GW Law alumnus Kiyoshi Tsuru, LLM ‘02, didn’t want his law school experience to end after graduation. But, living and working in Mexico City, there weren’t many opportunities for Tsuru to connect with fellow alumni.
That is, until Tsuru and a group of other GW Law alumni in Mexico City decided to form their own chapter, the first international alumni chapter in GW Law’s history.
The idea to create the alumni chapter came after Tsuru talked to GW Law Assistant Dean of Graduate and International Programs Shehernaz Joshi. Assistant Dean Joshi contacted Tsuru to better understand how GW Law could support international alumni. He explained that he’d like to get to know other GW Law alumni and access the same resources and support that alumni have in the U.S., but there were few opportunities to do so.
“Shehernaz suggested that I put these ideas into writing and send them to [GW Law Dean Dayna Bowen Matthew],” Tsuru said. “Dean Matthew basically said, ‘What do we need to do in order for GW Law to be the thought leader in Mexico when it comes to issues like law, technology, intellectual privacy, etc.”
Together with Associate Director for GW Law Alumni Relations Toby Davidow, Dean Matthew, Assistant Dean Joshi, and Tsuru all got to work on establishing an official chapter.
“I have been extremely impressed by the loyalty the Mexico City alumni feel towards GW Law,” Davidow said. “There is a high level of pride for attending GW Law, demonstrated by continually talking up GW Law to family and colleagues and GW Law swag lovingly displayed in offices, and a very strong commitment to grow the GW Law network in and around Mexico.”
In Mexico City, while at a GW Law alumni reception in October 2024, Tsuru connected with fellow alumni Juan Carlos Hernández, LLM ‘10, Jose Antonio Arochi, LLM ‘12, and Ana Paola Maguey, LLM ‘15.
They were all excited to jump on the opportunity of establishing the chapter.
“Since the beginning we had this idea of having a Mexico chapter of GW Law alumni because there are other universities that have Mexico chapters that are very well established, that have a level of tradition and reputation,” Hernandez said. “We thought that it would make sense to have a school at the level of GW to have something like that.”
Over a year the group grew their network, scheduled meetings, planned events, and developed their own subcommittees focused on diversity and youth inclusion. By the end of spring 2024, they had the formal chapter assembled and the network of alumni was steadily growing.
In January, the alumni chapter had its first major event when Dean Matthew visited alongside Assistant Dean Joshi, Davidow, and Professor Dawn Nunziato. The GW Law delegation met with close to 100 GW Law alumni, law school administrators, and firm representatives throughout Mexico City to forge partnerships, spread the word about GW Law’s LLM program, and learn more about the trajectory of GW Law alumni in Mexico City.
Through connections with Tsuru, Dean Matthew, Assistant Dean Joshi, Davidow and Professor Nunziato were able to meet with judges, bar leadership, and Intellectual Property practitioners from across Mexico City. They also met with dignitaries from the bench and bar during a breakfast with International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property.
“I am so proud of our GW Law alumni in Mexico City. They are leaders in the bench, bar, and academy," Dean Matthew said. "Their prominence opened doors at each of the country's leading academic institutions. Their influence is far-reaching and our support for the Mexican GW Law Community must be far reaching and robust as well."
An Experience that Lasts Beyond Graduation
For Maguey, GW Law wasn’t just a place to study. It was an experience full of new friends, exciting professional challenges, and the opportunity to experience a D.C.-infused education. With the alumni chapter in Mexico City, she gets to live those experiences over again and help spread the word about GW Law to aspiring lawyers in Mexico City.
“I started meeting more GW Law alumni,” Maguey said. “And that’s really good because you’re making your community, you have connections with people that—even if they didn’t start the same year as you— we share the sense of belonging and remember all of the good things about our DC Experience studying at GW Law.”
Maguey isn’t the only person who feels this way. Eugenio Arochi, LLM ‘23, said connections with lawyers like Maguey, Hernandez, and Tsuru, have been crucial to his career growth.
“It’s nice to know that GW has a very good relationship with Mexico and also that partners [in Mexico City law firms] study at GW and make it to partner,” Arochi said. “I think the best thing GW gives you is the networking.”
Inspiring other alumni
Tsuru hopes that Mexico City is just the beginning of GW Law’s international alumni network. Anyone can form a chapter as the GW Law alumni in Mexico City did.
“From my experience, there is a lot of openness and eagerness from alumni to stay connected, but you have to take the first step,” Tsuru said. “Be proactive, because there is a universe of alumni who are eager to connect, but you just need that spark to get things going.”
GW Law alumni looking to establish chapters in their own country and expand the global LLM network should reach out to Assistant Dean Joshi and Dr. Toby Davidow.