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The International Law Section Gazette

Section News

ILS Chair's News & Notes

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others."

- Cicero

 

Dear ILS Members and Friends:

 

Happy Father’s Day to all the ILS dads! I hope you had an enjoyable day of celebration with your children and families. I’m so blessed and proud to be a father to an incredible son and grateful for being raised, inspired and loved by a wonderful father and grandfathers.

 

Speaking of gratitude, this is the last Chair’s Message of my term and I want to thank the Board and the rest of our Section’s Leadership for their significant commitment and service in helping our Section achieve this year’s vision: Elevating our International Leadership. I greatly appreciate each of you.

 

We have all been focused on Commitment, Collaboration and Celebration. As a result, we’ve achieved some of the most remarkable milestones in our Section’s history, including iLaw, the Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis Pre-Moot and Foreign Bar collaboration. But this is just the beginning, and our Section’s future is incredibly bright. I’m confident that under the new leadership with incoming Chair, Ana Barton, the other Board members, and the Executive Council, our Section’s prominence and success will reach new heights.

 

It has been an honor and privilege to serve as Chair of this wonderful Section. I have very much enjoyed leading the ILS, collaborating with our Leadership and serving our members. I hope you will all join me as we celebrate our collective achievements at the Chair’s Celebration at the Florida Bar Annual Convention on June 20 at Sir Harry’s Lounge at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando. We will also have our important Executive Council Annual Meeting and welcome our new Chair, officers and Executive Council members on June 21 at the Signia Hotel in Orlando. More details and registration are available below.

 

Lastly, I wanted to highlight a few key announcements from this week’s Gazette, including the Inter-American Bar Association Conference in Miami on June 17-20, the Leaders League Summit in Miami on June 25, and the Encuentro Internacional co-hosted by the Hispanic National Bar Association and the Barra Mexicana de Abogados in Mexico City from June 26-29. Also, we have a call for articles for the Fall 2024 issue of the International Law Quarterly – Extraterritoriality. I hope you have the opportunity to join us in Orlando and participate in some of these other exciting events!

 

Thanks again to all of you for your trust, dedication and support. I hope that I have served you well.

 

Saludos, 

Richard Montes de Oca, Esq.

Florida Bar ILS Chair

richard.montes@bipc.com

Announcements

Don't Miss the ILS Chair's Celebration During the Florida Bar Annual Convention in Orlando on June 20, 2024!

Join Us For the ILS Executive Council Annual Meeting Occurring During the Florida Bar Annual Convention in Orlando on June 21, 2024!

Congratulations to ILS Member, Ana R. Ulseth, on Being Added to the 2023 Jus Connect Power List for Most Active Female Arbitration Lawyers!

Dedicated ILS Member, Ana R. Ulseth, is an associate in Reed Smith’s Global Commercial Disputes Group. She focuses her practice on international dispute resolution across a myriad of sectors.


Her practice encompasses complex litigation matters in state and federal courts as well as international commercial and investment arbitrations.


Ana has experience with international arbitrations under various institutional arbitral rules including but not limited to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). 


To read more about Ana and her practice, please click here!

Call for Member Submissions for the ILS Gazette!

Save the Date for the 60th IABA Annual Conference - Economy, Law, and Democracy in the Era of AI: Promoting a Compliance Culture - Set for June 17-20!

Call for Articles for the Fall 2024 Edition of the International Law Quarterly Focused on "Extraterritoriality"

ILS Members Are Invited to Attend the June 25 Leaders League Alliance Summit on Law and Innovation at the Intercontinental in Miami!

The Leaders League Alliance Summit: Law & Innovation brings together the best of the Corporate, Legal and Innovation world, in a unique one-day event gathering over 500 key international players focusing on building alliances, networking and debating the vital issues of today’s world, alongside the business leaders that make it happen daily.


Over 100 international leaders will debate throughout four tracks about the latest topics on M&A, Corporate Law, Dispute Resolution, IP, Tech, Data, Leadership, Life Sciences, International Arbitration, Compliance and more.


Enjoy unique and meaningful networking opportunities throughout the day designed to expand your international network, connecting you with those who matter the most.


Celebrate legal excellence and honor the best performances of the past year, in over 50 categories awarding the best legal departments, law firms and IP advisors around the world.


The ILS has a small number of complimentary tickets to the Leaders League Alliance Summit. Please reach out to Ana Barton (abarton@reedsmith.com) if you are interested in attending. The tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

The Hispanic National Bar Association Invites ILS Members to Attend the 2024 Encuentro Internacional in Mexico City Set for June 26-29!

The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is delighted to invite you to join us at the 2024 Encuentro Internacional in Mexico City, co-hosted by the Barra Mexicana de Abogados (BMA). The Encuentro will take place June 26-29, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Mexico City Hotel, providing opportunities for U.S. and international attorneys to meet representatives from numerous U.S. companies as well as Latin American companies and law firms. Our panels, plenary sessions, and receptions will connect the HNBA Familia with Mexican and Latin American practitioners.


The Encuentro will offer two days of learning and connecting as part of a robust and forward-looking program on cutting edge topics led by leading practitioners and trailblazers from México, Latin America, and the U.S., as well as one-of-a-kind networking opportunities that you would not want to miss.


For more information, and to register, please click the image above or please click here!

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!

International Law Quarterly

Just Published: The International Law Quarterly - Winter 2024 on "Hot Topics"

The Winter 2024 Issue of the International Law Quarterly - "Hot Topics" 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.

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: Gary Birnberg

GBirnberg@jamsadr.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@b2b.legal

 

Immigration Liaison Committee


Chair: Larry S. Rifkin

lsrifkin@rifkinfox.com


International Law Board Certification Committee

 

Chair: Robert Kossick

robert.kossick@harrisbricken.com

 

International Law Quarterly Committee

 

Chair: Jeff Hagen

jhagen@harpermeyer.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: James Meyer

jmeyer@harpermeyer.com


North America Committee

 

Chair: Nouvelle Gonzalo

ngonzalo@gonzalolaw.com

  

Richard DeWit Memorial Vis Pre-Moot Committee

 

Chairs: Andres Sandoval | Priscila Bandeira

andres.sandoval@usdoj.gov

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 2022-2023, 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, Laura Reich at lreich@harpermeyer.com or Vice Treasurer, Davide Macelloni at dmacelloni@drbdc-law.com for more details.

ILS Board Members and Officers


Chair: Richard Montes de Oca

Chair-Elect: Ana Barton

Secretary: Cristina Vicens Beard

Treasurer: Laura Reich

Vice-Treasurer: Davide Macelloni

Immediate Past Chair: Jacqueline Villalba

ILS Executive Council


Terms Expiring in 2024


Fabio Giallanza

Jeffrey S. Hagen

Davide Macelloni

Penelope Perez-Kelly

Yine Rodriguez-Perez


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



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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