Law Journal Symosium - CAFTA and Commercial Law Reform in the Americas

Journal Symposium 06

Southwestern Journal of Law and Trade
in the Americas, in cooperation with the U.S. Agency for International Development and Booz Allen Hamilton, presents

A Symposium on CAFTA and Commercial
Law Reform in the Americas

Monday, February 27, 2006

Co-sponsored by
American Bar Association Section of International Law
California State Bar Section of International Law
Los Angeles County Bar Association International Law Section
Unruh Institute of Politics, University of Southern California
National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade

In an increasingly global economy, individual countries are finding it more difficult to prosper alone. Multilateral trade agreements like the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) are setting the groundwork for commercial law reform in countries through regional harmonization, invigoration of business, reduction of the shadow economy, resolution of commercial disputes, and enforcement of the rule of law. This year's Law Journal Symposium will focus on the CAFTA example and what lies ahead for law reform in the Americas.

Brochure and Registration Form (PDF)
The program offers 7.5 hours of CLE credit.


WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS - 8:30 - 9 a.m.

  • Dean Bryant Garth, Southwestern Law School
  • Ava Sadripour, Editor-in-Chief, Southwestern Journal of Law & Trade in the Americas
  • Robert E. Lutz, Professor of Law, Southwestern Law School and Faculty Advisor, Southwestern Journal of Law & Trade in the Americas

KEYNOTE SPEAKER - 9 - 9:30 a.m.

Law and the Poverty of Nations, Robert Cooter, Director, Berkeley Center for Law, Business, and the Economy and Professor of Law, University of California at Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) 

PANEL ONE - 9:30 - 11 a.m.

CAFTA Overview: Regional Coordination, Harmonization and Law Reform - Mark D. Belcher, Principal, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., McLean, VA 

Moderator: Nicholas Klissas, Senior Commercial Law Reform Advisor, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Panelists:

  • David Gantz, Director, International Trade Law Program, and Professor of Law, University of Arizona College of Law
  • Veronica Taylor, Director, Asian Law Center, and Professor of Law, University of Washington School of Law
  • James Flanigan, Syndicated Business and Economics Journalist, formerly with the Los Angeles Times

PANEL TWO - 11:05 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Property Institutions, Financing, Banks and the Invigoration of Small Business - Dale Beck Furnish, Emeritus Professor of Law, Arizona State University, and Board Member, National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade

Moderator: Judy Sloan, Professor of Law, Southwestern Law School   

Panelists:

  • Hon. Samuel L. Bufford, Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California
  • Jeffrey Atik, Professor of Law, Loyola Law School
  • Neal S. Millard, Partner, White & Case, and Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Southern California Law School

LUNCHEON SPEAKER - 12:30 - 2 p.m.

CAFTA, Legal Reform and the Political Dimension, Hon. Xavier Becerra, Member, U.S. Congress and Former Chair, Congressional Hispanic Caucus

Introduction:
Bryant Garth, Dean, Southwestern Law School

PANEL THREE - 2 - 3:30 p.m.

Dealing with the Shadow Economy - Louise D. Williams, Independent Consultant for Rule of Law, Economic Development and Institutional Capacity-Building
       
Moderator: Warren Grimes, Professor of Law, Southwestern Law School   

Panelists:

  • Jose Muñoz, Arias & Muñoz, San Jose, Costa Rica 
  • David Kaye, Acting Director, Center for International and Comparative Law, and Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, Whittier Law School

PANEL FOUR - 3:40 - 5:10 p.m.

Dispute Resolution Processes and Enforcing the Law -
Omar E. Garcia-Bolivar, President, BG Consulting Inc.

Moderator: Ronald Aronovsky, Professor of Law, Southwestern Law School

Panelists:

  • Jeffrey Talpis, Professor of Law, University of Montreal Law School
  • Steve Andersen, Vice President, American Arbitration Association
  • Charles A. Schwartz, Senior Commercial Law Reform Advisor, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

CLOSING REMARKS - 5:10 - 5:15 p.m. (Reception to follow)

Robert E. Lutz, Professor of Law, Southwestern Law School and Faculty Advisor, Southwestern Journal of Law & Trade in the Americas