Faculty Bios

Marian AHUMADA RUIZ Professor of Constitutional Law, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Constitutional Court Law Clerk. LL.B., Universidad de Valladolid; Ph.D., Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Diploma of Specialization in Constitutional Law and Political Science, Centro de Estudios Constitucionales; Visiting Researcher, Max Planck Institute; 2006 Global Research Fellow, NYU School of Law. Professor Ahumada was Deputy Director of the Centre for Political and Constitutional Studies in Madrid and Member of the European Commission of Democracy through Law (Venice Commission). From 2009-2011 she served as Director General of Legal Coordination in the Ministry of the Presidency. Author of the book Constitutional Jurisdiction in Europe: Political and Theoretical Foundations (2005), Professor Ahumada began teaching in our program in 2004.

Enrique ALONSO GARCÍA Consejero Permanente de Estado (Permanent Councillor of State). Former Professor of Law and UNESCO Chair for the Environment, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos and Monterey Institute of International Studies (CA), he now only participates occasionally and exceptionally in congresses, seminars, workshops, conferences or professional courses; J.D., S.J.D., Complutense University of Madrid; LL.M., University of Virginia; Visiting Lecturer, Harvard Law School.  Ex-Director General of Nature Conservation in Spain, Professor Alonso was head of the National Fish & Wildlife, National Parks, National Forests, and National Marine Sanctuaries Services. He has also been Senior Of Counsel at Baker & McKenzie, and Chief Negotiator for the Spanish Government and the EU on international environmental conventions. Professor Alonso has taught in our Madrid summer law program since its inception in 1988.

José M. de AREILZA Professor of Law, ESADE Law School, and Secretary General of Aspen Institute Spain.  LL.B., Universidad Complutense de Madrid; M.A., The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University; LL.M., S.J.D., Harvard Law School; member, New York Bar. Professor Areilza served as Advisor to the Spanish Prime Minister on European and North American affairs (1996-2000) and was Jean Monnet Chair and Dean at IE Law School. Visiting professor at W&M in 2005, 2009, 2001 and 2012. Professor Areilza began teaching in the summer law program in 1996.

Belén BECERRIL Professor, European Union Law, Universidad CEU San Pablo.  LL.B., Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, ICADE; LL.M., Université Catholique de Louvain; Ph.D., Universidad CEU San Pablo. Professor Becerril is the Deputy Director of the Instituto Universitario de Estudios Europeos of Universidad CEU San Pablo, a think tank on European affairs. She is the author of many publications and scholarly articles on European Union Law and European integration. During the drafting of the European Union Constituion, Professor Becerril was an advisor to Gabriel Cisneros, member of the European Convention on the Future of Europe.

Leopoldo CALVO-SOTELO Professor of Law and Director of Master in International Relations, IE Law School.  LL.B., Complutense University of Madrid; M.A., The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.  Professor Calvo-Sotelo is Senior Legal Advisor to the Spanish Council of State in the Defence and Industry Section, and also served in this capacity in the Defence and Environment Section and the Foreign Affairs and Justice Section. From 1996-2001, he served as Deputy Secretary for the Spanish Interior Department. Professor Calvo-Sotelo was a member of the Madrid program faculty when it began in 1988, and served as the program's first Academic Director.

Pablo GARCÍA MEXÍA Legal Advisor to Spanish Parliament (Senate). Visiting Professor of Law, The College of William & Mary. J.D., Ph.D., Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Diploma in English Law, University of Kent at Canterbury; Visiting Research Fellow, Harvard Law School.  Professor García Mexía is co-founder of Syntagma, Center of Strategic Studies, a private think-tank specializing in Internet, legal and good governance issues.  A practicing lawyer, he is an arbitrator for the World Bank, as well as an international consultant (United Nations, European Union). He is a regular contributor to the Spanish newspaper ABC.es, where he writes the weekly column La Ley en la Red. He has taught in the Madrid summer law program since 1997.

Guillermo GUERRA MARTÍN Professor, Commercial and Corporate Law, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Partner, Ramon & Cajal, specializing in M&A and Corporate Governance practice.  LL.B., Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Ph.D., Universidad Rey Juan Carlos; Visiting Researcher and Visiting Scholar, Harvard Law School; Ricercatore Straniero, University of Bologna. Professor Guerra authored the book The Governance of US Listed Corporations: Its Influence in the Reform Movement of European Law (2003) and has published several legal articles about corporate law, securities markets and takeovers.  Professor Guerra began teaching in the summer law program in 2001.

Javier GUILLÉN CARAMÉS Professor, Administrative and EU Law, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. LL.B., Ph.D., Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Visiting Researcher, Harvard Law School.  Professor Guillén has served as Legal Advisor to the Spanish Parliament on Constitutional and Public Administration Affairs. In law practice, he has been involved in the areas of administrative, consumer protection, EU, and constitutional law. He has published extensively in the fields of administrative law, EU law, consumer law, and antitrust law. He has been Visiting Professor at different Universities like William & Mary Law School  (2006 and 2009), Georgetown University (2010 and 2012), Leeds University (2002), Universidad del Norte (2004). Professor Guillén joined the William & Mary summer law program in 1998 and is now Academic Co-Director.

Nancy COMBS William & Mary Vice Dean, Professor of Law, Director of the Human Security Law Center and Director of the Summer Abroad Program. Dean Combs graduated first in her class from University of California at Berkeley School of Law. After law school she served as a law clerk to Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and to Justice Anthony Kennedy on the United States Supreme Court. Professor Combs is an expert in international criminal law, and has published two books and numerous articles and essays.