Fall 2014 International and Comparative Law Newsletter

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T H E GEORGE WA SHI NGTON U N I V ER SIT Y L AW SCHOOL

RECENT EVENTS

INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE LAW

Perspectives PERSPECTIVES

Understanding the World through Tax:

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defining feature of GW Law’s international and comparative law program is the excellence of its faculty. Known for its breadth and depth, the faculty has members who are well-versed in both international law and comparative law. Many faculty members also straddle both public and private dimensions of international problems. One person who takes such an expansive approach is Professor Karen B. Brown, Donald Phillip Rothschild Research Professor of Law. Karen specializes in international tax law, a subject

PERSPECTIVES 1, 5–6 WHAT’S NEW 1 RECENT EVENTS 2–7

A Profile of Karen B. Brown

Karen B. Brown

FALL 2014 ISSUE

to which she was drawn while pursuing a JD degree, and later an LLM, at New York University. While her international focus is shaped largely by treaties, with a particular emphasis on those between the United States and other states, she also brings a comparative analysis to international tax. Karen is particularly intrigued by “different approaches countries take and the vastly different policy choices they make” in their treatment of emerging nations. So, how did Karen develop her international and comparative angle? Like many legal academics, Karen developed an international focus while in college. At Princeton University, she majored in Romance languages and literature and specialized in French. Princeton found her a job—also known as a “stage”—in a fashionable épicerie (a high end food emporium) named Hédiard. While enjoying leftover chocolates, croissants, and pastries, she honed her French and discovered the joy of meeting people from different cultures. As Karen describes it, “I found it fascinating how certain ways of using language signaled the uniqueness in people, but I was also surprised at the similarities across borders, races, colors, and creeds.” She returned to college thinking about how international law would enable her to “understand the way in which the special language of law separated and united people.” With that in continued on page 5

RECENT FACULT Y PUBLICATIONS, ACTIVITIES, AND HONORS 8–11

WHAT’S NEW

Sean Murphy: Fighting Crimes Against Humanity

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he U.N. International Law Commission has appointed Sean D. Murphy, Patricia Roberts Harris Research Professor of Law, as a Special Rapporteur for crimes against humanity. In this role, Professor Murphy will guide the Commission in drafting an international treaty that will reach the U.N. General Assembly. “The idea in the treaty is to address a current gap in international law,” he said. “Unlike genocide and serious war crimes, we have no treaty that regulates inter-state cooperation—such as extradition and mutual legal assistance— on the other core crime of international law, crimes against humanity.” n


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