International Law Prof Blog

Call for Papers - AALS Section on Education Law

Another call for papers for possible presentation in San Diego at the annual meeting of the Association of American Law Schools.  The AALS Education Law Section invites you to submit an abstract of your paper by September 1, 2008.  Send your abstract to Robert Garda at Loyola University of New Orleans College of Law.   

Click here for the call for papers for the AALS Section on International Law.  The International Law Section will also be participating in the call for posters.

Click here for the section newsletter and call for papers for the AALS Section on International Human Rights Law.

There is also a general call for scholarly papers to recognize excellent legal scholarship and to broaden participation by new law teachers.  It is open to those who have been full-time law teachers for less than five years.  The deadline for submission is August 15, 2008.  Send eight printed copies to the AALS and an electronic submission to scholarlypapers @ aals.org by August 15, 2008.   Maximum word limit is 35,000 words, and submissions are limited to articles, essays, and book chapters.

(mew)

Business and Human Rights

Christiana Ochoa of the Indiana University School of Law at Bloomington has posted "The 2008 Ruggie Report: A Framework for Business and Human Rights" on SSRN.  Click here to download a copy. 

(mew)

Upcoming National Holidays

Here are some upcoming national holidays and celebrations for the rest of the month of June 2008 . . .

Monday June 23

Luxembourg -- National Day

Tuesday June 24

Andorra -- St. John's Day

Venezuela -- Carabobo Day

Zaire -- Constitution Day

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Wednesday June 25

Croatia -- Independence Day

Mozambique -- Independence Day

Slovenia -- Independence Day

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Thursday June 26

Madagascar -- Independence Day

Somalia -- Independence Day

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Friday June 27

Chile -- Bank Holiday

Djibouti -- Independence Day

Ecuador -- Bank Holiday

El Salvador -- Bank Holiday

Finland -- Bank Holiday

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Sunday June 29

Seychelles -- Independence Day

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Monday June 30

Sri Lanka -- Bank Holiday

Zaire -- Independence Day

(mew)

Call for Papers: AALS Section on International Law

CALL FOR PAPERS

ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN LAW SCHOOLS
SECTION ON INTERNATIONAL LAW
San Diego, California
January 9, 2009

PROGRAM TOPIC: Taking International Law Seriously: Will the United States Abide by International Law that is a Law of Rules?

PROGRAM SUMMARY: For the world at large, the rule of law is a law of rules. Most states understand international law in this way. When the United States seemingly departs from those rules, the world criticizes us. Cynics say that we are just another superpower that does not want to be bound by rules. Might the explanation lie elsewhere: not in cynicism, but in different conceptions of law and of its application? When Americans look at international law, they look at it from a common law perspective. When American courts apply international law to facts, they do so as common law courts. Might this explain why Americans sometimes come to different conclusions about what international law requires than do their foreign counterparts?

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Papers  are to be presented on January 9, 2009 at the AALS Annual Meeting in San Diego, and are to be published in a special volume of IUS GENTIUM, a scholarly series published by Springer, one of the world's largest academic publishers, and available on WestLaw and Lexis.

PAPER SUBMISSION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE: No later than August 15, 2008 interested speakers should submit proposals by e-mail to jmaxeiner @ ubalt.edu. They may submit either a three-to-five page summary or a draft paper. Draft papers, unless the submitter requests otherwise, will also be considered by the editors of IUS GENTIUM for publication in the volume mentioned above.

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Members of the Executive Committee of the Section on International Law will select two or more presenters from among the responses to this Call for Papers. The Committee encourages junior scholars and scholars of diverse backgrounds from the United States and from foreign countries to submit proposals. The Section may have available limited funds to support one foreign scholar to travel to the United States to speak at the program.

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For further information contact:
James R. Maxeiner
Associate Professor of Law and Associate Director
Center for International and Comparative Law
University of Baltimore School of Law

(mew)

ICJ: Mexico Asks for an Interpretation of Avena and Seeks Urgent Provisional Measures -- Oral Arguments Conclude

Oral arguments have concluded in Mexico's request for an interpretation of the Avena decision and for preliminary measures to prevent the execution of its nationals who are in the state of Texas.  Click here for the ICJ press release, which includes a summary of the parties positions and information about the verbatim transcript of the proceedings before the International Court of Justice.

