The Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation is pleased to announce the winners of the 2007 LCCHP Student Writing Competition in Cultural Heritage Preservation Law, sponsored by Andrews Kurth LLP - a national law firm with offices in seven U.S. cities, Beijing, and London.

First place is awarded to James A. Wawrzyniak, who recently graduated from Harvard Law School. His submission, entitled "Rubin v. The Islamic Republic of Iran: A Struggle for Control of Persian Antiquities in America," was supported by Professor Terry Martin. Mr. Wawrzyniak's paper will appear in the Yearbook of Cultural Property Law 2008, published by Left Coast Press (forthcoming 2008). In addition, he will receive a prize of $300.

Dorothy Schmidt, a 2007 graduate of Lewis and Clark Law School, is awarded second place for her paper, "Subsistence & Sovereignty: Customary Foods as a Component of Self-Determination." Her submission was supported by Professor Robert Miller. Ms. Schmidt's paper will be published on the website of the Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation. In addition, she will receive a prize of $200.

This year, LCCHP considered 13 papers that addressed cultural heritage law issues dealing with cultural property, art, historic preservation, indigenous cultures, and intangible heritage. Eleven law schools were represented in the competition: Texas Tech University School of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, Brooklyn Law School, Harvard Law School, William & Mary School of Law, University of Tulsa College of Law, University of Florida Levin College of Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, University of Illinois College of Law, Lewis and Clark Law School, and University of Miami School of Law.

Beginning in 2008, the prize amounts awarded by the Andrews Kurth Student Writing Competition in Cultural Heritage Preservation Law will increase to $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place. The deadline for 2008 submissions is June 13.

The Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation is an organization of lawyers who have joined together to promote the preservation and protection of cultural heritage resources in the United States and internationally through education and advocacy. Cultural heritage law is a growing legal field, as our society comes to appreciate the important symbolic, historical, and emotional role that cultural heritage plays in our lives. Cultural heritage law encompasses several disparate areas, including the protection of archaeological sites, preservation of historic structures and the built environment, preservation of and respect for both tangible and intangible indigenous cultures, international market in art works and antiquities, and recovery of stolen art works.