The International Law Section Gazette |
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Dear ILS Members,
One of the most special aspects of the International Law Section is that the vast majority of our most active and important members are first and second generation members of various ethnic and national diasporas. Most notably, many of our recent former Chairs and current Executive Council Members are proud of their Cuban, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan heritages. In recent years, we have also greatly enjoyed increased participation in the ILS by outstanding international lawyers from Europe and Russia. These are not just good people, they are among the best of us and we are proud to call them our friends and colleagues. Given the global geo-political events of the past week, it is time for us to reaffirm and express our great appreciation of their continuing participation and friendship.
Just within the past few hours, I was informed that our Section’s dear friend and family member Felix Maradiaga was sentenced in a sham trial to 13 years in a deadly prison for the crime of being a presidential candidate in what quickly became a sham re-election of the Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega. It is estimated that as many as 170 other political prisoners in Nicaragua are suffering similar fates. Last week in Cuba, 20 peaceful protesters in the city of Holguin were sentenced to 20 years in prison for no reason other than to suppress further protests in the future. Of course, brutal treatment of political prisoners are nothing new to Venezuelans either.
It is probably not a coincidence that, also last week, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov visited Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, announcing during each of those visits that Moscow would be committed to deepening economic and other ties also with each of those allies. Not surprisingly, Cuban, Venezuelan and Nicaraguan government officials all reciprocated with pro-Putin statements supporting what quickly thereafter became the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Presidents of Brazil and Argentina took it one step further by visiting Putin in Russia with the same exchange of compliments and support of the imminent attack on Ukraine. Even more troublesome, last month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Rybakov refused to rule out the possibility of Russia sending military actors to Latin America, as they reportedly have already sent to Venezuela during the past few months. In other words, what the world is experiencing right now is not just a Russian-European crisis. This is a Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela crisis. This is our problem, here and now.
While the ILS remains an apolitical organization, “international law” itself, for which we are named, includes by definition certain uniformly accepted principles including basic notions of human rights and national sovereignty. When we become aware that those rights are being violated, we need to speak up and offer support to those among us who are suffering the most from the negative impact. For that reason, I urge all ILS members to reach out to our friends and colleagues in the Section who might be suffering with their families here and abroad from the events of the past week to let them know that we stand with them in solidarity against all tyranny and oppression in violation of international law.
James M. Meyer
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iLaw2022 - Registration Open! |
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Registration for iLaw2020 is now OPEN! Please join the International Law Section on April 1, 2022, for its flagship one-day conference featuring great programming in international arbitration, international litigation, and international transactions. Early bird pricing will be open until March 7! Please find links as follows:
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ILQ Call for Pictures and Retrospectives on Twenty Years of iLaw!
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The iLaw Conference turns TWENTY this year! Although known by different names over the years, the ILS’ flagship annual conference (and the people who made it happen) deserve to be celebrated as the iLaw reaches this milestone!
The editors of the ILQ have decided to publish an editorial on “Twenty Years of iLaw” in the Spring 2022 International Law Quarterly, and we need your help to do it right! We want your photos, brochures, and mementos from past iLaw Conferences (which may have been known at the time as the ILAC, the ILAT, the IBT, etc.) If you have a favorite iLaw memory (e.g., a speaker, panel, luncheon, or something else), we want that too!
Please dig out your photos and treasures from iLaw’s past and send them to EditorsILQ@gmail.com or one of the editors directly (Laura Reich, Jeff Hagen, or Neha Dagley). If you are willing to write a short retrospective on iLaw or about a favorite memory, please do and submit that to the same email address. We hope to gather information from past-conference Chairs, speakers, and attendees to put together a special “look back” on twenty years of our favorite conference! Deadline for submission is April 8, 2022.
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Great Success for the 2022 Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis Pre-Moot |
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This past Saturday, February 19, 2022, the ILS held its annual Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis Pre-Moot hosting 14 amazing teams from 6 countries in its first ever Hybrid pre-moot format. Teams competed both in person and virtually expanding the opportunities for the participants to face foreign schools, as is the case during the Vis itself. We specially thank our co-host JAMS for its continued commitment to our pre-moot, and for providing the facilities and virtual platform for our fantastic event. We also thank our award sponsor, Miami International Arbitration Society (“MIAS”). We also thank are volunteer arbitrators for their time and dedication to our event.
