Every spring since 1999, Chapman Law Review has hosted its annual Law Review Symposium. Topics are selected to challenge participants to confront pressing legal issues from a variety of perspectives. Panelists have included distinguished scholars, judges, and practitioners.
2025 Symposium
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ART: LEGAL CHALLENGES AND RECOVERIES
The 2025 Fowler School of Law annual Chapman Law Review Symposium brought together legal scholars, historians, journalists, and art law advocates to discuss looted art repatriation, accountability, and cultural restitution under the symposium marquee of, “Raiders of the Lost Art: Legal Challenges and Recoveries.”
Panelists discussing Panel 1: The Journey Home, included Kathryn “Lee” Boyd, Professor Michael Bazyler, and Dr. Leslye Obiora (moderated by Professor Justin St. P. Walsh), explored the cultural and legal dimensions of art reclamation. Professor Erin L. Thompson delivered a compelling keynote on voluntary repatriations and their growing impact on cultural property law. The second panel, “The Quest for Accountability,” examined the legal struggles of prosecuting those involved in art theft and the increasing push for museum transparency and included investigator and journalist Jason Felch, with advocates Nicholas M. O’Donnell and Dylan Price (moderated by Professor Michael Bazyler).
Students, faculty, and guests actively engaged throughout the event—through thought-provoking Q&As, in-depth discussions during breaks, and diverse perspectives from beyond the legal field—highlighting how Chapman Law fosters an inclusive and viewpoint-diverse space for meaningful discourse and collaboration.
In addition to the main symposium, the Chapman Law Review team also presented several interactive experiences to engage the community in the lead-up to the event: A library display showcased relevant scholarship, a historical map and an informative display highlighted key locations of looted art in WWII, and a pre-event scavenger hunt encouraged students to explore the themes of art appropriation and restitution in an engaging and meaningful way.
Nearly a year in the making, this year’s program and activities would not have been possible without the vision and dedication of Chapman Law Review’s Executive Program Editor, Greg Mikhanjian, who not only chose the topic but also spearheaded much of the conversation. His passion for this issue also inspired the participation of many of the invited experts, who brought invaluable insight to the discussion.
The themes of history, justice, and reclaiming stolen cultural heritage resonated in a way that made this symposium more than just an academic discussion that seemed to touch many audience members and participants on a very personal level. This event brought the law to life, making abstract legal principles tangible through real stories of cultural loss and recovery. Even more powerful was seeing how the symposium extended beyond the legal community. People from different disciplines and backgrounds joined the discussion, proving that the law is not just for lawyers—affecting and belonging to all.
