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

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow- mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.“  Mark Twain 

As you may have heard by now, last weekend, we held our Section’s Annual Leadership Retreat on the island of North Bimini in the Bahamas, putting the “International“ back in the International Law Section of The Florida Bar. Well, sure, there was some recreation going on and, ya, there may have been some adult beverages in the vicinity but, hey, there was some serious stuff going on there too. Keith Major of Higgs & Johnson explained how we can better collaborate with Bahamas Bar Association. Jamie Finizio Bascombe told us how we can increase our membership and programming through outreach and interaction with the Broward County Bar Association, of which she is the current President. We also heard from our member Luba Zeldis, about how we can establish a Ukrainian Assistance Task Force from within the ILS. Finally, we learned that the quickest way to get a group of international lawyers to come close together is by putting them in the water with a bunch of circling sharks. No worries, however, the sharks at Honeymoon Harbor south of Bimini offer full reciprocity to Florida Attorneys and usually extend a great deal of “professional courtesy.” Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the land sharks that were spotted later that night at Big John’s Bar. 

If you were not able to join us this year, fear not. Jackie and incoming Board promise an even better ILS Leadership Retreat next year. Prepárate! Until then, Fins Up!  

James M. Meyer
Statement of the Florida Bar International Law Section Condemning the Invasion of Ukraine
Announcements
Call for Members: Europe Committee
Given the increasing interest of our members, the Florida Bar International Law Section has established a Europe Committee. 

The purpose of this committee is to cover legal and policy related developments in Europe. Beyond this general purpose, the committee will lead efforts to develop and maintain professional and cultural ties with legal and other professionals in Europe. Additionally, the committee will work to foster professional relationships between members of The Florida Bar and members of the various bar associations in Europe. Lastly, the committee is planning to organize events/webinars to improve understanding of the various legal, economic and cultural frameworks in various parts of Europe. 

Please contact the Chair of the Europe committee Susanne Leone at sleone@leonezhgun.com to obtain more information and to join the committee.
How Can YOU Earn CLEs?
ILS Members! Your good friends on the Int’l Law Board Certification Committee want YOU to apply to become Board Certified in International Law. Here’s how you can earn credits! Apply today!
 
  • Be a Mock Arbitrator at the ILS Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis Pre-Moot Competition (8.5 CLEs) Email Adrian Nunez for details (Nuneza@gtlaw.com)
  • Make Plans to the Attend the iLaw 2022 Global Forum on International Law this April 1, 2022 (8.5 CLEs)
  • Make Plans to Join Us at the ILS Retreat April 28-30 at Bimini (2-4 CLEs)
  • Attend ILS Webinars! In person and on-demand at The Florida Bar (2-6 CLEs per course) Go to https://member.floridabar.org/TFB_CLECourseProdSearchResults?opPrms=International+Law&optType=4
  • Prepare and Present an ILS Webinar. Want to learn more? Email Katherine Sanoja for your next big presentation (3-6 CLEs per course) (katherine.sanoja@gstllp.com)
  • Publish an Article in the ILQ. Email Laura Reich, ILQ Editor, with your pitch (3-6 CLEs per article) (Laura@reichrodriguez.com)
  • Did you write a Chapter for the ILS Desk Reference Book? Did you give a Webinar? Publish in the ILQ? Receive Credit. Email Clarissa Rodriguez for details (Clarissa@reichrodriguez.com)
 
WHO MAY APPLY?
Minimum standards for international law certification, provided in Rule 6-21.3, include:
·        Practice of law 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,
·        A written examination.


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.


From Our Members
Jennifer Diaz Speaks at the U.S.-Caribbean Business Conference
On April 13, 2022, Diaz Trade Law's President Jennifer Diaz participated as a featured speaker at the U.S.-Caribbean Business Conference hosted by The South Florida District Export Council in collaboration with Enterprise Florida and the U.S. Commercial Service. Jen's panel, "Export like a Pro! Part 2: Business Resources to Help you Succeed in Exporting," provided private sector expert presentations on keys to success in exporting to the Caribbean while covering topics such as correct documentation, payment methods, financial payments and taxation, trade framework, and regulations. For more information on Jennifer and Diaz Trade Law, please follow this link.
Upcoming Events
July 20, 2022
On July 20, 2022, Past Chair Larry Rifkin, together with Juan Carlos Freire and Elaine Weiss, will present the Webinar "Expanded Professional Employment Opportunities for O-1 Visa Holders and National Interest Waiver Applicants." Starting at 12:00 PM, the program will discuss substantial changes occurred to immigration policy in the interpretation and application of the regulations with regard to the qualifying criteria for O-1 visas and National Interest Waiver applicants with regard to professional workers, opening up increased opportunities to U.S. companies to employ foreign professional workers. To register for the program, please follow this link. The following CLE are offered: 1 CLE for International Litigation & Arbitration, Immigration & Nationality, and International Law Certifications.
Winter 2022 ILQ
The International Law Quarterly - Winter 2022
The Winter 2022 Issue of the International Law Quarterly - Focus on Legal Globalization 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 cvicens4@gmail.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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