German Conference on Cross-Border Enforcement in the EU (“IC²BE”)

On 10–11 October 2019, the Albert-Ludwig-University of Freiburg (Germany) will host the final conference of the German branch in the framework of the research project “Informed Choices in Cross-Border Enforcement” (IC2BE). Funded by the Justice Program (2014-2020) of the European Commission, the project aims to assess the working in practice of the “second generation” of EU regulations on procedural law for cross-border cases, i.e. the European Enforcement Order, Order for Payment, Small Claims and the Account Preservation Order Regulations. As a result, a database of CJEU and national case law has been created which is available here. The project is carried out by a European consortium (the MPI Luxembourg and the universities of Antwerp, Complutense (Madrid), Milan, Rotterdam, and Wroclaw) and is coordinated by Prof. Jan von Hein, Freiburg. Confirmed speakers include Professors Eva Lein (Lausanne), Caroline Meller-Hannich (Halle), Christoph Althammer (Regensburg), Florian Eichel (Bern), Christian Heinze (Hanover), Haimo Schack (Kiel), and Michael Stürner (Konstanz). In addition, the conference will feature a panel discussion by distinguished practitioners, Prof. Dr. Andreas Baumert (Achern), Dr. David Einhaus (Freiburg), and Dr. Carl Friedrich Nordmeier (Frankfurt). The language of the conference will be German. Participation is free of charge (except for the dinner), but requires a registration. For further information about the program and the process of registration, please click here.

Fellowship at the Käte Hamburger Center for Advanced Study “Law as Culture”

The Käte Hamburger Center for Advanced Study “Law as Cultureinvites academics of excellent standing to apply for a fellowship or junior fellowship for a maximum of 12 months (for the research period from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2022) on the subject:

Law and Community

Subsequent to developing the “Law as Culture” paradigm in the first funding phase (2010-2016), the Center will now direct its attention to the interaction between law and other cultural spheres in the second funding phase (2016-2022). During the stated research period, the Center is dedicated to examining the relationship between Law and Community. Within this research area, the diversity of cultures of family law and societal forms globally will be examined. Research projects shall also be oriented towards one of the Center’s three traversal dimensions, namely “Cultures of Differentiation and Comparing Legal Cultures,” “Human Rights and Autonomy,” or “The Binding Force and the Emotive Foundations of the Law.”

The tensions described and analyzed as contradictions of normative orders in theories of legal pluralism can only be understood with view to the social communities hiding behind these with their respective religious, indigenous, local, and regional claims. In this context, the question of how these social communities are held together requires closer examination, as does their relationship to secondary, superordinate, and subordinate legal ties. Concretely speaking, ideas of superior or even universalist legal communities, such as the European Legal Community or a Human Rights Community, should be explored while bearing in mind the normative and emotionally affective boundaries of community building.

Shaped by social proximity and emotional entanglement, the family continues to be regarded as a central place where societal values are reproduced, goods are distributed, and mutual responsibility is assumed. The longstanding principle of family solidarity is reflected in numerous legal orders. At the same time, however, family law also mirrors changing family forms and family ideals. A wideranging transformation of society and its normative foundations manifests in the pluralization of family forms. It is precisely on the basis of that which constitutes the normative character of the family that constructions of “us” and “them” become clear. In cases involving foreign elements, for example, the law of the “other” is applied using private international family law; exceptions based on public policy nevertheless call for a “we.”

In addition to the comparison of family law cultures, the research area Law and Community seeks the comparison of (legal) cultures at the level of other forms of community and their connection to applicable law: Which social norm systems form traditional local neighborhoods, modern clan structures, or “post-traditional communities” in contemporary subcultures, and what is their relationship to state law? How are these particular claims to universal validity conveyed? To what extent is valid law accepted by them or pragmatically integrated, and do they attempt to enforce the ideas of norms beyond their own group boundaries?

The Käte Hamburger Center for Advanced Study “Law as Culture” offers a creative research atmosphere for various disciplines in the cultural and legal sciences. Academics of excellent standing are invited to apply by July 15, 2019. Applications should include a résumé, project description (5-10 pages), and selected publications, as well as list the applicant’s availability during the research period. They should be submitted preferably by email (kaesling@uni-bonn.de) or, alternatively, by mail:

Directorate of the Käte Hamburger Center for Advanced Study “Law as Culture”
c/o Dr. Katharina Kaesling
Research Coordinator
Konrad-Zuse-Platz 1-3
53227 Bonn
Germany

Further information can be found here.

Now Hiring: Assistant in Private International Law in Freiburg (Germany)

At the Institute for Comparative and Private International Law of the Albert-Ludwig-University Freiburg (Germany), a vacancy has to be filled at the chair for private law, private international law and comparative law (chairholder: Prof. Dr. Jan von Hein), from 1 October, 2019 with

a legal research assistant (salary scale E 13 TV-L, personnel quota 50%)

The assistant is supposed to support the organizational and educational work of the chairholder, to participate in research projects of the chair as well as to teach his or her own courses (students’ exercise). Applicants are offered the opportunity to obtain a doctorate.

Applicants are expected to be interested in the chair’s main areas of research. They should be fluent in German and possess an above-average German First State Examination (at least “vollbefriedigend”) or a foreign equivalent degree. In addition, a thorough knowledge of German civil law as well as conflict of laws, comparative law and/or international procedural law is a necessity. Severely handicapped persons will be preferred provided that their qualification is equal.

