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Event—“Intersections in Cultural Heritage Law” at Georgetown University Law Center March 29-30, 2016

Posted by Nicholas O'Donnell on March 16, 2016 at 9:53 AM

 I am pleased to be speaking at a conference in two weeks at Georgetown University Law Center entitled Intersections in Cultural Heritage Law. The two-day conference will address developments in international human rights and cultural heritage law, intersections of criminal and civil law concerning cultural property, extraterritorial protection of cultural property, and the international movement and restitution of cultural artifacts. In addition, world heritage and the world court will be discussed.

The distinguished keynote speakers are Professor Patty Gerstenblith, Distinguished Research Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Art, Museum & Cultural Heritage Law, DePaul University College of Law, and founding President of the Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation; Sir Frank Berman, former Legal Adviser to the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office; and Roger O’Keefe, Professor of Public International Law at University College London and author of the book The Protection of Cultural Property in Armed Conflict

I am speaking on the panel entitled “The International Movement and Restitution of Cultural Artifacts,” and my talk will address efforts to use United States courts to effect that restitution, as well as the policy issues that arise in those disputes.

As you can see, my co-panelists are a dazzling array of experience and intellect. I am very much looking forward to learning from them.

The conference program is reprinted below. Attendance is free of charge but registration is required. Hope to see you there.

Day 1: Tuesday, March 29, 2016, Hart Auditorium

Panel 1: International Human Rights & Cultural Heritage: Intangible Cultural

Heritage, Indigenous Cultures, and Human Remains

Vanessa Tuensmeyer, Maastricht University

Alison Renteln, University of Southern California

Christopher Frerking, University of New Hampshire School of Law & Heather Gill-Frerking, JD Candidate, Vermont Law School

Panel 2: Law of Armed Conflict & Cultural Heritage

Elizabeth Varner, U.S. Department of the Interior, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

Kristin Hausler, British Institute of International & Comparative Law (BIICL)

Alberto Costi, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

Response by Roger O’Keefe, University College London, Faculty of Law

Lunch Keynote: Five-Year Retrospective on the Cultural Heritage of Syria and Iraq (held in Gewirz Student Center, 12th floor)

Patty Gerstenblith, Distinguished Research Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Art, Museum & Cultural Heritage Law, DePaul University College of Law, and founding President of the Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation

Panel 3: International Criminal Law & Cultural Heritage

Anne-Marie Carstens, Georgetown University Law Center

Karolina Wierczynsja, Institute of Law Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences & Andrzej Jakubowski, Institute of Law Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences

Derek Fincham, South Texas College of Law

Panel 4: Extraterritorial Protection of Cultural Heritage

Vincent Negri, Le Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)

Lucas Lixinski, UNSW, Australia

Sabine von Schorlemer, Technical University of Dresden

Panel 5: The International Movement and Restitution of Cultural Artifacts

Rachelle Browne, Smithsonian Institution

Nick O’Donnell, Sullivan & Worcester LLP law firm

Day 2: Wednesday, March 30, 2016, Gewirz Student Center

Panel 6: World Heritage & the World Court

James Nafziger, Willamette University College of Law

Marina Lostal Becerril, The Hague University

Gabriele Gagliani, Ecole Normale Supérieur/University of Palermo/Bocconi University

Concluding Keynote: Commentary on the Case Concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Interpretation) (Cambodia v. Thailand)

Sir Frank Berman

Roger O’Keefe

Topics: Events, Georgetown University Law Center,, Intersections in Cultural Heritage Law

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About the Blog


The Art Law Report provides timely updates and commentary on legal issues in the museum and visual arts communities. It is authored by Nicholas M. O'Donnell, partner in our Art & Museum Law Practice.

The material on this site is for general information only and is not legal advice. No liability is accepted for any loss or damage which may result from reliance on it. Always consult a qualified lawyer about a specific legal problem.

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