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12th annual Salzburg Global Cutler Fellows Program gathered over 50 law students in Washington, DC
From February 8 to 10, 2024, the 12th annual Salzburg Global Cutler Fellows Program: International Law in Times of Great Power Competition convened in Washington, DC, gathering over 50 students from 14 of the top law schools in the United States. This year’s Cutler Fellows engaged with experts from the US government, the private sector, and academia to learn the importance of international law in navigating an increasingly competitive global environment.
The Cutler Fellows Program, which is held by Salzburg Global’s Lloyd N. Cutler Center for the Rule of Law, works in partnership with 14 of the leading law schools in the US: University of California Berkeley, University of Chicago, Columbia University, Cornell University, Duke University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, University of Michigan, New York University, Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, the University of Virginia, and Yale University.
Before the in-person program, Cutler Fellows met for a virtual panel featuring a candid discussion on the role of international law in managing rising competition in Asia. The panel was moderated by Mark Wu, the Henry L. Stimson Professor of Law at Harvard Law School; Ambassador Lo Chang-fa, Permanent Representative of Taiwan to the World Trade Organization; and Tim Groser, former Ambassador of New Zealand to the US and former Member of Parliament in New Zealand.
The in-person program kicked off with a welcome reception, during which Cutler Fellows engaged with Payam Akhavan, legal counsel to the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law, to discuss a landmark case before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The case, brought by several small island nations currently facing new threats from climate change, seeks an advisory opinion on what obligations countries have in preventing carbon emissions that contribute to rising sea levels. While speaking with Cutler Fellows, Akhavan focused on the complex issues facing the group of nine island states and the case’s potential implications for international law amid new threats from climate change.
The following morning, Cutler Fellows gathered at the United States Institute of Peace to hear from leading academics and policymakers on whether international law can effectively manage great power competition. The panel discussion featured Benjamin Wittes, Editor-in-Chief of Lawfare; Ambassador Beth Van Schaack, US ambassador-at-large for Global Criminal Justice; and Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.
Following the panel, students participated in workshops led by faculty representatives from partner schools to refine their papers for academic journal publication. This year’s student papers covered diverse topics, ranging from autonomous weapons to climate asylum policies, among many others. Cutler Fellows engaged with Benjamin Wittes to learn about writing for policy audiences through a new partnership with Lawfare. Harry Reis, a Cutler Fellow from Columbia Law School, has since published an article titled After the Israel-Hamas War, a Transitional Trusteeship for Gaza, with Lawfare.
In the evening, Cutler Fellows gathered at the Austrian Embassy with Salzburg Global friends and Fellows for the 10th annual Lloyd. N. Cutler Lecture, titled Advancing the Rule of Law: Finding the Riches Hidden in an Inch. This year’s lecture was given by Hugh Verrier, Partner and former Chair at White & Case LLP, who shared stories and lessons learned from his extensive work to advance the rule of law around the world, including by establishing and expanding White & Case’s practice in Russia after the end of the Cold War. Verrier encouraged Cutler Fellows to take the path less traveled and use their newly acquired skills to effect positive change for society and the rule of law globally.
On the final day of the program, Cutler Fellows participated in the ever-popular “Knowledge Café” sessions to discuss their own personal goals and motivations with mentors and experts in international law.
This year's Knowledge Café featured Amanda Tuninetti, Associate at Covington & Burling and a 2015 Cutler Fellow; Katrin Kuhlmann, Faculty Co-Director of the Center on Inclusive Trade and Development at Georgetown Law; Barbara Medrado, International Trade Associate at King & Spalding and a 2019 Cutler Fellow; Gomiluk Otokwala, Senior Counsel at the International Monetary Fund; and Thomas Weatherall, Attorney-Adviser in the Office of the Legal Adviser for Human Rights and Refugees at the US Department of State and 2013 Cutler Fellow.
Between connecting with legal experts and mentors, Cutler Fellows had the opportunity to connect with peers from other leading institutions. “Joining fellows from T14 Law Schools and engaging with esteemed legal professionals, public servants, and international law leaders was truly enlightening,” said Nour Kallel, a Cutler Fellow from Cornell Law School, “The [Cutler Fellows program] offered a platform to receive valuable feedback on my work and to discuss career trajectories in the realm of international law and public service.”
Tatiana Varanko, a Cutler Fellow from Duke University, saw the peers she engaged with as a key benefit of participating in the program. “I had the opportunity to connect with a community of brilliant legal scholars and future colleagues from top law schools with a shared passion for international legal issues,” she said.
The program concluded with a panel event titled "Navigating Gray Zones: Legal Implications of Emerging Technologies", which explored the unanswered legal questions posed by new technological capabilities such as artificial intelligence. Participants included Paul Stimers, Partner at Holland & Knight LLP; Tarun Chhabra, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Technology and Security at the National Security Council; and Victoria Espinel, President & CEO of the Business Software Alliance.
The Salzburg Cutler Fellows Program is held under the auspices of the Lloyd N. Cutler Center for the Rule of Law. The program is held in collaboration with fourteen of the leading US law schools.