38 lawyers and judicial officials from 17 countries convene to study U.S. law, sharpen cross-border skills, and build international networks
The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (SWIICL), an institute of The Center for American and International Law (CAIL), has launched the 60th Academy of American and International Law (the Academy) at CAIL’s education center in Plano. This multi-week legal program has drawn 38 participants from 17 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
The Academy provides non-U.S. resident lawyers, judicial officials and legal professionals with intensive training in practical legal skills and substantive areas of law, including legal writing, negotiations, international arbitration, litigation, business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, international taxation, intellectual property, cybersecurity, and more.
This year’s participants represent a range of global institutions, including top international law firms such as Baker McKenzie, Dentons, CMS, Gianni & Origoni, and Legance. The participants also include judges and government workers from Ethiopia, Uganda and the Philippines, as well as attorneys from multinational corporations like Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Sojitz Machinery, and Colgate-Palmolive.
“For six decades, the Academy has brought together brilliant legal minds from around the world,” said Jay Ray, Director of SWIICL. “This year’s group continues that legacy—learning from the U.S. legal system and exchanging ideas that strengthen global legal understanding.”
Several participants are attending through scholarships that expand access to this globally significant program. Among this year’s recipients is Helewena Nesru Kedir, a judge of the Ethiopian Federal High Court and the inaugural recipient of the Mark Smith Academy Scholarship, made possible by an endowment fund launched in 2024 to support international legal scholars. The fund honors former CAIL president Mark Smith’s dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, ensuring that talented individuals from all backgrounds can access the Academy’s transformative opportunities.
For updates and insights, follow SWIICL on LinkedIn. For media availability, including coordination of b-roll, photos, and interviews throughout the program and its graduation, please contact CAIL's Communications Officer, Karla Larraga, at klarraga@cailaw.org.
About the Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law - The Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law (SWIICL) was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1963 as a division of The Center for American and International Law, an international nonprofit educational institution for lawyers, judges, and law enforcement professionals. Since 1963, SWIICL has offered annual programs focusing on international business transactions and private investments worldwide while developing professional relationships among distinguished lawyers, business leaders, and government officials worldwide. SWIICL's premier annual event is the Academy of American and International Law.