As in prior years, we had brilliant oralists and the competition was close. The winning teams should be commended for their excellent performances and skilled team members.
Congratulations to our best overall teams:
1st Place: Stetson University College of Law
2nd Place: Universidade Federal da Paraíba
3rd Place: University of Miami
Equally close was our individual prize for Best Oralist. Winning this year’s Burt Landy “Best Oralist” Award sponsored by MIAS is Taylor Simonds (Stetson University College of Law). Honorable Mentions to David Berris (University of Miami) and Sienna Heard (American University Washington College of Law).
Congratulations to all our participating teams for a great pre-moot!
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ILS Members! Your good friends on the Int’l Law Board Certification Committee want YOU to apply to become Board Certified in International Law. Here’s how you can earn credits! Apply today!
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Be a Mock Arbitrator at the ILS Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis Pre-Moot Competition (8.5 CLEs) Email Adrian Nunez for details (Nuneza@gtlaw.com)
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Make Plans to the Attend the iLaw 2022 Global Forum on International Law this April 1, 2022 (8.5 CLEs)
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Make Plans to Join Us at the ILS Retreat April 28-30 at Bimini (2-4 CLEs)
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Attend ILS Webinars! In person and on-demand at The Florida Bar (2-6 CLEs per course) Go to https://member.floridabar.org/TFB_CLECourseProdSearchResults?opPrms=International+Law&optType=4
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Prepare and Present an ILS Webinar. Want to learn more? Email Katherine Sanoja for your next big presentation (3-6 CLEs per course) (katherine.sanoja@gstllp.com)
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Publish an Article in the ILQ. Email Laura Reich, ILQ Editor, with your pitch (3-6 CLEs per article) (Laura@reichrodriguez.com)
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Did you write a Chapter for the ILS Desk Reference Book? Did you give a Webinar? Publish in the ILQ? Receive Credit. Email Clarissa Rodriguez for details (Clarissa@reichrodriguez.com)
WHO MAY APPLY?
Minimum standards for international law certification, provided in Rule 6-21.3, include:
· Practice of law for at least five years, in either the United States or abroad, or four years with an LL.M. in international law or a related field;
· Substantial involvement in the specialty of international law — 50% or more — during each of the three years immediately preceding application;
· 60 hours of approved international law certification continuing legal education in the three years immediately preceding application;
· Peer review; and,
· A written examination.
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The ILS Participation Challenge |
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The ILS Executive Board invites all ILS Members to compete in the 1st Annual ILS Participation Challenge and win amazing prizes and, more importantly, bragging rights. Here is how it works:
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Download your ILS Participation Challenge “bingo” card using this LINK, or come pickup your “hard card” at our upcoming September 22, 2021 cocktail event with the Haitian Lawyers Association to benefit the Ayiti Community Trust (see the invitation in the Gazette below). You will note that you can also check-off a square by attending that same event.
- To win, you must be an ILS member. If you want to play but are not a member, then you have yet another compelling reason to join!
- Mark the tiles on the ILS Participation Challenge “bingo” card as you complete each activity or event marked on that tile.
- You may only mark one tile per event or activity and only during the period from June 30, 2021 until the June 2022 Executive Council Meeting.
- Bring your marked ILS Participation Challenge card to the June 2022 Executive Council meeting OR scan and submit your card to me by that date.
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Any ILS member to mark the most squares (regardless of their position on the card) will enter the competition in the form of a drawing to win the first place prize: free attendance for one (1) at the next ILS retreat (including hotel, meals and other VIP treatment).
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Any ILS member that covers the card with two diagonal lines, from corner to corner (in the form of an “X”) will enter the competition in the form of a drawing to win second place prize: one complimentary ticket for iLaw2023.
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Any ILS member that completes any 5 consecutive squares (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal) will enter the competition in the form of a drawing to win third place prize: dinner for two at il Gabbiano in Downtown Miami.
Ready, set, GET INVOLVED WITH THE ILS!
