The East Asian Legal Studies Center (EALSC) has a proud history of hosting accomplished visiting scholars and professors from East and Southeast Asia. Through the exchange of ideas, knowledge and experiences, the Visiting Scholar and Professor Programs enrich the intellectual and research endeavors of the visitor, law school faculty and students, and the global law community.

Visiting Scholars

Questions or interested in applying? Email visitingscholars@law.wisc.edu or visit the Visiting Scholars Program webpage.

The EALSC cannot provide housing for visiting scholars but can suggest possible places. 

James B. MacDonald Distinguished Professorship

The James B. MacDonald Distinguished Professorship was established in 1995 in honor of UW Law Professor James B. MacDonald. It is awarded to renowned scholars from East or Southeast Asia to teach and/or lecture short term at the Law School.

Professor MacDonald was a powerful advocate of environmental protection and conceived of and built the Law School's environmental law curriculum. In 1978, and during the 1986-1987 academic year he researched regulations, laws, and administrative procedures of Japanese water resources.

2021 Visiting Professor

Manjiao Chi portrait

Manjiao Chi is Professor and Founding Director of the Center for International Economic Law and Policy at China University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) School of Law. He also serves as Deputy Secretary-General of Xiamen Academy of International Law Administrative Council. Professor Chi has authored numerous books and journal articles in English and Chinese. His recent research focuses on international trade and investment law and policy, dispute settlement, global development and cooperation law. In the practice of law, Professor Chi has rich experiences dealing with WTO and investment arbitration disputes, participating in treaty negotiations, serving as arbitrator and expert witness in Chinese and foreign courts, as well as advising international organizations, governments, and corporations.  

Speaking series by Professor Chi:

  • Monday, March 22, 2021: "The WTO and China: Current Challenges from a Chinese Perspective" (only open to students enrolled in Professor Jason Yackee's International Trade course).
  • Wednesday, March 24, 2021: 9:00-10:30am CDT "China-U.S. Trade Relations and the Biden Administration" (public lecture; 1.5 CLE credits). Lecture will be followed by a Q&A session, moderated by Professor John Ohnesorge.
  • Friday, March 26, 2021: 9:00-10:00am CDT "Practicing International Trade Law in China" (conversation and Q&A; open to UW Law students), moderated by Professor Jason Yackee.

Previous James B. MacDonald Visiting Professors

  • 2019 Junji Nakagawa, University of Tokyo
  • 2002 Ko Hasegawa, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
  • 2000 Norio Higuchi, University of Tokyo
  • 1998 Yoshiharu Matsuura, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
  • 1998 Itsuko Matsuura, Aichi University, Aichi, Japan
  • 1997 Pisawat Sukonthapan, Mekong Region Law Center, Thailand
  • 1996 Koichiro Fujikura, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

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