Past Events

October 19, 2023

Program on the Current State of Central American Economic Integration

This presentation featured Francisco Lima Mena, Secretary General of the Secretariat For Central American Economic Integration (SIECA). The Secretary General made a presentation at Georgetown Law sponsored by the Center on Transnational Business and the Law, together with the Center on Inclusive Trade and Development and the Center for the Advancement of the Rule of Law in the Americas. SIECA is the technical and administrative body of the Central American Economic Integration Process and supports the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration of Central America in the establishment of an economic union, by means of gradually implementing and developing a Free Trade Area, a Customs Union, and a Central American Common Market.

Secretary General Lima Mena described SIECA’s current activities and its future plans for economic integration involving the States of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.. The presentation ended with a Q&A session with students on issues of trade and foreign policy impacting the current integration process.

For information on SIECA see their SIECA’s Website.

September 7 2023

Transatlantic Cooperation In The Fight Against Corruption

The Center on Transnational Business and the Law at Georgetown Law hosted a program on Transatlantic Cooperation In The Fight Against Corruption on September 7, 2023, that addressed the progress made by France in the fight against corruption in international business and its impact on the transatlantic dialogue.

This timely program explored the increased cooperation between the United States and France in criminal anti-corruption cases, including the sharing of evidence in investigations, the coordination of corporate resolutions, the crediting of fines and disgorgement paid to other authorities, and the consistent engagement and sharing of information. Our Professor Don De Amicis moderated the discussion on actions taken by France in the fight against corruption and the impact on prosecutorial and judicial cooperation between the U.S. and France.

Featured Panelists:

Michel Sapin, Principal author of the French anti-corruption law and former French Minister of the Economy and Finance;

Valentina Lana, Marshall Memorial Fellow and lecturer at Science Po University

Watch: Transatlantic Cooperation In The Fight Against Corruption

March 22 2023

Careers in International Law: Emerging Practice Areas

This panel discussion focused on careers in emerging practice areas in international law, including sustainability, human rights, privacy and data. The speakers, with experience in private law firms, in-house legal departments of multinational businesses, national governments and academia, shared their insights into career pathways in a world undergoing massive changes.

Featured Speakers:

Timothy Wilkins, Partner at Freshfields and Professor at Georgetown Law

Katie Shay, Director, Associate General Counsel at Cisco

Don De Amicis, Co-Director, Center on Transnational Business and the Law; Professor, Georgetown University Law Center

March 7 2023

Careers in International Law: Business Compliance

This panel discussion focused on careers in international business compliance. The speakers, with experience in private law firms, in-house legal departments of multinational businesses, national governments and academia, shared their insights into career pathways in a world undergoing massive changes.

The panelists discussed the emerging areas in international business compliance, and Environmental Social Governance (ESG) impact in particular. They shared their thoughts in cross-border compliance, and experience in various jurisdictions such as Switzerland, Singapore, New Zealand, Dubai, Hong Kong, and the United States. The panelists further spoke about switching between industries in international business compliance, and they emphasized that a background in diverse industries could be an asset. The panelists shared their experience in working in the area of compliance at law firms, and as in-house counsels. The event was attended by Georgetown J.D. and LL.M. students interested in international business compliance careers.

Featured Speakers:

Edward Hanover, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer for Albertsons Companies

Mary Shirley, Head of Culture of Integrity and Compliance Education, Fresenius Medical Care; Co-Host of Great Women in Compliance Podcast.

Don De Amicis, Co-Director, Center on Transnational Business and the Law; Professor, Georgetown University Law Center

Watch: Careers in International Law: Business Compliance

April 6 2022

Careers in International Law: Project Development and Finance

This program focused on careers in international law. The speakers, with experience in private law firms, in-house legal departments of multinational businesses, national governments and academia, shared their insights into career pathways in a world undergoing massive changes relating to project development and finance.

Featured Speakers:

Denise M. Grant, Partner in Shearman & Sterling’s Project Development and Finance Practice

Marissa Leigh Alcala, Partner in Norton Rose Fulbright’s Projects Practice

Don De Amicis, Co-Director, Center on Transnational Business and the Law; Professor, Georgetown University Law Center

Watch: Careers in International Law: Project Development and Finance

March 2, 2022

Careers in International Law: Business Compliance

This program focused on careers in international law. The speakers, with experience in private law firms, in-house legal departments of multinational businesses, national governments and academia, shared their insights into career pathways in a world undergoing massive changes relating to business compliance.

