JAMS is a proud sponsor of the ABA International Law Section Annual Conference taking place in the heart of New York City. The theme this year is Adapting to Today's International Legal Challenges: A New Era? JAMS neutrals will contribute to the conference as speakers across several sessions, which are highlighted in more detail below.
The conference will address legal issues in various program tracks, including Arbitration & Mediation, Artificial Intelligence, Criminal, Human Rights, Litigation, Trade, Transactions and Young Lawyers and will provide registrants with the opportunity to network, learn, and engage with hundreds of international attorneys from distinguished law firms, private organizations, and governmental institutions worldwide.
___________________________________________________________________________
FEATURED PANELS
Wednesday April 30, 2025
5:00-6:15 PM ET
U.S.-Mexico Cross-Border Disputes and Investigations in the New Sexenio
Sponsoring Committee: Conference Planning Committee
As nearshoring reshapes global supply chains, the U.S.-Mexico commercial relationship has emerged as a critical driver of North American economic competitiveness. Mexico has become the United States' largest trading partner, and both nations are leveraging their deep economic ties and geographical proximity to build a more dynamic and integrated trade environment. Most recently, Mexico has undertaken a reform of its judiciary. This evolving partnership creates vast opportunities for investors, but also presents unique legal, regulatory, and commercial challenges that must be carefully managed.
This panel will explore the key dynamics shaping cross-border investments between the U.S. and Mexico, with a focus on the commercial, legal, and compliance issues that arise in this interconnected landscape.
Moderator: Ilan Katz, Partner, Katz & Gudino, Mexico City, Mexico
Speakers:
- Hon. Ariel Belen (Ret.), FCIArb, JAMS, New York, NY
- Marco Antonio de la Peña, Partner, Cuatrecasas, Mexico City, Mexico
- Eve Perez Torres, Senior Attorney, FedEx, Miami, FL
5:00-6:15 PM ET
The Emergency Arbitrator Mechanisms and Interim Measures: International Arbitration's Tools for Urgent Relief. Since 2006 - What Have We Learned?
Sponsoring Committee: International Arbitration
This dynamic panel brings together experienced practitioners to dissect the critical elements of emergency arbitration from multiple angles - examining jurisdictional challenges, standards of proof, and practical hurdles that arise in compressed timeframes. Our speakers will explore how emergency arbitrators navigate the delicate balance between urgency and due process, assess their own jurisdiction, and structure enforceable decisions. Drawing from extensive experience, they'll address thorny issues including the interplay between court and arbitral relief and strategic considerations along with best practices for both counsel and arbitrators.
Program Chair/Moderator: Luis Martinez, Vice President, American Arbitration Association - International Centre for Dispute Resolution, New York, NYSpeakers:
- Dr. Anton G. Maurer, LL.M., FCIArb, Arbitrator & Mediator, JAMS, New York, NY and Stuttgart, Germany
- Brent Clinkscale, Independent Arbitrator, Mediator and Litigation Consultant, Clinkscale Global ADR, Greeneville, SC
-
Kate Gonzalez, Senior Legal Counsel, Airbus Americas, Washington, DC
-
Betsy Hellman, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, NY
5:00-6:15 PM ET
The International Regulation of Social Media Companies
Sponsoring Committee: Conference Planning Committee
At a time when governments are increasingly seeking to protect privacy, social media companies have been 28 U.S.C. 1782 has threatened to open the doors of U.S. courts open to parties that seek to unmask social media users and undermine online anonymity. This panel will explore the current regulatory landscape facing social media companies both in the European Union and the United States and the increasing use of 28 U.S.C. 1782 to unmask foreign parties and undermine the protections that social media companies wish to offer their users.
