International Law

Murder Victim Takes Photo of Gunman and Alleged Lookout, Leading to Suspects’ Arrest

Seconds before he was shot to death on New Year’s Day outside a Manila restaurant, a Filipino politician reportedly took a family photograph. Included in the image of his wife, daughter and mother-in-law, which is published by the Houston Chronicle, is a man standing behind a car at the left…

Jan 4, 2011 5:21 PM CST

Shell Gets a Pass on Nigerian Claims, But Tort Law’s Future Still Unclear

Federal appeals Judge Pierre N. Leval recognizes the perquisites that befall businesses when they incorporate—not the least of which is confining liability to the organization to protect shareholders’ personal assets. But as a member of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Leval was downright ticked in September when his…

Jan 1, 2011 9:00 AM CST

ABA Urges Obama Administration to Ask India to Ease Restrictions on Foreign Lawyers

The ABA is urging the federal government to take steps to ensure that U.S. lawyers have appropriate access to the legal services markets of its key trade partners. The ABA’s effort is another nod to the growing impact of globalization. A global economy is making it increasingly important for U.S.…

Jan 1, 2011 6:45 AM CST

US Aid Worker Who Spent Xmas in Haitian Jail Has Been Released, in Latest Child-Kidnap Case

After spending Chrismas in jail, an American who sold his Massachusetts contracting business and went to Haiti to help with relief efforts after the earthquake there early this year has been released. Accused by a Haitian man of taking his young son after the boy was brought to a hospital…

Dec 30, 2010 4:14 PM CST

Convicted of Rape, Former Israel Prez Faces Likely Prison Term

In what a prosecutor called a “badge of honor for Israeli democracy,” a former president of the country has been convicted of rape by a three-judge panel of a Tel Aviv court and faces a likely prison term. Convicted of raping an employee in the 1990s while serving as minister…

Dec 30, 2010 2:43 PM CST

English-Language al-Qaida Magazine Provides Bomb-Making Recipes for Terrorists, WaPo Says

An English-language magazine published on the Internet by al-Qaida allegedly provided encouragement and bomb-making instructions that helped inspire nine men arrested on terrorism charges in the United Kingdom last week. Its first issue, in July, featured the article “Making a bomb in the kitchen of your mom,” the Washington Post…

Dec 29, 2010 9:00 PM CST

Stuck on Snowy Airport Tarmac Nearly 12 Hours, Passengers Weren’t Covered by New Deplaning Rule

After airline passengers complained about sometimes being stranded for hours on the tarmac without food and other amenities, due to unusual weather conditions, new federal regulations were adopted holding carriers responsible for such delays and requiring that passengers be able to deplane after three hours. But they don’t apply to…

Dec 29, 2010 3:55 PM CST

Fla. Prosecutor’s Next Career Move is to Afghanistan

After five years as a prosecutor, it isn’t unusual to make a career move. But it is a rare step to head to Afghanistan to do so. Moin Kahn isn’t venturing out alone, however. The 33-year-old Florida lawyer follows his wife, who left her job with the Pinellas County Public…

Dec 28, 2010 2:30 PM CST

Doc Film Helped Chevron Subpoena Plaintiffs’ US Legal Files in $113B Ecuador Enviro Case

A documentary film encouraged by the lead plaintiff’s lawyer in a $113 billion case concerning alleged damage to a South American rain forest apparently didn’t achieve the result attorney Steve Donziger anticipated. Lawyers for Chevron Corp. used the documentary, Crude, to persuade a federal judge in New York both to…

Dec 23, 2010 9:09 PM CST

Ho-Ho No-No: Xmas Gifts Could Soon Be Illicit Bribes, So Set Policy Now, UK Experts Advise

It’s best to be wary before getting too merry this holiday season, as far as corporate gift-giving is concerned. New legislation that will take effect in April in the United Kingdom at least arguably prohibits some traditional corporate Christmas gifts, and now is the time for companies to be establishing…

Dec 22, 2010 9:58 PM CST

Major London-Based Law Firms Look to Australia for New Global Base

As the world’s BigLaw firms look to maintain their preeminence, Australia is becoming the new frontier for those wishing to take over top deals from local legal partnerships. Allen & Overy which established offices in Perth and Sydney earlier this year, has reported banner profits from its global operations. And…

Dec 22, 2010 1:21 AM CST

Iraqi Lawyers Watch ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ to Learn Trial Techniques

A Mayer Brown partner relied on To Kill a Mockingbird when he traveled to Iraq this fall to teach trial techniques to lawyers who advocate for the legal rights of victims of domestic violence. Matt Rooney used movie excerpts to show how Atticus Finch delivered opening and closing statements and…

Dec 21, 2010 12:29 PM CST

Lawyers for WikiLeaks Founder Outraged as Documents Leak About His Own Accusers

Lawyers for the founder of the secret-revealing WikiLeaks website are expressing outrage about a new development in the Swedish sex case in which their client–who has not been charged–is being sought for questioning. One of the same newspapers that earlier published a stash of confidential United States diplomatic cables obtained…

Dec 20, 2010 11:07 PM CST

Top UK Judge OKs Reporters’ Use of Twitter, Texts & E-Mail in Court

Journalists should routinely be allowed to use Twitter and send texts and e-mail from smart phones from courtrooms while covering legal news, the most senior judge in the United Kingdom said today in a note providing guidance to others. The action by Igor Judge, the Lord Chief Justice of England…

Dec 20, 2010 7:29 PM CST

Commerce Dept. Panel’s Report Calls For Internet ‘Privacy Bill of Rights’ and New Oversight Office

In a report (PDF) released today, an Internet policy task force at the U.S. Department of Commerce calls for the creation of a “Privacy Bill of Rights” as well as an oversight office to help enforce it. Although it made little mention of a “do not track” option suggested last…

Dec 17, 2010 12:12 AM CST