(mew)

AALS Section on International Human Rights

The Association of American Law Schools Section on International Human Rights has just published an impressive issue of its newsletter.  It includes a call for papers for possible presentation at the 2009 AALS Annual Meeting in San Diego.  Click on this next link to get the newsletter:  Download ihrl_section_newsletter.pdf .

Hat tip to Robert Blitt, Chair of the AALS Section on International Human Rights

(mew)

Our First Month

We had almost 2,000 visitors to the International Law Prof Blog in its first month of operation.  We think that is a fantastic start.

We thank our readers from around the world, and invite you to send us news to post of international law developments in your countries.  We had readers from Africa, North America, South America, Central America, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific.  Our readers included persons in these countries:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Belize
• Brazil
• Canada
• Costa Rica
• Denmark
• Germany
• India
• Ireland
• Japan
• Mexico
• Nepal
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Philippines
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States of America

and some other countries as well.  Thank you all.

(mew)

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

District of Columbia Bar

Corporation, Finance and Securities Law Section/Subcommittee on Accounting

International Law Section

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Present a Luncheon Program

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The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act - Part I: Focus on Books and Records and Internal Controls - Investigation and Enforcement Trends

• The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Accounting and Internal Controls
• Overview of Accounting and Internal Control Provisions
• Impact of Sarbanes Oxley
• Recent FCPA investigations/cases - focus on books and records and internal controls cases
• Responsibilities and Role of Audit Functions
• Role and responsibilities of Legal/Compliance
• Role of forensic accounting in an FCPA books and records/internal controls investigation assessment

Speakers: 

• Lucinda Low, Partner, Steptoe & Johnson (pictured here on the right)
• Cheryl Scarboro, Associate Director, SEC Division of Enforcement
• Joan Meyer, Partner, Baker & McKenzie

Moderator:

• Nina Gross, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP

Date:

• June 25, 2008

Time:

• 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Location:

• D.C. Bar Conference Center
  1250 H Street NW, B-1 Level
  (Metro Center)
  Washington DC 20005

Cost:

Corporation, Finance and Securities Law Members $10.00
International Law Members $10.00
Government and Non-Profit Employees $10.00
Non-Section Members $15.00

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This program is not intended to be a CLE program and thus does not qualify for CLE credit in other jurisdictions including Ohio and Pennsylvania.

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To register for this program or for a printable registration form, click here

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Persons interested in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act will likely also be interested in this book by Stewart Deming.  It is available at the ABA webstore at www.abanet.org/abastore.  I know that it has been used (quite successfully) by at least one law school for a class on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

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(mew)

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World Refugee Day 2008

Tomorrow, June 20, 2008, is World Refugee Day.  It is therefore appropriate to remember that there are currently 16 million refugees who are fleeing persecution and violence and another 51 million persons who have been displaced from their homes due to armed conflict and natural disasters, according to a June 2008 report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).  World Refugee Day was established by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/76 in 2000 to recognize the courage and resilience of refugees worldwide and to raise awareness about their plight.  To read more about the work of the UNHCR, go to http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/WRD.

(cgb)

International Wildlife Law Conference

The 11th International Wildlife Law Conference will take place at the Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida on March 27-28, 2009, with plans to convene the following five panels:

1. Ecosystem Approaches to Protecting Wildlife

2. Ecotourism:  Sustainable Practice or Loving Wildlife to Death?

3. Biofuels and Biodiversity

4. The Convention on Biology Diversity at Age 15;

5. The Record of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations

The organizers are currently seeking speakers for all panels; panelists will also be afforded the opportunity to publish articles in a special conference symposium issue of the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy. 

If you’re interested in speaking at the conference, please send a brief abstract to Dr. Wil Burns, the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy, before July 15, 2008.  You can also contact him if you want to be added to the mailing list for conference materials. 

Click here to email Dr. Wil Burns. 

Click here for more information on the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy.

Hat tip to Dr. Burns.

