Diplomatic Reception Honors Pro Bono Lawyers in Peace Making Activities

Thank you to all those who joined us at the Montenegrin Trade Mission to the United States for the First Annual Diplomatic Reception in April! It was a wonderful evening filled with lively discourse and wonderful hors d'oeuvres at the beautiful trade mission in Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. During the evening, Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG) recognized the contributions of their members, mentors and partner law firms. We honored the contributions of Covington & Burling; DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary; Steptoe & Johnson, LLP; Sullivan & Cromwell; Vinson & Elkins; and Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale & Dorr.

As a representative of one of our continuing clients and a long time ally of the United States, Ms. Zorica Maric, the Head of the Mission, was a generous and delightful hostess. Ms. Maric shared her appreciation for PILPG’s services throughout the years by highlighting the crucial assistance PILPG has provided to Montenegro. As an advocate for Montenegro over the course of the last several years, PILPG has further developed Montenegro's relationship with the United States, as Montenegro continues on its peaceful path to democratic self-rule and independence.

Paul Williams, the founder and executive director of PILPG, captivated our guests with the story of PILPG's creation in London, subsequent nurturing by the Carnegie Endowment for Peace, and present recognition by its clients as a 2005 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee for its services.

Throughout the evening over 150 guests delighted in making new acquaintances with others working in the international law and policy community. U.S. diplomats, lawyers, and foreign diplomats were among our guests for the evening. For many of our former classes of Peace Fellows and research assistants, the Diplomatic Reception gave them a chance to reconnect with former colleagues and meet this year's class. The evening provided an invigorating environment for the next generation of talent in the public international law arena to stay connected and supportive of each other.

We look forward to next year’s Diplomatic Reception and hope you will be able to join us! If you have any further questions about the Public International Law & Policy Group; please feel free to contact Miya Nazzaro at miya@pilpg.org.

Zorica Maric, Mark Vlasik, and Steve Doyle.

PILPG Senior Research Associate alumni Kerry McCormick, Karen Heymann, and Patricia Taft.

Picture honoring Vinson & Elkins with Paul Williams, Zorica Maric, Lori Mihalich, David Hawkins, Alex Evans, and Miya Nazzaro.