Basil C. BITAS January 2021
Executive Summary - CV
Basil C. Bitas has substantial practice experience in international legal and business matters, having been in-house counsel to a major multinational corporation in Lausanne, Switzerland and subsequently the Managing Partner of the Geneva office of a US law firm. The nature of his practice has involved intensive interaction with the legal systems of North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The latter region became a sub-specialty of his practice, with particular focus on certain countries in both Northeast and Southeast Asia, including Japan, Korea, China and the Philippines. During his time in legal practice, Mr. Bitas developed expertise in consumer protection and product liability issues and the elaboration of trans-border litigation strategies, including fact and expert witness development, while also handling a range of international commercial matters involving licensing, distribution and company privatizations. He also developed expertise in using statistics in complex legal, medical and economic argumentation and has since published on these topics.
In academia, Mr. Bitas has been a visiting lecturer at the Business School of Lausanne and the University of Fribourg in Switzerland as well as a guest speaker at the law faculties of the Catholic University and the Fundação Getulio Vargas in Rio de Janeiro and the Federal University in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Mr. Bitas is currently an international research fellow of a Hong Kong-based think tank charged with examining issues relating to ASEAN regional integration and China ’s “Belt and Road ” Initiative . Mr Bitas has also been retained by the Singapore Academy of Law as of January 2019 as a Facilitator and Associate Principal Trainer for issues relating to China 's Belt and Road Initiative and ASEAN . From 2008 to 2016, he was a full -time Associate Professor of Law ( Practice ) at the Singapore Management University , where he taught Comparative Legal Systems , the Economic Analysis of Law, and Business Ethics and Social Responsibility.
Mr. Bitas has increasingly focused his academic research on legal convergence in general and its practical implications for ASEAN integration in particular, setting these issues within a broader political and economic frame. Mr. Bitas has published a range of peer- reviewed articles on these topics and spoken on these matters at various conferences and academic workshops both within the ASEAN region and in neighboring China. He is also the sole author of a book entitled “Comparative Legal Systems, ” published by Lexis Nexis in 2016. The book outlines certain key themes that define the area for both scholars and informed observers and, in so doing, demonstrates how comparative law issues will in practical terms impact the evolving international legal environment.
Mr. Bitas holds Bachelor's degrees in History and Economics from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, having graduated Magna cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1981. He also holds a Juris Doctor degree (cum Laude, 1987) from Georgetown
Education
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1987 Distinctions: cum Laude
B.A., History and Economics, Brown University, 1981 Distinctions: Magna cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Academic and Training Positions Current Appointment:
Facilitator and Associate Principal Trainer, Singapore Academy of Law, for issues relating to China's Belt and Road Initiative and ASEAN (January 2019 to Present) International Research Fellow, the International Academy of the Belt and Road, Hong Kong (June 2016 to Present)
Previous Appointments and University Lecturing:
Associate Professor of Law (Practice), Singapore Management University, 2008- 2016 – Course(s) Taught: “Comparative Legal Systems”; “Economic Analysis of Law”; “Business Ethics and Social Responsibility”
Visiting Lecturer, University of Fribourg, Faculty of Law, Switzerland, Winter 2005 – Course Taught: “Consumer Protection and Comparative Product Liability – International Issues”
Visiting Lecturer, Business School of Lausanne, Switzerland, Fall/Winter 2003 – Course Taught: “Business Law and the International Legal Environment ”
Professional Positions – Legal Practice
Managing Partner (Geneva Office), Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP (USA), 2001-2004
Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP (USA), resident Geneva Office, 1999-2000
Of Counsel, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP (USA), resident Geneva Office, 1997-1999 Legal Counsel, Philip Morris Group of Companies, Lausanne, Switzerland, 1988- 1996
Commercial Consulting Activities
COLAW - Strategic legal and commercial advice provided to individual and corporate clients resident and/or operating in Europe, Asia or elsewhere internationally, 2004 – 2016, to be succeeded by INTERLAW in 2018.
