LUNCHTIME DEBATE: Is it okay to
invade a nation to stop massive
suffering?
In the last few
decades, nations and non-state groups have carried out (or even failed to
stop) atrocities and other events within their borders which have led to
massive suffering. Millions have died in civil conflicts, disasters,
genocidal campaigns, and persecutions in Cambodia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Rwanda, Myanmar, and now Syria. Many argue that the world has a
responsibility to protect those in other nations who are suffering
large-scale harm and human rights violations. But others worry about the
implications of intervening in the domestic affairs of other states. Do
nations have a responsibility to stop massive suffering in other nations?
What criteria would be used before carrying out a humanitarian
intervention? Does international law address this issue? How do critics
respond? Come and debate these questions and others during lunch!
STUDENTS WILL TAKE THE LEAD IN THE DEBATE!
LUNCHTIME DEBATE: Should nations prohibit people from insulting religions?
Muslims around the
world have been protesting a purported film called The
Innocence of Muslims and also several cartoons in a French magazine
which they say insult their religion. They have called on nations to
punish the filmmakers and the publishers of the cartoon, describing their
depictions of Islam as hate speech, for example. But others argue that
doing so will undermine freedom of expression and could actually stifle
legitimate dissent in the future. Should nations prohibit people from
insulting religions? Are insults considered hate speech? How does
international law address this specific issue? Is freedom of expression
absolute? Or does international law allow nations to restrict speech in
specific circumstances? Come and discuss these questions and others.
STUDENTS WILL TAKE THE LEAD IN THE DEBATE!
LUNCHTIME LECTURE: What It Means
to be In-House Counsel for a Multinational Corporation
There is NO CLE credit for this program.
In a two-part lecture, Thomas Hickey will give an
overview of his work as Assistant General Counsel of Hess Corporation, a
Fortune 100 global energy company engaged in the exploration and
production of crude oil and natural gas. Mr. Hickey is admitted to
practice in the state of California and in England and Wales. He received
a biochemistry degree from the University of Manchester and an M.B.A. from
the University of Strathclyde Business School. He has worked in London,
Houston, and Kuala Lumpur, and is currently based in Hess’ corporate
headquarters in New York.
October 17, 2012: Lawyers
work in courtrooms, law firms, and government agencies. They also work in
corporations (and are known as in-house counsels). Mr. Hickey will talk
about his early career in private practice, discuss the role and
responsibilities of an in-house counsel, and explain the relationship
between in-house counsel and private practitioners.
October
24, 2012: Mr. Hickey will continue the discussion from the previous
week but this time wrap the conversation around a scenario. He will
introduce a multi-million dollar international transaction and use it as a
platform to explore and discuss the different elements of the transaction
from the perspective of the in-house counsel, the business, and its
stakeholders.
LUNCHTIME
LECTURE: Transactional Law Practice in a Global
Marketplace
There is NO CLE
credit for this program.
More than ever,
business clients and their advisors are involved in transactions abroad.
The in-market conditions, practices, or legal systems in other nations may
surprise a U.S.-trained eye. Even back home in a U.S.-based project, there
are frequent occasions to interact with clients or counterparties from
other countries whose expectations are different from ours. All of this
presents challenges—and opportunities—for a U.S. transactional
lawyer.
What is the role of the U.S. transactional lawyer when working on projects in other countries? How can the coordinating lawyer contribute most effectively in international transactions, those sited in other countries, and those involving multinational participants right in our own backyards? And how can students build skills necessary for the future while here at New York Law School?
Professor James Hagy is Distinguished Adjunct Professor at New York Law School and Director of The Rooftops Project at the Center of Real Estate Studies. He is also Affiliated Transnational Professor of Law at Peking University School of Transnational Law. He teaches international skills courses at NYLS both in New York and in the London summer abroad program. He spent almost 30 years with one of the largest global law firms, leading one of its global practices and serving in a variety of management roles.