Featured Speakers:

Edward Hanover, Global Senior Vice President, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer for Albertsons Companies; Compliance Officer at FIFA

Mary Shirley, Head of Culture and Integrity and Compliance Education, Fresenius Medical Care; Co-Host of Great Women in Compliance Podcast

Don De Amicis, Co-Director, Center on Transnational Business and the Law; Professor, Georgetown University Law Center

International Business and Economic Law Series: Transnational Business Corruption

This program explored the key responses of international institutions, national governments, and private sector businesses to transnational business corruption. Professors Hagan and De Amicis reviewed how governmental and business practices differ among nations, and the impact of both the demand side (government) and the supply side (business) of transnational corruption. Despite a proliferation of treaties, laws, regulations, and prosecutions, eliminating transnational business corruption remains extremely challenging for countries and multinational businesses.  Businesses continue to spend significant resources in compliance efforts, and are confronting a rising number of multi-jurisdictional corruption cases.

Sean Hagan, Visiting Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center

Don De Amicis, Co-Director, Center on Transnational Business and the Law; Professor, Georgetown University Law Center

October 22, 2021

International Business and Economic Law Series: Developments in International Dispute Resolution

This program looked at current developments in international dispute resolution involving domestic litigation, international arbitration, mediation, conciliation, and international commercial court litigation. Professors Whitesell and Stewart discussed the emergence of mediation and international commercial court litigation as an alternative to domestic litigation and international commercial arbitration, measures that have been adopted by arbitral institutions to address issues of time and cost efficiency, transparency, and the administration of complex arbitrations, and several recent court decisions addressing arbitrator conflicts of interest.

Anne Marie Whitesell, LLM Program and Faculty Director, Program on International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution; Professor, Georgetown University Law Center

David Stewart, Co-Director, Global Law Scholars Program; Co-Director, Center on Transnational Business and the Law; Professor from Practice, Georgetown University Law Center

September 24, 2021

International Business and Economic Law Series: Hot Issues in International Trade

This program explored the fragility of our global trading system amplified by the COVID pandemic’s mad scramble to source personal protective equipment, medicines and vaccines; in the potential over-reliance on China in the global supply chain; in the European Union’s proposed carbon tax on imported goods; and in the efforts to tax digital trade and services. Professor Hillman discussed the challenges of this decade and beyond–how to craft global rules, alliances and institutions to address truly global problems that cross previously understood boundaries between trade, climate change, human rights, development and national security in the face of rising regionalism.

Jennifer Hillman, Professor from Practice, Georgetown University Law Center

Introduced by: Don De Amicis, Co-Director, Center on Transnational Business and the Law; Professor, Georgetown University Law Center

Watch: Hot Topics in International Trade

September 22, 2021

Center on Transnational Business and the Law Introductory Meeting

This meeting introduced the Center on Transnational Business and the Law to Georgetown University Law Center J.D. and LLM students. Faculty co-directors, Professors David Stewart and Don De Amicis, and Research Assistant, Rebecca McRee, discussed the Center’s ongoing projects and research activities and announced the creation of the CTBL fellowship opportunity.

Watch: CTBL Fall 2021 Introductory Meeting

April 7, 2021

Cutting Edge Issues in Corruption in International Business

This program explored important corruption challenges facing multinational businesses today. Panelists discussed the intersection of big data, privacy, and corruption; the complexities and perils of multi-jurisdictional corruption cases; the efforts of international institutions to reduce business corruption; and the anti-corruption compliance issues facing Pharma companies operating transnationally.

Timothy Dickinson, Professor from Practice, University of Michigan Law School
Pascale Helene Dubois, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown Law; former Vice President of Integrity, World Bank
Chaim Gelfand, Vice President of Compliance, NSO Group
Amy Greenstein (L’11, MSFS’11), Director of Legal and Compliance, BioNTech SE

Moderator:
Don De Amicis, Co-Director, Center on Transnational Business and the Law, and Professor, Georgetown Law

Watch: Cutting Edge Issues in Corruption in International Business

Spring 2021

Careers in International Law Series

Moderated by Professor Don De Amicis, Co-Director of CTBL

Careers in International Law: Project Development & Finance
Denise M. Grant, Partner, Shearman & Sterling LLP
Marissa Leigh Alcala, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
March 25, 2021

Careers in International Law: International Development 
Professor Katrin Kuhlmann, Georgetown Law
Professor Susan Keller Pascocello, Georgetown Law
March 11, 2021

