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38 lawyers and judicial officials from 17 countries convene to study U.S. law, sharpen cross-border skills, and build international networks

The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (SWIICL), an institute of The Center for American and International Law (CAIL), has launched the 60th Academy of American and International Law (the Academy) at CAIL’s education center in Plano. This multi-week legal program has drawn 38 participants from 17 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

The Academy provides non-U.S. resident lawyers, judicial officials and legal professionals with intensive training in practical legal skills and substantive areas of law, including legal writing, negotiations, international arbitration, litigation, business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, international taxation, intellectual property, cybersecurity, and more.

This year’s participants represent a range of global institutions, including top international law firms such as Baker McKenzie, Dentons, CMS, Gianni & Origoni, and Legance. The participants also include judges and government workers from Ethiopia, Uganda and the Philippines, as well as attorneys from multinational corporations like Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Sojitz Machinery, and Colgate-Palmolive.

“For six decades, the Academy has brought together brilliant legal minds from around the world,” said Jay Ray, Director of SWIICL. “This year’s group continues that legacy—learning from the U.S. legal system and exchanging ideas that strengthen global legal understanding.”

Several participants are attending through scholarships that expand access to this globally significant program. Among this year’s recipients is Helewena Nesru Kedir, a judge of the Ethiopian Federal High Court and the inaugural recipient of the Mark Smith Academy Scholarship, made possible by an endowment fund launched in 2024 to support international legal scholars. The fund honors former CAIL president Mark Smith’s dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, ensuring that talented individuals from all backgrounds can access the Academy’s transformative opportunities.

For updates and insights, follow SWIICL on LinkedIn.

About the Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law - The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (SWIICL) was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1963 as a division of The Center for American and International Law, an international nonprofit educational institution for lawyers, judges, and law enforcement professionals. Since 1963, SWIICL has offered annual programs focusing on international business transactions and private investments worldwide while developing professional relationships among distinguished lawyers, business leaders, and government officials worldwide. SWIICL's premier annual event is the Academy of American and International Law.

The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (SWIICL), an institute of The Center for American and International Law (CAIL), has awarded its inaugural Mark Smith Academy Scholarship to the Honorable Helewena Nesru Kedir, a judge on the Ethiopian Federal High Court. The scholarship fully funded Judge Nesru Kedir’s participation in the 60th Academy of American and International Law (the Academy), currently underway at SWIICL’s education center in Plano, Texas.

The Mark Smith Academy Scholarship Endowment Fund was established in 2024 to honor former CAIL President Mark Smith, who served as Dean of the Academy for two decades. Known for his warmth and leadership, Smith personally welcomed thousands of international legal professionals to Texas throughout his tenure. The endowment was made possible through generous contributions from CAIL trustees and Academy alumni committed to expanding access to this globally recognized program.

“For decades, Mark shaped not only the Academy, but the global legal community it fostered,” said Jay Ray, Director of SWIICL. “This scholarship is a natural extension of his legacy—opening doors for extraordinary individuals like Judge Nesru Kedir, whose work already reflects the ideals of justice and international cooperation that the Academy exists to promote.”

Held from May 26 to June 27, the 60th Academy has brought together 38 lawyers, judges, and legal professionals from 17 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The five-week program offers intensive training in U.S. law, international business transactions and disputes, and rule of law topics—taught by distinguished professors and experienced global practitioners.

The Mark Smith Academy Scholarship covers tuition, travel, and lodging for one Academy participant annually and reflects SWIICL’s commitment—through CAIL—to strengthening justice and advancing the rule of law through education, access, and international dialogue.

About the Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law - The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (SWIICL) was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1963 as a division of The Center for American and International Law, an international nonprofit educational institution for lawyers, judges, and law enforcement professionals. Since 1963, SWIICL has offered annual programs focusing on international business transactions and private investments worldwide while developing professional relationships among distinguished lawyers, business leaders, and government officials worldwide. SWIICL's premier annual event is the Academy of American and International Law.

