On April 12 the International Law Institute hosted a conference and discussion on the release of Ambassador John Maresca's [Ret.] new book "The Unknown Peace Agreement: How the Helsinki–Geneva–Vienna–Paris Negotiations of the CSCE Produced the Final Peace Agreement to formally concluded World War Two in Europe".

The agreements setting the foundations of relations between Post Soviet Russia and the Western nations, is as critical and sensitive today, as it was 30 years ago.

The agreement, formally known as the Joint Declaration of Twenty Two States, signed by their heads of state or government, including George H W Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev on November 19, 1990 in Paris, this "peace treaty" ended World War II. The chief US negotiator of this agreement and many others, Ambassador Maresca has had a most distinguished career, twice Chef du Cabinet to NATO Secretaries General, and rector of the UN University for Peace, possibly most noteworthy was his appointment in early 1991 by Secretary James Baker as special envoy to open US relations with the newly independent states of the former USSR. He was the first American official to visit these countries, including Ukraine. His assistant throughout this mission was Marie Yovanovich, later US ambassador to Ukraine.

Ambassador presented his book and the "Baker mission". He was introduced by his former colleague Avis Bohlen, former assistant secretary of state and American ambassador to Bulgaria, and daughter of Charles Bohlen, who was once Jack Maresca's boss in the Department.

 




THE PUBLICATION:


TITLE:                THE UNKNOWN PEACE AGREEMENT

                          How the Helsinki–Geneva–Vienna–Paris Negotiations of the CSCE Produced the Final Peace Agreement
                          and Concluded World War Two in Europe


AUTHOR:            John J. Maresca


PURCHASE:      https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-unknown-peace-agreement/9783838216324

DESCRIPTION:

The “Joint Declaration of Twenty-two States,” signed in Paris on November 19, 1990 by the Chiefs of State or Government of all the countries which participated in World War Two in Europe, is the closest document we will ever have to a true “peace treaty” concluding World War II in Europe. In his new book, retired United States Ambassador John Maresca, who led the American participation in the negotiations, explains how this document was quietly negotiated following the reunification of Germany and in view of Soviet interest at that time in normalizing their relations with Europe. With the reunification of Germany which had just taken place it was, for the first time since the end of the war, possible to have a formal agreement that the war was over, and the countries concerned were already negotiating in Vienna in preparation for a summit-level signing ceremony in Paris. With Gorbachev interested in more positive relations with Europe, and with the formal reunification of Germany which had just taken place, such an agreement was — for the first time — possible. All the leaders coming to the Paris summit had an interest in producing a document which would formally conclude the War — a “peace agreement” -- and which would be signed at the summit level by the Chiefs of State or Government of the states which were participants in the war. This gave impetus for the negotiators in Vienna to draft such a document, intended to normalize relations among them. The "Joint Declaration" was negotiated carefully, and privately, among the Ambassadors representing the countries which had participated, in one way or another, in World War Two in Europe. And the resulting document—the “Joint Declaration” — was signed at the summit level, at the Elysée Palace in Paris, on November 19, 1990. But this “Joint Declaration" was overshadowed at the time by the "Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe" — signed at the same signing ceremony — and has remained un-noticed since then.


AUTHOR:

The “Joint Declaration of Twenty-two States,” signed in Paris on November 19, 1990 by the Chiefs of State or Government of all the countries which participated in World War Two in Europe, is the closest document we will ever have to a true “peace treaty” concluding World War II in Europe. In his new book, retired United States Ambassador John Maresca, who led the American participation in the negotiations, explains how this document was quietly negotiated following the reunification of Germany and in view of Soviet interest in normalizing their relations with Europe. With the reunification of Germany which had just taken place it was, for the first time since the end of the war, possible to have a formal agreement that the war was over, and the countries concerned were all gathering for a summit-level signing ceremony in Paris. With Gorbachev interested in more positive relations with Europe, and with the formal reunification of Germany, such an agreement was — for the first time — possible, because for the first time since the War it was possible to negotiate and agree with Germany as the single, sovereign state which had conducted the war. All the leaders coming to the Paris summit had an interest in a formal conclusion to the War, and this gave impetus for the negotiators in Vienna to draft a document intended to normalize relations among them. The Joint Declaration was negotiated carefully, and privately, among the Ambassadors representing the countries which had participated, in one way or another, in World War Two in Europe. The resulting document — the “Joint Declaration” — was signed, at the summit level, at the Elysée Palace in Paris. But there was no public announcement of the Joint Declaration and its significance, and it was overshadowed by the "Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe" — signed at the same signature event — and has remained un-noticed since then.

