The International Law Section Gazette | | |
Dear ILS Members and Friends,
I hope you’ve been enjoying the FIFA World Cup and the festivities surrounding it! The World Cup offers a powerful reminder of sport’s unique ability to bring people together. Fans may arrive wearing different colors, speaking different languages, and cheering for different teams, but for a few memorable weeks, the world feels a little smaller, and our connections to one another feel a little stronger.
Florida has been fortunate to welcome so many visitors and fans. Our state’s diversity, energy, and international character make it a natural choice for an event with such global reach. From our beaches and cultural attractions to our restaurants and local businesses, Florida has had a wonderful opportunity to share some of the qualities that make our state special. Whether you are watching a match with family, celebrating alongside visitors, or simply enjoying the excitement in our communities, take a moment to remember that our differences do not have to divide us.
As ILS members, we understand the value of international relationships and meaningful connections across borders. May the spirit of these festivities inspire us to build bridges, welcome new perspectives, and find common ground in both our professional work and our communities. Good luck to those of you whose teams are still in the tournament—and better luck in four years to the rest of us!
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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August 13, 2026, 12pm-1pm - ILS Webinar Series International Space Law: A Primer featuring Neha Dagley
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August 19, 2026, 12pm-1pm - ILS Webinar Series Florida's Certified Legal Consultant Program: Requirements, Applications, and Practice featuring Robert Becerra
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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
| 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
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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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| 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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Congratulations to Edgar de Leon on being recognized in Best Lawyers Dominican Republic Volume II! This recognition highlights the expertise of our membership. To read the full feature on Edgar, click here
Edgar has over two decades of experience advising clients on structuring, safeguarding, and assessing the risks of investments in the Dominican Republic with a focus the real estate and tourism sectors.
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The ILS always looks forward for opportunities to connect new members with the wider ILS community. To that end, we highlight our new member Terry Steele.
After spending nearly four decades living and working in Costa Rica as an entrepreneur, business owner, and investor, Terry returned to university to study law and was admitted to the Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Costa Rica. Terry serves as Founder and Managing Attorney of American Law Partners, where his practice is devoted to representing foreign investors, international businesses, expatriates, and families in cross-border legal matters throughout Costa Rica.
Much of Terry's work involves collaborating with attorneys and professional advisors in the United States and other jurisdictions on matters involving real estate transactions, legal due diligence, corporate law, foreign investment, estate planning, residency, and other international legal issues. My years as an entrepreneur continue to influence how I practice law, particularly my emphasis on practical advice, careful due diligence, and helping clients understand legal risks before significant decisions are made.
You can reach Terry at t.steele@americanlawpartners.com
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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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