The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law is excited to announce the dates for two upcoming alumni reunions.

The Academy Alumni Latin America Reunion & Symposium will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from September 11 to 14, 2024. This event marks a thrilling return to Latin America, aiming to reconnect our extensive alumni network for a few days filled with professional development, cultural experiences, and the opportunity to catch up with old Academy friends. Details on this program may be found here.

Following this, the Academy Alumni European Reunion is scheduled for October 10 to 13, 2024, in Bucharest, Romania. We look forward to engaging with alumni for a weekend of insightful discussions, cultural exploration, and valuable networking opportunities. The program details may be found here.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Mark Smith Academy Scholarship Endowment Fund, a new initiative aimed at expanding access to SWIICL’s esteemed legal program. This fund is dedicated to supporting non-U.S. legal professionals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, enabling them to benefit from our comprehensive training on the American justice system and the rule of law.

The Academy, which recently wrapped up its 59th session with 44 participants from 22 countries, has been a cornerstone of CAIL’s mission since its establishment in 1964. With over 3,300 legal professionals educated from 120 countries, the Academy empowers individuals to champion justice and uphold the rule of law in their home countries. Our alumni include high-ranking officials such as chief justices, UN tribunal members, and leaders of major law firms and corporate legal departments.

The Mark Smith Academy Scholarship Endowment Fund will play a crucial role in ensuring that more deserving individuals have the opportunity to participate in this transformative program. Contributions to the fund will not only support this goal but also offer various recognition opportunities for donors. Founding donors who contribute by December 31 will enjoy special benefits, including prominent recognition on endowment signage and acknowledgment in CAIL’s annual report.

We invite you to join us in advancing justice and the rule of law by supporting the Mark Smith Academy Scholarship Endowment Fund.

For more information on the Mark Smith Academy Scholarship Endowment Fund, click here.

The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law held its 59^th Academy of American and International Law, which ran from May 27 - June 27. Forty-four attorneys and legal professionals from twenty-five countries attended this year’s Academy.

The first week of the Academy featured Dr. Susan Karamanian, Dean of the College of Law at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University, introducing participants to the U.S. legal system and Constitution. The week also featured an outstanding judicial panel consisting of a judge from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, a federal judge from the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, and a local Texas district judge, who discussed the process that led to them being judges and practicing before both federal and state U.S. courts. The class also had an insightful day on legal writing in plain English. The first week concluded with an overview of intellectual property and international trade with professors Srividhya Ragavan and Glynn S. Lunney, Jr. of Texas A&M University School of Law.

Continuing a long-standing Academy tradition, the participants were treated to a day in Fort Worth, Texas, on the first Saturday of the program. They visited the Fort Worth Stockyards where they tried on cowboy hats, purchased cowboy boots, ate local foods, were mesmerized by Texas longhorn cattle, and enjoyed live music. The evening ended with a visit to the Cowtown Coliseum where the class watched a Texas Rodeo show and visited Billy Bob’s Texas, the first visit to a Texas honky tonk for most of the class.

The second week began an introduction to the first group project of the Academy, a project where students are put into groups and tasked with analyzing an international compliance problem and preparing a memo an oral response to be presented later in the course. This introduction was preceded by an intensive course on the U.S Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other current compliance topics by Daniel Pickelner of Wood Mackenzie. This was followed by a one-day class on international litigation in US courts with Center for American and International Law President, Thomas (T.L.) Cubbage, and a one-day class on International Tax by Professor Bret Wells of the University of Houston Law Center.

The second week ended with an interactive course on international negotiations with Professor Elizabeth McClintock of Harvard Law School and the Fletcher School, Tufts University. The class also got to enjoy an evening reception at the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, hosted by SMU, the Dallas Bar Association Section of International Law, and the State Bar of Texas Section of International Law.

