On April 24, 2018, the Institute for Transnational Law inaugurated its Distinguished Lecture Series with a talk by José Zapata, a partner in Holland & Knight’s Bogotá office. Mr. Zapata has over 25 years of experience in the natural resources sector. His practice focuses on corporate and commercial matters with an emphasis on environment, energy, and natural resources. Mr. Zapata’s presentation looked at the growing challenge for non-renewable and renewable resources. Specifically, he addressed the question of whether the rule of law can capture more than the social license to operate and develop and integrative approach. The presentation raised important questions about challenges and opportunities relevant to the environmental and human rights impacts of energy development. Additionally, Mr. Zapata emphasized that international and comparative law can play a key role in helping find timely solutions through treaties and soft law, cross-border rules, transactions, and activities, and best legal practices.
Juan Alcalá (J.D. ’99), a partner in Holland & Knight’s Austin office and chair of the firm’s Energy & Natural Resources Industry Group, offered a brief comment in regard to the global context. Professor Melinda Taylor, a member of the permanent law faculty at Texas Law and an environmental law expert moderated the discussion. The event was organized with support from the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.