Recent Events

Speaker: Jennifer Trahan, Professor, NYC Center For Global Affairs

In this timely discussion of the work of the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) we will focus on the US relationship to the court that has varied among presidential administrations. The current administration has banned the ICC Prosecutor from travel to the United States. Our speaker also will discuss the recent dismissal of the ICC’s Afghanistan preliminary examination that would have addressed conduct by US nationals in Afghanistan but that is no longer proceeding. Jennifer Trahan is Clinical Professor of Global…

Speaker: François Ameli, Partner, CKR Law in Paris

Since 2016, there has been a dramatic change in French law on the issue of enforcing judgments and arbitration awards against states and state entities. French law and French courts have increasingly taken into account the protection of states’ assets against so-called ‘vulture funds’, i.e. funds that invest in distressed securities usually (but not always) held against sovereign debtor governments. As a consequence of this policy, enforcement against states or state entities requires a prior and specific court order that…

Speaker: James R. Maxeiner, Associate Professor of Law, University of Baltimore

Sadly, it is not news that our government of laws is failing. Our legal methods of making and applying law work poorly, when they work at all. Years ago, our long-time benefactor and colleague, the late Professor Ernst C. Stiefel had the answer: we need to civilize our system. We need to learn from civil law methods. This talk will identify about ten ways we could use civil law methods to work toward a government of laws. James Maxeiner teaches…

Speaker: Darrel H. Pearson and Francisco J. Cortina Velarde 

In this timely discussion of the USMCA, our Canadian and Mexican trade experts will share their insights on the negotiation process and the provisions of the USMCA that will change the trade landscape for the USMCA Parties, businesses and legal advisors. The speakers will offer their Canadian and Mexican perspectives on the following topics: How did we get to the USMCA? How will preferential treatments accorded under the NAFTA change in the new agreement? Why is US free trade with…

Speaker: Michael W. Galligan, Partner, Phillips Nizer LLP

The presentation will compare and contrast the common law (primarily as exemplified by New York law) and the civil law (primarily as exemplified by French law) approaches to the administration of decedents’ estates. The topics that will be addressed will include (1) who has title to the assets of a deceased person during the pendency of an estate or succession? (2) what is the role of a testamentary executor? (3) how is a decedent’s Will established or recognized as the…

Speaker: Honorable Cheryl L. Pollak, United States Magistrate Judge,Eastern District of New York

In Jesner v. Arab Bank, PLC, the Supreme Court foreclosed suit against foreign corporations, making it clear that, under the Alien Tort Statute (“ATS”), persons injured or killed by terrorist acts committed abroad could not pursue claims for damages against foreign corporations and international banking institutions that allegedly financed and facilitated terrorist activities. The future of such claims under the Antiterrorism Act (“ATA”) is less clear, particularly when viewed in the context of the Justice Against Terrorism Act (“JASTA”) and…

Speaker: Christopher J. Morvillo, Clifford Chance US LLP, New York

On August 28, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued its long-awaited decision in United States v. Hoskins, a rare decision addressing the scope of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). Specifically, the court held in Hoskins that the government cannot pursue theories of conspiracy and aiding and abetting liability under the FCPA against classes of foreign individuals and entities who are not otherwise subject to direct liability under the FCPA. Chris Morvillo of Clifford…

Speaker: Gordon N. Cameron, Stikeman Elliott LLP, New York.Matthew Kittay, Fox Rothschild LLP, New York

Did you know that on October 17, 2018 the personal use of marijuana in every province of Canada will be legal? Adults in Canada will be able to buy cannabis from government and privately run retail stores across the country and online. Did you know that the largest cannabis company in the world is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and has a market capitalization of over $10 Billion? Canadian cannabis companies not only dominate the TSX, but are starting…