Professional Affiliations
Member of the Bar of New York State, 1988-Present Member of the Bar of Washington, D.C., 1988-Present
Courses Taught in SMU
Comparative Legal Systems (Year 2 core law module - LLB, JD sections) Business Ethics and Social Responsibility (core university module) Economic Analysis of Law (Year 4 law module - LLB, JD sections)
Conferences, Speeches, Panels and Editorials
Featured Speaker, Title of Talk: “Who is Responsible for AI – Business Owner, Software Engineer or Human User?,” sponsored by Asia-Pacific Assistive Robotics Association (APARA) (17 January 2020)
Conceptualiser, Speaker and co-Faciltator, together with Professor Locknie Hsu, Professor of Law, Singapore Management University – Belt and Road Lecture Series, 5 parts, including an Overview of the Belt and Road Initiative and 4 specialist seminars on International Trade and Investment, Risk Management, Infrastructure, and Dispute resolution, respectively, developed and presented in collaboration with the Singapore Academy of Law, February to December 2019. “ Why Understanding the Belt and Road Initiative is Absolutely Crucial ” – Interview with Mr. Basil C. Bitas presenting the SAL’s “Belt and Road” Lecture Series (https ://medium.com/@singaporeacademyoflaw/why-understanding-the-belt-and-road-initiative-is-absolutely-crucial-e91625f838b0)
Panelist – China-ASEAN Jurist Gathering & China-ASEAN Legal Forum – Topic: “ Convergence of Commercial Law in China and ASEAN ”, organized by the China Law Society, Nanning, China (5-6 December 2017)
Panelist – Workshop on the Vienna Convention for the International Sale of Goods – Topic: “Practical Issues in Interpreting and Applying the CISG: Harmonization at the Ground Level ”, organized by CISG Vietnam , the Vietnam Lawyers ’ Business Club, EP Legal, and the Foreign Trade University, Hanoi, Vietnam (15 September 2017) Moderator – “ E-Commerce and SMEs – Doing Business in ASEAN and Beyond ”, organized by professional services and accounting network, RT ASEAN, Singapore (
Guest Speaker , Faculty of International Law, University of Law, Ho Chi Minh City - Topic : " ASEAN Economic Integration - Convergence and Harmonization in a ' Comparative' World" (27 February 2017)
Panelist - 2016 UNCITRAL Vietnam Workshop : Harmonization of Trade Law and Outlook for Practitioners in ASEAN - Topic : " CISG : Driving Contract Law Harmonization in ASEAN ", organized by UNCITRAL and the Foreign Trade University, Hanoi, Vietnam (24 November 2016)
Moderator/Panelist – 3rd Annual Singapore Legal Summit – Issues affecting In-House Considerations” – organized by the Asian Lawyer/American Lawyer Media Group (19 November 2015)
Panelist – CNA Perspectives “Territorial Conflict in Southeast Asia – Power Politics and International Law” - organized by Channel News Asia/Singapore Management University (3 June 2015)
Editorial: “Understanding Broader Paradigm Shift in Geopolitical Architecture – Three-Pronged Approach Necessary to Manage Disputes in the South China Sea” – TODAY (15 May 2015)
Featured Speaker – 4th Annual IEODO Conference on Global Governance for Maritime Peace in East Asia organized by Chulalongkorn Law Faculty and the Korean IJUN Institute - Topic Presented: “Singapore’s Position on Maritime Security in the South China Sea” (September 2014)
Organizer and Moderator – SMU Conference: “Transnational Legal and Economic Issues” (September 2009)
Featured Speaker - Inaugural Singapore Corporate Counsel Association (SCCA) Regional Conference – Topic: “Common Law/Civil Law - Current Trends and Practical Implications” (April 2009)
Panelist - Singapore Academy of Law Expert Series – Ethical Issues Facing Corporate Counsel (2008)
Chairperson – Symposium: Hong Kong University/National University of Singapore/Singapore Management University - session on Arbitration and ADR Issues in Hong Kong (2008)
Guest Speaker, Fundação Getulio Vargas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 2006 Guest Speaker, Catholic University (PUC), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , October 2006 Guest Speaker, Federal University, Porto Alegre, Brazil, October 2006
Professional Recognition – Legal Practice and Academia
Named recipient of a “Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence ” for academic year 2014- 15 at the Singapore Management University.