Careers in International Law: Emerging Practice Areas: Sustainability,
ESG, Privacy and Data
Timothy Wilkins, Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Katie Shay, Attorney, Privacy and Human Rights, Cisco Systems, Inc.
February 25, 2021

Careers in International Law: Business Compliance
Edward Hanover, Partner DLA Piper LLP, former Global Chief Compliance Officer at FIFA
Mary Shirley, Head of Culture of Integrity and Compliance Education, Fresenius Medical Care North America
February 11, 2021

Fall 2020

International Business and Economic Law Series

Financial Impact of the COVID Pandemic on Countries and Businesses
Professors Sean Hagan and Don De Amicis
November 19, 2020

International Arbitration and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic   
Professors Anne Marie Whitesell and Mark Kantor
October 26, 2020

Hot Issues in International Trade
Professor Jennifer Hillman
October 1, 2020

February 21, 2019

Current Issues in International Business, Human Rights and Sustainability

On February 21, 2019, the Center sponsored a presentation on “Current Issues in International Business, Human Rights and Sustainability” by Adjunct Professor Lelia Mooney. Prof. Mooney is a widely-respected expert with more than twenty years’ practical experience working on initiatives in rule of law, governance, business, human rights and sustainability, gender and social inclusion, conflict management and transformation and multi-stakeholder engagement. She has authored several relevant publications including “Promoting the Rule of Law: A Practitioner’s Guide to Key Issues and Developments,” and “The Business, Human Rights and Sustainability Sourcebook,” both published by the American Bar Association.

Her discussion highlighted current challenges and practical opportunities in this evolving field of practice. Efforts to strengthen the relationship between business, human rights and sustainability have gained significant momentum in recent years, owing largely to the passage of the U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) in 2011, the 2012 U.N. Rio+20 Sustainable Development Conference, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Because of these developments and the ensuing emergence of multi-stakeholder initiations involving governments, the private sector, investors, and civil society networks, one can speak today of an emergent international “soft law” system firmly rooted in internationally acknowledged hard law principles. This emergent system challenges lawyers to think creatively and “outside the box” in solving the underlying problems. Whatever their specialties, practitioners today need a broader set of skills and strategies, and a more comprehensive knowledge and appreciation of human rights, environmental and natural resources management, in order to develop effective cross-sector collaborations.

The event was sponsored by the Center on Transnational Business and the Law, a part of the Georgetown Institute on International Economic Law (IIEL). It was co-sponsored by the D.C. Chapter of the Inter-American Bar Association (IABA D.C.), in coordination with Foreign Lawyers at Georgetown (FLAG), the Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA), and the Georgetown International Law Society (GILS).

April 27-28, 2018

A Conference on “Challenges Facing International  Business, Trade and Investments”

The Center for Transnational Business and the Law at Georgetown University Law Center held a two day conference entitled; “A Conference on Challenges Facing International Business, Trade and Investments.” The two-day conference had as its keynote speaker for day one Dr. Peter Quilter, a Senior Fellow at Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, former Assistant Secretary (Administration and Finance), Organization of American States. The conference had as its keynote speaker for day two Professor Jonathon Drimmer, Chief Compliance Officer and Deputy General Counsel, Barrick Gold, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University Law Center.

In addition, two panels were held on the second day. The first panel which included Mr. Robert Eckford, Associate Director (Trade and Investment), Tobacco-Free Kids; Alex Wilbraham, Counsel, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP; Mr. Patrick W. Pearsall, Partner, Jenner & Block LLP; Prof. Chiara Giorgetti, Director LL.M. Program, University of Richmond School of Law, would discuss “Human Rights and Public Health: A Turning Point in International Investment Agreements and Investor-State Dispute Settlement?.” The second panel which included Ms. Gina Barbieri, Principal Ombudsman, Compliance Advisory Ombudsman (CAO); Ms. Leila Mooney, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University Law Center; Prof. Robert Stumberg, Georgetown University Law Center; Ms. Amy Lehr, Counsel, Foley Hoag LLP would discuss “Corporate Social Responsibility: Reshaping the way of Doing Business, Invest and Trade in the Global Market.”

April 14, 2018

Litigating Foreign Relations Law in a Changing Treaty Landscape

A conference on “Litigating Foreign Relations Law in a Changing Treaty Landscape,” including a keynote by Jessica Tuchman-Matthews and panel discussions on “Recent Developments in U.S. Treaty Law and Practice” and “Litigating Foreign Relations Law in the Trump Administration.”

Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Private International Law

October 31, 2017

The Center will host the fall 2017 meeting of the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Private International Law (ACPIL) on Friday, October 31, 2017.

 

International Law in the Trump Era

January 23, 2017

With the International & National Security Law Practice Group and the Georgetown Student Division of the Federalist Society, as well as the American Branch of the International Law Association, the Center cosponsored a panel discussion exploring, among other topics, what trade agreements might look like in the new administration, the administration’s likely approach to international alliances, the prospects for ratification of international treaties, and the war on terror. The event also featured a panel on the future of trade law, including free trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and NAFTA.

8^th Conference on Teaching Transnational Commercial Law

November 17-18, 2016

This annual gathering of international experts (including both practitioners and academics) provides an opportunity to bring participants up-to-date on current developments worldwide.  The 8^th annual conference, a two-day event cosponsored in 2016 by the American Branch of the International Law Association and the International Law Institute, focused on International Commercial Arbitration, in particular the New York Convention, UNCITRAL’s 2010 arbitration rules, and other forms of settling international commercial disputes.

Service of Process and Taking of Evidence Abroad: The Impact of “Electronic Means” on the Operation of the Hague Conventions

November 2, 2015

This celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the 1965 Hague Convention on the Service of Process Abroad and the 45^th Anniversary of the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence explored current applications and challenges to two of the international agreements of most importance to those involved in transnational litigation of international commercial disputes.  A distinguished group of international practitioners and scholars discussed the Conventions “theory and practice,” “what’s working and what’s not,” and “what’s coming next.” The Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law gave the opening address; the Keynote Speaker was the Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC.

Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Private International Law

September 25, 2015

Open meeting of the committee to provide an annual review of significant developments and future projects in the field, review of the current agendas on work performed at the Hague Conference, UNCITRAL, UNIDROIT, the OAS and other organizations.

Global Sales Law Conference: The CISG at 35: Challenges Today

January 30, 2015

On the occasion of the 35^th anniversary of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (the “CISG”), the Center joined with the UNCITRAL Secretariat in providing an intensive overview of the use of the CISG in North American legal practice, the future of uniform contract law, and the promotion and role of the CISG in international economic development.  The goal was to take stock of current developments, to foster greater awareness of CISG among practitioners, and to explore the CISG’s contribution to legal technical assistance.  The conference was cosponsored by the American Branch of the International Law Association, ASIL, ABA/SIL, the International Law Institute, the Institute of International Commercial Law, Pace Law and Penn State Dickinson Law.

Meeting of the ACIEP Sanctions Subcommittee

July 10, 2013

Ambassador Daniel Fried, the Department of State’s Coordinator for Sanctions Policy, and Peter Harrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Threat Finance and Sanctions, presented and discussed: “An Update on Recent Developments re: Iran Sanctions.”

Address by Cameron F. Kerry, General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Commerce, on The Digital Economy, Rule of Law from Beijing to Baghdad, IP and Lots Else – The Job of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Commerce

April 3, 2013

The general counsel for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Cameron Kerry, spoke to Georgetown Law faculty, students, alumni, and others about the digital economy, intellectual property and other topics.

“Scarcely any issue arises in the U.S. government that does not become a question for legal counsel sooner or later,” said Kerry, who focuses on the legal and policy issues of everything from placing weather satellites in space to regulating trade with countries here on earth.

“The challenge that the United States faces … is fostering a 21st-century economy that grows consistently enough and fast enough to sustain a promising future…,” he said. “We need to do more to lay a foundation for sustained growth.”

The department is working to adapt to virtual space the rules that apply in physical space, including commercial data privacy, cyber security, the free flow of information across borders and the protection of intellectual property.

On the foreign front, lawyers at Commerce have an ongoing dialogue with China on rule-of-law issues. “The course of world history … will be shaped, for good or for ill, by the course of that relationship,” Kerry said.

As for his own career, Kerry — the brother of the U.S. Secretary of State — said he feels extraordinarily fortunate. “I hope some of you will have the opportunity to serve in government,” he said. “In the 21st century, we need the best lawyers to serve our country.”

