News

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 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.

In September 2022, SWIICL Director Jay Ray visited long-time SWIICL members and Academy Alumni in Europe to introduce himself and discuss changes designed to improve the Academy of American and International Law. He first met with alumni in Madrid from the Ford Motor Company and Gomez-Acebo & Pombo. He then traveled to Stuttgart to visit with alumni at CMS Germany. He then travelled to Rome to meet with alumni from five different decades at Gianni & Origoni, as well as alumni at Legance, Ughi E. Nunziante, and Macchi di Cellere Gangemi.

During all his visits, Mr. Ray was struck by how important their experiences at the Academy were for the alumni, with many describing it as a life changing experience. Mr. Ray described new SWIICL initiatives to bring alumni together, including a new free lifetime alumni membership and an online alumni directory. Various alumni offered suggestions for strengthening the Academy for future participants.

The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (SWIICL) at The Center for American International Law (CAIL) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Frédéric G. Sourgens, the Senator Robert J. Dole Distinguished Professor of Law at Washburn University School of Law and Director of its Oil and Gas Law Center in Kansas, as SWIICL's new Chair. Sourgens succeeds Dr. Susan Karamanian, Dean of the Hamad Bin Khalifa University College of Law in Qatar, who served as SWIICL's Chair since June 2016.

“Dr. Sourgens brings a wealth of international practice and academic experience to SWIICL,” stated Jay Ray, Director of SWIICL and Vice President of CAIL. “As a dedicated supporter of CAIL for many years, SWIICL will benefit greatly from his experience, connections, and enthusiasm as we reengage with our members and over 3,000 international alumni post-pandemic.”

Sourgens is a globally recognized authority on the intersection between international energy law, international dispute resolution, transnational law, and globalization. Sourgens holds a Ph.D. in Law from the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt a.M., (Germany), as well as a JD from Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans, a Master of Arts in Political Philosophy (The Idea of Toleration) from the University of York (UK) and a candidatus magisterii in Philosophy and Latin from the University of Oslo (Norway). He currently serves on the Executive Council of the American Society of International Law and the Executive Committee of CAIL's Institute for Energy Law, where he leads the Institute's Academic Outreach efforts. He has actively participated in three of CAIL's institutes. This year, he taught at SWIICL's Academy of American and International Law and served as Co-Chair of SWIICL's Symposium on Global Business.

Since its founding in 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 program has provided more than 3,300 participants from 130 countries the opportunity to study American law and process in the United States.

The Center for American and International Law’s Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (“SWIICL”) has released the recordings from its virtual Symposium on Global Business: The Challenges of Doing Business in an Imperfect World held on June 27, 2022.

Against the backdrop of ongoing global issues rising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, SWIICL convened 12 leaders from the academic, legal, and corporate sectors to facilitate discussions about the modern risks of international business in an imperfect world. Some discussion topics included the role of global companies in peacebuilding, the risks brands face when corporate decisions ultimately aid bad actors, the emergence of governance as a form of peacebuilding, and corporate actors in the role of peacebuilders.

2022 Symposium on Global Business Video Series:

Part One: “Keynote: Why Globalization is About Peacebuilding and What Business Has to Do with It” features Ambassador Lee S. Wolosky (Jenner & Block, NYC & Washington, D.C.)

Part Two: “Business Decision-Making in the Wake of Ukraine” features moderator M. Imad Khan (Winston & Strawn LLP, Houston) and panelists Yousuf Aftab (Director, Atelier Aftab P.C., NYC), Ellen Hewitt (Managing Director, FTI Consulting, New York, NY), Richard L. Kilpatrick, Jr. (Assistant Professor of Business Law, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC).

Part Three: “Do No Harm: How Global Businesses Can Be Agents for Sustainable Development and Community Building” features moderator Daniella D. Landers (Womble Bond Dickinson, Houston, TX) and panelists Diane Desierto (Professor of Law and Global Affairs & LL.M. Faculty Director, Notre Dame Law School), Lisa E. Sachs (Associate Research Scholar, Director - Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, NYC), Frédéric Gilles Sourgens (Senator Robert J. Dole Distinguished Professor of Law, Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, KS)

Part Four: “Corporate Diplomacy: In the Room Where It Happens” features moderator Frédéric Gilles Sourgens (Senator Robert J. Dole Distinguished Professor of Law, Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, KS) and panelists David L. Attanasio (Dechert LLP, Washington, D.C.), Lucinda A. Low (Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Washington, D.C.), Julia Simon (Chief Legal Officer and Chief Diversity Officer, Mary Kay, Addison, TX).

After a two-year pandemic caused delay, the Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law held its 57^th Academy of American and International Law running from May 29 - July 1. Twenty-nine attorneys and legal professionals from seventeen countries attending this year’s Academy.

The first week of the course 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 federal judges from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and 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 first week of the course concluded with three days of lectures on international business transactions by Professor Timothy Meyer of the Vanderbilt University Law School and the first exam of the Academy.

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 National Cowgirl Museum, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Kimball Art Museum, and the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. The day closed with an evening in 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. Pictures of the trip to Fort Worth can be found on SWIICL’s LinkedIn page.

The second week began 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. This was followed by 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. The week ended 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.

A new social event during this second week was an evening visit to TopGolf where participants enjoyed a restful evening playing golf —many for the first time. Participants also had a joint lunch with over 50 U.S. police officers in the School of Police Supervision class of the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration, our sister institute.

The third week began with a three-day course on business organizations taught by Professor Jens Christian Dammann of the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. This week 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. Finally, 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 Shawn Tuma of Spencer Fane LLP and Micah Skidmore of Haynes Boone.

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

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 several days this week examining specialized topics including regulating environmental impacts with Professor Vanessa Casado Pérez of the Texas A&M University School of Law, Business and Human Rights with Professor Evelyn Aswad of the University of Oklahoma School of Law, and international bankruptcy with Judge Michael M. Parker of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas and Amber M. Carson of Gray Reed. Academy participants were also able to visit the Collin County Courthouse where they saw a mock voir dire by Mitch Little of Scheef & Stone. Judge Jennifer Edgeworth also showed the class the video all potential Collin County jurors see, explained the jury process, and then gave them a tour of her chambers and the courthouse.

After their visit to the courthouse, participants then traveled to the McKinney Historic Square and had lunch, 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 began with the timely Symposium on Global Business: The Challenges of Doing Business in an Imperfect World. This program was attended by the Academy and was presented online for other participants around the world to watch live. Academy participants then spent a day learning about international tax with Professor Lori McMillan of the Washburn University School of Law.

Participants also enjoyed both participating and watching a mock trial this week. Jordan Kazlow of Baker Botts and Taylor Robinson of Haynes Boone served as trial counsel and mentors for their co-counsel and Academy class members Lucy Stratton of Baker McKenzie in South Africa and Belen Godinez of Procter & Gamble in Mexico. Academy participants also took the role of witnesses and members of the jury. Academy courses finished with a full double class day on legal ethics and professional responsibility with Barbara B. DePeña and Geoff Gannaway of Beck Redden LLP and Contracts and Contract Drafting with Professor Harry W. Sullivan, Jr. of the Texas A&M University School of Law.

The 57^th Academy concluded with their farewell luncheon and graduation ceremony. Class Speaker Meriem Boujida 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 29 participants of the 57^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.