Hauser Global Scholars
As part of the Hauser Global Law School Program, the Hauser Global Scholarship was founded in 1995 at the initiative of alumna Rita Hauser and NYU School of Law. Since its inauguration, the Hauser Global Scholarship has become the leading initiative pursuing the adaptation of legal education in the United States towards an increasingly global perspective. It reflects the Law School's conviction that the practice of law and legal research has escaped the bounds of any particular jurisdiction and that legal education can no longer ignore the interpenetration of legal systems.
Each year, 10 of the finest students from countries across the world are selected as Hauser Global Scholars by the distinguished members of the Hauser Scholars Selection Committee. These select individuals — all of whom are LLM students — share their perspectives and experiences from their own legal systems with the rest of the Law School academic community. The Hauser Global Scholars receive a full-tuition scholarship and a living stipend for the year of their studies at NYU and are integrated intellectually and socially in the events of the Hauser Global Law School Program and NYU School of Law.
The Hauser Global Scholars reflect the breadth and diversity of NYU School of Law’s Graduate Division. In the last 10 years of the Program, 95 Hauser Global Scholars have been selected from approximately 44 countries and all continents. After intensive screening of applications by NYU School of Law faculty and admissions officers, Hauser Global Scholars are selected by a committee of distinguished international leaders. They are chosen on the basis of their intellectual and leadership ability and their capacity to participate productively in a global community of scholars and practitioners.
For information on application to the Graduate Division and to the Hauser Global Scholarship, please see the Office of Graduate Admissions.
2025-2026 Hauser Global Scholars
Lauriza Abildayeva
Kazakhstan
Lauriza studied law at KIMEP University in Almaty, Kazakhstan, for her Bachelor of Jurisprudence degree. She graduated in 2017 among the top of her class, receiving the diploma with state honor. During her studies, Lauriza was actively engaged in the academic and extracurricular life of the university: she combined a teaching assistantship with internships at international law firms, successfully represented KIMEP University at moot court competitions and significantly contributed to the university’s legal clinic and other student-led projects. Her early exposure to legal practice helped her discover a strong interest in dispute resolution, leading her to begin her career as a disputes lawyer at an international law firm in Almaty after graduation.
She later joined the National Bank of Kazakhstan (the Bank), Kazakhstan’s central bank, as a chief legal specialist, where she worked on complex transnational disputes — the largest in the Bank’s history. She was subsequently promoted within the Bank’s Legal Department to Head of the Division responsible for legal support of international matters. Lauriza was the youngest person in the department to hold that title. Eager to deepen her expertise in dispute resolution, Lauriza then took on the role of Senior Associate at ADL Disputes, a top-tier boutique law firm in Kazakhstan specializing in litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and investigations. Beyond her legal profession, Lauriza actively engages in community service, dedicating considerable time and effort to various initiatives.
At NYU, Lauriza will pursue a Master of Laws (LLM) program with a particular focus on international public law, alternative dispute resolution, and human rights law. She is especially interested in examining effective legal mechanisms for ensuring state accountability in human rights matters.
Fátima Benavides Maza
Peru
Fátima is a highly accomplished legal professional with a solid foundation in employment and labor law, combining academic excellence with practical experience. She earned her law degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (Peru), graduating first in her class. During her studies, Fátima received multiple merit-based acknowledgments and awards, including the prestigious Stimulus Scholarship for Academic Excellence, which covered a full year of tuition, and the “R.P. Felipe Mac Gregor” award for academic excellence. Fátima also holds a Specialization Degree in Labor, Employment and Social Security Law, where she also finished first in her cohort.
Fátima has a robust professional career with over ten years at Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano Abogados, a Peruvian leading law firm. Rising from intern to associate, she has advised a broad portfolio of local and international clients on a wide range of employment, labor and social security issues. Her practice spans personnel hiring and termination, outsourcing of business activities, compensation planning, policy implementation, labor-focused audits and due diligence in M&A transactions, among others.
In addition to her legal practice, Fátima has shown a strong commitment to academic and professional development. She began as a teaching assistant during her early years in law school and has served for the last two years as an adjunct professor of Employment Law at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. Her leadership has extended beyond the classroom, including roles as a Board Member of THEMIS Law Review and an active participant in the Interns Committee at her firm.
As a Hauser Global Scholar, Fátima will pursue a traditional LLM at NYU, focused on labor and employment law.
Nadia Kuzniar
Switzerland
Nadia studied law at the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland) and at Santa Clara University (California), graduating in 2016. During her time at the University of St. Gallen, she was a member of the editorial board of ex ante, a Swiss legal journal.
She completed her doctorate in 2023 with a dissertation in tort law, which was awarded the Walther Hug Award St. Gallen (2023), the Rudolf Mäder Award (2022/23), and the Prix d'Excellence of the Swiss Tort and Insurance Law Association. During her doctorate, she was a Visiting Researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, supported by a Swiss National Science Foundation Fellowship. Her research in Berkeley focused on internet service provider liability.