The third week began with an energetic day of Arbitration taught by Professor Frédéric G. Sourgens of the Tulane Law School. This was followed by a two-day course on business organizations taught by Professor Lori A. McMillan of Washburn University School of Law. Mid-week, the Academy introduced a new class on Mergers and Acquisitions, led by Tom D. Harris of Haynes and Boone, LLP. The week ended with a collaborative International Bankruptcy Workshop put on by The Hon. John C. Ford American Inn of Court giving the class the chance to work with U.S. federal bankruptcy judges and lawyers.

During this week, the participants also spent a leisurely evening experiencing “America’s Favorite Pastime” at Riders Field watching a Frisco RoughRiders baseball game.

A traditional social event during the third week was a joint lunch with over 40 U.S. police officers in the School of Police Supervision class of the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration, SWIICL's sister institute.

The penultimate week of the Academy began with a three-day class on International Business Transactions taught by Professor Kenneth Rosen of the University of Alabama Law School. The class also presented their solutions to the law firm problem to Mark Michels of the Santa Clara University Law School and Daniel Pickelner of Wood Mackenzie who acted as law firm partners evaluating their solutions. Following these presentations, the class ended the day with an introduction to the discovery process in the United States with Mr. Michels. The week ended with an interactive cyber breach workshop where participants ran through simulation exercises assuming corporate leadership roles designed to put them in their client’s shoes during the simulation. This workshop was led by Mark Michels and facilitated by Jeremy Rucker of Spencer Fane LLP and Micah Skidmore of Haynes Boone.

The final week of the Academy had the Academy examining the regulation of environmental impacts with Professor Vanessa Casado Pérez. Academy participants were also able to visit the Collin County Courthouse where they participated in a mock voir dire. Judge Christine Nowak also helped facilitate the mock trial in her courtroom with participants from the class. Andrés Correa of Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann and Taylor Robinson served as trial counsel and mentors for their co-counsel and Academy class members.

The last event of the Academy was a day trip to Houston. The class traveled to downtown Houston to hear about International Energy and Leadership at the office of Baker Botts from Curtis Frasier, Former Chairman of the Board, Shell Midstream Partners, GP, Former Head of Legal, Shell Oil Company. Following this, they got an overview of the state of the international energy industry from James R. Bailey and Julian Hallai of Exponent.

The Houston trip ended with a field trip to the Houston Space Center and a Reception at The House of Blues with the Institute for Energy Law.

The 59^th Academy concluded with their farewell luncheon and graduation ceremony. Class Speakers Jorge Duque and Laura Torres Restrepo gave rousing and heartfelt speeches at the ceremony before it was time to adjourn the class this year. After five long weeks together, the forty-four participants of the 59^th Academy were ready to return home. They take with them the knowledge they have gained during the course and the life-long relationships they have forged with their classmates and others.

The Center for American and International Law (CAIL) is proud to announce the Vester Hughes Fellows for the 59th Academy of American and International Law. The Fellows, who are legal professionals from Ethiopia, the Philippines, and Ecuador, received full scholarships to attend the 59th Academy.

The Vester Hughes Fellows Fund was established in 2021 to honor the late Vester T. Hughes Jr., a distinguished attorney and dedicated supporter and former CAIL trustee, by supporting educational opportunities for international legal professionals. The Fellowships have paved the way for numerous legal professionals worldwide to enhance their knowledge and skills through their participation in the Academy and their support of the rule of law.

This year's Vester Hughes Fellows are:

• Ruta Gebretsadik Alemayehu from Ethiopia, a judge on the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
• Ali Loraine Manrique from the Philippines, serving at the Department of Justice - Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution in San Juan City.
• Daniela Zumarraga Paredes from Ecuador, working with Bustamante Fabara in Quito.

The 59th Academy, hosted by the Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (SWIICL) at CAIL’s education center in Plano, Texas, welcomes 44 legal professionals from 22 countries. This multi-week program offers participants practical skill training and substantive law subjects, including legal writing, negotiations, international arbitration, litigation, business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, international taxation, intellectual property, and cybersecurity.