No one could possibly have foreseen that the USSR would be dissolved about one year later, making it impossible to negotiate a more formal treaty to close World War II in Europe. The “Joint Declaration” thus remains the closest document the world will ever see to a formal “Peace Treaty” concluding World War Two in Europe. It was signed by all the Chiefs of State or Government of all the countries which participated in World War II in Europe.

Ambassador John J. (“Jack”) Maresca spent a career as an American diplomat and negotiator, after six years as a US Naval Officer. He was the “Chef de Cabinet” for two NATO Secretaries General, and was involved in the CSCE negotiations from the time when NATO was preparing for them in Brussels. He went to Helsinki for the opening round of the CSCE, pursued the negotiations through the first CSCE conference, which was concluded at the summit level in Helsinki, and became the Deputy Head of the United States Delegation. He was then in charge of the State Department office which tracked the follow-up to the Conference and was later named as the Ambassador and Chief of the American delegation when the Conference was reconvened in Vienna to prepare for the second CSCE summit in Paris. He was then designated as a special Ambassadorial envoy to open US relations with the newly independent states, after the dissolution of the former USSR, and was the first official American visitor to these countries after their independence.

Foster De Reitzes

The International Law Institute is sad to announce the recent passing of Foster De Reitzes. Foster served as Secretary of the Board for the International Law Institute; Senior Advisor; and legal advisor for ILI publications. Mr. De Reitzes supported the operational goals of ILI, our international development mission, and our collective goals of building the technical capacity of global leaders and their governments, strengthening international bonds, and expanding the rule of law.

Foster served the ILI for over 20 years. His calm nature, thoughtful advice, and quick smile will be long remembered, greatly appreciated, and very much missed.

Prior to ILI, Foster was a partner with the law firm of Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP. There Foster had over 30 years of private practice experience in corporate, administrative law, and energy. Foster received his BA in Government from Cornell University and law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He was been admitted to practice in New York and Washington, DC; before the U S Supreme Court; and federal circuit courts of appeal.

In New York, Foster practiced corporate and securities law. In Washington, DC, Foster spent more than 12 years representing Native American tribes and Alaska Native corporations on a wide variety of energy and other matters. Foster then concentrated his practice on commercial transactions and major court and administrative litigation with emphasis on the utility and steel industries. In his support and promotion of new enterprises and technology, Foster also managed angel investment for start-up tech companies for many years.

We will miss Foster.

THE INTERNATIONAL LAW INSTITUTE (ILI) HOSTED A WEBINAR ON
“REFORM IN INVESTMENT ARBITRATION: NEW DEVELOPMENTS AT ICSID & UNCITRAL”

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2022, 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM ET

International Law Institute hosted a 75-minute panel discussion by leading practitioners in the investment arbitration field on the recent developments in the reform at ICSID and before the UNCITRAL Working Group III (WG III). As announced by ICSID on January 20, ICSID submitted resolutions on the amended ICSID rules to the Administrative Council - ICSID’s governing body - for a vote of approval by March 21 with the new rules coming into effect on July 1, 2022.

UNCITRAL Working Group III is scheduled to meet the week of February 14 to engage in further discussions concerning an arbitrator code of conduct, and the proposed international investment court, among other issues. Our panel of guest speakers will provide an update on the status of these efforts and what they may mean for investor-state dispute resolution in the future. This will be followed by a discussion and a Q&A session with the attendees.

MODERATOR:

• • Ian A. Laird, Crowell
    

OPENING REMARKS:

• • Professor Don Wallace, Chairman, International Law Institute
    

SPEAKERS:

• • Mallory Silberman, Arnold & Porter
  • Karin Kizer, Attorney Adviser, U.S. Department of State
  • Lauren Mandell, Wilmer Hale 

CONTRIBUTORS:

• • Borzu Sabahi, Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle
    
  • José Antonio Rivasr, Xtrategy LLP

In 2021 the International Law Institute was honored to have hosted nine distinguished in-person delegations from the Parliament of Kenya through 2021.

