The International Law Section Gazette | | |
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
I am honored and excited to begin this year as Chair of the International Law Section, and I am deeply grateful for the trust the Section has placed in me. I want to begin by congratulating Immediate Past Chair Cristina Vicens Beard on a truly wonderful year leading the Section and thank her for her leadership and dedication over many years of ILS service. I also want to thank last year’s Board, Executive Council, committee chairs, and volunteers for everything they did to keep the Section thriving, visible, collegial, and strong. The ILS has meant so much to me throughout my career, and I appreciate the opportunity to help lead an organization that is so dynamic, welcoming, and important to the practice of international law in Florida.
As I begin this year, my theme is connection. The ILS is at its best when it brings people together—across practice areas, across Florida, across borders, and across generations of lawyers. This year, I hope to build on that strength by continuing to create opportunities for our members to connect with one another, participate in meaningful programming, engage with lawyers throughout the state, and continue strengthening the Section’s regional and global relationships. We will continue supporting the conferences, publications, committees, CLEs, and events that make the ILS so valuable, while also looking for new ways to serve our members and expand our reach. We are looking forward to a successful and smooth year, and I am excited for all that we will accomplish!
Onward together,
Laura M. Reich
Florida Bar ILS Chair
lreich@harpermeyer.com
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July 15, 2026, 12pm-1pm - ILS Webinar Series Extreme Vetting: The New Normal at USCIS and Consulates: A Guide in Preparing Clients and Cases featuring Larry Rifkin, Juan Carlos Freire, and Elaine Weiss
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Last week, the ILS held its Annual Chair's Reception at ICE BAR Orlando and Executive Council Meeting at the Citrus Club! Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make these events a sucess. More ILS events coming soon, don’t miss what’s next! | The Next ILS Webinar is Here! | |
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Join us on July 15, 12pm - 1pm, for the next installment in our ILS Webinar Series, Extreme Vetting: The New Normal at USCIS and Consulates: A Guide in Preparing Clients and Cases featuring Larry Rifkin, Juan Carlos Freire, and Elaine Weiss.
Register here: 9775 Extreme Vetting – The New Normal at USCIS and Consulates: A Guide in Preparing Clients and Cases
| Call for International Law Quarterly Articles! | |
The editors of the International Law Quarterly are making a call for articles for the Fall 2026 edition of the International Law Quarterly with a focus on high net worth disputes in International Law! If you are interested please submit a short statement of interest to Jennifer Mosquera at jmosquera@sequorlaw.com by June 26, 2026. | The International Law Deskbook (Second Edition) is Here! | |
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The International Law Deskbook 2026 (Second Edition) is finally HERE! The Second Edition of the International Law Deskbook features 31 in-depth chapters: From international business, trade, finance, tax, immigration, and family law to litigation, arbitration, mediation, ethics, IP, environmental law, e-commerce, human rights, and international criminal and travel law, this edition covers it all.
This Deskbook is not only for Florida practitioners or those seeking Board certification in International Law. The Deskbook provides real-world guidance for navigating today’s complex international legal landscape, and includes highly anticipated “Doing Business” chapters, which offer jurisdiction-specific insights on Mexico, Canada, China, India, the European Union, and Africa. You can see the Deskbook’s table of contents and a sample chapter on our website.
Get your copy today!
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The Spring 2026 International Quarterly is Here! | |
The Spring 2026 International Law Quarterly is here!
This issue focuses on compliance under a variety of legal frameworks across various jurisdictions including foreign investments under U.S. law, E.U. sustainability and franchise law compliance matters, and compliance with immigration law developments in the United States.
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!
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The ILS Thanks its 2026 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, Adrian Nuñez at nuneza@gtlaw.com or Vice Treasurer, Omar Ibrahem at omar@okilaw.com for more details.
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ILS Board Members and Officers
Chair: Laura Reich
Chair-Elect: Davide Macelloni
Secretary: Jeffrey S. Hagen
Treasurer: Adrian Nuñez
Vice-Treasurer: Omar K. Ibrahem
Immediate Past Chair: Cristina Vicens Beard
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ILS Executive Council
Terms Expiring 2027
Priscila Bandeira
Fabio Giallanza
Penelope Perez-Kelly
Frederic Rocafort
Terms Expiring 2028
Phillip Buhler
Kristin Drecktrah Paz
Prof. Manuel A. Gomez
David O'Steen
Eve Perez-Torres
Lyubov Zeldis
Terms Expiring 2029
Matthew Akiba
Neha Dagley
Gary E. Davidson
Nouvelle Gonzalo
Susanne Leone
Jennifer Mosquera
To learn more about the ILS Executive Council Members, click here!
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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.
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