Webinar: Building a Career In Public International Law: Pathways for Young Lawyers

On 31 October 2023, Volterra Fietta hosted a virtual seminar on “Building a career in public international law: Pathways for young lawyers”.

There has never been a better time to be a young lawyer aspiring to have a career in public international law.  Nowadays, lawyers specialising in public international law are in higher demand than ever.  In addition to a small number in private practice, public international law lawyers work for banks and financial institutions; major companies; international organisations and in government; and also as part of academic institutions and think tanks.  On a day-to-day basis, these lawyers deal with important geopolitical issues, including conflicts and wars; human rights; business and human rights; climate change; and trade and investment.

But what does a public international law lawyer actually do?  And how can you go from studying public international law to practising it, as a career?  Or, if you are already practising public international law in one way, how can you transition to another career path?

This virtual seminar covered these questions by hosting speakers who work in a wide range of public international law positions, including private practice and academia.  The seminar provided key insights on careers in international law and the daily activities of those working in the field.

Our distinguished panel of speakers were:

Professor Diane A. Desierto, Professor of Law and Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame. Professor Desierto teaches and serves as faculty director to the LL.M. international human rights programme at the University of Notre Dame.  She has served as the former Chair-Rapporteur of the Expert Group of the United Nations Working Group on the Right to Development.  She publishes on international law topics, such as sovereignty, maritime security, international economic law, ASEAN law and international arbitration.  She is also part of editorial boards of numerous renowned journals. In addition to her position at the University of Notre Dame, she teaches at various universities around the world as a visiting lecturer.

Mr Gunjan Sharma, Partner at Volterra Fietta.  Mr Sharma is a New York-qualified attorney who specialises in international dispute resolution, advising clients on complicated issues of public international law. He represents States before the International Court of Justice, investors and States in investor-State arbitrations and has been counsel to clients before numerous domestic courts and tribunals on international law matters.  He has also served as an expert witness on behalf of a State on matters of sovereign immunity, public international law and administrative law.  Mr Sharma publishes on international law topics, such as international space law and international arbitration.  Legal 500 recently recognised Mr Sharma as a “Next Generation Partner” in public international law in the very first year of his eligibility for that title.

Ms Magdalena Kowalczuk Asher moderated this event.  Ms Kowalczuk Asher, Associate at Volterra Fietta, advises and represents States, international organisations and private parties on a wide range of public international law and international dispute resolution issues.

For any queries regarding the content of the seminar, please email seminars@volterrafietta.com.