Lunchtime Lectures


LUNCHTIME DEBATE: Is it okay to invade a nation to stop massive suffering?

  • Date: Thursday, November 15, 2012
  • Time: 12:50 p.m.–1:50 p.m.
  • Location: New York Law School, 185 West Broadway, Room W204 (Boardroom)
  • Lunch: A free lunch will be provided.
  • RSVP: Michael.Rhee@nyls.edu


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?

  • Date: Thursday, October 18, 2012
  • Time: 12:45 p.m.–1:50 p.m.
  • Location: New York Law School, 185 West Broadway, Room W402
  • Lunch: A free lunch will be provided.
  • RSVP: Michael.Rhee@nyls.edu
     

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.
 

  • Date: Wednesday, October 17, 2012, and Wednesday, October 24, 2012
  • Time: 12:45 p.m.–1:45 p.m.
  • Location: New York Law School, 185 West Broadway, Room W402
  • Lunch: A free lunch will be provided.
  • RSVP: Michael.Rhee@nyls.edu
  • You can sign up for either or both lectures.


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.
 

  • Date: Thursday, September 13, 2012
  • Time: 12:45 p.m.–1:50 p.m.
  • Location: New York Law School, 185 West Broadway, Room W320
  • Lunch: A free lunch will be provided.
  • RSVP: Michael.Rhee@nyls.edu


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.