Harvard Asia Law Conference II
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The Harvard Asia Law Conference brings together legal practitioners who engage in various industries across Asia. This Conference provides students interested in international practice an opportunity to gain insights into major businesses and legal issues in Asia.
The Conference consists of six panels, detailed below:
Asia Practice Panel: Pathways for US JDs
Wed, April 1 | 12:15-1:20pm | WCC 1023
Lunch provided from The Maharaja.
The Asia Practice Panel highlights the diverse pathways available to U.S.-trained lawyers pursuing Asia-focused legal careers. Featuring practitioners from global big-law firms, the discussion will showcase work spanning transactional, litigation, and regulatory practices. Speakers will share insights from their experience advising on matters in or involving key markets such as China, Japan, and Korea, and explain how their practices intersect with cross-border business. In addition to the opportunities available, the panel aims to inform students about helpful skillsets and challenges involved in pursuing a career in private cross-border law.
In House, Across Borders: The Role of General Counsel at Asian Multinationals
Wed, April 1 | 6:00-7:15pm | WCC 1023
Dinner provided from Hippopo Chinese Kitchen.
This panel brings together senior in-house lawyers from leading Asian companies with major U.S. operations to examine the role of in-house counsel at companies operating in drastically different jurisdictions. Speakers will explore how legal teams navigate the complex dynamics between U.S. regulatory environments and the business, operational, and governance priorities of headquarters in China and other East Asian countries. The discussion will also highlight practical insights into cross-border collaboration, risk management, and strategic decision-making within global tech and multinational companies. Finally, the panel will focus on career pathways and opportunities for U.S.-based lawyers seeking Asia-related in-house and private-sector roles.
Maritime Security in the South China Sea: US and Philippine Perspectives
Thurs, April 2 | 10:30-11:30am | WCC B010
Filipino breakfast provided from Kuya Jay’s Ube Kafe.
This panel examines the legal and strategic dimensions of maritime security in the South China Sea, bringing together leading scholars and practitioners to explore one of the world’s most consequential regional disputes from the Filipino and American perspectives. Speakers will discuss the historical background of competing maritime claims, the legal frameworks governing them, and the significance of the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling involving the Philippines and China. The conversation will also analyze the broader geopolitical and legal implications of actions taken by regional and global actors and consider how this dispute shapes international legal norms and regional security dynamics.
The Nippon–U.S. Steel Deal: Law, Policy, and National Security
Thurs, April 2 | 12:15-1:20pm | WCC 1015
Lunch provided from Genki Ya Sushi.
This panel explores the legal, policy, and economic considerations shaping the U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel merger, drawing on a mix of perspectives from private practice, academia, and policy. The discussion will analyze how legal frameworks intersect with political and economic strategy in evaluating foreign investment. It will also consider the competing policy arguments that shape government decision-making in sensitive cross-border deals.
Paving the Way: The Future of U.S.-China Trade Relations
Thurs, April 2 | 3:30-4:30pm | WCC B010
Light refreshments provided from Phinista Café and Japonaise Bakery.
The U.S. and China are the world’s two largest economies, constituting nearly half of the global GDP and manufacturing output. They are also each other’s largest trading partners. Yet, over the past decade, their trade relationship has faced steep challenges characterised by an ongoing trade war, intense strategic competition, and geopolitical tensions. Gathering experts on international trade and policy, this panel looks into the history and future of U.S.-China trade relations under the current presidential administration, as well as its implications for law students and the broader Asian legal community interested in practicing in that region.
From Comparison to Conversation: Asia’s Role in Global AI Regulation
Thurs, April 2 | 6:30-7:30pm | WCC 1019
Dinner provided from Giggling Rice Thai.
Discussions of AI regulation often revolve around comparisons to a perceived global benchmark, with the EU AI Act positioned as the leading model. This panel shifts the lens. We explore what can be learned from the wide range of AI governance strategies developing across Asia. Governments in the region are experimenting with diverse regulatory tools, institutional structures, and policy priorities that reflect their unique social, economic, and technological contexts. By bringing these approaches into conversation, the panel aims to broaden the global regulatory dialogue and surface insights that may otherwise be overlooked in Eurocentric or single-model comparisons.
Post-Conference Reception
Thurs, April 2 | 7:45-10:00pm | Stoked Pizza Cambridge