Student Voices: Politics and Power in International Law
If power determines law, what does that mean for the rules-based international order?
Wednesday, January 21, 20265:30 PM - 7:30 PM (Pacific Time)
Ackerman Union, Bruin Viewpoint Rm
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA 90095
ABOUT THE EVENT
As part of the Student Voices series, the Burkle Center will host a conversation with UCLA Law students and Dr. David Kim about the role of economic and political power in international law. The discussion aims to explore who holds the authority to shape international norms and who is able to transgress rules with minimal accountability. The event is targeted toward undergraduate and graduate students.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS
Aniq M. Chunara is a J.D. candidate at the UCLA School of Law and a Latham & Watkins Business Law Scholar for the Class of 2026. His legal training is grounded in rigorous research and institutional practice, shaped by his experience as a Judicial Intern at the International Court of Justice, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, where he supported complex legal analysis across domestic and international jurisdictions. Prior to law school, Aniq was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shmacked, a startup he launched during his final year at UCLA in 2020. Under his leadership, the company emerged as a leader in sustainable college delivery, culminating in its acquisition in June 2022.
Kateryna Onyshchenko is a LL.M. candidate at the UCLA School of Law with experience in international legal and policy settings. She has contributed to the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, where her efforts have intersected with global legal frameworks and diplomatic practice. At UCLA Law, Kateryna focuses on comparative and international law while engaging with complex issues that define law, governance, and global affairs.
John Dover is a J.D. candidate and Achievement Fellow at the UCLA School of Law, specializing in International and Comparative Law. He currently works as a Research Assistant for the UCLA Promise Institute for Human Rights Europe, where the majority of his work has focused on international environmental and criminal law. In this role, he had the opportunity to provide research support for a submission to the ICJ for its Climate Change Advisory Opinion, as well as for an amicus brief submitted to the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights for its upcoming decision on the human rights obligations of African states in addressing the climate crisis. In Fall 2025, he worked as a Legal Intern in the Office of the Deputy-Registrar at the International Court of Justice.
Amber Grimmer is a J.D. candidate at the UCLA School of Law, specializing in International and Comparative Law. She has experience in international criminal law as a legal intern at the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. At the U.S. Department of State, she served as an International Rule of Law Assistant to the Judicial Liaison, as well as an intern in the Office of European Union and Regional Affairs. Her research focuses include autocratic legalism in backsliding democracies and international accountability for conflict-related sexual violence. Amber previously received her M.S. in Foreign Service at Georgetown University and B.A. in International Economics and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame.
PIZZA will be served!
ABOUT STUDENT VOICES
Student Voices is a by-students/for-students discussion series that provides space for students to engage with experts and each other on various issues spanning international relations. Each event is organized by the Burkle Center interns in partnership with an international relations organization on campus.
This event is co-sponsored with the UCLA Undergraduate Journal of International Law (UJIL).
Sponsor(s): UCLA Undergraduate Journal of International Law (UJIL)