(mew)

Practical Career Advice for Young International Lawyers

Here is a short article that hundreds of law students have read ove r the years. "Practical Career Advice for Young International Lawyers: How to Build a Killer Resume, Network Effectively, Create Your Own Opportunities, and Live Happily Ever After."  It was published in the International Law Students Association Journal of International and Comparative Law.  Click here to download the article for free.  Click on the link, and then click on download this document.

You may forward this link to your international law student organizations.  It is  http://ssrn.com/abstract=1146483.  The article includes some advice on how to increase the effectiveness of international law student organizations.

(mew)

Woodrow Wilson Fellowships in the Social Sciences and Humanities

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars awards academic fellowships to men and women from any country with outstanding project proposals on national or international issues.  Topics should relate to key public policy challenges or provide the cultural and historic framework to illuminate policy issues of contemporary importance.

Click here for more information.  The deadline for applications is October 1, 2008.

(mew)

Fellowship: International Environmental Law and Policy

The Center for Ocean Solutions (“Ocean Solutions”) has announced an Early Career Fellowship program. Ocean Solutions is seeking one or more recent graduates who have received a JD, MBA, or PhD in the natural, physical or social sciences in the last five years, and who have completed substantial course work or gained experience in ocean or coastal science, law, or policy to collaborate with researchers and experts on one or more interdisciplinary projects focused on elevating the impact of the social, physical and natural sciences on ocean policy.

Ocean Solutions is a collaboration between Stanford University – including researchers at Hopkins Marine Station and the main campus – the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute to develop practical and sustainable strategies that address the major environmental and economic challenges facing the oceans by bringing leading experts in marine science and policy together with decision makers. In addition to helping implement better policies, Ocean Solutions is working to develop current and future leaders who understand the value of interdisciplinary problem solving.

This fellowship program is designed to draw on and enhance the academic and professional skills of early career professionals and researchers by placing them in interdisciplinary collaborations focused on identifying, developing, and implementing enduring solutions to the greatest challenges facing earth’s oceans.

Applications for this fellowship will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting July 15, 2008. For application information, please visit http://www.centerforoceansolutions.org/earlycareerfellowship.html.

Hat tips to Wil Burns and to Meg Caldwell, Interim Director, Center for Ocean Solutions

(mew)

CUFTA Moot Dispute Settlement Competition

The Customs Unions or Free Trade Areas (CUFTA) Moot Dispute Settlement Competition Competition provides a simulated international trade dispute before a dispute settlement body of a customs union or a free trade area.  The official language of the competition is English.

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In addition to the joy of winning, the winning team will also receive three registration fees, transportation, and accommodatoin at the 73rd conference of the International Law Association, which will be hosted in Rio de Janiero by the Brazilian Branch of the International Law Association.

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Click here for more information about the CUFTA competition.

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Click here for information about the meeting of the International Law Association in Rio de Janiero.

(mew)

International Legal Resource Center (ILRC)

The International Legal Resource Center announced the completion of its 2007 Annual Report.  Special features include:

        v    Message from the Chair of the ABA Section of International Law, Jeffrey Golden, pg. 5

v    2007 Project Overviews, pg. 12-15

v    2000-2006 Past Project Overviews, pg. 16-23

v    2007 Project Highlights, pg.  26-28

v    Legal Expert Profile, Alexandre Richelieu, pg. 29

v    Legal Research Associate Profile, Kristin Cleary pg. 30

v    Contact with Field, Andreea Vesa, pg. 31

v    Views from the UNDP offices in Moldova, Serbia, and Afghanistan pg.  32-34

v    Voices of Volunteers who worked at UNDP offices in Moldova and Viet Nam, pg. 35-36

v    Staff Reflection, Jacqueline Gichinga pg. 39

The 2007 Annual Report can be viewed by clicking here.

(mew)

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Call for Papers - The Journal of African Communications

The Journal of African Communications welcomes your articles.  Contact Andy Alali at California State University for more information.

(mew)

News About a Former ABA Section Chair

Kenneth B. Reisenfeld, former chair of the ABA Section of International Law and a top litigator with three decades of experience in international commercial and investment arbitration and in foreign trade compliance and enforcement investigations, has joined the Washington, D.C., office of King & Spalding as a partner.