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International Law Deskbook 2020
The International Law Section is proud to announce that its International Law Deskbook 2020 is now ready for shipping! Get yours today!
To purchase the International Deskbook 2020, please click HERE to log into your account on the Florida Bar's website. Once logged in, please click HERE to search for the International Deskbook 2020 by entering the course number 4039. You will then find the International Deskbook 2020 under "Course Materials."
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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.
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Denise Calle Joins Benjamin L. England & Associates |
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Denise Calle joins Benjamin L. England & Associates in Miami as an Associate, where she will continue to assist foreign and domestic businesses, manufacturers, distributors, importers, and exporters with regulatory compliance, trade, and enforcement mitigation. Experienced in U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) matters, Denise will counsel clients on detention and seizure cases, penalty mitigation, disclosures, responses to CBP Requests for Information and Notices of Action, EAPA investigations, and more. Denise will also provide her experience in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) matters, ensuring clients' compliance with FDA product labeling requirements, and registration and pre-market approval requirements for food, cosmetics, over-the-counter drug, dietary supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and medical device products. For more information, please contact Denise at dcalle@englandlawgroup.com.
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ILS Chair Jim Meyer Presents at St. Thomas University School of Law |
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Jim Meyer, Chair of the Section, presented at the International Business Law Lunch & Learn at the St. Thomas University School of Law, an event co-sponsored by the Law School's Office of Career Development, The Business Law Society, and the Maritime Law Society. Talking to law students, Jim presented the benefits of membership in the International Law Section, offering advice on how to pursue a career in International Law. |
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Please join the University of Miami School of Law's White & Case International Arbitration LL.M. Program and International Arbitration Institute on March 2, 2022, for the 2022 White & Case International Arbitration Lecture on "International Arbitration and EU Law: Still on a Collision Course?" featuring George A. Bermann. Starting at 6:00 p.m. at the University of Miami School of Law, the lecture, which will be conducted in hybrid form with the possibility for attendees to join via Zoom as well, will discuss the difficult coexistence between international arbitration and the European Union - two of the world's most robust international law regimes - which has recently seen hostility erupting to the the point that each of the two regimes regards the other as the prime threat to its authority. The contestation has been waged on several fronts and, while the termination of intra-EU bilateral investment agreement will mitigate them, mutual antagonism persists. Guests must pre-register to attend this event. To register, please follow this link.
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Please join Jennifer Diaz, Founding Partner of Diaz Trade Law, on March 10, 2022 at 12:00 p.m., for the webinar "Equality in Gender & Trade." The webinar will provide insights into the impact gender plays in the trade community throughout the world. Presenters will discuss the increased integration of women in the trade community as well as how international trade agreements can be used to advance women's rights. Some of the key questions being discussed include why consider trade through the lens of gender, how do women fit in the picture, what is the impact of trade on women's disposable income, how do nations improve conditions for women in the global marketplace, and how do customs and border management practices affect women traders. The webinar is open to anyone interested in gender and trade. To register, please follow this link: https://diaztradelaw.com/webinar/equality-in-gender-trade/. |
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The International Law Quarterly - Winter 2022 |
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The Winter 2022 Issue of the International Law Quarterly - Focus on Legal Globalization is now available. Click on the image above to download! For all previous issues of the International Law Quarterly, please follow this link.
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The ILS Thanks its Sponsors
In light of what we accomplished this past year, we hope you will continue to support the Section as a sponsor. In 2019-2020, various firms, companies and suppliers sponsored the Section.
We look forward to another year of innovative programs where we can advance international law and further promote our sponsors. To learn more, read the Section's sponsorship package. You can also contact our Treasurer, Ana Maria Barton at abarton@reedmith.com, or Vice Treasurer, Cristina Vicens Beard at cvicens4@gmail.com for more details.
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The ILS Gazette
Editor: Davide Macelloni
Chair: James M. Meyer
Immediate Past Chair: Robert J. Becerra
Chair-Elect: Jacqueline Villalba
Secretary: Richard Montes De Oca
Treasurer: Ana Barton
Vice-Treasurer: Cristina Vicens Beard
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© 2022. All Rights Reserved. |
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