ILS @Annual Meeting

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting @Marriott Marquis – Houston

International Law Section Schedule | Thursday, June 11, 2026

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Section Membership Meeting

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (1 Hour CLE) | “Back in the Game? Business Opportunities and Legal Realities in Venezuela”

Course Description:

As geopolitical shifts and evolving U.S. sanctions policy renew international interest in Venezuela, practitioners advising clients on cross-border matters must navigate a landscape that is at once promising and legally complex. This program provides a comprehensive examination of the current business environment in Venezuela and the legal frameworks that govern—and constrain—engagement there.

Panelists:

• Victor Barrientos, Founder & Managing Attorney, Barrientos International Law, PLLC (Houston) – Moderator
• Mariana S. Avendaño, Senior Associate, Corporate & Finance, Hogan Lovells (Houston)
• Diogenes L. Bermudez, Ph.D., Legal Director for the Americas, CB&I (Houston)
• Derrick Kyle – Senior Associate, Firm Name TBA (Dallas)

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (1 Hour CLE) | “Global Capital, Texas Growth: International Law Perspectives on Economic Development”

Course Description:

As Texas strengthens its role as a global commercial hub, lawyers increasingly advise clients on cross-border investment, supply chain relocation, and international business expansion. This CLE panel will explore how international law intersects with Texas economic development initiatives, including foreign investment review, trade policy, tax incentives, treaty considerations, and regulatory challenges affecting inbound and outbound investment. Panelists will provide practical insights for counsel representing companies, developers, investors, and governmental entities.

Panelists:

• Kathleen Campbell Walker, Practice Group Chair – Immigration, Dickinson Wright PLLC – Moderator
• Betty Russo, Regional Representative – East Texas, Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office (Office of the Governor, State of Texas)
• Peter Rodriguez – Dean of Rice University’s School of Business; Incoming President of Wake Forest University (Houston)
• Sebastien Solar - Houston Market President, Commerce Bank (Houston)

Note: There’s no cost to attend these events unless you need CLE credits in which case you will have to register for the Annual Meeting.