ICLQ at 60

International & Comparative Law Quarterly celebrates 60 years of international and comparative law scholarship. 

The first issue for 2012 not only offers two articles exploring international private law issues, but also a susbtantial editorial reviewing 60 Years of Legal Scholarship in the International & Comparative Law Quarterly, with a special section on the Contribution to Private International Law by James Fawcett.

The first of the two PIL articles is one by Mihail Danov (Brunel University) on EU Competition Law Enforcement: Is Brussels I Suited To Dealing with All the Challenges?

There are arguments indicating that Brussels I could be applicable to cross-border competition law proceedings before a National Competition Authority located in one Member State and private EU competition law proceedings before another Member State court. However, an analysis of the current private international law framework appears to indicate that Brussels I is not well suited to deal with the difficulties that could arise in this context. Given the fact that, in the new proposal for a regulation on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments there is no indication that special jurisdictional bases for competition law actions in the successor to Brussels I are on anyone’s agenda, an option for a reform may be setting up a new and special regulation to be applicable with regard to EU competition law claims only.

The second article is authored by Uglješa Grušic (PhD Candidate, LSE) on Jurisdiction in Employment Matters under Brussels I: A Reassessment.

This article examines the rules of jurisdiction in employment matters of Brussels I. It focuses on a paradox in that these rules aim to protect employees jurisdictionally, but in fact fail to accord employees a more favourable treatment when they need it most, namely when they appear as claimants. The article argues that the current rules fail to achieve the objective of employee protection, examines the reasons for this, proposes certain amendments that would improve the existing rules, and thereby engages in the debate surrounding the forthcoming review of Brussels I.

Happy birthday !