International Business Transactions Virtual Seminar Series: 2026–2027 Schedule

The 2026–2027 International Business Transactions Virtual Seminar Series turns its attention to 'Asia at the Center of Global Business', with an exciting lineup of scholars exploring the legal, economic, and institutional developments shaping cross-border business across the region and beyond.

The series brings together scholars working on contemporary issues in international business transactions, corporate governance, finance, regulation, and private ordering, with a particular focus this year on developments in and involving Asia. The seminars are virtual and scheduled to facilitate participation across Asia, Australia, and the United States.

The series is designed to create a regular forum for conversation among scholars, practitioners, and others interested in the legal and institutional questions shaping cross-border business. All are welcome. We usually do not circulate papers for these sessions. Instead, presenters share their research for approx.15 minutes and we spend the remainder of the time in conversation among the participants. Those interested in receiving seminar invitations and updates can join the series here 

The 2026–2027 Schedule:

• September — Umakanth Varottil (National University of Singapore): 'Flipping Companies'
• October — Virginia Harper Ho (City University of Hong Kong): 'Regulatory Partitioning, Corporate Veil-Peeking, and the (Un)bounding of Chinese Firms'
• November — Gen Goto (The University of Tokyo): 'Corporate Scandals in Japan'
• January — Lin Lin (National University of Singapore): 'Artificial Intelligence in China’s Banking Sector: Promises, Perils, and Regulation'
• February — Ruoying Chen (Australian National University): 'Law and Finance of Local Special Development-Purpose Vehicles: Australia, China and Beyond'
• March — Giuliano Castellano (The University of Hong Kong): 'Getting Credit Across Borders: How Legal Reform Templates Travel—and Why Results Diverge'
• April — Ernest Lim (National University of Singapore): 'Directors’ Duties and Climate Change'

Kish Parella is a Professor of Ethics and Law at the Washington and Lee University School of Law.