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The International Law Section Gazette
Section News
ILS Chair's News & Notes
Dear ILS Members,

It is often said that the most successful leaders are those who surround themselves with really good people and then get the heck out of their way. Well, that has certainly been my experience so far during my tenure as the ILS Chair. Whatever success we have had so far has been the direct result of the outstanding efforts of, among others, our Executive Board comprised of Jacqueline Villalba, Richard Montes De Oca, Ana Barton and Cristina Vicens. Their tireless dedication week-in and week-out has been truly inspiring.  Jacqueline and Cristina are also pulling double duty as the Chairs of our two most demanding ILS Committees; Namely, the Foreign Legal Consultant Committee and the Chair of the i-Law Committee, respectively. Also, most noteworthy is the work of Laura Reich as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Law Quarterly, never ceasing to amaze. Our other Editor-in-Chief, Davide Macelloni, who produces this weekly electronic publication, the ILS Gazette, as well as occasional interim announcement, deserves our emphatic gratitude for his time and talent. As mentioned in last week‘s Gazette, Adrian Nunez is in the process of pulling-off yet another terrific Vis Pre-Moot Court Competition. Finally, the Board Certification Committees led by Jennifer Diaz and Gary Davidson, and at least a dozen other very active and important committees are greatly appreciated for giving all of our members and the international legal community at large great programming and many opportunities to enhance their practice.  

Based on reliable sources, however, I have concluded that big changes are coming to ILS Committee Leadership in 2022/2023. In other words, it has become apparent that opportunities for new leadership positions abound. Therefore, whether you are a seasoned ILS member ready to take on one of our key functions as a Committee Chair or an up-and-comer wanting to get involved and started on the leadership track, this is your call to action. We are now accepting expressions of interest for committee leadership roles in any and all of our committees, including our next Executive Board Nominee.  Please contact me directly at Jmeyer@harpermeyer.com if you would like to be considered for any of these very important roles.  

As temperatures are set to drastically fall this weekend, keep in mind that membership in the ILS is not unlike being a member of a dog sled team. If you’re not one of the lead dogs, your view is unfortunately not likely to change very much.  

I look forward to hearing from you.  

James M. Meyer
Announcements
Call for Volunteer Arbitrators:
2022 Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis Pre-Moot
The Florida Bar International Law Section will hold its 2022 Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis Pre-Moot on Saturday, February 19, 2022 from 8:45 AM to 5 PM EST in hybrid format for the first time and we need your support as a Volunteer Arbitrator. At least 14 law schools from around the globe will be participating. The ILS Vis Pre-Moot prepares law students from the largest law schools in Florida and beyond for the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna and Hong Kong. We hope you will join this important and exciting event as a Volunteer Arbitrator. CLE credits will be provided for this event for Florida practitioners (historically including certification credits, for civil trial, international law and international litigation & arbitration).
 
We need volunteers for all rounds, which are scheduled as follows:
 
MORNING ROUNDS
Round 1 - 9:00 AM – 1030 AM
Round 2 - 10:45 AM – 12:30 PM
 
AFTERNOON ROUNDS
Round 3 - 1:30 PM – 3:15 PM
Round 4 - 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
 
Pease click on the following link and indicate your availability and preferences: Sign up here!
New Date for iLaw 2022
Please save the NEW date for the International Law Section's flagship conference, which will take place on Friday, April 1, 2022 at the JW Marriott Marquis in Downtown Miami! More information to follow!
The ILS Participation Challenge
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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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!
  3. Mark the tiles on the ILS Participation Challenge “bingo” card as you complete each activity or event marked on that tile.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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).
  7. 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.
  8. 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! 
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."

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.


Employment Opportunities
MPA Law Firm

Senior Litigation Attorney
 
The MPA Law Firm is seeking to hire an experienced litigation attorney to work on complex, multimillion dollar commercial matters in state, federal and appellate courts. Candidates should have 5+ years of experience fluently handling all functions of a case from the initial client meeting through case resolution and large volumes of information. Must have excellent writing and analytical skills and be able to work independently as well as with others. Trial experience or experience as a public defender or prosecutor is a plus. This is a position with growth opportunity based on performance. The hours are flexible and the candidate can choose to work remotely or from MPA’s Brickell office. Competitive salary.
 
The MPA Law Firm focuses exclusively on complex commercial litigation in a variety of industries, including banking, financial services, securities, real estate and cross-border partnerships and investments. MPA’s clients are foreign and domestic businesses and sophisticated entrepreneurs in a wide range of federal, state and international litigation and arbitration matters involving business torts, complex contractual disputes, unfair trade practices, breaches of fiduciary duties, professional negligence, partnership dissolutions, civil RICO claims, international disputes, and appellate litigation. www.theMPAlawfirm.com
Fall 2021 ILQ
The International Law Quarterly - Fall 2021
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.
Visit Our Sponsors
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.
BECOME A SPONSOR for 2022!
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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