May 20th EU IP CLE!

The WSBA International Practice Section is pleased to sponsor our second CLE this month:

Getting Industrial Property Protection for Designs and Models in the European Union

Background:
Join Ms. Gala Paricheva and Mr. David M. Marty as they guide practitioners through a new and innovative process allowing individual creators and companies to benefit from the European Union (EU) design protection. This new process will allow protection on 27 countries with a single and easy application.

Attendees at this interesting CLE will gain an understanding of the following:
- The advantages and disadvantages of this process;
- An overview of the process;
- Practical Tips for practitioners when preparing the application;
- Navigation of the EU.

When:
Thursday, May 20th, 2010, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Where:
Offices of Williams Kastner
Two Union Square601 Union Street, Suite 4100 Seattle, Washington 98101-2380

CLE Credits:
1.5 General CLE Credits for Washington attorneys pending (applied for)

Questions:
Please contact Mr. Shahzad Qadri of Adorno & Yoss, the section CLE Liaison and Coordinator, at:
Email: sqadri@adorno.com
Phone: 206-795-1144

For More Information:·
THE EU IP CLE E-Flyer (.pdf file)

May 12th Afghan CLE a Success!

Last week - on Wednesday May 12, 2010 - the WSBA IPS held an evening Afghan CLE entitled Afghanistan: A Changing Legal Terrain at Perkins Coie, in conjunction with JAMS Arbitration, Mediation, and ADR Services. This event was also co-sponsored by the University of Washington School of Law's Asian Law Center. Professor Jonathan A. Eddy, Director of the Asian Law Center and Manager of the Afghanistan Legal Educators Project, served as the moderator for this event.

Topics discussed included rule of law, how the legal systems (including Sharia law) differ from that of the United States, the existence of Afghan judicial independence, human rights (specifically the rights of women), and the investment situation in Afghanistan. A total of six panelists - Wahidullah Amiri, Hussain Ali Atefi, Mohammad Bashir Mobasher, Humayoun Rahimi, Mohammad Faridon Sorush, and Mohammad Ayub Yusufzai - formed a very informative and frank panel on the issues facing Afghanistan today.

The Afghan menu - made up of Bolani, Jan-i-Amma, Ashak (pasta), Breast of Chicken Kebab, Mushroom Qorma, Cucumber Salad, Baklava, and Chai Tea - were hors d'oeuvres catered by the Afghanistan restaurant Kabul and were very well received.

Many thanks to all who could attend this fascinating CLE! (Be sure look for our next CLE, coming this week!)

Top photo: Professor Jonathan A. Eddy with Afghan panelists. Center photo: tasty Afghan fare from Kabul Restaurant. Bottom photo: A great time was had by all. Photographs by Jacqueline Pruner.

May 12th CLE Evening Event: Afghan Attorneys

The WSBA International Practice Section is pleased to sponsor the following evening CLE, in conjunction with JAMS Arbitration, Mediation, and ADR Services and also co-sponsored by the University of Washington School of Law's Asian Law Center:

Afghanistan: A Changing Legal Terrain

Background:

Rule of law, judicial independence, and capacity to make, interpret and enforce law in a pluralist legal system are all urgent development priorities for Afghanistan. How do these issues impact U.S. companies as they seek to participate in major infrastructure projects? Please join us as we explore this topic with Afghan legal scholars and practitioners, and hear from them as they share their experiences, knowledge and challenges in this ever changing terrain. The scholars will specifically discuss the challenges to creating an attractive investment climate in Afghanistan, commenting on issues such as security, corruption, barriers to entry, a non-transparent legal environment and an unpredictable environment.

The Afghan legal scholars and practitioners are participants in a U.S. State Department Program, and sponsored by the University of Washington Asian Law Center helping to build the “pipeline” for a new generation of Afghan lawyers, judges and prosecutors. The scholars arrived here in Seattle from Afghanistan in March 2010, and will be returning soon, so this is your last opportunity to hear their fascinating presentations!

Panel of Speakers:

Wahidullah Amiri is a graduate of Nangarhar University from the Law and Political Science Faculty. He has interned with the Nangarhar Provincial Council, providing legal counsel and promoting the National Democratic Institute. He also worked with the Afghanistan Rule of Law Project as a legal English trainer at Nangarhar Univeristy. He joins the student body as a Fulbright Scholar focusing on humanitarian and human rights law. He speaks Pashto, Dari, Urdu, English and German.

Hussain Ali Atefi is a graduate of Balkh University. While studying, he was involved in the Taawon Cultural Association and the Afghan Council Guarding Freedom and Social Justice. He looks to focus on course work in constitutional law, administrative law and international law. He is interested in researching the intersection of human rights and social justice. He speaks Dari and English and some Urdu.

