REFLECTIONS-27 SEPTEMBER-1 OCTOBER 21

THIS IS REFLECTIONS, our weekly roundup of events in the legal and technology sector, covering various topics and interesting learning points for today’s professionals.

If you couldn’t make an event, don’t worry, we probably made it and have all the juicy scoop for your reading pleasure and learning.

Do you have an upcoming event you would like us to know about or attend? OR do you know of one you would like to read about? Send an email to us HERE.

EVENT ONE

WOMEN, BUSINESS AND LAW

ASSESSING WOMEN FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Moderator: Doris Ahiata.

Speaker: Cynthia Quarcoo

The speaker started by saying that empowering women and promoting gender equality is critical to accelerating. economic growth and development. This is a human rights matter which has a multiplier effect across various developmental areas.

She noted that Globally, only about 55% of women are engaged in the labour market as opposed to 78% of men. It has also been observed that women earn about 50% less than men on the same job done and occupy fewer leadership positions.

She said that everyone including government and International organizations should take and saddle the responsibility of ensuring women are more involved in the labour market.

On whether women are financially included she noted that In 2017, a World Bank Report showed that globally about 1.7 billion adults remain unbanked (without an account at a financial institution or through a mobile money provider).

The report further stated that 55% of these are women.

The speaker also said that globally, women have fewer economic opportunities. Women are more likely to work in informal employment and invulnerable, low-paid, or undervalued jobs, she mentioned that about one in 10 women are not consulted about the way their own earnings are spent.

The speaker went ahead to mention that women often have more limited opportunities for educational attainment, employment, asset/land ownership and control over their financial futures in general.

On how the gap between women and men in the labour market can be bridged, she mentioned that the gender gap is not magically going to close by itself and that everyone must all be ready to work towards achieving this.

She also noted that despite overall progress in financial inclusion, the gender gap in account ownership has remained persistent since 2011 and this is according to Global Findex.

The speaker noted that reasons are complex, often interwoven with greater exclusion and vulnerability for women than men, and underpinned by social norms, which are not well understood or tackled by financial inclusion programming.

She also noted that Increasing women’s financial inclusion is especially important as women disproportionately experience poverty, stemming from unequal divisions of labour and a lack of control over economic resources.

The speaker noted that a lot of women remain dependent on their husbands, and about one in three married women from developing countries have no control over household spending on major purchases.

On her recommendations, she noted that at the International Organizations level, it is important to know that the United Nations has declared under the Sustainable Development Goals that, by the year 2030, there should be more inclusive of women in the economy and growth regarding

gender equality.

She noted that the IMF, is also contributing by working on diversifying their leadership by supporting women to occupy more leadership positions. Also, that If efforts are not made, it will be easy to weaken the work that has been accomplished so far.

WEBINAR REPORT

TOPIC: CAREERS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW- PRIVATE SECTOR

DATE: September 29, 2021

TIME: 5pm-6pm

INTRODUCTION

This online event was organized by the International Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan and designed for students, lawyers and anyone interested in international relations, international business or international law. It was a panel discussion among distinguished panelists about careers in private-sector international law. The discussions included comments and tips based on the panelists’ personal experiences on career planning, connecting with mentors and the relevant skills and qualifications required for a career in international law. This event was initiated by Elizabeth Storm, Council Member at the International Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Also present at the event was Elliot Church, outgoing Chair of the International Law Section.

PANELISTS

Bruce Thelen, J.D., International Trade Attorney, Dickinson Wright PLLC

Christopher Giles, J.D., LL.M., International Law Attorney, Culhane Meadows Haughian & Walsh PLLC

Eve Lerman, J.D., Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S Commercial Service

Gregory Fox, J.D., Professor of Law, Wayne State University Law School (Moderator)

CHRISTOPHER GILES ON HIS EXPERIENCES;

Mr Giles who speaks Russian, Ukrainian, German and French began his law career in Kyiv Ukraine. He practiced at Asters Law firm. His career in international law began prior to going to law school at Michigan State University where he got his JD.

It was a no-brainer that he will do international law considering he was also proficient in languages. The Berlin wall came down in his last semester in college and he had to adjust himself career-wise as his cold war training became obsolete.

Afterward he went to study law and got his law degree at age 37. Mr. Giles Spent 7 years in Ukraine as an expatriate lawyer, moving personnel across borders, setting up offices overseas, navigating sanctions laws. He also did some work as a legal adviser for a Ukrainian NGO.

He was exposed to cross-border transactions, investment disputes arbitration, due diligence reports on Ukrainian targets being acquired by Western entities and project finance. Today, the bulk of his work is focused on immigration law. For Mr. Giles, there is no formula.

This was his path and journey. Currently, his practice focuses on representing clients and government entities in corporate and non-profit cross-border investment within the United States, Russia and Ukraine.

Mr. Giles recommended that attendees who have an interest in International Law should take courses in it, take opportunities to travel abroad where it comes up and get involved with bar associations, network and find mentors and explore the opportunities they offer and take advantage of them. Becoming proficient in a language that suits your goals was also important.

BRUCE THELEN

Mr. Thelen described himself as International general counsel, working with US companies that do business outside the US. He has a wide range of experience and practice in international trade and commerce. International trade is important because there is a global supply chain and all kinds of problems that developed because of that.

While explaining International trade, Mr. Thelen told the attendees about the life cycle of a company that is expanding internationally.

The first stage is the export sale that is followed by setting up sales representatives in other countries, distributors, licensing technology, subcontracting production outside the united states giving regard to trade barriers, currency exchange issues, customs duties, transportation costs etc. also where there is a need to be closer to customers, Mr. Thelen gives advice on setting up Overseas subsidiary or drafting a joint venture agreement.

The first thing he asks a client who wants to do export business is whether such client has had their trademark registered in the target country. Trademark pirates who look for evidence that a product may be coming into their market and file the trademark first would lead to having to negotiate with the trademark holder.

Mr. Thelen advises that the attendees continue to learn and actively pursue their interests and in this rapidly changing world, opportunities will undoubtedly present themselves.

EVE LERMAN

Ms. Lerman earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Wayne University in Detroit. She earned a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Michigan Law School and LLM in Comparative European Law and International Law in Florence Italy. Ms. Lerman works as a Senior International trade specialist for the US Dept of commerce.

In the department of commerce, there are 13 bureaus and one of them is the International Trade Administration and within the ITA, she works for the US Commercial Service which is essentially the export promotion arm of the US Government.

The US Commercial Service works directly with US companies to help them interface with their colleagues all over the world in other US Embassies and consulates in approximately 80 countries. They offer business consulting with government hats on.

The kinds of work they do include helping US Companies find business partners overseas, distributors, vet potential business partners, advocate on behalf of US companies bidding on a project with a foreign government, licensees, or joint venture partners, etc.

Ms. Lerman suggested that persons who were interested in working in the US Commercial Service would do well to get some background or experience in Business via work or additional studies. Learning a foreign language also positions a person for a career in International law. A graduate degree can also be an added advantage.

QUESTIONS

An attendee asked the panelists if BREXIT had impacted the work of the International lawyers and if there were any new challenges with doing business abroad.

Ms. Lerman’s answer was that, In the past, countries going to Europe to do business, view the UK as a good launching point, owing to various reasons one of which is the commonality of language, now these companies have to have a 2-part business strategy, one for the EU and a separate strategy for the UK.

The event came to a close after the questions were answered.