From February 20-21, 2026, ABILA and the International and Comparative Law Program at UCLA School of Law hosted International Law Weekend – West at UCLA School of Law. The theme of the conference was New Frontiers, Evolving Rules: The Future of International Law.

The first panel on Friday, “Cities as Global Norm-Shapers: Urban Power at the New Frontiers of International Law, featured a conversation with Ambassador Nina L. Hachigian (ret.), Alliance for Local Leaders International, moderated by Kai Raustiala, UCLA School of Law. The second panel, “Revisting the Use of Force: Legal Norms, State Practice, and Emerging Contours in International Law,” included Michael Kelly, Creighton University School of Law; ABILA President Michael Scharf, Case Western Reserve University School of Law; David Glazier, Loyola Law School; and Rachel VanLandingham, Southwestern Law School. The third panel, “Reflecting on the Ongoing Negotiations for a New Treaty on Crimes Against Humanity: Challenges and Prospects,” was composed of Leila Sadat, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law; Gissou Nia, Strategic Litigation Project at the Atlantic Council; Hannah Garry, USC Gould School of Law; and Saira Mohamed, UC Berkeley Law.

Saturday began with a Keynote Speech on “Standing Up for International Law” by Michael Scharf. At a time when international law and institutions are under attack, he said that academics, business executives, law firm heads, judges, and leaders of international associations like the ABILA can make a difference by taking a stand. The first Saturday panel, “Artificial Intelligence and the Boundaries of International Law,” featured Julia Powles, UCLA School of Law; Peter Yu, Texas A&M School of Law; Ioanna Tourkochoriti, University of Baltimore School of Law; and Nina Toft Djanegara, UCLA School of Law. Speaking on the second panel, “A Necessary IDEA: International Human Rights Law and U.S. Public Policy in Differential Treatment of Social Groups,” were Chandra Bhatnagar, ACLU of Southern California; Kevin R. Johnson, University of California Davis; Kelley Loper, University of Denver Sturm College of Law; Jerry Kang, UCLA School of Law; and Aaron Fellmeth, Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. The final panel, “Protest and International Law,” included Alison Dundes Renteln, University of Southern California; Shenali Pilapitiya, University of Southern California; Florian Kriener, Max Planck Institute, Yale Law School; Federico Barillas Schwank, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law; Bahar Mirhosseni, Cornell Law School; and Jess Peake, UCLA School of Law.

ILW West was organized by Professor Jess Peake, Director of UCLA’s International and Comparative Law Program, and Alyssa Krieger, Program Coordinator. Articles generated by the conference speakers will be published in the UCLA Journal of International Law in its 30th volume in 2026.