The NYU Law Institute for Executive Education – Universidad Panamericana School of Law Collaboration Thrives

When international law scholar Professor Jaime Olaiz González visited NYU School of Law in 2014, he met with the founding executive director of the newly created Institute for Executive Education, Erin O’Brien. Their discussion centered on the transformative changes shaping legal education amid a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape. “At a time when there was talk of building walls, we focused on building bridges,” O’Brien remarked, highlighting the shift toward greater collaboration, inclusivity, and global engagement in legal education. This conversation marked the beginning of a lasting partnership between Universidad Panamericana and NYU Law.

The first fruit of this collaboration came in June 2016 with the launch of “Essentials of U.S.-International Tax Law for Mexican Lawyers,” directed by NYU Law’s Gerald L. Wallace Professor of Taxation Mitchell Kane. What began with three dozen Mexican lawyers grew significantly.

“At a time when there was talk of building walls, we focused on building bridges”

Responding to increased interest from students, the partnership expanded in 2022 with a second program focusing on cybersecurity. “Essentials of U.S. Cybersecurity and Technology Law,” directed by NYU Law Professor Judith Germano, now welcomes 60 participants annually. This groundbreaking program addresses the intersection of technology, law, and business, covering evolving security needs and regulatory challenges. Participants gain an understanding of internet security through legal and policy applications while benefiting from New York City’s rich ecosystem of practitioners. The curriculum includes investigating and prosecuting cybercrime, multinational regulation and collaboration, emerging technologies, and the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Professor Olaiz González emphasized the partnership’s significance: “As issues of law and policy in so many sectors increasingly transcend borders, we are proud to be pioneers in the area of international collaborations in the most pressing areas. That the collaboration between NYU Law and Universidad Panamericana continues to thrive is a testimony to how critical such programs are.”

Dr. Fernando Batista Jiménez, Dean of the Universidad Panamericana School of Law, added, “Our students have leaped at the chance to experience and learn from these groundbreaking programs, which expand their skills, their competency, and their ability to better serve their clients, whether in the private or public sector.”