The International Law Section Gazette | | |
Dear ILS,
It is hard to believe that this is my final Gazette as Chair of the Section. As I reflect on the past year, I am beyond grateful for the opportunity and privilege to have represented the ILS through yet another extraordinary year, and to have connected with both new and familiar faces alike. In addition to a sold-out iLaw conference, the publication of 3 ILQs, 4 Lunch & Learns, and hosting an international Vis Pre-Moot Competition, we also had two FIFA parties, signed a cooperation agreement with the Barra Mexicana, participated in a seminar with the Barcelona Bar, embarked on a state-wide law school membership drive, and revamped our website. All these accomplishments would not be possible without the hard work of the extended ILS leadership: the Board, Executive Council, Committee Chairs, Past Chairs, and The Florida Bar. THANK YOU!
I look forward to celebrating with you at the End of Year Chair’s Reception this Thursday, June 26 at Yard House in Mizner Park (Boca Raton), and I encourage you all to attend the Annual Meeting and Luncheon on June 27 to learn about the ILS’ on-going initiatives as well as future planning. Please register for these events here.
As a final PSA: please don’t forget to renew your ILS membership when paying your Florida Bar fees, which are due by July 1; and to check out all ILS-sponsored CLE webinars here, available 24/7 on demand with discounted pricing for ILS members.
Have a great week!
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June 26 – End of Year Chair's Reception (Yard House, Boca Raton, FL)
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June 27 – ILS Annual Meeting (The Boca Raton, Royal Palm Ballroom 2)
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July 1 – Application Period Opens for Board Certification in International Law
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July 30 – ILS Webinar on Discretionary Determinations Before USCIS and the Department of State: How to Present the Most Compelling Cases (online)
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August 31 – Application Period Closes for Board Certification in International Law
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September 1 – Application Period Opens for Board Certification in International Litigation & Arbitration
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October 1 – Application Period Closes for Board Certification in International Litigation & Arbitration
| | Reminder: ILS Annual Meeting Taking Place on June 27 in Boca Raton During the Florida Bar Annual Convention! | | |
It’s that time of year!
Registration is now open for the ILS End of Year Chair’s Reception and the ILS Annual Meeting & Luncheon. Please join us at Yard House in Mizner Park, Boca Raton, on Thursday, June 26 to toast to this year’s accomplishments. Then, on Friday, June 27, we invite you to participate in the ILS Annual Executive Council Meeting & Luncheon at The Boca Raton. This is the best way to learn about ILS initiatives and get more involved – all are welcome!
Please register by clicking the image above or by clicking here!
| | Register Now for the ILS Webinar on Discretionary Determinations Before USCIS and the Department of State: How to Present the Most Compelling Cases Featuring Larry Rifkin, Elaine Weiss and Juan Carlos Freire! | | Call for Articles! The International Law Quarterly Seeks Articles Focused on North America for the Fall 2025 Edition of the ILQ | | |
📣 Call for Articles – Focus on North America!
The International Law Quarterly is now accepting submissions for its Fall 2025 edition, spotlighting North America. Submit your Statement of Interest to Jennifer Mosquera (jmosquera@sequorlaw.com) by July 3, 2025. Final drafts are due August 1, 2025.
| | Get Florida Bar Board Certified in International Law! Deadline to Submit Your Application is August 31, 2025! | | |
Did you know that only about 50 Florida Bar members are Florida Bar Board Certified Specialists in International Law. If you are an international law practitioner, you should consider the advantages of Board Certification by the Florida Bar. Board Certified International Lawyers can objectively state to their clients that the Florida Bar has certified that they are experts in International Law and that they have been rigorously vetted and tested for expertise! Board Certified lawyers earn the title “B.C.S.” meaning “Board Certified Specialist”.
Minimum standards for international law certification, include:
- Practice of law as a Bar member for at least five years, in either the United States or abroad, or four years with an LL.M. in international law or a related field;
- Substantial involvement in the specialty of international law — 50% or more — during each of the three years immediately preceding application;
- 60 hours of approved international law certification continuing legal education in the three years immediately preceding application;
Peer review; and
The application filing period runs July 1-August 31 of a given year to determine eligibility to sit for the exam in March of the subsequent year. Applications must be postmarked by August 31. Eligible applicants who pass the exam will be officially certified in June. Certifications are valid for 5 years, the expiration upon which the expert must be re-certified.
Concerned about getting enough International Law Certification CLE credits to apply? No worry! The International Law Section provides ample opportunities to earn those credits through its CLE programs, including the annual iLaw ILS Forum on International Law, speaking opportunities and the ability to earn certification credit by writing articles for the ILS’ International Law Quarterly magazine.
The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization has found that the likelihood that a client will choose a Board Certified lawyers over one that is not Board Certified is between 25 and 40%! Don’t miss out on getting a step ahead of the competition! For more information, consult the Florida Bar website at International Law Certification – The Florida Bar or the International Law website at Board Certification – International Law Section.
| | The International Law Quarterly | | The ILQ Publishes its Winter 2025 Issue, Focus on Creative Solutions, Available Now! | | |
The Winter 2025 Issue of the International Law Quarterly - "Focus on Creative Solutions" is now available, featuring the latest submissions by ILS members, including articles focused on artificial intelligence, solutions for wire fraud victims, creative solutions for interesting clients, challenges of space resource activities, and more!
Click on the images above to download or please click here!
For all previous issues of the International Law Quarterly, please follow this link.
| | 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 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, Davide Macelloni at dmacelloni@drbdc-law.com or Vice Treasurer, Jeffrey Hagen at jhagen@harpermeyer.com for more details.
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ILS Board Members and Officers
Chair: Ana M. Barton
Chair-Elect: Cristina Vicens Beard
Secretary: Laura Reich
Treasurer: Davide Macelloni
Vice-Treasurer: Jeffrey S. Hagen
Immediate Past Chair: Richard Montes de Oca
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ILS Executive Council
Terms Expiring 2025
Gary Birnberg
Phillip Buhler
Jennifer Diaz
Kristin Drecktrah Paz
Prof. Manuel A. Gomez
Omar K. Ibrahem
Adrian Nunez
Pamella A. Seay
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
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, Matthew Akiba at matt.akiba12@gmail.com.
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