OBA Young Lawyers Division and International Law PROGRAM | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (ET)

From trade tariffs, armed conflict and humanitarian crises, international law is all over the news, but you don't need to practice international law to run into it. A cross-border M&A deal, a company conducting international trade or investment activities in Canada, a Canadian business that must navigate customs and tariff issues, a contract containing a foreign choice of law clause, a judgment that needs to be enforced abroad, an employee who relocates to another country, or a custody dispute that crosses national boundaries: international law shows up in Canadian domestic practice far more often than most lawyers expect, and when it does, it can be difficult to know where to start.

Join us for this helpful primer and you’ll walk away able to: 

• Understand the distinction between public and private international law, and how each intersects with Canadian domestic practice 
• Identify the key sources of international law, how they are given effect in Canada, and where to find them 
• Recognize common cross-border issues in everyday domestic practice, including international trade and investment issues as a Canadian or foreign company conducting business in Canada, choice of law and forum clauses in commercial contracts, enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, service and evidence abroad, employee mobility and immigration, and family matters that span borders
• Know when, and to whom, to escalate an international law issue, and what to ask before you do 

Join our panel of experienced practitioners as they work through real-world cross-border scenarios and share guidance on spotting and dealing with international law issues before they become problems. 

Whether you're new to the area or just looking to sharpen your issue-spotting skills, this program will give you the foundation and resources to handle cross-border legal issues with confidence.  

PROGRAM CHAIRS

Prateek Awasthi, Mathews Dinsdale & Clark LLP  
Selena Zabian, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP