The Commonwealth of Nations: Complex multi-party negotiations and the future of multilateralism in a digital world

Please join us for a conversation with Luis G. Franceschi, LLB, LL.M, LL.D, Assistant Secretary General of the Commonwealth, an intergovernmental organization of 56 countries, 2.5 billion people, and one third of the world. Professor Franceschi was the founding Dean of Strathmore University Law School, in Nairobi.

At this event, Professor Franceschi will focus on two thematic issues: the nature of complex multi-party negotiations borrowing from his work at the Commonwealth of Nations and the place of a modern lawyer in the future of the legal profession amidst emerging technologies. He will discuss his extensive work with Heads of States in the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as address how diverse member states, each with their unique legal and political frameworks, engage in complex dialogues to address global challenges.
 
The session will also address the evolving role of lawyers in scholarship and practice of law, particularly in a world increasingly shaped by AI, blockchain technology, and innovation. The ongoing questions on how these developments affect global governance and the capacity of legal systems to adapt to the emerging technologies, particularly in multilateral negotiations, will be discussed. The session will conclude with a reflection on the future of the legal profession, and the skills lawyers must cultivate to navigate the complexities of modern, technology-driven global issues.
 
Professor Rachel Viscomi, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program (HNMCP), will moderate the discussion. Lunch will be served.