BC Law hosted more than 20 events in March that ran the topical gamut from cryptocurrencies to space law. Legal history was also well represented and included the opening of an exhibition of The James S. Rogers Collection: Examining the Past to Inform the Future.
The show consists primarily of old and rare books on commercial law that retired BC Law professor Rogers (above) acquired over decades as he researched and wrote on contracts, modern commercial law, the law of restitution, and the history of Anglo-American commercial law. Curated by librarians Laurel Davis and Katie Lewis, the exhibit is on view through early summer in the Danielle R. Coquillette Rare Book Room, which also houses the entire collection.
Another look into law’s past was provided by Professor Daniel R. Ernst of Georgetown University Law Center, who made a presentation in BC Law’s Legal History Roundtable Series on March 15. His topic was “You Cannot Live Your Dreams: Lawyers in the New Deal State.”
Global Perspectives on Space Law, Cryptocurrency From another universe entirely came air and space law authority Ronce Almond, a partner at the Wicks Group in Washington, DC. He spoke on the Outer Space Treaty, the foundational agreement framing international space law which, among other things, governs the placement of weapons of mass destruction in outer space. Almond was a guest of the International Law Society (ILS).
The ILS also organized the first in a two-part series, “What Are Cryptocurrencies?” The March 19 event featured Hugo Benedetti, who teaches what crypto-assest, blockchain technology, bitcoin, and initial coin offerings are. Currently doing PhD research in finance at Boston College, he has also taught at universities in Chile, and has held leadership roles in corporate finance, financial advisory, and venture capital.
Recurring Bankruptcy Issues and SCOTUS The American College of Bankruptcy made its regular pilgrimage to BC Law on March 23. Participants this year turned their attention to an exploration of practice and recurring issues before the US Supreme Court. Panelists included retired judge of the US District Court of the Southern District of New York Robert Gerber; University of Chicago Law Professor Douglas Baird; James Sprayregen of Kirkland & Ellis; former US Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr.; Danielle Spinelli of WilmerHale; Roy Englert Jr. of Robbins, Russell, Englert, Orseck, Untereiner & Sauber; and Catherine Steege of Jenner & Block.