The Academy provides a unique platform for legal professionals from around the world to engage in rigorous academic programs, cultural exchange, and professional networking. The fellowship recipients will join peers from various countries, gaining invaluable insights and forging connections that transcend borders.

"We are honored to have Ruta, Ali, and Daniela as Vester Hughes Fellows at the 59th Academy," says Jay Ray, SWIICL Director and Vice President of CAIL. "The Vester Hughes Fellowship not only promotes their growth but also strengthens our global network of legal professionals committed to upholding justice and the rule of law."

Graduates of the Academy will join a distinguished alumni network of over 3,300 professionals from 130 countries, many of whom have achieved significant success, including roles such as the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations and the Prime Minister of Peru.

CAIL relies on donations to promote expanded access to programs like the Academy. To learn how to support CAIL's mission, please click here or contact the advancement office at advancement@cailaw.org or 972-244-3438.

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The Center for American and International Law - Founded in 1947, The Center for American and International Law is a nonprofit institution based in Plano, Texas, dedicated to advancing justice and promoting the rule of law through the professional development of legal and law enforcement practitioners worldwide. Today, CAIL's educational institutes have established internationally recognized forums and programs addressing law enforcement administration, energy law, international and comparative law, transnational arbitration, law and technology, criminal justice, and other relevant topics. Thousands of lawyers and law enforcement officers from all 50 states and 130 countries have participated in CAIL programs.

This group of non-U.S. resident lawyers representing top multinational law firms, global corporations, and governmental bodies will convene at The Center for American and International Law to study the American judicial system, enhance their international business skills, and immerse themselves in American culture.

The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (SWIICL), an institute of The Center for American and International Law (CAIL), has launched the 59th Academy of American and International Law at CAIL’s education center in Plano. This multi-week legal program has drawn a diverse group of 44 participants from 22 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

The Academy offers non-U.S. resident lawyers practical skill training and substantive law subjects, including legal writing, negotiations, international arbitration, litigation, business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, international taxation, intellectual property, cybersecurity, and more.

This year’s Academy participants include representatives from prominent law firms such as Baker & McKenzie, Guerrero Olivos, TozziniFreire Advogados, Legance - Avvocati Associati, Gianni & Origoni, and Brigard Urrutia. Global corporations like Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, SoftBank Group Corp., and Taiwan Power Company are also represented, along with governmental bodies including the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia and the Department of Justice in the Philippines.

Jay Ray, Director of SWIICL, shared, "The diversity of our participants showcases our program’s global reach and significance. Their unique perspectives will enrich our exploration of the American legal system and the rule of law."

Graduates of the 59th Academy will join a distinguished alumni network of over 3,300 professionals from 130 countries, many of whom have achieved significant success, including roles such as the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations and the Prime Minister of Peru. For updates and insights, follow SWIICL on LinkedIn.

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About the Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law - The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (SWIICL) was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1963 as a division of The Center for American and International Law, an international nonprofit educational institution for lawyers, judges, and law enforcement professionals. Since 1963, SWIICL has offered annual programs focusing on international business transactions and private investments worldwide while developing professional relationships among distinguished lawyers, business leaders, and government officials worldwide. SWIICL's premier annual event is the Academy of American and International Law. 

Opportunities to connect, learn, and grow are indispensable in the legal profession. The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law's (SWIICL) Academy of American and International Law serves as one such pivotal platform. This year, the 58th Academy, a high-impact, multi-week program, attracted a diverse group of 40 attendees from 24 countries. Recently, we had the pleasure of speaking with one of these participants, Edson Sy, a partner at SKY Law from the Philippines and a Vester Hughes scholarship recipient. The scholarship enabled Edson to partake in the Academy, and he was kind enough to share his insights with us.

Q: Hi, can you please introduce yourself to us?

“Hi, I'm Edson Sy and I'm a partner from Sky Law. I'm from the Philippines, and I attended the Academy this year in 2023.”

