Legal Milestones • February 2025

State Bar of Texas International Law Section Celebrates 50 Years

It Remains Committed to Bringing a Global Perspective to the Texas Bar.

Written by Marissa Sandoval Rodriguez

Richard Muñoz, Chair Marissa Sandoval Rodriguez, and
2023-2024 Chair Eric Hinton at the 2024 State Bar of
Texas Annual Meeting in Dallas. Photo courtesy of the
State Bar of Texas International Law Section.

The International Law Section, which brings a global perspective to the Texas bar and focuses on enhancing skills and networking opportunities for its 700-plus members, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, marking half a century of promoting international legal expertise and fostering global connections within the Texas legal community.

Founding and Early Years
In 1975, a group of forward- thinking Texas lawyers successfully petitioned the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors to establish the International Law Section. First Chair Philip Wilson argued that Texas, as a hub of international trade, needed a dedicated forum for attorneys engaged in various aspects of international law. This visionary move laid the foundation for what would become a thriving and diverse section of the State Bar of Texas.

Growth and Diversity
Over the past five decades, the section has grown into a vibrant community of more than 700 legal professionals, encompassing a wide range of practice areas, including litigation, transactional law, immigration, compliance, oil and gas, and trade law, to name a few. This diversity reflects the multifaceted nature of international law and positions the section uniquely within the Texas Bar.

Key Initiatives and Events
International Law Institute. Since 1977, the section has hosted its annual International Law Institute, bringing together Texas’ top legal minds to discuss cutting-edge topics in international law.

International Trips. The section began organizing international trips in 2016, starting with a visit to Havana shortly after the restoration of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Subsequent trips to Panama City, Argentina, and Mexico City have provided valuable opportunities for cultural exchange and comparative studies of legal systems for its members.

International Human Rights Committee. In 2015, the late Thomas H. “Tom” Wilson established the International Human Rights Committee, the first of its kind among state bars. The committee offers guidance to Texas lawyers dealing with human rights issues in international business contexts.

International Newsletter. Launched in 2018 under Wilson’s leadership, with James W. Skelton Jr. as its first editor in chief, the ILS International Newsletter serves as a platform for exchanging ideas and perspectives among members.

Human Rights Day Events. The section, through its International Human Rights Committee, collaborates with the International Bar Association Human Rights Committee to organize annual CLE events commemorating Human Rights Day on December 10.

Thomas H. Wilson Scholarship Award
To honor Wilson’s contributions to the section, the section renamed its Human Rights Essay Contest to the Thomas H. Wilson Scholarship Award in 2023. This award recognizes law students with a nexus to Texas who write winning essays on various international law and human rights topics. Since 2018, the International Human Rights Committee has awarded $10,500 in scholarships to Texas law students.

As the section celebrates its golden anniversary, it remains committed to its founding principles of bringing a global perspective to the Texas bar and supporting its members in their international legal education and professional endeavors. The section’s diverse membership and wide-ranging initiatives continue to position it as a leader in promoting international legal expertise and fostering cross-border connections within the Texas legal community.

MARISSA SANDOVAL RODRIGUEZ is the 2024-2025 chair of the State Bar of Texas International Law Section (ilstexas.org). She is a partner in Cacheaux, Cavazos & Newton based in McAllen and practices business law, corporate law, contract law, mergers and acquisitions, real estate law, and U.S. inbound trade and investment. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Rodriguez represents clients doing business in the United States and Mexico, leveraging her deep understanding of cross-border business dynamics.