Before the NYU LLM program, Nadia worked in the dispute resolution team of a Swiss corporate law firm, with a focus on civil litigation, white-collar crime, and internal investigations. In addition to her legal practice, she is a lecturer in tort law at the University of St. Gallen and has authored several academic papers in the areas of tort law, copyrights, and corporate liability.
As a Hauser Global Scholar, Nadia will pursue a traditional Master of Laws at NYU, concentrating on torts, constitutional law, and civil procedure.
Roya Malikzade
Azerbaijan
As a dedicated human rights lawyer, Roya brings over four years of experience in Azerbaijani civil society, specializing in legal advocacy, program management, and legal aid. She was admitted to the English-language group of Baku State University's Law Faculty with a score of 695 out of 700, earning the prestigious Presidential Scholarship awarded to only 100 top-performing students nationwide. She graduated with an Honors Diploma in 2022, ranking 2nd among 278 law faculty graduates.
In her role as a board member of the Social Rights Center, Roya took on the role of project manager for Simple Law, then Azerbaijan’s largest digital legal aid platform with over 90,000 followers. Under her leadership, the platform combined legal expertise with innovative social media strategies, providing pro bono legal aid to thousands of individuals—especially those from marginalized communities. Beyond this role, she founded two grassroots initiatives—Ecobill and Muzdalan—to promote environmental justice and defend the rights of gig workers. Her work also includes authoring human rights publications, conducting legal English classes, preparing applications to the European Court of Human Rights, and submitting Rule 9.2 communications to the Council of Europe concerning Azerbaijan’s failure to implement ECtHR judgments.
In 2024, Roya was selected as a Community Engagement Exchange Fellow, a program organized by IREX, through which she completed a three-month placement with a civil society organization in Washington, D.C. She also served as Program Manager for the U.S. Embassy Baku’s Alumni Outreach and Capacity Building Fund 2023, implementing impactful initiatives to empower USG alumni in Azerbaijan with leadership and civic engagement skills. Additionally, she was selected as a finalist for the Open World and MIRAI programs, participating in immersive educational exchanges on the rule of law in Arkansas, USA, and Japan.
Roya continues to advance her mission through social media, creating accessible content that educates young people in Azerbaijan about their rights, civic participation, and personal development.
As a Hauser Global Scholar, she will pursue a Traditional LLM at NYU with a focus on human rights and technology law, aiming to deepen her expertise in advancing justice through digital innovation and international advocacy.
Christopher McCardle
New Zealand
Chris graduated second in his class at Waipapa Taumata Rau | the University of Auckland with a bachelor of laws (honors) and a bachelor of arts in history and politics. He also studied abroad at Trinity College, Dublin and Dartmouth College, New Hampshire. After law school, he served as judge's clerk to Glazebrook J at te Kōti Mana Nui | the Supreme Court of New Zealand.
During his clerkship, he was also Editor-in-Chief of the Public Interest Law Journal of New Zealand. Also concurrent with his clerkship, Chris worked as a tutor in contract law at Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington. Following his time as a clerk, Chris practiced as a junior barrister at Mills Lane Chambers in Auckland, practicing across all areas of civil litigation. He has published various articles in the Auckland University Law Review, the Public Interest Law Journal of New Zealand, the New Zealand Law Journal and Gateway History Journal.
At NYU, Chris will pursue an LLM specializing in legal theory. Chris is interested in the normative study of private law, particularly insofar as it relates to workers and indigenous peoples.
Jose Moreno Bendlin
Paraguay
Jose graduated from the Law School of the National University of Asuncion in December 2021, ranking 1st out of 744 students. During his law school years, Jose represented the National University of Asuncion at the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court in Vienna for the 2016/2017 and 2018/2019 editions.
Jose has been a part of Altra Legal, a leading Paraguayan law firm on dispute resolution, since 2016, serving primarily as a member of the firm’s Arbitration team, where he worked in civil and commercial litigation before national and international arbitral tribunals and domestic courts. In addition, Jose has provided case management and research assistance for arbitrators in cases administered by domestic and international institutions, including ICSID, PCA, ICC, and CAS. Moreover, Jose has provided research assistance for publications on commercial and investment arbitration, international sale of goods, and contracts, among other topics. Since 2022, he has served as an Assistant Professor of Law of Obligations, Contracts, and Alternative Dispute Resolution at the National University of Asuncion. He also contributed as a coach for the University’s arbitration teams.
At NYU, Jose will pursue an LLM in International Business Regulation, Litigation and Arbitration.
Sandra Peniche Franco
Mexico
Sandra Peniche Franco graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City. She ranked second in her class and graduated with honors (equivalent to summa cum laude). During her studies, Sandra received the prestigious “Academic Excellence Grant,” a merit-based award that covered 80% of her tuition. She was also a member of the winning team in the Mexican Supreme Court’s 1st Moot Court Competition on Constitutional Law and Human Rights.
After graduation, Sandra began her professional career at Aguinaco Abogados, where she started as an intern in 2018 and advanced to the position of associate attorney in 2021. At the firm, she managed all stages of litigation in constitutional, administrative, intellectual property, and amparo law. She has worked on landmark human rights cases, including litigation that challenged the forced confinement of women with disabilities and defended the cultural rights of an indigenous-mestizo community against the undue appropriation of their heritage by a major corporation.
