In 2023, Paul Kuruk, the Lucille Stewart Beeson Professor of Law in Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, was elected vice chairman of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Preparatory Committee of the Diplomatic Conference. In this role, he and his counterparts will work to finalize rules and procedures for the adoption of an international legal instrument relating to intellectual property, genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources.

Kuruk also chaired a cross-regional technical meeting on intellectual property and genetic resources held at the Patent Examination Cooperation Center of the Patent Office of China in Beijing.

In addition, Kuruk also continued to serve as the rapporteur of United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, the facilitator of the Intergovernmental Committee of the World Intellectual Property Organization, chief negotiator of the United Kingdom-Ghana Trade Partnership Agreement, technical adviser and negotiator for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and vice chairman of the Ghana International Trade Commission.

Kuruk reflected on his recent activities, saying, “My participation in the development of international instruments is not only a distinguished professional honor and a recognition of my expertise in international trade law, but also enables me to influence the substantive content of international, regional and national strategies. As part of the meetings I attend, I provide a unique first-hand experience of the significance, intricacies and strategies of multilateral negotiations -- an experience that continues to complement my research and classroom pedagogy in invaluable ways.”