Symposium on “The Evolution of Economic Sanctions: Increasingly Financial, Multilateral, and Robust,” co-sponored with the Georgetown Journal of International Law, the Georgetown Center for National Security and the Law, and the American Society of International Law. The Center co-organized the event with the Journal

February 13, 2013

This one-day Symposium ha as its keynote speaker the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing, Daniel L. Glaser. In addition four panels of present and past government officials, academics, and practitioners addressed various aspects of economic sanctions, including: the legal basis and operation of financial sanctions; the impacts of financial sanctions; coordination and incongruity among U.S., EU, and UN sanctions; and other legal, political, and humanitarian issues raised by sanctions. Several papers from the Symposium will be published in the Spring 2013 issue of the Journal.

Meeting of the ACIEP Sanctions Subcommittee

November 19, 2012

Presentation by Assistant Secretary of State Jose W. Fernandez, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Peter Harrell, and the Department of Treasury’s Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, Adam J. Szubin: “A Report from State and Treasury on Developments on U.S. Sanctions re: Iran and Burma.”

Meeting of the ACIEP Sanctions Subcommittee

January 19, 2012

Presentation by Linda Specht, Director of the Department of State’s Office of Terrorism Finance and Economic Sanctions Policy, and David Mortlock, Attorney-Adviser in the Department’s Office of the Legal Adviser.

Symposium on “The 2010 UNIDROIT Principles on International Commercial Contracts”

October 28, 2011

Several distinguished speakers provided an overview of the Principles from a trans-Atlantic perspective, focusing on the most recent revisions and their potential impact on international commercial transactions and dispute resolution. The keynote was presented by UNIDROIT’s Secretary-General, José Angelo Estrella Faria.

Meeting of the ACPIL

September 22-23, 2011

Open meeting of this federal advisory committee’s annual review of developments in the field of private international law, covering recent activities in UNICTRAL, UNIDROIT, The Hague Conference, the European Union and the OAS on topics such as international investment securities, online dispute resolution, e-commerce, secured finance and consumer protection.

Meeting of the ACIEP Sanctions Subcommittee 

July 26, 2011

On the issue of conflict minerals, the speakers were Brad Brooks-Rubin, a special advisory in the Department of State’s Bureau of Energy, Economic, and Business Affairs; Dr. Catherine Pickard in the Department’s Africa Bureau, and Keith Adam from the Department’s Office of Central African Affairs.

Meeting of the ACIEP Sanctions Subcommittee

May 4, 2011

Thomas L. Delare, the Director of the State Department’s Office of Terrorism Finance and Economic Sanctions Policy, and David Mortlock, an Attorney-Adviser in the Legal Adviser’s Office, addressed the steps the Department and other Departments were taking to enforce the U.S. sanctions against Iran.

Meeting of the ACIEP Sanctions Subcommittee

March 8, 2011

Ambassador William B. Wood, the U.S. Envoy for International Sanctions Implementation, addressed U.S. diplomatic efforts to encourage full implementation of the international sanctions against Iran.

Meeting of the ACPIL

October 28-29, 2010

Annual meeting of the Advisory Committee, discussing developments in the areas of international commercial and investment arbitration, the Hague Choice of Court Agreements Convention, international family law (abduction, adoption, enforcement of maintenance agreements), protocols to the Capetown Convention on railroad rolling stock, mobile construction equipment and space assets and issues of federalism in the implementation of private international law treaties in the United States.

Meeting of the ACIEP Sanctions Subcommittee

July 28, 2010

Thomas L. Delare, accompanied by David Mortlock from the Department of State, discussed the ongoing implementation process for the new U.S. sanctions. They were joined by Dr. László Deák, Political Counselor at the Delegation of the European Union, who provided an overview of the EU’s use of economic sanctions and the new sanctions against Iran.

Meeting of the ACIEP Sanctions Subcommittee

June 16, 2010

Thomas L. Delare discussed his Office’s activities and the possible roles of the Subcommittee.

Symposium on “Transparency in International Arbitration: A Focus on Best Practices”

April 26, 2010

This symposium was undertaken in support of a joint project of the American Branch of the International Law Association and the American Society of International Law, with the support of the D.C. Bar International Law Section’s International Dispute Resolution Committee and Georgetown’s International Arbitration Society, and in light of the then-pending amendments to the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. Several panels of distinguished practitioners, academics and government officials discussed both benefits and pitfalls of transparency vs. confidentiality in commercial as well as investment arbitration. James Castello, Esq., of King & Spalding, LLP, gave the keynote.

“Designing Trade Policy: Lessons from the Global Communications and Information Markets”

April 15, 2009

Speech by Dr. Peter F. Cowhey, Senior Counselor to the U.S. Trade Representative, with dinner following.