CUSLI 2011 Distinguished Lecture Series
Navigating the Storm: The State Department Legal Adviser and International Law
Davis Robinson, Legal Adviser, Department of State (1981-85)
The lecture will begin at 12:00 pm (noon) in the Moot Court Room.

2007-2008 Niagara International Moot Court Competition

The Canada -United States Law Institute hosted 16 law schools from throughout Canada and the United States at a three day moot where students addressed the international trade law issues surrounding several border security measures, including the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.  CUSLI Advisory Board Member Cyndee Todgham Cherniak authored the Problem and Bench Brief.  More than 100 students and faculty participated as advocates, and nearly 75 members of the international trade law community participated as judges.  The Hon. Donald MacDonald (Lang Michener), Prof. Donald Wallace (International Law Institute, Georgetown University), and Alice Kipel (Chair, U.S. Court of International Trade) served as the final round judges and ultimately awarded the championship to Washington University - St. Louis College of Law.   Canada ’s Embassy in Washington , DC hosted the opening reception attended by more than 125 students, faculty and CUSLI members.   [.. more ]

2008 CUSLI Annual Conference

Canadian Ambassador to the United States Michael Wilson addressed more than 250 leaders of the U.S. and Canadian federal, state/provincial, local governments, business executives, legal professionals, scholars, and the media at the traditional Friday Forum sponsored by The City Club of Cleveland. The event was part of the 24th Annual Conference sponsored by The Canada-United States Law Institute, entitled The World’s Longest Undefended Border: Gateway or Checkpoint The Post-9/11 "Safe and Secure" Canada-United States Border in the Era of Global Supply Chains. The conference targeted the importance of the North American supply/value chain within the larger global economy, and examined the impact of recent border security initiatives on Canada-U.S. economic competitiveness. Featured speakers included representatives of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection, Canada Border Services Agency, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Council on Foreign Relations, Ford Motor Company, Research in Motion, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, international trade and customs lawyers, and scholars. Additionally, a number of staff members from the offices of U.S. Senator George Voinovich (R-OH), U.S. Representatives Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-OH), as well as the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security participated in the conference. A full description of the 2008 CUSLI Annual Conference, speakers biographies, and presentations are available here - .

The Canada-United States Law Institute partnered with the Great Lakes Manufacturing Council to host its annual forum entitled, Collaboration: The Great Lakes Manufacturing Advantage.  Approximately 250 representatives of public and private sector organizations attended to discuss issues related to economic development and growth in the Great Lakes region.  The Consul General of Canada in Detroit provided remarks on the importance of Canada-US trade and Canada ’s relationship with the Great Lakes states and introduced keynote speaker, Ohio Govenor Ted Strickland. Rob Portman, former Congressman from Ohio , addressed the audience on behalf of US Presidential candidate John McCain.  The conference received extensive media coverage.  [.. more]

HMCS Charlottetown Tour of the Great Lakes

The Canada-United States Law Institute hosted a pre-arrival event in Cleveland , Ohio for the HMCS Charlottetown styled Canada-United States Defence Cooperation at Home and Abroad.  The event featured welcoming remarks by Consul General Robert Noble of the Consulate General of Canada-Detroit, Lt. Cdr. Albert Wong of the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces, and Cdr. Larry Kennedy II of the United States Coast Guard’s Ninth District.  More than 115 persons attended the event including representatives of the US Department of Homeland Security/United States Coast Guard, officers of the US Department of Commerce, staffers from the offices of US Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), faculty members, and students.  More than 45 attendees from the day’s proceedings attended the reception aboard HMCS Charlottetown the following evening. 

An invitation-only lunch followed the panel where the panellists had the opportunity to hold private conversations with Cdr. Kennedy, congressional staffers, representatives of the US Department of Commerce, the managing attorney of Baker & Hostetler’s international trade practice, and CWRU’s international law faculty and students. [ .. more]

Cleveland International Lawyers Group featuring CUSLI Executive Committee Member  Lawrence Herman (Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP)
Elections and the Rule of Law:  U.S. Canada Relations When the Dust Settles

The Canada-United States Law Institute partnered with the Greater Cleveland International Lawyers Group to feature CUSLI Executive Committee member Lawrence Herman (Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP).  Styled Elections and the Rule of Law:  U.S. Canada Relations When the Dust Settles, Mr. Herman reviewed the various legal agreements governing the Canada-US relationship and proposed a bi-lateral engagement strategy between Canada and the new Obama Administration.
[.. Lawrence Herman's Remarks]
[.. Lawrence Herman's Presentation]

"Dispute Resolution in International Tax: The Present and the Future"

This evening event was held at Fasken’s Vancouver offices and featured Matthew Frank (Director, IRS Advance Pricing Agreement Program), Patricia Spice (Director, Competent Services Authority Division, Canada Revenue Agency), Sandra Goldberg (Deloitte), and representatives of Steptoe & Johnson and Fasken Martineau.  Approximately 75 international tax practitioners attended the event where issues such as “competent authority” resolutions and “advance pricing agreements” (APAs) were discussed in a roundtable format.  A reception was held immediately following the event where attendees had to opportunity to further discuss these issues with the panellists.    [.. more]

London, Ontario