Professor Lori Damrosch Elected to Top International Law Group

New York, Sept. 16, 2009 – Lori Fisler Damrosch, the Henry L. Moses Professor of Law and International Organization, has been elected to the Institut de Droit International, generally considered the leading society of international lawyers.

 

Damrosch was elected to associate membership in the institute at its meeting in Naples this week. She is one of just 132 members in the group, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1904.

 

The private group studies timely and important topics of international law and makes recommendations to governments in an effort to help resolve conflicts and controversies. It also works to strengthen compliance with international law, an area where Damrosch is a leading expert. She was recognized by the institute for her contributions toward promoting U.S. compliance with its international legal obligations.

 

Institut de Droit International (Institute of International Law) was founded in Belgium in 1873 to promote international law and, in part, also promote peace.

 

Damrosch joined the Law School faculty in 1984 after working as an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell. She previously served in the Office of the Legal Adviser in the State Department following a clerkship with then-U.S. District Judge Jon O. Newman.

Damrosch teaches International Law and Enforcing International Law at the Law School. She also serves as faculty advisor for the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the world’s largest moot court, with over 500 participants from more than 80 countries.

 

Damrosch is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves as co-editor of the American Journal of International Law.

 

Other Law School faculty and alumni who have been elected to membership include Louis Henkin, University Professor Emeritus; Roy S. Lee, an adjunct professor; the late Oscar Schachter; the late John Stevenson; Hanquin Xue ’80 LL.M, ’95 J.S.D.; and Sienho Yee ’93.

 

"I am honored to have this opportunity to participate in the work of such a distinguished scholarly body," Damrosch said. "I am especially gratified to follow in the footsteps of others from Columbia who were members of the Institut in their day, including Oscar Schachter and John Stevenson, two of my mentors."

 

Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, stands at the forefront of legal education and of the law in a global society. Columbia Law School joins traditional strengths in international and comparative law, constitutional law, administrative law, business law and human rights law with pioneering work in the areas of intellectual property, digital technology, sexuality and gender, criminal, and environmental law.
 
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