristina Vicens Beard
Florida Bar ILS Chair
cvb@bluestonelaw.com
| |
|
-
February 11, 2026, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.: “Who Picks the Arbitrator: You or the Algorithm?”, Event hosted by JAMS and Jus Mundi, @ JAMS, One Biscayne Tower, First Floor Conference Center, 2 South Biscayne Boulevard”
-
February 12, 2026 - Mid-Year Executive Council Meeting
-
February 13, 2026 - iLaw 2026
-
February 14, 2026 - Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis Pre Moot
-
February 18, 2026 - ILS Webinar Series - H-1B Visas: Key Changes Shaping the Future of U.S. Immigration and Alternatives featuring Larry Rifkin, Juan Carlos Freire, and Elaine Weiss
-
March 10, 2026 - ILS Webinar Series - International Litigation and Arbitration: A Review
| |
|
The ILS hosted another successful Orlando Lunch & Learn featuring Michael A. Tessitore and moderated by J. Brock McClane. Thank you to everyone that made it, and for those that didn't be on the look out for the next Lunch & Learn! | Our Next Orlando Lunch & Learn is Here! | |
Join us on February 11, 2026, 5:30-8:30 pm, for an engaging event Who Picks the Arbitrator: You or the Algothrim hosted by Jus Mundi, JAMS, the FL Bar ILS, and MIAS at JAMS' office at One Biscayne Tower.
With iLaw taking place soon after, this program offers a great opportunity to connect, engage substantively, and kick off the week’s discussions in advance of iLaw. Notably, Robert Mahari— iLaw keynote speaker—will be participating on the panel, making this a particularly timely and engaging event for our members.
Register here
| Robert J. Becerra, Past-Chair of the ILS, is Running for Seat 5 for the 11th Circuit Florida Bar Board of Governors | |
Robert J. "Bob" Becerra, Past-Chair of the International Law Section is running for Seat 5, 11th Circuit for the Florida Bar Board of Governors. The election is being held from February 27-March 15, 2026. To learn more about Bob, a Florida Bar Board Certified international lawyer and his candidacy, click here | |
| Register to be an Arbitrator at the Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis Pre-Moot! | |
The Florida Bar International Law Section presents this hybrid Pre-Moot competition, giving students hands-on experience in challenging arbitration rounds and preparing them for the prestigious Willem C. Vis Moot in Vienna. This is one of our favorite events of the year, as we get a chance to give back to the law schools and contribute toward their travel costs.
Volunteer arbitrators are invited to join and earn CLE credit, while law students gain practical skills, insight into international law, and the chance to engage with peers from Florida and around the world.
Be part of this exciting tradition that shapes the next generation of international law professionals!
Schools and volunteer arbitrators can register now: https://bit.ly/3XN56TB
| Our Next ILS Webinar Series is Here! | |
Join us on February 18, 2026, at 12 PM for for the next installment in the ILS Webinar Series featuring Larry Rifkin, Juan Carlos Freire, and Elaine Weiss.
Be sure to register here: February 18, 2026 ILS Webinar
| Call for Articles for Spring 2026 International Law Quarterly | The Editors of the International Law Quarterly are making their call for articles to be featured in the Spring 2026 edition of the International Law Quarterly with a focus on Compliance in International Law. If you're interested in submitting an article, please submit a short statement of interest to co-editor Jennifer Mosquera at jmosquera@sequorlaw.com by February 27, 2026. | Save the Date - International Litigation and Arbitration: A Review | |
Mark your calendar! 🗓️
Join us on March 10, 2026, 9 AM – 4 PM for a full-day CLE series: International Litigation and Arbitration: A Review.
Gain expert guidance, practical tools, and key legal strategies. Registration and further details will be available soon. Stay tuned!
| The Fall 2025 International Quarterly is Here! | |
The Fall 2025 International Law Quarterly is here!
This issue explores critical North American legal developments, including the 2026 USMCA Joint Review, cross-border trade and EV infrastructure, criminal enforcement of import duties, multinational tax challenges, TN visa requirements, AI and data regulation, and more. Dive into expert analysis on the evolving legal landscape shaping the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Read the full issue here: https://bit.ly/3PSwa0N
| | Call for Member Submissions for the ILS Gazette! | |
Join the International Law Section! | | |
If you are reading the Gazette, chances are that you are a practitioner or a student with an interest in International Law, one of the most wide-ranging, exciting and challenging legal specialties. Everyone in our field knows how crucial it is to stay on top of diverse and evolving national legal regimes, and at the same time, the difficulty of keeping meticulously up-to-date on developments around the world.
The International Law Section (ILS) of The Florida Bar is here to help you, the practitioner, navigate both the everyday and big-picture challenges of our field. Our Section is your forum to share knowledge and best practices, and to meet and mingle with peers in professional collaborations that can only enhance your grasp of the specialty and your standing among clients and peers.
Let ILS membership assist you in developing a thriving international practice through peer network development that includes important shared learnings and reciprocal referrals of clients and casework.
If your practice transcends borders, join us in making this the authoritative, go-to forum for Florida and the gateway to the region for anyone practicing International Law. Our Section is open to lawyers from other states and countries, full-time faculty at U.S. law schools, and full-time U.S. law students, all of whom may participate as associate members. For more information regarding membership with the ILS, click HERE.
Turn in your membership application TODAY!
| | |
The ILS Thanks its 2025 Sponsors
We look forward to another year of innovative programs where we can advance international law in Florida and further promote our sponsors.If interested in sponsoring the ILS, please contact our Treasurer, Jeffrey Hagen at jhagen@harpermeyer.com or Vice Treasurer, Adrian Nuñez at nuneza@gtlaw.com for more details.
| | |
ILS Board Members and Officers
Chair: Cristina Vicens Beard
Chair-Elect: Laura Reich
Secretary: Davide Macelloni
Treasurer: Jeffrey S. Hagen
Vice-Treasurer: Adrian Nuñez
Immediate Past Chair: Ana M. Barton
| | |
ILS Executive Council
Terms Expiring 2026
Matthew Akiba
Lauren Bengochea
Neha Dagley
Gary E. Davidson
Nouvelle Gonzalo
Susanne Leone
Jennifer Mosquera
Terms Expiring 2027
Priscila Bandeira
Fabio Giallanza
Penelope Perez-Kelly
Frederic Rocafort
Terms Expiring 2028
Phillip Buhler
Kristin Drecktrah Paz
Prof. Manuel A. Gomez
Omar K. Ibrahem
David O'Steen
Eve Perez-Torres
Lyubov Zeldis
To learn more about the ILS Executive Council Members, click here!
| | |
The ILS Gazette is a weekly publication of the Florida Bar International Law Section that informs members about upcoming programs, initiatives and resources.
If you have any questions about the Gazette or wish to include an announcement in future publications, please contact our ILS Gazette Editor, Alain Acanda at aacanda@sequorlaw.com.
| | Connect With Us on Social Media! | | © 2025. All Rights Reserved. | | | | |
