The International Law Section Gazette |
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Dear ILS Members,
As lawyers, it seems that we enjoy using acronyms or, perhaps more accurately, “initialisms” often to an extreme. These abbreviations help us to be more efficient in our communications and, for some, they even provide a form of entertainment when they are used to test or challenge their colleagues and adversaries as to their knowledge of the latest trendy phraseologies in our profession. Sure, if you are arguing against a QC before the ICC on a FCPA matter, I get it. But as a transactional lawyer, I am haunted by the idea of seeing any capitalized letters if there is no corresponding listing of “Defined Terms.” Regardless, as an international practitioner, if someone is trying to play “stump the chump” with you, so to speak, with an alphabet soup of meaningless letters strung together, just remember that you can always respond: “Oh, is that what that stands for? In ____________ (insert your preferred alternative jurisdiction or language) they refer to that differently, and the words and initials are in a different order.”
On a more serious note, there are two very important “initialisms” that you will want to know about if you intend to participate in a meaningful basis at i-Law, the International Law Section’s signature event, which will be held again this year at the Marriott Marquis in Downtown Miami on February 18, 2022. Namely, ESG and SDG.
As most of you who are more “plugged-in” than I am probably already know, ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and (corporate) Governance. Since the phrase was initially used by the United Nations some 20 years ago, indices using these three metrics have become almost like a social responsibly credit score in the corporate world. From the global legal perspective, ESG has already become a spider web of compliance and disclosure laws and regulations. In fact, ESG linked professional practices, products and businesses are now part of a multi-billion dollar global industry.
SDG, on the other hand refers to Sustainable Development Goals as announce by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in it’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Agenda specifically lists 17 sustainable development goals, which are as follows: 1) no poverty, 2) no hunger, 3) good health and well-being, 4) quality education, 5) gender equality, 6) clean water and sanitation, 7) affordable and clean energy, 8) decent work and economic growth, 9) industry, innovation and infrastructure, 10) reduced inequities, 11) sustainable cities and communities, 12) responsible consumption and production, 13) climate action, 14) life below water, 15) life on land, 16) peace justice and strong institutions, 17) partnerships for the goals. Aggressive, no doubt. However, when viewed from the perspective of what is already happening in the field of ESG, things get interesting.
If you have any proposals you would like to make for presentations or panels at i-Law regarding either or both of these two concepts, please reach out to the i-Law Steering Committee as soon as possible, as we are about to finalize our agenda. More specifically, if you have a proposal for the opening or closing plenary sessions, or the Keynote Luncheon presentation, please contact me (jmeyer@harpermeyer.com) or the i-Law Chair Cristina Vicens-Beard (cvicens@sequorlaw.com). If you have an idea for the Litigation Track, please contact Adrian Nuñez (nuneza@gtlaw.com) or Davide Macelloni (dmacelloni@drbdc-law.com). Finally, if you have a concept that might work best in the Business Transactions Track, please contact Nouvelle Gonzalo (ngonzalo@gonzalolaw.com) or Jeff Hagen (jhagen@harpermeyer.com).
With our focus on these very important topics of ESG & SDG, we are confident that this coming year’s i-Law will be one of our best ever. We may not be able to change the World in a single conference but we will be able to learn a lot about the International Law of Sustainable Development (ILSD) for the betterment of ourselves and our clients.
I have to confess, I just made-up that last one up – “ILSD.” But it kind of has a ring to it, right?
James M. Meyer
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Please join The Florida Bar International Law Section, the Caribbean Bar Association, and the Haitian Lawyers Association on November 18 for the webinar "The Global Legal Landscape of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry in 2021." The roundtable will feature a moderated discussion among experts about the most relevant legal issues affecting the food, beverage, and hospitality sectors in the United States and abroad resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The roundtable will be followed by a cocktail presentation, live demonstration, and the opportunity for attendees to craft two cocktails, led by student members of the Bartender's Guild and a professor of FIU's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required due to the limited capacity of the venue. To register, please follow this link.
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iLaw2022: Call for Proposals and Steering Committee Members |
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Save the Date for iLaw! The ILS's flagship event, the iLaw2022 Conference, will take place on Friday, February 18, 2022, at the JW Marriott Marquis in Downtown Miami. Trust us, you will not want to miss it this year!
The planning for iLaw2022 has started - Get involved! If you have an idea for a topic to be featured at next year's iLaw, please send us a proposal including (i) the title of the proposed panel, (ii) a short description of the topic, and (iii) proposed panelists and moderator. We are also looking for steering committee members. The first steering committee meeting will be in September. If you have a topic proposal or if you would like to get involved with the planning of the iLaw2022, please send an e-mail to Cristina Vicens at cvicens@sequorlaw.com.
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ILS Retreat in the Bahamas |
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Dear ILS Members:
Save the date for the ILS Retreat, which will take place April 29 - May 1, 2022 in Bimini, Bahamas. We can't wait to see you all in the Bahamas in a few months!
Best,
The ILS Board
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Call for Applications - Florida Bar Board Certification in International Litigation & Arbitration |
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The application filing period for Board Certification in International Litigation & Arbitration ("ILA") is now open. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply by October 31, 2021, to determine eligibility to sit for examination in May 2022. For more information, please visit The Florida Bar website certification page for ILA Certification.
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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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Osorio Internacional, P.A.
Osorio Internacional, P.A., Brickell based, is looking for a Florida Bar Licensed attorney for fast-paced international litigation and arbitration practice. Our cases are complex and high stakes. 7 year minimum required, with strong leadership and cross-cultural skills. Foreign law degrees, foreign practice and additional languages a plus. Please send CV/resume and writing samples in languages spoken. Pay is competitive. For follow up, please contact Office Manager, Gabriela Saavedra, at gsaavedra@osorioint.com.
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The International Law Quarterly - Fall 2021 |
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The Fall 2021 Issue of the International Law Quarterly - Focus on Haiti 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 cvicens@sequorlaw.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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© 2021. All Rights Reserved. |
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