Mohammad Bashir Mobasher is a graduate of Kabul University’s Faculty of Law and Political Science. He is interested in public policy, human rights, and integrating Afghan cultural values into current development projects in Afghanistan.

Humayoun Rahimi is a professor on the Law and Politics faculty at Balkh University in Mazar e-Sharif, Afghanistan. He specializes in commerce law, private international law, contemporary legal systems and criminology. He is continuing coursework at the University of Washington School of Law towards his LLM degree.

Lutforahman Saeed is a professor on the Shari’a (Islamic Law) faculty at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan. He specializes in Islamic Studies, philosophy and comparative religions. He works as a legal advisor and interpreter for the US Army and is a member of the independent Bar Association of Afghanistan. He speaks Pashto, Dari, Arabic, Urdu and English.

Mohammad Faridon Sorush is a professor and the former acting Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science at Herat University in Herat, Afghanistan. He specializes in criminology and international organizations. He directs the legal clinic program at Herat University which he was instrumental in creating. Herat University’s clinical program, the first in Afghanistan, offers clinics in street law, civil legal advice and criminal defense. Professor Sorush is a returning participant in the Afghan Legal Scholars program.

Mohammad Ayub Yusufzai is a member of the Faculty of Law and Political Science at Balkh University in Mazar e-Sharif, Afghanistan where he teaches constitutional law, the Afghanistan constitution, human rights, and political and administrative terminology (in English). At UW, he would like to study comparative law, US constitutional law, and constitutional law. He has also worked as a counselor at the Norwegian Refugee Council. He speaks Dari, Pashto and English.

Attendees at this interesting CLE will gain an understanding of the following:
- The basic history and sources of Afghan Law;
- The interplay of Sharia (Islamic) law with the civil/criminal codes of Afghanistan;
- An overview of the Afghan legal process, procedures, and system; and
- The government contract system in Afghanistan and restrictions on foreign participation.

When:
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Catered hors d'oeuvres from the Afghanistan restaurant Kabul will be served.

Where:
Offices of Perkins Coie
1201 Third Avenue, 48th Floor, Conference Room 48-7/8/9
Seattle, Washington 98101-0399

CLE Credits:
1.5 General CLE Credits for Washington attorneys pending (applied for)

Questions:
Please contact Mr. Shahzad Qadri of Adorno & Yoss, the section CLE Liaison and Coordinator, at:
Email: sqadri@adorno.com (using "Afghani Attorney CLE" in the subject heading)
Phone: 206-795-1144
Fax: 425-869-4050

For More Information and the Registration Form, to be submitted by phone, email, or fax (425-869-4050):
AFGHANISTAN: A CHANGING LEGAL TERRAIN (.pdf file)

CBA's 2010 International Law Conference: The Future of Canada-U.S. Cross-Border Relations

2010 International Law Conference: The Future of Canada-U.S. Cross-Border Relations

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May 6-7, 2010 Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Vancouver, BC The CBA International Law Section is pleased to invite you to attend its spring conference on “The Future of Canada-U.S. Cross-Border Relations".

This extraordinary gathering of stakeholders in Canada-U.S. relations, including legal, government and academic leaders, reflects a shared commitment to open and wide Canada-U.S. dialogue and offers a platform for critical discussions of current cross-border issues. Don’t miss the opportunity to attend Justice Ian Binnie’s keynote address entitled: Corporate Complicity in International Human Rights Abuse - The Search for Effective Remedies. Thought provoking presentations include: • What is SHIPRIDER? An Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operation by Canada's RCMP and the United States' Coast Guard • Treaty Shopping and the Challenge of Multiple Dispute Settlement Fora: Recent Trends • Have the WTO and NAFTA met the 'Great Expectations' of Canada and the United States? • United We Stand, Divided We Fall: The Canadian Lawyer's Options in the Face of Interprovincial Disputes, the NAFTA and the WTO (Lumber and Procurement)

Click here to view the conference agenda and to register now. For more information, please contact Nancy Fullerton at the CBA National office, 613-237-2925 / 1-800-267-8860 ext. 190, or by e-mail at nancyf@cba.org.

DATE:

May 6-7, 2010 Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Vancouver, BC

CONTACT:

Nancy Fullerton CBA National Office nancyf@cba.org 613-237-2925; 1-800-267-8860, ext. 190

PROGRAM ACCREDITATION:

This program has been approved or recognized by the following organizations:

• Law Societies of British Columbia and Northwest Territories. • Law Specialty Committee of the Law Society of Upper Canada • Barreau du Québec • Law Society of Saskatchewan • Prince Edward Island Law Society • Law Society of New Brunswick • Montana Commission of Continuing Legal Education

Further details about the accreditation of this program can be found by clicking here.