George Washington Law Review Symposium: Suing Foreign Sovereigns in U.S. Courts

Jack Morton Auditorium. The George Washington Law Review's Vol. 95 Symposium will convene distinguished practitioners and scholars for discussion of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) in honor of its 50th anniversary. On Thursday, October 8, 2026, Professor Bill Dodge will moderate an Expert Panel, featuring practitioners who were involved in drafting the FSIA, who have litigated using the FSIA, and who have worked at the State Department. On Friday, October 9, 2026, we have gathered distinguished scholars to critically explore the FSIA through two panels, one that examines exceptions to the FSIA and the other that explores the FSIA in context, as well as a Keynote Address by Sir Michael Wood. Register for the Symposium Here Symposium Schedule: Thursday, October 8, 2026 4 – 5:30 pm: Expert Panel (GW Law Moot Court Room) Moderator: William Dodge, Lobingier Professor of Comparative Law and Jurisprudence, GW LawHon. Charles N. Brower, Judge, Iran-United States Claims Tribunal and Arbitrator Member, Twenty Essex ChambersJohn Bellinger, Partner and Co-Chair, Global Law & Public Policy, Arnold & PorterDavid Bowker, Partner-in-Charge, Washington DC Office, WilmerHaleMark Feldman, Former Deputy and Acting Legal Adviser U.S. Department of StateMary Catherine Malin, Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center on National SecurityRobert Kry, Partner at MoloLamken LLP Friday, October 9, 2026 9 – 9:15 am: Registration & Coffee (GW Law Kelley Lounge) 9:30 am – 9:45 am: Opening Remarks (Jack Morton Auditorium) Dayna Bowen Matthew, Dean and Harold H. Greene Professor of Law, GW Law9:45 am – Noon: Exceptions to Immunity Panel (Jack Morton Auditorium) Moderator: Sally Pei, Partner, Arnold & PorterIngrid Brunk, Helen Strong Curry Chair in International Law, Vanderbilt UniversityWilliam Dodge, Lobingier Professor of Comparative Law and Jurisprudence, GW LawMaryam Jamshidi, Associate Professor of Law, University of Colorado Law David Stewart, Professor of Practice Emeritus, Georgetown Law12:15 – 1:15 pm: Luncheon (GW Law by invitation only) 1:30 pm– 2:30 pm: Keynote Address (Jack Morton Auditorium) Sir Michael Wood, United Nations International Law Commission2:30 – 4 pm: FSIA in Context Panel (Jack Morton Auditorium) Moderator: Laura Dickinson, Lyle T. Alverson Professor of Law, GW LawBradford Clark, William Cranch Research Professor of Law, GW LawChimène Keitner, Homer G. Angelo and Ann Berryhill Professor of Law and Director of the Center for International Law and PolicyEdward Swaine, Charles Kennedy Poe Research Professor, GW Law4 pm – 4:15 pm: Closing Remarks (Jack Morton Auditorium)