International Practice Section
The International Practice Section has a broad focus that includes not only the study of current developments in the field of international law but also immigration law, international transactional work, aerospace, taxation, intellectual property, financing, services, trade regulation, exports and imports, transnational contracts, travel, and international dispute resolution. Members represent a wide variety of backgrounds and practices, including full-time and part-time practitioners, government, business, foreign lawyers, academia, internationally-focused law students, and those simply intellectually interested.
The Section provides benefits to members by engaging in CLE's and related educational activities. The Section develops contacts and communicates with WSBA members, foreign lawyers, scholars, law students, and the public through the section listserv, email and other means. The Section fosters mentorship through its mentorship program, which pairs members with law students and foreign lawyers. The Section also initiates, sponsors, and promotes within the WSBA, court rules and legislation regarding international practice issues as appropriate, and serves as a representative of the WSBA, subject to appropriate authorization, on international practice issues.
Annual Report | Budget | Bylaws | Year in Review | Section History
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Shape Your Section for the Future: Apply Today to Become a Section Leader
Application Deadline is 5 p.m. April 17, 2023.
The following section executive committee positions are open for applications. All terms begin Oct. 1, 2023.
- Chair-elect: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2023, and ending Sept. 30, 2024.
- Secretary/Treasurer: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2023, and ending Sept. 30, 2024.
- Communications Chair (one position open): one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2023, and ending Sept. 30, 2024.
- At-Large Member (three positions open): three-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2023, and ending Sept. 30, 2026.
To learn more about roles and expectations for serving on the section executive committee, review this volunteer position description, which provides a general overview of section executive committee positions—these may differ for each section.
Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must be a current section member and should be eligible to vote in accordance with the section’s bylaws.
Application Process: Go to the myWSBA portal to complete the online application for open executive committee positions. The Section has requested that each applicant submit a statement of interest with your application. This document can be uploaded with your online application (pdf format only). Please be advised that application materials may be posted on this website for public viewing.
Note: If you are applying for more than one position on this or multiple sections’ committees, you must complete and submit all applications at the same time, as you will not be allowed back into the portal at a later time. Please make sure you are completing the applications within the application window for all of the relevant sections.
Nomination Process: The Chair, with the approval of the executive committee, shall annually appoint a nominating committee of not less than three (3) members of the Section, at least one of whom shall not be a current member of the executive committee. Such committee shall make and report nominations for proposed officers and members of the executive committee to succeed the members whose terms will next expire. A member may be re-nominated to the executive committee. The nominating committee shall also propose to fill vacancies existing for any unexpired terms. The executive committee will approve a list of nominees for each open position. All nominees must be voting members of the Section.
Alternate Nomination Process: Any member may nominate themselves for a vacant position, so long as they receive the written endorsement of five (5) members of the Section. All candidates will apply through an electronic process administered by the WSBA.
Elections Process: All voting members of the section will receive an electronic ballot sent to their email in June 2023. Visit this webpage in early June for election updates and voting instructions.
Questions?
For more information about the Section, its executive committee roles, and elections process, please review the Section’s bylaws. You may also contact any member of the current Section Executive Committee or email sections@wsba.org.
NEW! The impact of Legal Marketing and Business Development
Register Now - Webinar
Developed in partnership with the WSBA International Practice Section
This session will explore the impact of Legal Marketing and Business Development for individual attorneys, practice areas, and law firms. We will dive into the importance of integrating a successful marketing strategy, and navigate various tools on becoming a Legal Marketing expert.
When: noon-1 p.m., Thursday, March 16, 2023
Credits: 1.0 Other
Tuition:
$0 - International Practice Section Members (discount applied at checkout)
$35 - Standard/Non-Section Members
$18.75 - Law Students (after adding seminar to cart, enter promo code LSD1 and click checkout)
Faculty: Andrew Niles, Williams Kastner, Seattle
Register Online for the Webinar here!
Member Benefits
Membership of the International Practice Section continues to grow. The cost of membership is small compared to the benefits of membership.
Benefits include, but are not limited to, informative e-newsletters, meetings with other individuals interested in this area, presentations by speakers with excellent, timely information, and receptions for lawyers and law students. The benefits of membership are outlined in more detail immediately below.
Events
The International Practice Section has continued to grow in numbers and events and currently we have two annual events that are open to all section members.
- Spring Event. We host an event in April or May with a CLE program, which consists of multiple speakers who have extensive international legal expertise. The reception follows, at which IPS members mingle, network, and reconnect.
- Annual Meeting. The annual meeting is open to all section members and is traditionally held in late September. At this meeting, yearly business is conducted. The reception also serves as the kick-off for our Mentorship Program, which pairs JD and LLM students, many of whom are foreign lawyers, with local attorneys.
CLEs
Over the years, the section has put on many excellent CLEs. Currently, the section hosts monthly mid-day CLEs. The speakers are excellent, the topics are lively, usually one CLE credit is approved and, best of all, it is free to section members. Watch your email for notification for upcoming CLEs. Please see the right column for the upcoming CLE/event.
Recording of past CLEs (available for viewing only and not accredited for CLE credit) and list of IPS CLEs (from 2019)
Mentorship Program
Our Mentor Program pairs local lawyers whose practices involve international law with foreign lawyers and law students who are studying for a J.D. or L.L.M., or are visiting scholars at the University of Washington, Seattle University, or Gonzaga University law schools. In addition to fostering business relationships and networking opportunities, the program affords local practitioners, foreign lawyers and law students the opportunity to learn about legal practice in each other’s home countries and practice areas.
Sponsorship
Since 2007, the International Practice Section has been honored to feature sponsorship from various industries. Sponsorship provides a plethora of benefits to sponsors. Sponsorship permits the IPS to continue to provide exceptional benefits to our members. If you are interested in becoming an IPS sponsor, please contact the section chair.
Additional Program Information
Huneke Fellowship
The Huneke Fellowship is an annual program administered by the International Practice Section. The Fellowship is designed to provide real-world experience, networking opportunities, and modest financial assistance for a law student interested in the international practice of law. Each year one Huneke Fellowship, which includes a $1,000 stipend, is awarded to a current 1L or 2L student. Any current 1L or 2L attending law school in the state of Washington (i.e., at the University of Washington, Seattle University, or Gonzaga University) is eligible for the Huneke Fellowship.
Executive Committee
Chair: Monica Sham (2022-2023) Chair-Elect: Larry Ward (2022-2023) Secretary/Treasurer: Michael Harris (2022-2023) Immediate Past Chair: Eriko "Elly" Baxter (2022-2023) Communications Chair: Fred Rocafort (2022-2023) Young Lawyer Liaison*: Vacant Board of Governors Liaison*: Matthew Dresden (2022-2023) and Kevin Fay (2022-2023) | Members Dana Raigrodski (2020-2023) Huneke Fellow*: Aldrin Jude Datoon Panganiban, University of Washington School of Law *Nonvoting member |
Meetings
The Executive Committee of the International Practice Section holds monthly meetings. Meetings are currently being held by video conference only. See event calendar for access information.
Please contact committee members for further details on their upcoming meeting dates and locations.
Join Our LinkedIn Group
Please join the WSBA International Practice Section LinkedIn group page and check our recent activities.
Join Our List Serve
To join the section list serve and for general section questions, please send your email address and Bar number to sections@wsba.org. For more information and to get involved with the section, please contact the section chair, Monica Sham.
