International Law Alumni

Jessica Tipton

Jessica Tipton was drawn to Santa Clara Law by the breadth of international programs available to students. During the first summer of law school, Jessica headed off to Costa Rica to engage in human rights class work and observation of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

With hopes of combining her passions of public interest work and traveling, she was able to find an internship at the Center for Justice and Human Rights in Brazil. While in Brazil, Jessica helped put together cases against the state for human rights violations. Jessica’s gained substantial personal and legal knowledge from her experience and enjoyed giving back to the community.

Upon returning, she became the president of ILSA and served on the Journal of International Law. She also did an internship during the semester for the Center for Justice and Accountability located in San Francisco. She also spent a semester abroad interning at the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia. She was able to get credit from Santa Clara while working for Chambers at the Tribunal as well as meet and network with people interested in public international law from law students and professionals around the world. After graduating from Santa Clara, Jessica became a litigation associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP, specializing in intellectual property and employment law. During her time at Morrison and Foerster, Jessica worked on litigation matters for global companies and was able to draw upon her international legal knowledge when working on cases in international jurisdictions. Jessica spent two years at Morrison and Foerster before accepting a position with Visa Inc.'s legal team. She joined the Global eCommerce group where she specializes in licensing agreements, global privacy, and global expansion of eCommerce. Jessica supports clients from around the world and continues to follow her passion of international law.

Elizabeth Wheeler Little

Elizabeth Wheeler Little has been working as a Legal Officer in the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2007. As of February 1, 2012, she was temporarily released as a Legal Officer in Appeals to allow her to serve as the President of the ICC’s Staff Union, an elected position. After her two years service as President, Elizabeth will return to her Legal Officer position at the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court. Prior to working at the ICC, she worked as a Law Clerk at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, as a Legal Researcher at the Supreme Court of Rwanda, and as an intern in Chambers at the ICC. In addition, she is also one of the Center for Global Law & Policy’s liaisons in The Hague for the Santa Clara summer program and regularly coordinates the student's visit at the ICC.

Pictured is The Honorable Anita Ušacka (left) and Elizabeth Wheeler Little (right).

Colette Rausch

Colette Rausch earned her B.A. degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, and her J.D. degree from Santa Clara Law. She was previously Director of the Department of Human Rights and Rule of Law at the Kosovo mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; resident legal advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice in Hungary and Bosnia; and an attorney in the office of the state attorney general, federal prosecutor, and federal public defender in Nevada. She currently serves as the Director of the Rule of Law Center for Innovation at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., focusing on criminal justice and police reform initiatives that have included missions and projects in Afghanistan, Guatemala, Kosovo, Liberia, Nicaragua, Peru, Nepal, Burma, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen.

M. Scott Donahey

M. Scott Donahey, based in Palo Alto, California, arbitrates and mediates disputes both nationally and internationally, having sat as an arbitrator and mediator in more than 300 cases.  Mr. Donahey has a J.D. from Santa Clara University, summa cum laude, an M.A. from the Johns Hopkins University, and a B.A. from Stanford University, with distinction. Currently, he serves as Adjunct Professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law, and the Golden Gate University School of Law, where he teaches courses in Law & Technology, and in International Dispute Resolution. In 1999, Mr. Donahey received the President's Award from the National Patent Board for Outstanding Service in the field of ADR.  He was named as a SuperLawyer in the field of ADR seven consecutive years. Mr. Donahey is a mediator for the Northern District of California Federal District Court and for the First Appellate District of the State of California.