Make a big deal about International Law this spring!

  • March 20, 2020

Your Section Executive is working to relaunch the Canadian International Lawyer journal (CIL), strengthen our relationship with the Government of Canada, collaborate with the American Bar Association (ABA) and international law students, and create a Human Rights and Business toolkit! Thank you to all our members for promoting collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the Section.

Here are some Section highlights:

Upcoming CBA Webinars

Legislative and Regulatory Updates in the Insurance Industry (April 8, 2020)

Playing by the Rules? Canada’s Changing Trade Remedies Regime (April 30, 2020)

Webinars of interest: Doing Business Internationally Series

Doing Business in Africa (March 31, 2020, Free Teleconference for CBA members)

Presented by the CBA International Law Section and the ABA, this program will examine key elements when advising clients that intend to do business in Africa. The speakers will address African markets in the context of key regulations, how to protect property rights, taxation, corporate social responsibility and human rights. Register now!

Doing Business in Canada’s Backyard (April 29, 2020, Webcast)

Presented by the CBA and OBA International Law Sections, this program addresses the Canada United States Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) as Canadian businesses with links to the US or Mexico review their business structures to identify risks and opportunities. Register now!

Doing Business in Europe (May 5, 2020, Free Teleconference for CBA members)

Presented by the CBA International Law Section and CBA Quebec, this program looks at access to European markets in the context of free-trade agreements between Canada, the European Union and EFTA countries, Brexit negotiations, and key regulations affecting contracts and the transfer of personal data. Register Now!

Advocacy Update

Meetings with the Government of Canada

Our Section has always had a strong relationship with the government and has had meetings with its representatives on a yearly basis. At our last meeting (May 2019), representatives of the Trade Law Bureau, Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), Export Development Canada (EDC), and the Governance and Human Rights unit (from Global Affairs Canada’s Global Issues and Development branch) gave updates on their latest developments. For more information, please consult the key points of the 2019 meetings and our comments on our meetings with the TCS and EDC.

This year’s meetings with government will cover such topics as sanctions, current litigation and treaty negotiations, trade remedies, trade protections, climate change and human rights.

If you are interested in participating in any of the Section’s upcoming meetings with government via Zoom video conference, please contact us and express your interest.

Human Rights and Business Toolkit: A New Chapter in Social Responsibility

In response to an initiative proposed by the OBA’s International Law Section, our Section established a CBA working group to create a Business and Human Rights Toolkit, which is in progress. Led by OBA lawyers Claudia Feldkamp and Josh Scheinert, the working group brings together various CBA Sections as well as subject matter experts. The aim of the toolkit is to provide Canadian lawyers an overview of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights so they can help their business clients manage human rights risks.

Call for Editors: The Canadian International Lawyer Online Journal

We are relaunching the Canadian International Lawyer (CIL). CIL is a peer-reviewed journal and a resource to practitioners of international business and trade law. We are looking for editors who will solicit and edit submissions. If you are interested in joining the editorial board, please send an expression of interest and a curriculum vitae to Andrew Lanouette.

Get involved!

Want to get involved? Contact Ewa Gosal, Communications Officer, to submit member articles or provide suggestions for future webinars or other events. Please join us on LinkedIn!