UGA Alumni

Georgia Law alumna Chanel Chauvet-Maldonado (J.D. ’18) publishes article about the importance of cultural fluency in Washington Lawyer 

University of Georgia School of Law alumna Chanel Chauvet-Maldonado (J.D. ’18) recently published an article titled “Cultural Fluency: A Necessary Legal Edge for International Lawyers” in the September/October 2025 issue of Washington Lawyer.

In the article, Chauvet-Maldonado makes the case that cultural intelligence, or the capability to function effectively across various cultural contexts, is a critical skill for international lawyers. She observes that, in the evolving landscape of international engagement, international lawyers are functioning as “de facto diplomats,” and thus this skillset is more pertinent now than ever. Chauvet-Maldonado provides best practices for organizations preparing international legal actors, including:

  • Integrate cultural intelligence into the hiring criteria
  • Provide immersive cultural and legal training
  • Recruit for diverse perspectives
  • Establish feedback loops
  • Mentor for cross-cultural competence
  • Reward cultural stewardship

Chauvet-Maldonado is an international lawyer working within the Nuclear Nonproliferation Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) as a Nuclear Nonproliferation Regulatory Specialist. Prior to joining ORNL, she worked as a Nonproliferation Policy and Law Analyst on the Legal Frameworks Team at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. She also served as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva on behalf of the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists where she advocated before the Human Rights Council and liaised with foreign stakeholders in high-level discussions. Prior to that, she worked in the Law and Policy Forum at the International Committee of the Red Cross headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, developing the case study supplement accompanying the ICRC’s Guidance Tool on International Humanitarian Law for the Judicial Sector. She also clerked for Honorable Chief Judge Tusan of Fulton County’s Superior Court in Atlanta, Georgia, up until her retirement. Chauvet-Maldonado is a member of the Dean Rusk International Law Center’s Advisory Council.

Georgia Law alumnus Alexandre Jorge Fontes Laranjeira (LL.M. ’23) presents at EducationUSA LL.M. Fair in Brasília, Brazil

Today, we welcome a guest post by Georgia Law alumnus Alexandre Jorge Fontes Laranjeira, who graduated with his Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in 2023. Laranjeira recently represented the law school at the EducationUSA LL.M. Fair held in Brasília, Brazil. Laranjeira is currently a Federal Court of Appeals Judge for the First Region in Brazil. In this role, he sits on a three-judge panel that primarily handles appeals related to the role of Federal Regulatory Agencies, and appeals concerning Education Law, Health Law, Patent Law, Environmental Law, and Banking Law. Prior to his current appointment, Laranjeira served as a Federal District Court Judge for nearly 31 years. His extensive judicial career includes overseeing Federal District Courts in four different states across Brazil, with a notable tenure of four and a half years in the Amazon Region. His experience in these diverse jurisdictions has endowed him with a profound understanding of environmental and indigenous populations matters. Before ascending to the bench, Laranjeira was a Career Prosecutor for the Federal District in Brazil, where he honed his legal acumen and prosecutorial skills. Despite residing in Brazil, he is a registered mediator with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, a credential he obtained through the Georgia Law Mediation Clinic course. Laranjeira serves as a member of the Dean Rusk International Law Center’s Advisory Council.

On October 9, 2025, I represented the University of Georgia School of Law at the EducationUSA LL.M. Fair held in Brasília, Brazil. The event was part of the EducationUSA Latin America LL.M. Tour Fall 2025, which included visits to Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Colombia. The Brazilian portion of the tour covered four major cities (Brasília, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, and São Paulo), all of which are among the most significant cultural and academic centers in my home country.

As a member of the Dean Rusk International Law Center Council, I volunteered for this opportunity to engage directly with Brazilian candidates interested in Georgia Law’s Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree program. My goal was not only to connect with prospective students, but also to promote Georgia Law’s international programs within my hometown and among members of the local legal community.

Representing Georgia Law at an international fair was an enriching experience on both personal and professional levels. I interacted with numerous law students eager to pursue international academic opportunities and met many talented and motivated individuals seeking to enhance their legal education abroad. As a Georgia Law LL.M. alumnus, I was able to share firsthand insights about the academic excellence, vibrant community, and welcoming environment that characterize life in Athens, Georgia.

I am deeply grateful to Anelise Hofmann, EducationUSA Country Coordinator, and Jefferson Couto, the local EducationUSA representative in Brasília, for their invaluable support throughout the fair. I also extend my thanks to Mandy Dixon, International Professional Education Manager, and Sarah Quinn, Director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center, for their guidance and for providing all the materials necessary to represent UGA at this important event.

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MASTER OF LAWS (LL.M.) APPLICANTS: The application for Georgia Law’s LL.M. class of 2027 is now open. Detailed information about the degree program and how to apply can be found here. Recruiting events, both virtual and in-person, are listed here.

Georgia Law alumnus Tom Harrold (J.D. ’69) featured in Global Atlanta interview about Atlanta as a hub for global business

University of Georgia School of Law alumnus Tom Harrold (J.D. ’69) recently spoke with Global Atlanta about Atlanta’s development as a center for international business in an article titled “Miller and Martin’s Tom Harrold Reflects on Atlanta’s Rise as a Global Business Powerhouse“. Harrold, a senior partner at Miller & Martin PLLC, serves on the Dean Rusk International Law Center’s advisory council.

Harrold, one of the founders of the World Law Group, describes milestones in Atlanta’s international growth dating back to Governor George Busbee’s initiatives in the 1970s to the development of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Delta Airline’s international connectivity, and local leaders thinking globally, including Coca-Cola’s Robert Woodruff and civil rights leaders.

The interview concludes with Harrold’s belief in the importance of nurturing a future generation of globally-minded citizens:

As he looks ahead, Mr. Harrold remains confident that Atlanta and Georgia’s competitive advantages—combined with a welcoming business environment—will continue to attract foreign investment for years to come. 

“At the end of the day, we need people that can communicate with workers in the workforce, and then great incentives that the state and local governments provide to new industries coming in,” Mr. Harrold said.  

“We need our young people to look out and see there’s a whole other world out there. They need to travel and go see these other countries, so they can have a real appreciation for an international career—and then come back to Georgia.” 

A 1969 graduate of the law school, Harrold leads Miller & Martin’s International/World Law Group practice. He has for many years worked with European and Asian companies investing in the Southeastern United States and with American companies that have been expanding around the globe. He previously served as the deputy commissioner of the Georgia Department of Revenue, and he has been instrumental in navigating significant pro-economic legislation through the Georgia General Assembly. He is a founder of the World Law Group, an international legal network with over 6o member firms with offices in 92 countries. In 2009, he was awarded the Cross of Merit of Germany by President Horst Köhler. He is presently a member of the law school’s Board of Visitors.

Georgia Law partners with the Washington International Trade Association to present webinar about careers in international trade 

In March, the University of Georgia School of Law partnered with the Washington International Trade Association (“WITA”) to present a webinar about careers in international trade and law. This webinar was part of WITA Academy’s ongoing Pathways to Opportunity Series: Careers in International Trade & Law, through which law students and undergraduates are able to learn about career opportunities in international trade and law from law firms and trade professionals. This webinar featured alumni/ae from Georgia Law and the university.

The webinar included:

  • Introductions from Diego Añez, Executive Director, WITA Academy; Managing Director, Washington International Trade Association and Kenneth I. Levinson, Chief Executive Officer, Washington International Trade Association
  • A panel discussion featuring:
    • Nancy Fischer, Global Head of Regulatory Practices, International Trade Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (B.B.A. The University of Georgia; J.D. Syracuse University College of Law)
    • Eric Heath, Senior Attorney Advisor, U.S. International Trade Commission (B.A. Lipscomb University; J.D. University of Georgia School of Law, LL.M. University of Edinburgh Law School)
    • Tina Termei, Director & Associate General Counsel, Amazon | Global Trade, Transportation, Logistics, & Supply Chain (B.A. Emory University; J.D. The University of Georgia School of Law)
  • Panel moderation from: Desirée LeClercq, Assistant Professor, University of Georgia School of Law and Faculty Co-Director, Dean Rusk International Law Center

During the panel discussion, students were able to gain insights from trade law experts, engage with policymakers and legal practitioners, and explore career opportunities in international trade law from government, companies, and law firms. Students gained a unique perspective on the wide-ranging career paths available in the trade law and policy community, creating connections with key players across both the public and private sectors. All attendees received a free one-year membership to WITA.

A recording of the panel is available to WITA members. To join, email: events@wita.org

Georgia Law alumnus elected as president of the Atlanta International Arbitration Society

The Atlanta International Arbitration Society (“AtlAS”) recently elected University of Georgia School of Law alumnus and Rusk Council member Dr. Christof Siefarth (LL.M., ‘86) as President.

Siefarth is currently a partner at the German law firm Bodenheimer. He took office as President after AtlAS’s plenary meeting at Smith, Gambrell & Russell in March. Siefarth has been active in AtlAS throughout its 14-year history.

Siefarth has significant experience in arbitration throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. He has participated on many AtlAS conference panels over the years, and he also has led discussions at AtlAS’s plenary meetings, including in December 2022, where the topic was “U.S. Experience with DIS Arbitration.” Siefarth is licensed to practice law in Germany and New York.

AtlAS’ mission is to promote and enhance Atlanta as a place to resolve the world’s business disputes using international arbitration and mediation. The University of Georgia School of Law is a founding organization and hosts its annual lecture every three years. Both Dean & Talmadge Chair of Law Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge and director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center Sarah Quinn serve on the organization’s Board of Directors.

Eduardo Conghos (LL.M., ’98), speaks about Argentinian environmental law at UGA Law

Director of GreenCo SA and National University of the South professor Eduardo Conghos (LL.M., ’98) spoke to students at the University of Georgia School of Law last week about environmental law in Argentina and the effects of “constitutional greening” in Latin America. The conversation was moderated by Adam D. Orford, Assistant Professor of Law.

Conghos provided students with historic context for environmental legal developments in Latin America, tracing the global period of “constitutional greening” that stretched from the 1970s through the 90s. Over these two decades, 14 of the 20 countries in Latin America encoded environmental considerations and protections into law. Some common characteristics included protection of natural resources, wildlife, and protected natural areas; a right to the environment; and a right to public participation in environmental processes. Despite these strong constitutional protections for the environment, Conghos noted that the lack of statutory laws created tension between judicial rulings in favor of environmental protection and consistent implementation and oversight of environmental regulations. He used the 2007 Argentinian Supreme Court decision, Mendoza, Beatriz Silvia et al. v. National Government et al. about damages (damages derived from the environmental pollution of the Matanza Riachuelo River) and the rulings that followed it to illustrate this conflict. Students asked Conghos about the reality of the private sector being able to adapt to new environmental regulations and whether arbitration would be the appropriate way to address some of these issues.

Conghos is an environmental lawyer, consultant, and professor based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is currently the Director of GreenCo S.A., an environmental consulting business that provides services to both public and private institutions. Conghos is also professor at the National University of the South in Buenos Aires, where he has worked in several faculty positions since 1999. His specialties include environmental legislation and environmental training, skills that he has honed over several decades of experience in both the public and private sectors in Argentina. Dr. Conghos received his LL.M. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1998, as well as postgraduate degrees from the University of Salamanca, the National University of the South, the University of San Andres, and Buenos Aires University.