{"id":14750,"date":"2025-02-04T08:13:04","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T16:13:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/law\/2025\/02\/04\/chapman-law-review-symposium-2025\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T16:35:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T16:35:16","slug":"chapman-law-review-symposium-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/law\/2025\/02\/04\/chapman-law-review-symposium-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapman Law Review Symposium 2025: “Raiders of the Lost Art” is a Resounding Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Friday, the 2025 Fowler School of Law annual Chapman Law Review<\/i> Symposium<\/a> brought together legal scholars, historians, journalists, and art law advocates to discuss looted art repatriation, accountability, and cultural restitution under the symposium marquee of, \u201cRaiders of the Lost Art: Legal Challenges and Recoveries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Panelists discussing Panel 1: The Journey Home, included Kathryn \u201cLee\u201d Boyd, Professor Michael Bazyler, and Dr. Leslye Obiora (moderated by Professor Justin St. P. Walsh), explored the cultural and legal dimensions of art reclamation. Professor Erin L. Thompson delivered a compelling keynote on voluntary repatriations and their growing impact on cultural property law. The second panel, \u201cThe Quest for Accountability,\u201d examined the legal struggles of prosecuting those involved in art theft and the increasing push for museum transparency and included investigator and journalist Jason Felch, with advocates Nicholas M. O\u2019Donnell and Dylan Price (moderated by Professor Michael Bazyler).<\/p>\n

Students, faculty, and guests actively engaged throughout the event\u2014through thought-provoking Q&As, in-depth discussions during breaks, and diverse perspectives from beyond the legal field\u2014highlighting how Chapman Law fosters an inclusive and viewpoint-diverse space for meaningful discourse and collaboration.<\/p>\n

In addition to the main symposium, <\/i>the Chapman Law Review<\/i> team also presented several interactive experiences to engage the community in the lead-up to the event: A library display showcased relevant scholarship, a historical map and an informative display highlighted key locations of looted art in WWII, and a pre-event scavenger hunt encouraged students to explore the themes of art appropriation and restitution in an engaging and meaningful way.<\/p>\n

Nearly a year in the making, this year\u2019s program and activities would not have been possible without the vision and dedication of Chapman Law Review<\/i>\u2019s Executive Program Editor, Greg Mikhanjian, who not only chose the topic but also spearheaded much of the conversation. His passion for this issue also inspired the participation of many of the invited experts, who brought invaluable insight to the discussion.<\/p>\n

The themes of history, justice, and reclaiming stolen cultural heritage resonated in a way that made this symposium more than just an academic discussion that seemed to touch many audience members and participants on a very personal level. This event brought the law to life, making abstract legal principles tangible through real stories of cultural loss and recovery. Even more powerful was seeing how the symposium extended beyond the legal community. People from different disciplines and backgrounds joined the discussion, proving that the law is not just for lawyers\u2014affecting and belonging to all.<\/p>\n

As a continuation of this important discussion, Chapman Law Review<\/i> is excited to publish several articles written by our panelists in it\u2019s forthcoming Volume 28(2), along with contributions from other scholars who specialize in this field. These pieces will further explore the legal, historical, and ethical complexities of looted art restitution and ensure that the conversations started at the symposium continue in academic and legal circles.<\/p>\n

This symposium continues Chapman Law Review<\/i>\u2019s tradition of addressing timely legal issues, following past discussions on Federal Right of Publicity, Blockchain and the Law, Constitutional Modernization, and Administrative Law Doctrines.<\/p>\n

I am incredibly grateful for the support of our faculty advisor, Professor McConville, Professor Michael Bazyler and Fowler School of Law Dean Paul Paton, whose guidance and support made this event possible.<\/p>\n

My deepest thanks and appreciation go out to the entire Chapman Law Review<\/i> team. This event could not have happened without their hard work and dedication\u2014whether it was tabling, advertising the event, cutting name tags, organizing materials, or handling countless behind-the-scenes details\u2013their efforts made this symposium seamless and successful. A special thank you as well to Anna Ross, our Executive Managing Editor, and Sara Moradi, our Executive Production Editor, for all their help, time, and support throughout this process; additionally, thanks to Phillip Der Mugrdechian, Deane Sutic, and Jonathan Smith for all their help with this project, the marketing and event facilitation.<\/p>\n

It was an honor to witness the Chapman Law community come together for such an important conversation, and I am thankful to our speakers, moderators, and attendees for making it a resounding success. Let\u2019s keep the discussion going.<\/p>\n

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