Founded in 1986, the Program on International Financial Systems (PIFS) conducts the highest quality international research, provides an international forum for exchange of ideas, gives public policy advice to governments, and educates international lawyers.

PIFS NEWS

November 30, 2006 - The Committee on Capital Markets Regulation issued its first report, which focused on equity capital markets. The Committee intends this Interim Report to be the first of its evaluations of the legal and regulatory underpinnings of U.S. public capital markets. Future reports may evaluate the competitiveness of mutual fund and derivative markets, measures to avoid “short-termism”, and further issues related to shareholder rights. For more information please see the press release and the Committee's website at www.capmktsreg.org.

PIFS and the Brussels-based Centre for European Policy Studies to co-host the fifth Europe-U.S. Symposium in March 2007 at the Centre de Formation de Louveciennes, France.

PIFS and the China Development Research Foundation to co-host the fourth annual China-U.S. Symposium in June 2007 at the Ritz-Carltonin in Half Moon Bay, CA.

A special celebration will be held at the Loeb House at Harvard University on October 19, 2006, to recognize the 20th anniversary of the Program on International Financial Systems (PIFS).

PIFS is pleased to announce that Cleary Gottlieb, a preeminent law firm and a leader in shaping the globalization of the legal profession, has agreed to support the Guest Lecture Series, which is associated with the IF Concentration at Harvard Law School. Please click here to view the official press release.

On Dec. 6, 2005, Standard & Poor’s, BusinessWeek, and Harvard Law School’s Program on International Financial Systems (PIFS) joined to present a half-day symposium at the McGraw-Hill Companies auditorium in New York, focusing on key issues of corporate governance affecting companies, investors, and financial markets globally. Below follows a white paper that arises from this event, entitled Mandating Corporate Behavior: Can One Set of Rules Fit All? (pdf), as well as a transcript of the December proceedings. For additional information please click here to view the Standard & Poor's web page.

THE PRINCIPALS

Hal S. Scott     Director
Hal Scott is the Nomura Professor of International Financial Systems. He has been at the Law School since 1975. A specialist in international banking and securities markets, his publications address Europe's economic and monetary union, international securities and banking regulation, capital adequacy, and Asian money and capital markets.

Jacob (J) M. Weinstein     Deputy Director
J Weinstein was the Tokyo-based, managing director of The Bridgeford Group, the M&A; advisory firm of The Industrial Bank of Japan. Prior to that, he was an investment banker with PaineWebber. As an attorney, J practiced with Willkie Farr & Gallagher. Before joining PIFS in 2002, J was a capital markets and corporate governance advisor in emerging markets throughout the world.

Robin Radin     Associate Director
Robin Radin was managing director and general counsel for Asia Pacific of CS First Boston based in Tokyo and Hong Kong from 1992-95 and chief counsel for Asia of Morgan Stanley from 1987-92. A practicing lawyer since 1979, he previously taught Asian history, specializing in modern Japan.

Donald P. Kanak      Senior Fellow
Donald P. Kanak was the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of American International Group, Inc. (AIG) from March 2005 through January 2006. During that period for and most of the past twenty years he lived and worked in Japan or Hong Kong, focusing on markets in Asia. His research at PIFS will focus on issues related to climate change and the development of energy alternatives in Asia. He is a member of the National Council of the U.S. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and an advisor to WWF-Hong Kong on climate change and carbon markets programs.