In addition to her litigation work, Sandra has developed a strong academic career. Since 2021, she has taught at the Law School of Universidad Panamericana, first as an assistant professor and later as a full professor, focusing on constitutional law, amparo, and procedural theory. She has also served as a team advisor for the Mexican Supreme Court’s Moot Court Competition, guiding students in their preparation.
Sandra’s commitment to social causes extends beyond her academic and litigation work. She serves as external legal counsel for several organizations, supporting initiatives related to cultural rights, disability inclusion, and strategic human rights litigation. In early 2025, she coordinated the Commission on Human Rights, Amparo, and Constitutional Law of the Barra Mexicana Colegio de Abogados, which is Mexico’s most recognized bar association.
As a Hauser Global Scholar, Sandra will pursue a General LLM at New York University, focusing on constitutional law and human rights.
Yarden Shohat
Israel
Yarden Shohat earned his LL.B. degree from Tel-Aviv University Faculty of Law, where he graduated summa cum laude, 1st in his class. In addition, he holds a BA in Economics from Tel-Aviv University School of Economics, magna cum laude, graduating 9th in his class. He was included in the Rector's Honor List in 2022, and in the Dean's Honor List for each academic year. Yarden has received multiple merit-based awards for his academic achievements.
While attending law school he served as a research assistant to Dean Professor Sharon Hannes and Vice-Dean Professor Issachar Rosen-Zvi, focusing on Corporate Law and Civil Procedure, respectively. He also held the position of teaching assistant for several professors, in the fields of Corporate Law, Contract Law and Law & Economics. Furthermore, he was a member of the Criminal Justice Clinic and served on the editorial board of the Tel-Aviv Law Review, where he published a legal article on shareholder litigation. In 2022, he represented Tel-Aviv University Faculty of Law in the first Israeli Moot Court Competition.
Upon graduation, he clerked for the Honorable Justice Chaled Kabub of the Supreme Court of Israel and completed an internship at the High Court of Justice Department (HCJD) in the Office of the State Attorney of Israel. After being admitted to the Israel Bar Association, he joined the litigation group of one of Israel's leading law firms, Erdinast, Ben Nathan, Toledano & Co., where he currently practices as an associate.
As a Hauser Global Scholar, Yarden will pursue an LLM in Corporation Law.
Chima Uzochukwu-Obi
Nigeria
Chima graduated with first class honours from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Nigeria, where he was awarded the prize for best student in the Department of International Law and Jurisprudence. He went on to earn a first class at the Nigerian Law School and received the Director General’s Prize for academic excellence. He was previously awarded Federal Government of Nigeria Merit Scholarships at both secondary and university levels and received a commendation from the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers for his academic and extracurricular contributions. During his undergraduate studies, he served as a pioneer Executive Editor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Law Review. He also interned as an International Commerce and Legal Policy Analyst at DC Consulting International, a Tennessee-based business advisory firm, where he supported cross-border policy research and advisory mandates.
Chima most recently worked as an Associate at G. Elias, a top-tier business law firm in Lagos, Nigeria. At G. Elias, he advised local and international clients on a wide range of corporate and finance transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, syndicated and bilateral lending, debt and equity issuances, restructurings, and derivatives. His work involved transaction structuring, regulatory compliance, tax planning, due diligence, negotiations, and documentation. Notably, he contributed to several innovative transactions at the forefront of Nigeria’s evolving derivatives market.
Chima has authored contributions to the Chambers and Partners Derivatives Global Practice Guide (2024) and The Legal500 Banking and Finance Yearbook (2023). His article “Environmental Protection and Expansionist Business Interests: A Dilemma in the 21st Century” is also published in the NAULR Journal. His academic and professional interests focus on sustainable infrastructure finance and the intersection of capital markets, financial regulation, and development. Chima will pursue an LLM in Corporation Law with a particular focus on finance and securities regulation.
Jinzhao Yu
China
Jinzhao Yu has practiced as a dispute resolution lawyer for five years in China. Prior to beginning his LLM studies at NYU, he worked as an associate at King & Wood Mallesons, a leading international law firm in the Asia-Pacific region. His practice focused on both domestic and cross-border litigation and arbitration, with particular expertise in disputes arising from mergers & acquisitions, equity investments, joint ventures, commercial sales agreements, and Public-Private Partnership projects. Jinzhao was admitted to the Chinese Bar in 2022.
Jinzhao earned his Bachelor of Laws (ranking among the top graduates in his class) and Bachelor of Economics from Peking University in 2018, followed by a Master of Laws in Economic Law in 2020. During his time at Peking University, he received numerous prestigious awards, including the National Scholarship (twice) and the Beijing Merit Student honor. At the 2018 Law School graduation ceremony, he was the only domestic student selected to deliver a speech. Beyond academics, Jinzhao demonstrated strong leadership, serving as the President of Peking University’s Legal Aid Association and the Vice President of Peking University’s Law Students’ Union.
As a Hauser Global Scholar, Jinzhao will pursue an LLM degree in Corporation Law at NYU.