The ILS Gazette

The International Law Section Gazette

Section News

ILS Chair's News & Notes

Dear friends and colleagues:

I have exciting news: registration for iLaw2026 is officially OPEN and early bird rates are available through January 13, 2026. For those of you who are new here, iLaw is the Section’s flagship conference, and it breaks up into three tracks: international transactions; international litigation; and international arbitration, sponsored by AAA-ICDR. The conference attracts international law practitioners from more than 20 jurisdictions and has sold out for two consecutive years. Grab your tickets early and register here. As always, we also secured special rates with the JW Marriott Marquis, and you can book your rooms through this link. We will continue to share more information about panels, the keynote speaker, and other tidbits in the coming months.

For those of you attending Miami Arbitration Week, I hope you are having a fun and productive time!

Un abrazo,

Cristina Vicens Beard

Florida Bar ILS Chair

cvb@bluestonelaw.com

ILS 2025-2026 Calendar

November 29 - December 5 - Miami Arbitration Week

December 11 - Holiday Party at The River Oyster Bar, 6:30pm

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

Save the Date: iLaw 2026!

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.

Our Next ILS Webinar 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

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

Membership Benefits

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!

Join an ILS Committee Today!

Amicus Committee

Chair: Edward Mullins

emullins@reedsmith.com

Arbitration & Mediation Committee

Chair: Javier Samaniego

javier.samaniego@osborneclarke.com

Asia Committee

Chairs: Neha Dagley | Fred Rocafort

neha.dagley@dagleylaw.com

fred@harrisbricken.com

CLE Initiatives Committee

Chairs: Kristin Drecktrah Paz | Ana Barton

kristin.paz@pierferd.com

abarton@reedsmith.com

Europe Committee

Chairs: Susanne Leone | Davide Macelloni

sleone@leonezhgun.com

dmacelloni@drbdc-law.com

Foreign Legal Consultant Committee

Chair: Robert J. Becerra

rbecerra@rjbecerralaw.com

iLaw Steering Committee

Chairs: Davide Macelloni | Adrian Nuñez

dmacelloni@drbdc-law.com

nuneza@gtlaw.com

ILS Deskbook Committee

Co-Editors: Robert Kossick | Laura Reich | Larry S. Rifkin | Clarissa Rodriguez | Pamella Seay

robert.kossick@harrisbricken.com

lsrifkin@rifkinfox.com

lreich@harpermeyer.com

crodriguez@harpermeyer.com

p-seay@usa.net

ILS Gazette Committee

Chair: Alain Acanda

aacanda@sequorlaw.com

Immigration Liaison Committee

Chair: Larry S. Rifkin

lsrifkin@rifkinfox.com

International Law Board Certification Committee

Chair: Robert J. Becerra

rbecerra@rjbecerralaw.com

International Law Quarterly Committee

Chair: Jennifer Mosquera

jmosquera@sequorlaw.com

International Litigation and Arbitration Board Certification Committee

Chair: Kristin Drecktrah Paz

kristin.paz@pierferd.com

International Tax Law Committee

Chair: Jeff Hagen

jhagen@harpermeyer.com

Law School Liaison Committee

Chairs: Prof. Manuel A. Gomez | Laura Reich

magomez@fiu.edu

lreich@harpermeyer.com

Legislative Committee

Chair: Carlos F. Osorio

cosorio@osorioint.com

Lunch & Learn Committee

Chairs: Arnoldo B. Lacayo | Edward H. Davis

alacayo@sequorlaw.com

edavis@sequorlaw.com

North America Committee

Chair: Nouvelle Gonzalo

ngonzalo@gonzalolaw.com

Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis Pre-Moot Committee

Chair: Priscila Bandeira

pbandeira@duanemorris.com

White Collar Crime Committee

Chair: Robert J. Becerra

rbecerra@rjbecerralaw.com

Visit Our Sponsors

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!

About the ILS Gazette

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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