International Law.

• Author: Osorio, Carlos
• Position: Annual Reports of Sections and Divisions of the Florida Bar: 2018-2019

The International Law Section was founded in 1981 and is a forum for the sharing of knowledge, experience, and best practices that improve the administration and application of the statutes, rules, and regulations pertaining to the practice of international law, including transnational business transactions, taxation, customs and trade, litigation, and arbitration. In furtherance of that mission, our section has accomplished the following over the last year.

The section held its bellwether annual CLE conference, "iLaw2019: The Global Forum on International Law," at the J.W. Marriott Marquis Hotel in Miami in February. The conference was well attended with members from across the state, the U.S., and from foreign countries. The iLaw conferences have three tracks of panels: one each for litigation, arbitration, and business transactions. The arbitration track of panels is presented in conjunction with the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR). The iLaw includes CLE for both ethics and technology, in addition to International Law Certification credits. This year's luncheon speaker was Mark Lanterman, chief technology officer of computer forensics services, who took the audience on a fascinating journey through the dark web, where cyber crime appears to be the norm. The closing plenary session of the iLaw2019 focused on combatting attacks against the rule of law, including against lawyers, judges, and journalists. The iLaw is coordinated with a volunteer force of section members who are very dedicated.

The section sponsored the Richard DeWitt Memorial Vis Pre-Moot competition, held February 23 at the offices of JAMS in Miami. This competition is to help law students practice for arbitration competitions being held in Hong Kong and Vienna in 2019. Five Florida law schools competed, with Stetson Law School winning the competition. Each participating law school received a $3,500 scholarship from the section.

The section held its midyear executive council meeting on February 21 the day prior to the annual iLaw conference, at the law firm of Shutts & Bowen in Miami, which was well attended. Reports of the activities of various committees of the section were given and various motions voted upon. The section posts its executive council agendas on its website for member review. The section will hold its annual meeting, including executive board elections, at The Florida Bar convention in Boca Raton in June.

Both Chair Osorio (Harper Meyer...