International Practice Section
The International Practice Section has a broad focus that includes not only the study of current developments in the field of international law but also immigration law, international transactional work, aerospace, taxation, intellectual property, financing, services, trade regulation, exports and imports, transnational contracts, travel, and international dispute resolution. Members represent a wide variety of backgrounds and practices, including full-time and part-time practitioners, government, business, foreign lawyers, academia, internationally-focused law students, and those simply intellectually interested.
The Section provides benefits to members by engaging in CLE's and related educational activities. The Section develops contacts and communicates with WSBA members, foreign lawyers, scholars, law students, and the public through the section listserv, email and other means. The Section fosters mentorship through its mentorship program, which pairs members with law students and foreign lawyers. The Section also initiates, sponsors, and promotes within the WSBA, court rules and legislation regarding international practice issues as appropriate, and serves as a representative of the WSBA, subject to appropriate authorization, on international practice issues.
Annual Report | Budget | Bylaws | Year in Review | Section History
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Events
The International Practice Section has continued to grow in numbers and events and currently we have two annual events that are open to all section members.
- Spring Event: We host an event in April or May with a CLE program, which consists of multiple speakers who have extensive international legal expertise. The reception follow, at which IPS members mingle, network, and reconnect.
NEW! - WSBA International Practice Section 2023 Spring Event: Maritime Issues in the Indo-Pacific: Two U.S. Perspectives
Register Now: In person!
Join us for a fascinating presentation of selected military and international legal issues arising from the tensions between the People's Republic of China and its neighbors in the Indo-Pacific and how they bear upon regional and global economics, peace, and security. The presentation will touch on national security, espionage, international trade, economic sanctions, and international investments, and will provide a robust discussion of how these topics coalesce and conflict in the Indo-Pacific. Our speakers provide unique insights from a former JAG officer inside the U.S. Navy, as well as a non-military perspective focused on geopolitics and international trade and conflict.
The CLE will be followed by a networking reception featuring hors d'oeuvres and beverages.
When: Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Schedule:
- 4 p.m. in-person registration opens
- 4-4:30 pre-program social (welcome and mingle)
- 4:30-5:45 CLE (5:30-5:45 Q/A); and
- 5:45-6:30 Networking reception
Location: Dorsey & Whitney, 701 Fifth Ave, Suite 6100, Seattle, WA 98104
Credit: Law & Legal Procedure: 1.0
Tuition:
$0 - International Practice Section Members (discount applied at checkout)
$35 - Standard/Non-Section Members
$35 - Join the Section [add the Related Items International Practice Section Membership ($35) to your cart during checkout and register at the discounted rate ($0)]
$18.75 - Law Students (after adding seminar to cart, enter promo code LSD1 and click checkout)
Presenters:
Nelson Dong - Dorsey & Whitney, Head of the National Security Law Group
Jon Bridge - Chairman and Counsel Emeritus of Ben Bridge Jeweler, Inc., retired U.S. Navy Captain
Registration will close at noon PST on Monday, June 5, 2023.
Register Now! We would appreciate hearing from you beforehand to ensure that enough seats are available.
Section Executive Committee Elections
The Section is conducting elections for open positions on the executive committee.
Voting is scheduled for June 5-19, 2023. All voting members of the Section will be sent an electronic ballot from SurveyMonkey via email on June 5, 2023.
Candidate Information, Open Positions, and Terms
For more information about the Section and its executive committee, please review the Section's bylaws. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by position.
Chair-elect
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024.
Candidate: Qingqing Miao | Statement of Interest
Secretary/Treasurer
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024.
Candidate: Michael Harris | Statement of Interest
Communications Committee Chair
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024.
Candidate: Margaret Moody | Statement of Interest
At-Large Member
Three positions open. 3-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2026.
Candidate 1: Joelle Hong | Statement of Interest
Candidate 2: Dana Raigrodski | Statement of Interest
Candidate 3: Frederic Rocafort | Statement of Interest
Questions? Email sections@wsba.org.
Member Benefits
Membership of the International Practice Section continues to grow. The cost of membership is small compared to the benefits of membership.
Benefits include, but are not limited to, informative e-newsletters, meetings with other individuals interested in this area, presentations by speakers with excellent, timely information, and receptions for lawyers and law students. The benefits of membership are outlined in more detail immediately below.
Events
The International Practice Section has continued to grow in numbers and events and currently we have two annual events that are open to all section members.
- Spring Event. We host an event in April or May with a CLE program, which consists of multiple speakers who have extensive international legal expertise. The reception follows, at which IPS members mingle, network, and reconnect.
- Annual Meeting. The annual meeting is open to all section members and is traditionally held in late September. At this meeting, yearly business is conducted. The reception also serves as the kick-off for our Mentorship Program, which pairs JD and LLM students, many of whom are foreign lawyers, with local attorneys.
CLEs
Over the years, the section has put on many excellent CLEs. Currently, the section hosts monthly mid-day CLEs. The speakers are excellent, the topics are lively, usually one CLE credit is approved and, best of all, it is free to section members. Watch your email for notification for upcoming CLEs. Please see the right column for the upcoming CLE/event.
Recording of past CLEs (available for viewing only and not accredited for CLE credit) and list of IPS CLEs (from 2019)
Mentorship Program
Our Mentor Program pairs local lawyers whose practices involve international law with foreign lawyers and law students who are studying for a J.D. or L.L.M., or are visiting scholars at the University of Washington, Seattle University, or Gonzaga University law schools. In addition to fostering business relationships and networking opportunities, the program affords local practitioners, foreign lawyers and law students the opportunity to learn about legal practice in each other’s home countries and practice areas.
Sponsorship
Since 2007, the International Practice Section has been honored to feature sponsorship from various industries. Sponsorship provides a plethora of benefits to sponsors. Sponsorship permits the IPS to continue to provide exceptional benefits to our members. If you are interested in becoming an IPS sponsor, please contact the section chair.
Additional Program Information
Huneke Fellowship
The Huneke Fellowship is an annual program administered by the International Practice Section. The Fellowship is designed to provide real-world experience, networking opportunities, and modest financial assistance for a law student interested in the international practice of law. Each year-one Huneke Fellowship, which includes a $1,000 stipend, is awarded to a current 1L or 2L student. Any current 1L or 2L attending law school in the state of Washington (i.e., at the University of Washington, Seattle University, or Gonzaga University) is eligible for the Huneke Fellowship.
Executive Committee
Chair: Monica Sham (2022-2023) Chair-Elect: Larry Ward (2022-2023) Secretary/Treasurer: Michael Harris (2022-2023) Immediate Past Chair: Eriko "Elly" Baxter (2022-2023) Communications Chair: Fred Rocafort (2022-2023) Young Lawyer Liaison*: Vacant Board of Governors Liaison*: Matthew Dresden (2022-2023) and Kevin Fay (2022-2023) | Members Dana Raigrodski (2020-2023) Huneke Fellow*: Aldrin Jude Datoon Panganiban, University of Washington School of Law *Nonvoting member |
Meetings
The Executive Committee of the International Practice Section holds monthly meetings. Meetings are currently being held by video conference only. See event calendar for access information.
Please contact committee members for further details on their upcoming meeting dates and locations.
Join Our LinkedIn Group
Please join the WSBA International Practice Section LinkedIn group page and check our recent activities.
Join Our List Serve
To join the section list serve and for general section questions, please send your email address and Bar number to sections@wsba.org. For more information and to get involved with the section, please contact the section chair, Monica Sham.
