International Trade in Practice: An Interview with Alum Mr. Daniel Parga
part one
Daniel Parga is a JD/MA alum who earned his J.D. and Master of Arts in International Economic Relations in 2015. During his time at WCL, he was a Senior Articles Editor for the International Arbitration Brief, participated in the Spanish and English International Commercial Arbitration Competitions and the International Investment Arbitration Moot Competition, both as a competitor and coach. Mr. Parga was also a Research Dean’s Fellow at WCL’s Center on International Commercial Arbitration, working under its directors, Dr. Horacio Grigera Naón and Susana Castiglione. We interviewed Mr. Parga on his experience at WCL, his favorite courses, and how he eventually found a career in international trade at Amazon.com, Inc., in its Headquarters in Seattle, Washington.
Tell us a little about your background and your time at WCL.
I am originally from the U.S. – Mexico border, from El Paso, TX and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Living on the border and witnessing first-handedly the importance of international relations and business provided a multicultural experience that prompted my interest in international law.
When I was applying to law schools, I already knew that I wanted to focus on international law. WCL’s strength in that field of law, the JD/MA program in conjunction with AU’s School of International Service, plus its location in DC ultimately attracted me to choose WCL. Its location in DC was an important part of my decision because I knew that I was going to be looking for international law internships during my studies, and what better place to build a network of contacts, professional colleagues, and friends than in DC. When I moved to Washington, DC for law school, I began to focus on international arbitration and litigation, thanks to the professors at WCL who guided me towards that field. I’m very grateful to WCL for the fantastic professors that work to build a sense of community. Having that resource at the tip of my fingers was just fantastic.
My first job after law school was at a boutique law firm in Washington, DC that was completely focused on international trade (trade remedies, in particular). It opened my eyes to the world of international trade, since most of my academic and professional knowledge had been focused on international arbitration. Following this experience, I joined a large multinational firm, where I was primarily focused on international trade and arbitration before finally joining the team at Amazon in Seattle, Washington, where my work is currently focused on customs law and other import-related fields throughout the globe.
Were there any particular courses or professors that really impacted your career?
I have to start with Introduction to International Arbitration with Professor Horacio Grigera Naón and Professor Claudia Frutos-Peterson. This course was one of the most important to me because it really gave me the foundation to understand the world of international arbitration and start growing in it. Of course, it's a very complex and large field, but that was a very good foundation; and, seeing that perspective from Dr. Grigera Naón, who is not only an academic but a world-renowned arbitrator, combined with Dr. Frutos Peterson’s rich experience and knowledge was unbeatable.
International Trade Law with Professor Padideh Ala’i was also one of my favorite courses. The way she shared her knowledge about the WTO and how decisions were made gave me a good glimpse into the world of international trade and dispute settlement mechanisms. I could continue on and on, including Professors Nigel Blackaby, Caroline Richards, and Aurelia Antonietti’s investor-State arbitration course, Professor David Baron’s seminar on international disputes, and many others, but the list would be quite long. All of my professors offered such a richness of experience that they brought to the classroom that really benefited my post-graduate knowledge. It is often easy to tell who the “real deal” is in their field, and I had many professors who fit that bill.
This is a two-part interview. Stay tuned for Part two, released soon.
"When I moved to Washington, DC for law school, I began to focus on international arbitration and litigation, thanks to the professors at WCL who guided me towards that field. I’m very grateful to WCL for the fantastic professors that work to build a sense of community."
Daniel Parga