The International Law Institute is proud of a long and constructive relationship with the Government of Kenya extending from the 1980s. Over the many years, ILI has worked constructively to support capacity training, and technical conferences training over 600 Kenyan officials.  ILI values our close relationship and trust our programs continue to contribute to our shared goals promoting promote the effective application of good governance and the rule of law.

ILI Director Kim Phan, developed and delivered each of the 2021 programs. These programs were graciously recognized by the Senate of Kenya: Kenya Senate Formally Commends ILI    [click for article and video] 

ILI would like to thank the expert faculty who contributed to these important training: Reb Brownell (former Deputy Chief of Staff to Mitch McConnell) Hon. Tom Davis (former Chairman of the U.S. House Oversight Committee), Rick Messick, Phil Kiko (former Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives), Thomas Hicks (Vice-Chairman, Election Assistance Commission), Susan Oursler (former Chief Clerk of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee). Art Rynearson (former Deputy Legislative Counsel, U.S. Senate), and Kenneth Kraft (former staff on U.S. House Appropriations Committee).

Kenyan Senate Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights

May 31 – June 3, 2021

This distinguished 10 member delegation including the Chairpersons of eight Senate Committees  Guided by teh Justice Committee, conferences focused on a comparative understanding of the U.S. Senate, Legislative Oversight, Administrative Operations of a Legislature, and Elections and Election Disputes, and a site visit to the Maryland House in Annapolis adding to the experiential understanding.  

Leadership of the Senate of Kenya Executive Leadership

June 7 – 9, 2021

The Honorable Speaker of the Senate of Kenya led an eminent 13 member delegation which included the Senate Deputy Speaker, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, Senate Majority Whip, and Senate Minority Whip. By request the Speaker, point of discussion included Legislative Leadership, Managing the Personalities of a Legislature to get Performance, Working with Senate Leadership, Legislative Oversight of the Executive, and Performance and Functions for Senate Leadership Staff. 

Senate Board of Management – Group I Executive Leadership

August 9 – 12, 2021

The Clerk of the Senate of Kenya led an esteemed delegation of 10 members which included the Deputy Clerk, the Director of Legal Services, and the Director of Committee Services, Director of the Parliamentary Service Commission Secretariat, the Director of Legislative and Procedural Services, and the Director of the Senate Legislative Office. The core of our sessions focused on principles of Senate Board of Management, Executive Legislative Leadership, comparative U.S. Senate, Management, Administration, and Service Delivery of a Congress, and Leadership and Decision Making. 

Senate Board of Management– Group II Executive Leadership

August 16 – 19, 2021

This 10 member delegation led by the Clerk of the Senate included the Deputy Clerk, the Director of the Speaker’s Office, the Hansard Editor, the Director of Finance and Accounting Services, the Sergeant-At-Arms, and the Chief Procurement Officer. Program conferences concentrated on Executive Legislative Leadership and included discussion of the U.S. Senate, Management, Administration, and Service Delivery of a Congress, and Leadership and Decision Making.

Senate Liaison Committee – Group I Leadership and Committee Functions

August 30 – September 2, 2021

Led by the Chairpersons of the Senate Committees on: Agriculture, Education, Finance and Budget, Labour, Environment and Natural Resources, National Cohesion, and the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on National Security. As the Liaison Committee features Chairpersons of all standing Senate Committees, this program consisted of leadership and committee functions training including Senate Leadership, the Structure and Function of a Senate Committee, and Legislative Oversight. 

Senate Liaison Committee – Group II Leadership and Committee Functions

October 25 – 28, 2021

This 12  member delegation was led by the Honorable Speaker of the Senate included the Chairpersons of the Senate Committees on: Devolution, Energy, Justice, Health, Trade, and Roads.  Program concentrated on Leadership and Committee Functions, Legislative – Executive Relations and included a high-level panel discussion on the U.S. – Kenya Free Trade Agreement. Speakers on the Panel included the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Kenya and the President of the Corporate Council on Africa.

National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee

November 2 – 4, 2021

Led by the Chairperson of the Justice Committee and included eight Members of the Committee along with the Chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Implementation, this training focused on the work of the Committee including comparative conferences on the structure of the U.S. Congress, Legislative Oversight of the Executive, as well as Roles and Functions of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.