Moderator: Peter Kamminga, Esq., Ph.D., Arbitrator & Mediator, JAMS, Los Angeles, CA
Speakers:
- Jon Hawk, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery, Los Angeles, CA
- Sergio Legorreta, Partner, Lawtæm, Mexico City, Mexico
Thursday, May 1, 2025
9:00-10:15 AM ET
Where Are Our Successors? Rethinking Capacity Building Initiatives for Future ADR Practitioners Across Regions and Backgrounds
Sponsoring Committee: International Mediation
The ADR field appears to be bottom light but top heavy in terms of the wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise of practitioners in the field. This topical panel with carefully selected speakers will interrogate existing initiatives that supports upcoming dispute resolution professionals in the U.S., and globally. The panel will, among others, stress the importance of strengthening cross-cultural and interdisciplinary exchange programs and the need for diversity.
Program Chair/Co-Moderator: Olagbegi-Oloba Banke, Faculty of Law, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Co-Moderator: Aisha Mohammed Suleiman, University of Iowa
Speakers:
- Hon. Daniel Weinstein (Ret.), Weinstein International Foundation/JAMS, San Francisco, CA
- Deborah Eisenberg, Francis King Carey School of Law, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
- Amanda Lee, London, United Kingdom
- Emilia Onyema, School of Law, SOAS University of London, London, United Kingdom
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM ET
Legal Traditions Collide: Ethical Considerations When Navigating Civil and Common Law in Global Disputes and Transactions
Sponsoring Committee: International Mediation
When U.S. companies and individuals engage in international business, they often find themselves navigating legal systems that differ greatly from the U.S. common law tradition. Civil law systems, prevalent across many parts of Europe, Latin America, and Asia, operate on distinct legal principles and procedures, which can create significant challenges for those unfamiliar with these traditions. The legal, regulatory, and compliance landscapes are shaped by these differences, and what may be permissible—or even standard practice—in one jurisdiction may result in significant legal exposure in another.
As the world continues to embrace international alternative dispute resolution (ADR) due to the efficiency, cost effectiveness, and flexibility it offers, ethical dilemmas have also surfaced because of technological innovation. This panel will explore the key distinctions between common law and civil law traditions, providing crucial insights into how these differences impact the management of business deals, compliance efforts and dispute resolution. The panel will also examine the key ethical challenges encountered in modern international ADR, particularly in the context of evolving technology, diverse legal traditions, and increasingly complex cross-border disputes.
Program Chair: Sherman Humphrey, Director, Global Practice Development, JAMS, Miami, FL
Moderator: Giuseppe de Palo, Esq., International Mediator & Arbitrator, JAMS, New York, NY
Speakers:
- Mariana López Griffiths, Corporate Legal Manager, UPS Legal Department, Atlanta, GA
- Rosario Galardi, Associate, Freshfields, Washington, DC
- Alberto Predieri, Founding Partner, de Bedin & Lee, Milan, Italy
1:45-3:00 PM ET
Resolving AI-Driven Disputes: Establishing Effective Frameworks for International Dispute Resolution
Sponsoring Committees: International Intellectual Property; International Mediation
As artificial intelligence (AI) technology continues to reshape industries worldwide, it brings with it a host of complex legal disputes that transcend borders. These disputes often involve issues of intellectual property, data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and liability for AI-driven decisions. With the increasing globalization of AI technologies, the legal community faces the urgent need for efficient and effective international dispute resolution mechanisms tailored to the unique challenges posed by AI. This panel will explore how international dispute resolution—whether through arbitration, mediation, or litigation—can be adapted to manage the specific nuances of AI-related disputes. Experts will provide insight into the procedural frameworks needed to address AI disputes, ensuring consistency, fairness, and clarity across jurisdictions. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the growing importance of harmonized legal standards and the need for adaptable processes that reflect the fast-evolving nature of AI technologies.
Program Chair: Sherman Humphrey, Director, Global Practice Development, JAMS, Miami, FL
Moderator: Jonathan W. Fitch, Esq., FCIArb, FCollArb, International Arbitrator & Mediator, JAMS, Boston, MA
Speakers:
- Sarah Reynolds, Independent Arbitrator, Reynolds ADR, Chicago, IL
- Jose Sanchez, Partner, Vinson & Elkins, New York, NY
- Yan Zhang, Partner, Sidley, Hong Kong