The ILS Gazette

The International Law Section Gazette

Section News

ILS Chair's News & Notes

Dear ILS,

It’s hard to believe that it’s that time of year again already—iLaw planning is about to kick into gear! The iLaw Steering Committee’s first meeting will be held on Monday, August 5th at 5:00 p.m. on Zoom. The committee co-chairs, Davide Macelloni and Adrian Nuñez, gave us a sold-out iLaw in 2024, so they have even greater records to break for iLaw 2025. Please join the team, get involved, and help make this the best iLaw yet!

iLaw SAVE THE DATE: Friday, February 7, 2025, at the JW Marriott Marquis in Downtown Miami.

I’d also like to flag that August 31st is the deadline to submit your application to sit for the Board Certification in International Law exam, which will be administered in March 2025. More details below on the requirements for Board Certification and why you should pursue the B.C.S. accolade!

Have a great week!

Ana M. Barton, Esq.

Florida Bar ILS Chair

abarton@reedsmith.com

Announcements

Save the Date for iLaw 2025!

Interested in Being More Active in the ILS?

Volunteer to be an iLaw 2025 Steering Committee Member!

Get Florida Bar Board Certified in International Litigation and Arbitration Law!

The Board of Legal Specialization and Education invites you to consider Board Certification. Become Florida Bar Board Certified and distinguish yourself among Florida lawyers with the knowledge, skills and proficiency required to become Board Certified in International Litigation and Arbitration Law. You would join an exceptional group of only 35 lawyers who are Florida Bar Board Certified in International Litigation and Arbitration Law.

The deadline for applications is October 31, 2024.

To learn more, visit: International Litigation & Arbitration Certification – The Florida Bar

Questions? Please don't hesitate to call (850-561-5768) or email Charlotte Bell at CBell@floridabar.org, if you have any questions or need help navigating the application process.

Get Florida Bar Board Certified in International Law!

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

A written examination.

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.

Save the Date for the 3rd Annual

ILS Fantasy Football League!

Congratulations to ILS Member Jennifer Diaz on Being Elected to the Board of Let's Do Something!

Just Published: The International Law Quarterly - Spring 2024 on "This or That"

The Spring 2024 Issue of the International Law Quarterly - "This or That" is now available.

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!

The Miami International Arbitration Society (MIAS) Invites Practitioners and Scholars to Participate in the Inaugural Edition of its Annual Writing Competition

The Miami International Arbitration Society (“MIAS”) invites practitioners and scholars to participate in the inaugural edition of its annual Writing Competition. The MIAS Writing Competition aims to foster intellectual exploration of current and cutting-edge topics in international arbitration and to provide an excellent opportunity to new and emerging professionals to showcase their expertise and contribute to the field.

Participants are encouraged to submit original articles that contribute to the understanding of contemporary international arbitration.

For additional details as to eligibility, submission topics, applicable deadlines, and prizes, please click the flyer above or please click here!

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!

Join an ILS Committee Today!

Amicus Committee

Chair: Edward Mullins

emullins@reedsmith.com

Arbitration & Mediation Committee

Chair: Javier Samaniego

javier.samaniego@osborneclarke.com

Asia Committee

Chairs: Neha Dagley | Fred Rocafort

neha.dagley@dagleylaw.com

fred@harrisbricken.com

CLE Initiatives Committee

Chair: Kristin Drecktrah Paz

kpaz@pbyalaw.com

Europe Committee

Chairs: Susanne Leone | Davide Macelloni

sleone@leonezhgun.com

dmacelloni@drbdc-law.com

Foreign Legal Consultant Committee

Chair: Robert J. Becerra

rbecerra@rjbecerralaw.com

iLaw Steering Committee

Chairs: Davide Macelloni | Adrian Nuñez

dmacelloni@drbdc-law.com

nuneza@gtlaw.com

ILS Deskbook Committee

Chairs: Robert Kossick | Pamella Seay | Laura Reich | Clarissa Rodriguez

robert.kossick@harrisbricken.com

p-seay@usa.net

lreich@harpermeyer.com

crodriguez@harpermeyer.com

ILS Gazette Committee

Chair: Matthew Akiba

makiba@b 2b.legal

Immigration Liaison Committee

Chair: Larry S. Rifkin

lsrifkin@rifkinfox.com

International Law Board Certification Committee

Chair: Robert J. Becerra

rbecerra@rjbecerralaw.com

International Law Quarterly Committee

Chairs: Jeff Hagen | Jennifer Mosquera

jhagen@harpermeyer.com

jmosquera@sequorlaw.com

International Litigation and Arbitration Board Certification Committee

Chair: Kristin Drecktrah Paz | Gilbert Squires | Gregory Grossman

kpaz@pbyalaw.com

gilbertsquires@squiresinternationallaw.com

ggrossman@sequorlaw.com

International Tax Law Committee

Chair: Jeff Hagen

jhagen@harpermeyer.com

Law School Liaison Committee

Chairs: Prof. Manuel A. Gomez | Laura Reich

magomez@fiu.edu

lreich@harpermeyer.com

Legislative Committee

Chair: Carlos F. Osorio

cosorio@osorioint.com

Lunch & Learn Committee

Chair: Jacqueline Villalba

jvillalba@harpermeyer.com

North America Committee

Chair: Nouvelle Gonzalo

ngonzalo@gonzalolaw.com

Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis Pre-Moot Committee

Chair: Priscila Bandeira

pbandeira@duanemorris.com

White Collar Crime Committee

Chair: Robert J. Becerra

rbecerra@rjbecerralaw.com

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 2023-2024, 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, Davide Macelloni at dmacelloni@drbdc-law.com or Vice Treasurer, Jeffrey Hagen at jhagen@harpermeyer.com for more details.

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

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!

About the ILS Gazette

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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