National Assembly of Kenya Training on Devolution, Legislation and Oversight

November 8 – 12. 2021

This distinguished 9 member delegation consisted of the Chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Budget and Appropriations and included the Chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Finance, the Director of the Parliamentary Budget Office, the Director of Finance and Accounting Services, the Director of Legislative and Procedural Services, the Deputy Director of Litigation, the Director of Committee Services, and the Legal Counsel for the National Assembly. This program  focused on financial aspects of the devolution process of Kenya. Topics included an Overview of Congress, Legislative Drafting, the Appropriations Process, and an overview of the US Congressional Budget Office.  

Deputy Leadership of the Kenya Senate Executive Leadership and Legislative

December 7-10, 2021

Led by Senator Margaret Kamar, the Deputy Speaker of the Senate, the 7 member delegation included the Deputy Majority Leader, the Deputy Minority Leader, Deputy Majority Whip, and the Speaker’s Panel.  This program focused on Executive Leadership and Legislative Training for the Deputy Leadership of the Kenya Senate.

The Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies, the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, and the International Law Institute present a forum and accompanying report on “Covid-19 and the Role of Technology”.

Further contributions and support were generously provided by the International Center for Terrorism Studies, the University of Maryland,  Instito de Fusion Nuclear Fusion (IFN) “Guillermo Velarde” of the Polytechnical University of Madrid (UPM), Cyber Security and Privacy Research Institute (CSPRI) a George Washington University institute chartered within the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the International Law Institute.

This forum focuses specifically on “COVID-19 and the Role of Technology” (December 2021) and its experienced lessons anticipating future health and security related challenges nationally and globally. This timely Forum reviews selected successful and new technologies, such as bio-detection, respiratory epidemiology, vaccinations, artificial intelligence, cyber defense, as well as other relevant topics.

Contributions and insights were provided by an invited interdisciplinary panel of academics and practitioners who participated at a special virtual Forum held on June 29, 2021 and administered at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. The program of this event began with opening remarks by Dr. Jennifer Buss (CEO, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies). The virtual Forum was moderated by Professor Yonah Alexander (Director of the International Center for Terrorism Studies and Senior Fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies). Presentations and discussion were offered by Distinguished Professor Rita Colwell (University of Maryland, College Park; Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health); Dr. Daniel Gerstein (Former Acting Undersecretary and Deputy Undersecretary for the Department of Homeland Security); Dr. Donald Milton (Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Medicine, School of Medicine); Dr. Costis Toregas (Director, Cyber Security and Privacy Research Institute at The George Washington University); Dr. Neil Wasserman (Department of Computer Science The George Washington University); Dr. Eric L. Moore (Director, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC)); Dr. Natividad Carpintero-Santamaria (Professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) and General Secretary of the Instito de Fusion Nuclear “Guillermo Velarde”); and Amb. (Ret.) Charles Ray (Former US Ambassador to Cambodia and Zimbabwe). Closing remarks were delivered by Professor Yonah Alexander.

This forum was conducted at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies.

 




SPECIAL FORUM: COVID-19 AND THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY
DOWNLOAD REPORT HERE

Forum Video:

Sheila Khama   Director - SK Resources Consulting [Pty] Ltd.		Stuart Kerr President - International Law Institute

Shiela Khama, Director of SK Resources Consulting and Stuart Kerr, ILI President joined together on Sheila Khama Extractives Podcast to discuss the "Ecosystem of Negotiations By State and Investors".

The discussion focused on considerations and strategies in planning and carrying out effective negotiations, both domestic and international, to establish both a strong position, but one which optimistically leads to a mutually beneficial outcome for all parties.



You may listen to the podcast here:

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Ms. Khama is Director of SK Resources Consulting [Pty] Ltd., a Botswana-based natural resources consulting firm.  Prior to SK Consulting, Ms. Khama served as CEO of DeBeers Botswana; and directed the mining units of the African Development Bank and World Bank.

SK Consulting, offers services in mineral, oil and gas policy, governance and sustainability strategies to private and public sector clients.  Other support services include land tenure, PPPs and SMEs development initiatives. Ms. Khama advised boards of extractive companies doing business in and outside Africa. Ms. Khama is an authority on Africa’s geo-politics and the development environment and conduct business at the highest levels of government and industry.

