The University of Pittsburgh School of Law is proud to announce that Professor Jules Lobel, a leading scholar in constitutional and international law, will once again appear before the Supreme Court of the United States. The Court recently granted certiorari in Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Cimex (No. 24-699), a case that presents significant questions about international law and the interpretation of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”).
Professor Lobel serves as co-counsel for the Cuban parties in the case with Michael Krinsky of the New York firm Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Krinsky and Lieberman, P.C., the long-time attorneys for Cuban interests in the United States. Professor Lobel began his legal career as an associate at the firm.
The Supreme Court has not yet fixed a date for oral argument but a date in February 2026 is likely. A decision is anticipated in May or June.
In this case, Exxon Mobil Corporation has sued two Cuban state instrumentalities under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act of 1996, which created a statutory cause of action for “trafficking” in “confiscated” property. In 1960, Cuba nationalized an oil refinery owned by a Panamanian subsidiary of Exxon (then called Standard Oil) and service stations also owned by the subsidiary.
Exxon alleges that the Cuban defendants are “trafficking” in those properties by possessing and using them. The Cuban parties have asserted sovereign immunity from suit under Title III in the courts of the United States.
At the center of Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Cimex is the issue of how U.S. courts should interpret the FSIA and the extent to which foreign sovereign immunity is preserved under federal law. In their arguments, the Cuban parties emphasize a consistent and principled approach to statutory interpretation — one that respects international law while maintaining the integrity of Congress’s intent.
“This case is not about abrogating foreign sovereign immunity,” said Professor Lobel. “It’s about ensuring that our courts apply the law in a manner that aligns with longstanding principles of international law and statutory interpretation.”
This marks only the second time since 2000 that Professor Lobel has argued before the Supreme Court, having previously done so in 2004 and serving as counsel in another Supreme Court case in 2011. To his knowledge, he is the only Pitt Law faculty member to have argued or appeared as counsel before the Supreme Court during his tenure, which began in 1983.
In conjunction with this historic moment, Professor Lobel is offering a Supreme Court Advocacy Seminar during the Spring 2026 semester. The course will immerse a select group of third-year law students in the full arc of Supreme Court litigation — from briefing and strategy to oral argument observation and opinion drafting.
Students will participate in moot courts, study Supreme Court tactics, and travel to Washington, D.C., to observe the arguments in Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Cimex firsthand.
“This is an extraordinary experiential learning opportunity for our students,” said Pitt Law Dean Jerry Dickinson. “Professor Lobel’s work not only elevates Pitt Law on the national stage but also embodies the type of high-impact education that defines our community.”
Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Lobel has combined scholarship with real-world impact, litigating cases that shape constitutional and international law while mentoring generations of lawyers. His forthcoming appearance before the Supreme Court underscores both his enduring influence in the legal field and the strength of Pitt Law’s commitment to experiential legal education.