Named “Most Outstanding LGST (Legal Studies) Teacher ” at the Singapore Management University for academic year 2011-12.
Nominated by peers and clients for inclusion in a publication entitled, “The International Who’s Who of International Product Liability Defense Lawyers - 2003-04, ” for professional excellence in the field.
Research Areas / Areas of Specialisation Comparative Law
ASEAN Law and Policy
Trans-Border Dispute Resolution
Business Ethics and Social Responsibility Law and Economics
Product Liability/Tort
Special Projects and University Service
Participant in teaching mission to Myanmar carried out under the aegis of the Singapore Ministry of Law to address law reform and issues of ASEAN integration (June 2014)
Member of founding committee of Juris Doctor (“JD”) program at the Singapore Management University charged with shaping, launching and administering the JD Program under the direction of Professor David N. Smith (2010 - 2016)
Faculty Adviser to SMU Student Law Society (2009 - 2012)
Selected Book, Journal & Other Publications
Bitas, Basil C., as General Editor and individual contributor, ASEAN and the Belt and Road Initiative - Connectivity through Law and Commerce, Academy Publishing, approx. 250-300 pp. (expected January/February 2021)
Bitas, Basil C., Harjani, Manoj, “We are All Stakeholders in an AI-supplemented World: Sino-US Rivalry and the Management of a Globally Transformative Technology,” China and the World: Ancient and Modern Silk Road, Vol. 3, No 4, World Scientific (Available on-line September 2020, hard copy December 2020) Bitas, Basil C., “ASEAN amid China’s Vision of the Belt and Road and the US Strategy for the Indo-Pacific: Building a Strategic Bridge to Two Great Power
Initiatives,” China and the World: Ancient and Modern Silk Road, Vol. 3, No 1, World Scientific (Available on-line January 2020, hard copy March 2020)
"The Belt and Road Initiative in the ASEAN Context ", (Chapters 1, 2 and 3), Bitas, Basil C., in Essentials of the Laws of the Belt and Road Countries - EU , ASEAN International Academy of the Belt and Road (Hong Kong ) and Zhejiang University Press (Hangzhou), 2018.
Bitas, Basil C., Comparative Legal Systems (as sole author), Lexis Nexis, November 2016, 205 pages.
Bitas, Basil C., Blue Book on the Dispute Resolution Mechanism for the Belt and Road (as a member of the 14-person working group), International Academy of the Belt and
Bitas, Basil C., “Legal Convergence, Transnational Rule-Making and Regional Integration in ASEAN – from ‘Open Regionalism ’ to ‘Open Legal Architecture’”,
LAWASIA Journal, December 2014, pp. 1-21.
Bitas, Basil C., “Comparative Theory, Judges and Legal Transplants: A Practical Lesson from Singapore and Its Relevance to Transnational Convergence, ” Singapore
Academy of Law Journal , March 2014, Vol. 26, pp. 50-67.
Bitas, Basil C., “Australia’s Proposed Exercise in Contract Law Reform – International Convergence and Regional Implications,” Singapore Academy of Law
Journal , September 2013, Vol. 25, pp. 379-394.
Bitas, Basil C., “Comparative Law and 21 Century Legal Practice – An Evolving Nexus,” in Singapore Academy of Law Journal, September 2012, Vol. 24, pp 319- 338.
Bitas, Basil C., “AMACA PTY v ELLIS – A Common Law View of Causation, Science, and Statistical Evidence in the Courtroom,” in Singapore Academy of Law
Journal, March 2011, Vol. 23, pp.307-322.
Bitas, Basil C., “Tobacco Control and the Role of Litigation: A Survey of Issues in Law, Policy, and Economics” in University of Miami International and
Comparative Law Review , Fall 2008, Vol. 16, pp. 1- 41 (co-authored with Professor
Pedro P. Barros, Professor of Economics, Faculdade Nova de Lisboa and CEPR (London)).
Bitas, Basil C., “Probability in the Courtroom (Chapter 25) ” in Handbook of Probability , edited by Professor Tamas Rudas, Sage Publications, Inc. (2008).
Languages
English - Mother tongue French - Fluent
Greek - Conversational Spanish - Conversational
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