Ms. Khama serves on advisory boards and technical committees of international NGOs, UN agencies, and academic institutions concerned with human development, sustainable exploitation of natural resources and a low-carbon future, notably the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network on Extractives and Land Resources, the United Nations Office of Operations, the Columbia University Sustainable Investments Centre and the former Oxford University Natural Resources Charter.

Ms. Khama has written thought pieces, documented policy tools and coordinated research and cases studies carried out by experts to support fact-based policy reforms in renewable and non-renewable resources.


You may learn about Sheila Khama, SK Consulting, and access Ms. Khama's weekly podcasts through the following: 


     Sheila Khama Extractives Podcast:     https://www.sheilakhama.com/podcast/     *     
     Sheila Khama Weekly Podcasts:         https://www.sheilakhama.com/content-policies/     *
     SK Consulting Website:                       https://www.sheilakhama.com/
     Sheila Khama Twitter:                          https://twitter.com/SheilaKhama

     * Podcasts are also available on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon music and Google

The Inter-University of Terrorism Studies presents:

POST 9/11: TWENTY YEARS OF MULTILATERAL COUNTER-TERRORISM COOPERATION

another in a series of special forums on terrorism, Covid-19, national policies, and international cooperation.

The resort of force and violence by state and non-state actors in the struggle for power within and among nations is as old as history itself. Both the strong and the weak have deployed modus operandi capabilities ranging from primitive to modern technologies with profound consequences to the security concerns to the global system.

It is not surprising therefore that two decades after 9/11, terrorism from above and below still continues to cast a worrisome arc of instability and political conflicts over many countries and regions of the world. The debate in democracies over the need to craft effective responses to domestic and international terrorism focuses inter alia on realpolitik coupled with moral and human rights considerations.

For instance, since 9/11 expanded state power in the Unites States, these have included policies such as “Global War on Terror”, “Overseas Contingency Operations”, and other strategic and tactical approaches authorizing the use of military force internally and externally. Additionally, the European Union developed key road maps and tool kits for combating terrorism and securing the national interests of member-states (e.g., prevent, pursue, prosecute, punish, persuade, and protect).

Most recently, the United Nations that began its annual General Assembly session in September 2021, has placed discussion items on its agenda regarding combating and eliminating terrorism as well as maintaining international peace and security.

Mindful of the past and current security concerns, effective multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation requires increased international alliances of like-minded nations through diplomacy and other measures in responding successfully to potential conventional and non-conventional terrorist threats in the remainder of the 21st Century.

In this context, the Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies (IUCTS), the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies (PIPS), the International Law Institute (ILI), and other academic partners organized the virtual academic Forum on “Post 9/11: Twenty Years of Multilateral Counter-Terrorism Cooperation” held on September 09, 2021.

The program of this event began with opening remarks by Professor Don Wallace, Jr. (Chairman of the International Law Institute) and Dr. Jennifer Buss (CEO, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies). The virtual Forum was moderated by Professor Yonah Alexander (Director of the International Center for Terrorism Studies). Presentations and discussion were by Dr. Raffi Gregorian (Deputy to the Under-Secretary-General & Director, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism), Gen. (Ret.) Wesley Clark (Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander), Amb. (Ret.) Stuart Eizenstat (Former Senior Official with Three US Administrations and Ambassador to the European Union), Hon. Richard Prosen (Deputy Director, Office of Multilateral Affairs, Bureau of Counter-terrorism, U.S. Department of State), and Distinguished University Professor Rita Colwell (University of Maryland, College Park; Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health). Closing remarks were delivered by Gen. (Ret.) Alfred Gray (29th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps (1987-1991) and Chairman of the Board of Directors and Regents, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies).

This event is the latest Forum on inter-disciplinary health and security threats mounted within the academic framework of 2021 programs.



THE FULL REPORT MAY BE DOWNLOADED HERE

The Senate of Kenya invited Kim Phan, ILI Director of International Relations to the Senate Chambers on September 7, 2021.  The Senate of Kenya publicly recognized and appreciated the International Law Institute and Ms. Phan for the training programs that ILI has conducted for the Senate.  Since May of 2021, ILI has conducted five in person trainings for the Senate of Kenya. 

