Three Cheers for José Alvarez and Lucy Reed

There are many topics that come to mind from yesterday’s ASIL program, but the biggest takeaway for me came from the annual meeting with the passing of the torch from José Alvarez to Lucy Reed.

The strength of any learned society depends on its leadership and Alvarez has done an exceptional job as ASIL President. His President’s columns have always been interesting and often provocative. His openness to innovation is impressive, from the promotion of ASIL West to resident Sabbatical Fellows. His commitment to junior scholars is commendable. At yesterday’s panel on New Voices, he said that the presentations were so good that he thinks we should have twice as many “new voice” panels and half as many “old voice” panels. In his final Presidential Column he relates a criticism from the old guard challenging the democratization of the society. “Another pre-eminent voice of the “old guard” passed on to me recently a criticism that he had heard: namely that our annual meetings have lately resembled ‘try-outs for the junior league.’ I explained that our Society has shifted to more democratic, bottom-up, processes with respect to how we organize our Annual Meeting…. I remain convinced that this shift is healthy if we are to remain a membership organization that seeks to engage and to attract the whole of our members, here and abroad. It is a way to convey to prospective members and to our student members that they need not wait decades before they too will be accorded the privilege of addressing their peers.” I love it.

Lucy Reed comes to the ASIL Presidency with large shoes to fill. I have known Reed for years, and I have absolutely no doubt that she will continue the tradition of outstanding leadership. She is one of the most prominent women in international arbitration, so I have watched her in action for years. I can confidently confide to anyone who does not know her that she is blessed with the Midas touch. In her inaugural speech, she emphasized her priorities as fundraising, women’s rights, and continuing legal education. It will be wonderful to watch the ASIL excel under her leadership.

Of course, it is a great honor to be ASIL President. But the ASIL members should be honored that we have the likes of Alvarez and Reed as our leaders.