Q: What do you think was the biggest benefit of attending the Academy?

“It was a very good opportunity to meet a lot of foreign nationals because outside of pursuing an LLM, I don't think I would get an opportunity to meet or mingle with people from 26 different countries for a long duration of time [and] not just for a few days, like when I when you attend the conference. In this case, we were together for five weeks. I've had enough exposure with people from diverse cultures from different countries, so I think that's a good exposure for you.”

Q: How did your participation enhance or change your perspective as a lawyer?

“I learned a lot about [the] American legal system and international law. It gave me more of a background and understanding of how the legal system works as compared to how we do it here in the Philippines. I learned more after that experience after the Academy, so I have a better understanding of the legal system. For instance, the jury system and how it really works in practice. So, we were able to get a sample snippet of how it works.”

Q: If someone was considering attending the Academy, what would you tell them??

“Please do attend the Academy. It is really a wonderful, wonderful experience. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to be able to mingle and to share our own culture, country, [and] legal system with a person or a group of people of different backgrounds. So, it's really a good experience.”

Q: What is the biggest takeaway you have from your time spent at the Academy??

“How the different cultures can mesh with each other, how you're able to interact with each other, that there are some varieties with each individual person from different countries, from different continents, right, so, for me, that's a really wonderful experience because you learn how to adjust yourself and you'll also see your classmates adjusting to you. So that's really a good experience.”

Closing Thoughts: Edson's experience at the Academy highlights the importance of global collaboration and understanding in the legal profession. The Academy provides legal professionals with exposure to a myriad of cultures and legal systems, fostering personal and professional growth. In our rapidly globalizing world, having the ability to understand, adapt, and collaborate across borders is genuinely invaluable. As Edson suggests, there's no substitute for experiences that expose lawyers to the intricate tapestry of global legal systems and cultures to promote the rule of law around the world.

Are you interested in experiencing the Academy firsthand or supporting someone else's opportunity to participate? Contact SWIICL director Jay Ray to learn about the upcoming 59th Academy of American and International Law in 2024, read a recap about the 58th Academy, or click here to donate.

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About the Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law - The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (SWIICL) was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1963 as a division of The Center for American and International Law, an international nonprofit educational institution for lawyers, judges, and law enforcement professionals. Since 1963, SWIICL has offered annual programs focusing on international business transactions and private investments worldwide while developing professional relationships among distinguished lawyers, business leaders, and government officials worldwide. SWIICL's premier annual event is the Academy of American and International Law. This multi-week program has provided more than 3,300 participants from 130 countries the opportunity to study American law and processes in the United States.

The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law held its 58^th Academy of American and International Law, which ran from May 29 - June 30. Forty attorneys and legal professionals from twenty-five countries attended this year’s Academy.

The first week of the Academy featured Dr. Susan Karamanian, Dean of the College of Law at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University, introducing participants to the U.S. legal system and Constitution. The week also featured an outstanding judicial panel consisting of a Justice from the Supreme Court of Texas, a federal judge from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and a local Texas district judge, who discussed the process that led to them being judges and practicing before both federal and state U.S. courts. The class also had an insightful day on legal writing in plain English. During the first week, the participants also spent a leisurely evening experiencing “America’s Favorite Pastime” at Riders Field watching a Frisco RoughRiders baseball game. The first week concluded with an introduction to the first group project of the Academy, a project where students are put into groups and tasked with analyzing an international compliance problem and preparing a memo an oral response to be presented later in the course. This introduction was preceded by an intensive course on the U.S Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other current compliance topics by Daniel Pickelner of Wood Mackenzie.

Continuing a long-standing Academy tradition, the participants were treated to a day in Fort Worth, Texas, on the first Saturday of the program. They visited the Fort Worth Stockyards where they tried on cowboy hats, purchased cowboy boots, ate local foods, were mesmerized by Texas longhorn cattle, and enjoyed live music. The evening ended with a visit to the Cowtown Coliseum where the class watched a Texas Rodeo show.

