GW Law's International and Comparative Law (ICL) Program hosted the Brand-Manatt Lecture on October 23, 2024. The keynote speaker was Mélida Hodgson, who currently serves as President of the American Society of International Law and Partner at Arnold & Porter. Dean Dayna Matthew and Professor Sean D. Murphy offered welcome remarks. In attendance were students, faculty, and staff, as well as outside guests from other universities, U.S. government agencies (including the Department of State), international organizations (including the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes), a former President of the International Court of Justice, and the diplomatic community.
The keynote lecture was entitled “The Gymnasts, the Governors, and the Future of International Arbitration in Settling International Disputes.” Ms. Hodgson discussed current developments in international arbitration as a vehicle to settle disputes between states or between states and private entities. She contextualized her remarks using specific case examples, such as the Court of Arbitration for Sports’ decision to strip US gymnast Jordan Chiles of her bronze medal in gymnastics at the 2024 Summer Olympics. She discussed investment arbitration and the nuances of using it to settle disputes in matters involving human rights and climate change. She also provided an overview of existing concerns with investment arbitration and areas of reform.
The Brand-Manatt lecture was established by Joseph L. Brand, JD ’63, and Ambassador Charles T. Manatt, JD ’62 to bring leading figures and scholars to the law school to discuss contemporary matters of law and policy.
According to Professor Murphy, the Brand-Manatt Lecture “provides the law school with an opportunity to discuss legal aspects of contemporary world problems, including alarming armed conflicts and other critical issues across the globe, such as challenges to democracy in upcoming elections, ongoing human rights violations, the perils of climate change, and the potential dangers of artificial intelligence, cyber-attacks, and pandemics.” He added that “it was important, especially at this time, to have as a speaker the President of one of the most important US non-governmental organizations – the American Society of International Law – which is devoted to the advancement of international law and works tirelessly to confront ongoing global challenges.”
The ICL program has created an LL.M. Concentration in International Arbitration, Mediation, and Other Forms of Dispute Resolution; developed a broad array of courses in this field; recruited key part-time faculty members with wide expertise; and facilitated the possibility for GW Law students to study international arbitration as part of its exchange program in Panthéon-Assas in Paris, among other initiatives. According to Rosa Celorio, Associate Dean for International and Comparative Legal Studies, “the ICL program takes seriously its convening role of many actors in international law, and hopes this event and others offer our faculty, students, and the international community the opportunity to reflect on the role of lawyers to address complex international law problems.” She added: “We thank all of those who attended this lecture, as well as its co-sponsors, including the American Society of International Law, the International Law Section of the American Bar Association, and the law schools’ International Law Society and International Arbitration Student Association.”