Report on the 2024 Asia-Pacific Colloquium of the Journal of Private International Law (JPIL)

On 5–6 December 2024, 18 private international lawyers from Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore came together at the University of Melbourne for the 2024 Asia-Pacific Colloquium of the Journal of Private International Law (JPIL).

The colloquium was the first since 2018, when it had been held in Japan. The 2024 event was expertly hosted by Professor Richard Garnett and Professor Ying Khai Liew of the University of Melbourne Law School, and held at University House at UniMelb’s Parkville campus.

The theme of the 2024 Colloquium was ‘Private International Law: Domestic Law or International Law?’. The organisers provided the following prompt to participants:

While private international law forms part of a country’s domestic legal system, it has also been influenced by international developments, such as foreign decisions, scholarly writings, conventions and other transnational instruments. Participants are encouraged to consider topics in private international law that address this theme: for example, some areas have remained wholly domestic in nature while others reveal clear evidence of cross- border harmonisation. Is ‘internationalisation’ of private international law always achievable or desirable?

In the tradition of the JPIL’s colloquia, each participant provided a draft paper which was circulated before the event. Participants took varying approaches to presenting their work: some provided a high-level summary of their paper; others focused on particular issues in their work, or unresolved questions. Each session allowed for plenty of time for discussion. The tone of the discussion was overwhelmingly positive: participants provided one another with constructive criticism and encouragement in a collegial manner.

The event was broken up by events on Thursday night: the launch of the Australasian Association of Private International Law at Corrs Chambers Westgarth (write-up to follow), then a delicious dinner at a very trendy Melbourne restaurant. (Well chosen, Richard and Ying.) A great time was had by all.

The event demonstrated the great value of bringing the private international law community together in person: an opportunity to enhance our writing, our understanding of the discipline, and our circle of friends. It got me excited for the 2025 JPIL conference in London. I hope my fellow southerners join us in the UK at UCL.

The 2024 Colloquium was attended by:

Associate Professor Ardavan Arzandeh, National University of Singapore

Dr Michael Douglas, Bennett – Litigation and Commercial Law

Professor Richard Garnett, University of Melbourne

Professor Ying Khai Liew, University of Melbourne

Associate Professor Maria Hook, University of Otago

Associate Professor Jeanne Huang, University of Sydney

Professor Mary Keyes, Griffith University

Dr Lemuel Lopez, RMIT University

Wilson Lui, University of Melbourne

Professor Reid Mortensen, University of Southern Queensland

Professor Yuko Nishitani, Kyoto University

Cara North, Corrs Chambers Westgarth

Professor Luke Nottage, University of Sydney

Associate Professor Sagi Peari, University of Western Australia

Dr Poomintr Sooksripaisarnkit, University of Tasmania

Assistant Professor Marcus Teo, National University of Singapore

Associate Professor Dicky Tsang, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Jack Wass, Stout Street Chambers, New Zealand Bar