Reisenfeld comes to King & Spalding from Haynes and Boone, LLP, where he was the founding partner of its Washington, D.C., office and chair of its international arbitration and litigation practice group and its international compliance and trade practice group. At King & Spalding, he is teaming up with lawyers of similar stature who have a global reputation for excellent legal counsel. These include the firm’s latest arrivals to its international arbitration practice: Houston-based, high-profile litigators John Bowman and Jennifer Price, formerly with Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P., and Washington, D.C.-based Margrete Stevens, former acting lead counsel of the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Reisenfeld represents leading U.S. and foreign corporations and governmental entities in litigation and arbitration of international commercial, investment, energy, M&A and technology disputes in U.S. courts and before international arbitral tribunals throughout the world, including the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration, the London Court of International Arbitration, the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal, the Dutch Arbitration Institute, and in state-to-state ad hoc proceedings. He also represents significant U.S. and foreign multinational corporations in the technology, energy, defense and manufacturing sectors in export controls, economic sanctions, anti-boycott, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance investigations and enforcement actions and in Exon-Florio national security investment rev iews.

Reisenfeld, a former chair of the American Bar Association Section of International Law, now serves as a councilor on the International Bar Association’s governing body. He also is an appointed member of the U.S. Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on International Law and the Advisory Board of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration and serves on the panel rosters for a number of international arbitral institutions. Reisenfeld has been recognized in Chambers, Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading Experts and International Who’s Who.

Reisenfeld earned a B.A. degree from Oberlin College, honors, and a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School. Prior to entering private practice, he was a judicial law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Frank J. Battisti and served in the Attorney General’s office of the U.S. Department of Justice.

King & Spalding has one of the leading international arbitration practices in the world. American Lawyer’s Focus Europe survey in June 2007 ranked King & Spalding first in the world in investment treaty arbitrations and second in the number of high-stakes international arbitrations. The firm’s lawyers have represented major U.S. and foreign companies as well as foreign state-owned companies in arbitrated disputes ranging from one million dollars to more than one billion dollars.

The firm’s trade practice, composed of more than 40 lawyers and consultants, is one of the largest in the world. King & Spalding’s trade group advises clients on a wide range of international trade matters, including trade remedies, World Trade Organization (WTO) matters, export controls, sanctions, customs, inward U.S. investment (Exon-Florio/CFIUS), and trade policy and negotiations. In addition to the largest anti-dumping case ever brought against China, the group was also the first in 15 years to successfully file a countervailing duty petition in the U nited States against subsidized imports from China.

King & Spalding is an international law firm with more than 800 lawyers in Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dubai, Frankfurt, Houston, London, New York, Riyadh (affiliated office), San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C. The firm represents half of the Fortune 100 and in a Corporate Counsel survey in September 2007 was among the top firms representing Fortune 250 companies. For additional information, visit www.kslaw.com.

International Litigation Strategies and Practice

This book provides an invaluable resource on the strategy and tactics of international litigation. 

It covers a variety of topics ranging from the differences and similarities between civil law and common law systems to the strategic decisions and practice tools necessary to successfully initiate, defend, and conclude a transnational case.  It also includes some useful material on special problems and tribunals. 

Law professors might consider this book for an international law seminar at the JD or LLM level.  The book is published by the American Bar Association Section of International Law and can be purchased through the webstore at the ABA's website.  The editor of this volume was Bart Legum.

(mew)

China Law Reporter

The American Bar Association Section of International Law has a very active China Law Committee.  That committee has just published a new issue of its newsletter, the China Law Reporter. Click here to see the latest issue. 

中国法律报道

Membership on the China Law Committee (and other committees of the ABA Section of International Law) is free to ABA section members. 

Section members also recieve discounts on books such as the one described in the post just above.

(mew)

P.S. Click here for another post on intellectual property law in China.

Institute of the Americas

The Institute of the Americas in La Jolla California has a new web site at www.iamericas.org, with information on upcoming events, its summer series of professional workshops, and other information of interest to those whose work focuses on the Americas. 

(mew)