Conference: The Evolving World of International Law

The American Branch's 2006 International Law Weekend 2006 will be held on Thursday-Saturday, October 26-28, 2006, at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York (42 West 44th St, New York, NY). The theme this year is "The Evolving World of International Law."  The panels on private international law focus on the following topics:

Enforcing Foreign Judgments and Awards: Worlds Apart? Friday October 27, 2006, 9:00 am – 10:30 am 

This panel will compare the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and international arbitration awards. It will also discuss the proposed Convention on Jurisdiction and Foreign Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters. In particular, this panel will explore whether the new Hague Convention, if adopted, would bridge the present gap between the enforcement of foreign judgments and international arbitration awards.

• Chair: Julie Bedard, Esq., Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
• Panelists: Prof. George A. Bermann, Jean Monnet Professor of EU law & Walter Gellhorn Professor of Law, Columbia University School of Law
• John Fellas, Esq., Partner Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
• John L. Gardiner, Esq., Partner, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

From Owusu to Parlatino: European Union and Latin American Challenges to Forum Non Conveniens Friday October 27, 2006, 10:45 am – 12:15 pm 

In 2005, the European Court of Justice, in Jackson v. Owusu, ruled forum non conveniens to be incompatible with the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Brussels regulation. A continent apart, the Ecuadorian legislature in 1998 pronounced that, when an Ecuadorian filed an action abroad, the act of filing terminated the jurisdiction of the Ecuadorian courts. This legislation caused the Parlatino movement to urge the adoption of similar legislation throughout the Latin America. What is the future of the FNC in the light of these actions?

• Chair: Professor Michael Gordon Wallace, University of Florida Levin College of Law
• Panelists:Henri Saint Dahl, Esq., Adjunct Secretary General, Inter-American Bar Association
• Prof. Alejandro M. Garro, Columbia University School of Law
• Prof. Loukas Mistelis, Queen Mary, University of London
• Prof. Louise E. Teitz, Roger Williams University   

Recent Developments and Future Trends in Private International Law Friday October 27, 2006, 4:00 pm – 5h30 pm 

Harmonization and codification in the field of private international law has an increasing impact on the work of practitioners and the interests of their clients. This panel will address some of the most important developments and the interest of their clients. This panel will address some of the most important developments and ongoing projects taking place in UNCITRAL, UNIDROIT, the Organization of American States and the Hague Conference of Private International Law, including in such diverse areas as recognition and enforcement of judgments and choice of court agreements, secure finance, electronic commerce, consumer protection, service of process and taking abroad.

• Chair: David P. Stewart, Esq., Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State & Co-chair, ABILA Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Committee
• Panelists:David A. Baron, Esq., McDermott Will & Emery LLP
• Prof. Amelia H. Boss, Temple University Beasley School of Law
• Prof. Ronald A.  Brand, University of Pittsburgh School of Law
• John M. Wilson, Esq., Legal Adviser, Department of International Legal Affairs, Organization of American States

All panels are open to students and all members of the ILA and cosponsoring organizations without charge. For others there is a fee payable at the door. 

For more information, please visit the web site of the American Branch of the International Law Association.