Building on synergies:
Generous gift creates international transactions program
A $3 million gift from the Roche Family Foundation and Robert W. Roche (JD ’88) has been used to establish the Roche Family International Business Transactions Program at the Sturm College of Law. The gift allows the law school to provide generous financial aid to top students, attract and hire exceptional faculty, and underwrite a robust set of international business law programming, such as national conferences and colloquia.
“Today, it is difficult, if not impossible, to function as a lawyer without having the capacity to manage international issues,” said Dean Martin Katz. “Nowhere is that more true than in the area of business transactions, where, increasingly, most deals have some sort of global component.
“The Roche Family Foundation and Robert Roche’s generosity enabled the Sturm College of Law to leverage two areas critical to our strategic vision—international law and business law—and to build degree sequences and programming that will set the standard for international business law in the 21st century.”
Associate Professor Phoenix Cai will direct the new program.
“This will be a post-JD master’s in law with a specialization in international business transactions,” Cai explained. “It will be open both to American lawyers who wish to specialize in or transition to an international business practice and to internationally trained lawyers who want some knowledge of the American legal system and training in the way international business is conducted here and abroad.”
“This program,” Katz added, “is a perfect match with our strategic plan. It builds on synergies between our nationally ranked international law program and our growing business law program, as well as the strengths of DU’s nationally ranked business school and school of international studies.”
Roche considers the program an opportunity to help students prepare for rewarding careers. “I have spent my professional life involved in international business transactions,” he said. “Helping the College of Law create a program in that very area is indeed fulfilling. After all, this is where I received all my training for my professional career.”
The Roche Family International Business Transactions Program will admit students in 2012 or 2013, following approval by the American Bar Association.