The second week began with three days of lectures on international business transactions by Professor Sadie Blanchard of Notre Dame Law School and the first exam of the Academy. The week ended with an interactive course on international negotiations with Professor Elizabeth McClintock of the John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and the Fletcher School, Tufts University. The class also got to enjoy an evening reception at the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, hosted by SMU, the Dallas Bar Association Section of International Law, and the State Bar of Texas Section of International Law.

A traditional social event during this second week was a joint lunch with over 80 U.S. police officers in the School of Police Supervision class and the Texas Command Leadership Academy of the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration, SWIICL's sister institute.

The third week began with two days of lectures and an exam on international litigation in US Courts with Professor Donald Earl Childress III of the Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law. This was followed by a three-day course on business organizations taught by Professor Lori A. McMillan of Washburn University School of Law.

The penultimate week of the Academy began with an energetic day of Arbitration taught by Professor Frédéric G. Sourgens of the Washburn University School of Law. Participants were then able to spend a day participating in our new program, The CAIL Global Leadership Institute. This week the class also heard from Professor Orly Mazur of SMU Dedman School of Law on the topic of International Tax. The class also presented their solutions to the law firm problem to Mark Michels of the Santa Clara University Law School and Daniel Pickelner of Wood Mackenzie who acted as law firm partners evaluating their solutions. Following these presentations, the class ended the day with an interactive cyber breach workshop where participants ran through simulation exercises assuming corporate leadership roles designed to put them in their client’s shoes during the simulation. This workshop was led by Mark Michels and facilitated by Jeremy Rucker of Spencer Fane LLP and Micah Skidmore of Haynes Boone. The week ended with a collaborative International Bankruptcy Workshop put on by The Hon. John C. Ford American Inn of Court giving the class the chance to work with U.S. federal bankruptcy judges and lawyers.

After their visit to the courthouse, participants then traveled to the McKinney Historic Square and did some shopping, sampled some wine at the winery, picked up candy and popcorn, and enjoyed a couple of hours exploring Downtown McKinney.

The final week of the Academy had the Academy examining specialized topics including Business & Human Rights with Professor Kish Parella of Washington and Lee University School of Law and IP, International Trade with Professor Srividhya Ragavan of Texas A&M School of Law, and Attorney Wellness with Abby Read of Haynes and Boone, LLP. The class then enjoyed hearing from a panel of In-House Counsel Leaders, which included Robert Ackermann of Beal Bank, Julia A. Simon of Mary Kay Inc., and Richard C. Vint of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

Academy participants were also able to visit the Collin County Courthouse where they saw a mock voir dire. Judge Tom Nowak also explained the jury process and then gave them a tour of his chambers and the courthouse.

After their visit to the courthouse, participants then traveled to the McKinney Historic Square and did some shopping, sampled some wine at the winery, picked up candy and popcorn, and enjoyed a couple of hours exploring Downtown McKinney

Participants also enjoyed both participating and watching a mock trial this week. Andrés Correa of Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann and Taylor Robinson served as trial counsel and mentors for their co-counsel and Academy class members Luciana Palomino of Baker McKenzie in Peru and Lies Verstreken of iustica.BE in Belgium. Academy participants also took the role of witnesses and members of the jury.

The 58^th Academy concluded with their farewell luncheon and graduation ceremony. Class Speaker Lies Verstreken gave a rousing and heartfelt speech at the ceremony before it was time to adjourn the class this year. After five long weeks together, the forty participants of the 58^th Academy were ready to return home. They take with them the knowledge they have gained during the course and the life-long relationships they have forged with their classmates and others.

A flagship program of The Center for American and International Law since 1964, the Academy is a five-week course taught by an outstanding faculty of law school professors and practitioners. In addition to the intensive educational focus on the U.S. legal system and international business transactions, the Academy provides participants with an opportunity to develop professional and personal relationships with a diverse group of legal professionals from around the world.