Hello there,
I am a 3L at UC Hastings
who has recently returned to Hastings after a year abroad to pursue a
Master’s degree in Political Economy of Development at the University of
London, SOAS
in the UK. I have been following TLB since my first month at Hastings and
thought that it is about time for me to contribute to the blog instead of
staying in the background as a passive reader. I think I share with some of you
a common interest in issues related to China and the Asia Pacific region.
Within the region, my research focuses mostly on comparative constitutional
law, late developing economies, industrialization, technology catch up and rent
seeking, as well as bilateral and multilateral trade relationships between
countries and regions.
I spent my 1L summer working as a research
assistant for professors David
Jung and Steven Bonorris before taking up a month of studying at the
University of Hong Kong (HKU) through a summer abroad program with Duke University.
The classes concentrated mostly on South and South East Asian comparative law
and investment. Later in the summer, I interned at AJU International Law Group, a large-size law
firm in Seoul, South Korea. The experience was highly instructive and my
interactions with amazing local people made me very fond of Korea. My 2L year
started in September 2008 at SOAS in London, doing a Master’s in international
economics.
While in London, I did a short internship
for Michael Mansfield’s Tooks Chamber assisting
in a rape and assault case in London’s Criminal Crown Court in the Spring. I
spent my second year summer attending yet another Duke's summer abroad program, this time at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, where I studied
Comparative Federalism, International Criminal Law and International Tax Law.
The last part of the summer found me working for one of the most prestigious
and oldest law firms in Geneva, PBKA
and Associates. As a summer associate, I assisted the partners and carried
out research on trade, tax, immigration and investment law. I also gave
advice on updated tax treaties between Switzerland and other EU members. In
addition, I had the opportunity to become involved in the litigation of a trade
dispute and to draft correspondence for a high-profile investment fund client.
However, the most exciting experience involves my research assignment in a
lawsuit derived from Bernard Madoff class action lawsuits in which one of our
clients, a director of a large investment fund in Geneva, who had previously
allocated at a large portion of the fund to Madoff zombie fund. The case was
brought in Geneva court under torts law of negligence. I also acted as a
coordinator between the law firm and the International Alliance against Madoff
to retrieve information in preparation for trial.
In
joining TLB, I hope to share with you
some of the views I have come to hold in my field of research as well
as to
exchange opinions, ideas and learning opportunities. Given my training
in law
and economics, as well as the fact that I have been absent from
studying law for a short while, you may find that my writings are
occasionally skewed
towards economic analysis on top of policy and legal framework. I hope
that
this spin off offers a new and different approach toward the world's
issues.
Other than a few other things, I'm a casual blogger
and an avid mountain
biker. Please feel free to send me a note to argue, negate or supplement my
thoughts. We could certainly do this either on this board, or on a ride if you
are up for a break on a mountain bike.
Cheerio!
Christine