These training programs include: Executive Leadership training for the Leadership of the Senate, Leadership and Committee Functions for the Senate Liaison Committee, Leadership and Administration for the Senate Board of Management Group 1 and 2, and Legislative Issues for the Committee on Justice, Human Rights, and Legal Affairs.

After the recognition of ILI by Deputy Speaker Margaret Kamar; the Deputy Minority Whip Senator Beatrice Makori Kwamboka spoke about being in the ILI Leadership course and how she had benefited and will be implementing the lessons she learned. The Senate Majority Leader Senator Samuel Poghisio joined in on a word of thanks and declared that he was a student of ILI.

MANUJ BHARDWAJ

The International Law Institute is proud to announce the addition of Mr. Manuj Bhardwaj as an advisor on India including law, policy, climate, and economics.  In addition to his counsel on India specifically, Mr. Bhardwaj will continue to collaborate with ILI on programs and international conferences focused on India, South Asia, climate, and trade.

Manuj Bhardwaj is an international lawyer, policy negotiator and strategist for the sovereign states at International Courts, Tribunals & Multilateral Forums. He specializes in international trade & investment, climate policy & governance, strategic affairs and foreign policy. Until recently, he was worked as the Head of Climate Governance, Energy and Trade Policy Advisory at BSM Legal Advisors & Strategy Consultants LLP.

He has advised organizations and businesses with market entry & profitable expansion strategies. He has been a part of various multilateral negotiations on trade, investment, climate change and foreign policy. Manuj has substantial and sizeable knowledge of economic affairs, business development, legal & policy issues, strategy shaping, international trade & investment, climate change law and international relations. He has experience of working with range of governmental, inter-governmental, non-governmental organizations and educational institutions on strengthening India's bilateral relations in the areas mentioned above.

He is passionate about climate issues and is researching on how economic growth & climate action can prevail together for the developing and under-developed countries. His research focuses on current international climate policy and energy law topics as well as topics that are at the forefront of public policy and debate. He is working on providing an overview of the modern legislative and regulatory framework, and how federal and state regulators and policy leaders work cooperatively (or uncooperatively) to balance economic, environmental, and societal values. His study on The Importance of Climate Justice has been published by Connect4Climate which is a global partnership program of the World Bank Group and the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea, together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The same has been quoted by various universities and professors in their books and journals.

He is also a regular invitee to heads of states meetings, diplomatic missions, international conferences and policy dialogues such as Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018 in London (UK), UNFCCC's COP 23 in Bonn (Germany), Commonwealth Secretariat's Observer Mission to Sierra Leone for General Elections and UNCTAD's World Investment Forum 2018, Geneva to name a few. He has led high-level delegations to the US and UK. He is also the Co-Chair of "The India - UK Legal Exchange Programme" an initiative by Indian and UK law firms in partnership with various other regulatory & government institutions including The Law Society of England & Wales and Members of House of Lords & House of Commons, UK Parliament. Manuj was also the convener of International Conference on Trade & Investment Law (TRAIL) 2019 in New Delhi organized by United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD) in partnership with Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India and The Commonwealth Secretariat. He has also worked at British Parliament in the House of Commons for a short period of time. In 2018, he announced a grant of USD 15000 for young entrepreneurs/start-ups at World Investment Forum organized by United Nations Conference on Trade & Development at UN Headquarters in Geneva. He is a regular speaker & invitee to various international forums of the United Nations on human rights, entrepreneurship, trade & investment and climate change. He is currently the Executive Secretary of The Indian National Association of Legal Professionals (INALP).

Manuj has a Dual Masters (MSc) in Public Policy & Human Development with specialization in Foreign Policy & Development from United Nations University & Maastricht University based in The Netherlands. He has a special interest in curating conferences and capacity-building programs for the Indian legal fraternity in partnership with various national & international organizations. Manuj is an adjunct faculty at a number of law schools in India and abroad. Manuj was also the youngest member of the Commonwealth Secretariat Observer Mission to Sierra Leone’s Presidential Elections. During this mission he had an opportunity to hold various discussions around Climate Action and International Trade with all leading political parties of Sierra Leone, the then President and the Presidential Candidates. He also had the opportunity to discuss these issues with peers from DFID, UNDP, European Union, ECOWAS and the African Union. He is currently based in the US and pursuing his Doctoral research at American University Washington College of Law.