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COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL LITIGATION

John N. Fellas, Esq. and Thomas N. Pieper, Esq, chairs

MISSION STATEMENT

Modern means of technology and transportation have led to an unprecedented increase in international commerce.  Consumers routinely order products from abroad over the Internet; companies spread manufacturing, marketing, and distribution over various countries; and financial investors operate on a world-wide scale.  Where there are commercial transactions, there are disputes, and if the transactions are international, so are the disputes.  But while commerce transcends traditional geographic boundaries with increasing ease, the law does not always follow.  National legal schemes may be converging, but they still are autonomous, often diverging or overlapping, and almost always provide for special rules that apply in the international context.  International disputes are thus increasing in number, complexity, and variation, and include international litigations, arbitrations, and regulatory investigations.

While interested in all forms of international disputes, this Committee focuses on International Litigation.  The goals of the International Litigation Committee are to (1)enhance specialized knowledge and skills required to conduct legal proceedings involving multiple jurisdictions; (2) develop among its members an understanding of the various legal norms and international treaties involved; (3) create and maintain a global network of international litigators; and (4) explore the connections and overlaps between international litigation and other legal disciplines, in particular other forms of international dispute resolution (including arbitration, meditation, and regulatory investigation).

To achieve these goals, the International Litigation Committee will engage in the following activities: (1) hold meetings of and for its members; (2) organize substantive discussions of international litigation issues at meetings of the International Section and other events; (3) coordinate with other Committees and Sections of the New York State Bar Association and other suitable organizations; (4) contribute content to the publications of the International Section and New York State Bar Association; and (5) create networking opportunities for its members.

(last revised 1/26/2009)

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