Save the date – 5 February 2021 – online event. The Netherlands: a forum conveniens for collective redress?  

by Marta Pertegás Sender, Maastricht University and University of Antwerp

On 5 February 2021 a group of renowned experts will discuss the attractiveness of Dutch courts in an online interactive seminar. The event will more generally address the settlement of complex private transnational disputes in light of recent Dutch and European legislation.

The starting point for this event is the observation that a number of complex multijurisdictional cases find their way to the Dutch courts. Notorious examples of past and pending collective redress cases include the Shell Nigeria (environmental claims), Libor (market manipulation claims), Petrobras (investor claims) and the “truck cartel” (competition claims) cases.

This “Dutch-bound” trend raises questions about the adequacy of the legal framework for such complex cases, in particular with regard to the international jurisdiction of the Dutch courts, the scope of application of the new law on collective redress, the domestic and international coordination of proceedings, the available (extraterritorial) remedies, etc.

Furthermore, this trend begs a more fundamental question about the position of the Dutch courts in a fragmented legal landscape. The broad application of the Law on Collective Settlements and the more restrictive scope of the new law on collective action, illustrate some of these controversies. Should The Netherlands remain an international dispute settlement hub ( forum conveniens) for such disputes?

Dutch and international academic experts, practitioners and policy-makers will lead the discussion from a legal, political and societal perspective. The attractive programme and line of speakers will soon be available here. For now, please save the date and join us for an in-depth reflection on how to tackle such collective redress cases.

This conference is organised by Maastricht University, Tilburg University and University of Amsterdam (UvA), with the collaboration of the Open University, in the context of the Netherlands Sector Plan on the transformative effects of globalisation in the law.