New York International Law Review

  1. Home
  2. School of Law
  3. Academics
  4. Co-Curricular Programs
  5. New York International Law Review

The New York International Law Review (NYILR) is pleased to present its 2026 Symposium:

The Sanctions Dilemma in International Law: Enforcement or Coercion?

Economic sanctions have become a defining instrument of contemporary international relations. From the invasion of Ukraine to the crises in Iran and Venezuela, states are increasingly turning to sanctions as a tool of diplomacy, deterrence, and punishment, blurring legal boundaries between legal countermeasures and impermissible coercion under international law.

This Symposium will bring together leaders in the field to discuss how sanctions are designed, implemented, and enforced, and the legal thresholds that distinguish permissible countermeasures from unlawful economic coercion. A Q&A session will follow each panel discussion, light refreshments will be served between panels, and the program will conclude with lunch and a fireside chat.

Co-Sponsors

The Symposium is co-sponsored by the New York State Bar Association International Section and by the Law School’s Center for International and Comparative Law.

Date

Friday, April 17, 2026

Time

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location

St. John's University School of Law, Belson Moot Court Room, 2nd Floor

Program

Opening Remarks

NYILR Editor-in-Chief Eqra Muhammad ‘26

Topic Introduction

Professor Peggy McGuinness

Panel I: Reshaping the Global Economic Order: The Form and Function of Sanctions

This panel will address the form and function of economic sanctions as unilateral and multilateral tools of international relations. 

Panel II: Sanctions and International Law: Legitimate Enforcement or Unlawful Coercion?

This panel will explore how sanctions operate within different fields of international law as tools of enforcement and compliance, as well as coercion and punishment

Panel Moderators

Panelists Include

  • Olabisi D. Akinkugbe, Purdy Crawford Chair in Business Law and Associate Professor, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University

  • Peter Grabowski, Associate, Complex Commercial & International Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement, Seiden Law Group

  • David Lakhdhir, Of Counsel, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; Cross-Border Mergers, Acquisitions, and Strategic Joint Ventures; Director, Human Rights Watch

  • Stratos Pahis, Associate Professor of Law and Co-Director, Dennis J. Block Center on International Business Law, Brooklyn Law School

  • Maria Elena Vignoli, Senior Counsel, International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch

Lunch & Fireside Chat

Jose W. Fernandez, former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, will present The Economic Tools of U.S. Foreign Policy: A Career Perspective.

Register to Attend:

There is no fee to attend the Symposium, but please register in advance. Registrants will receive a recording of the Symposium after the event. 

More Information:

For more information about the Symposium, please contact NYILR Symposium Editor Daniel Gunduz ‘26 at [email protected]

About the New York International Law Review

The New York International Law Review is a publication of the International Law and Practice Section of the New York State Bar Association. Each year, the student editorial board and the editorial board of the Bar Association prepare two issues of the publication presenting a variety of articles written by professors and practitioners. 

Focusing on current issues of international concern, the New York International Law Review offers readers an assortment of articles on topics such as:

  • Intellectual property
  • Immigration
  • Trade
  • International human rights

The New York International Law Review also provides students with an excellent forum to publish their own articles and review of recent decisions. To be eligible for membership, students must complete the writing competition held at the end of first-year day and second-year evening programs. The selection process is competitive and evaluates all aspects of a student’s performance including GPA, writing competition scores, and blue book examination grades.

Faculty Advisor

Professor Margaret McGuinness

Follow Us on Social

Contact Us

New York International Law Review
St. John’s School of Law
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
(718) 990-6047
[email protected]