Please send your application (CV, certificates and, if available, further proofs of talent) as a single pdf file via e-mail to ipr3@jura.uni-freiburg.de no later than 15 July, 2019. Alternatively, the documents may be sent to Prof. Dr. Jan von Hein, Institut für ausländisches und internationales Privatrecht, Abt. III, Peterhof, Niemensstr. 10, D-79098 Freiburg (Germany). As the application documents will not be returned, applicants are kindly requested to submit only unauthenticated copies.

European Conference on Mediation in Cross-Border Succession Conflicts

The European Conference on Mediation in Cross-Border Succession Conflicts invites mediators, legal practitioners, researchers, policymakers and citizens who are interested in succession mediation and cross-border mediation. The EU-funded project FOMENTO (Fostering mediation in cross-border civil and succession matters) aims to contribute to foster a widespread use of mediation as a cost-effective solution to prevent and solve international disputes in civil and succession matters. The conference will take place in Leipzig (Germany) on 26 June 2019. It is a possibility for mediators and jurists to get in contact and exchange experience in the field of succession conflicts. It also provides a venue for giving and receiving constructive feedback on research in progress, networking and discussions for the advancement of mediation across Europe. The main topics of the conference include

  • mediation in cross-border succession cases,
  • cross-border mediation
  • co-mediation in a cross-border context
  • online mediation

For the full programme and registration, please click here.

Pax Jenard Moot Court Competition

The successful conclusion of the 7th edition PAX Moot Competition marked the 50th anniversary of EU Private International Law and was named after one of its “founding fathers”, Paul Jenard, who served as the Rapporteur of the 1968 Brussels Convention.

The PAX Competition is a specialized moot court competition focused on private international law issues. The PAX Competition was set up originally by Sciences Po (Paris) in 2012. Since 2018, the organising team includes private international law experts from different Universities and research institutions. This year, the University of Antwerp and the T.M.C. Asser Institute collaborated with Sciences Po in organising this moot court competition.

We are grateful for the support and the funding received from the European Commission, through the  JUDGTRUST project coordinated by the T.M.C. Asser Institute, and in particular thank our colleagues of the T.M.C Asser Institute for the excellent facilities provided for the moot.

On May 24 and 25, 2019, eleven teams from six States, including the Russian Federation and India, met in The Hague for the oral rounds of this competition. We would like to thank all participating teams for their commitment and excellent work on the moot! We congratulate the University of Antwerp as the winner of the 2019 Jenard Round of the Pax Competition and the University of Sorbonne for writing the winning memorials!

Registration for the 2020 is set to be open from November 2019 . We invite teams from all corners of the European Union and beyond to participate in the next edition of this Private International Law endeavour!

Property Regimes for International Couples: a Conference in Milan

On Wednesday 12 June 2019, at 13.30, the Department of International, Legal, Historical and Political Studies of the University of Milan will host the conference “New Rules on Property Regimes for International Couples”.

Speakers include Ilaria Viarengo (University of Milan), Maria Vilar Badia (European Commission), Andrea Bonomi (Swiss Institute of Comparative Law), Cristina González Beilfuss (University of Barcelona), Janeen Carruthers (University of Glasgow), Paolo Pasqualis (Notary), Monica Velletti (Judge), Cinzia Calabrese (President of AIAF) and Pietro Franzina (University of Ferrara).

See here for registration, programme and further information.

Job Vacancy at Riga Graduate School of Law

Riga Graduate School of Law (RGSL) calls for applications for the following academic vacancy:

Docent in Private Law with additional specialization in Private International Law or International Commercial Law or Comparative Contract Law, for election term of 6 years.

Requirements for applicants:

  • Compliance with the requirements of the Regulations on Academic and Administrative Personnel Positions of Riga Graduate School of Law;
  • At least 3 years of academic work experience in English language;
  • Documented experience in research and scientific publications during the last 6 years;
  • Participation in scientific conferences and international projects during the last 6 years.

Main tasks:

  • Provision of study work in Bachelor and Master level programmes;
  • Involvement in research and at least five publications in recognized peer-reviewed academic outlets during the election term;
  • Participation in RGSL governance bodies;
  • Engagement in RGSL community service.

Monthly salary up to EUR 2.200,00 for full-time work-load.

Applicants should submit the following documents:

  • Application letter;
  • Professional curriculum vitae (in Europass format) in Latvian and English;
  • Copies of documents certifying the relevant education;
  • List of publications and/or significant achievements in the relevant field, from the last 6 years.

The Regulations on Academic and Administrative Personnel Positions of Riga Graduate School of Law can be found here.

Deadline for application is 17  June 2019. Applications should be sent by postal mail to Riga Graduate School of Law, Str?lnieku 4k-2, R?ga, LV 1010, Latvia or by email to vacancies@rgsl.edu.lv (Subject heading: “Academic personnel vacancies”).

For additional inquiries please contact Ms. Ieva Racenaja, Director of Riga Graduate School of Law, at ieva.racenaja@rgsl.edu.lv.

Riga Graduate School of Law informs that personal data included in the application shall be processed in order to conduct the selection of candidates (on the grounds of legitimate interests). The controller of such personal data processing is Riga Graduate School of Law.

14 June 2019: Symposium on the Attractiveness of the Paris International Commercial Chambers

The Paris Court of Appeal will host a symposium on “L’attractivité de la place de Paris: Les chambres commerciales internationales: fonctionnement et trajectoire” (The attractiveness of Paris’s jurisdiction. The international Commercial Chambers: functioning and future trends) on June 14, 2019 (2pm-6pm).  

Readers of this blog will remember that on February 7, 2018, the International Commercial Chamberof the Paris Court of Appeal was inaugurated. Read more

Launching of the Private International and Comparative Law Master Program’s Yearbook (Venezuela)

On the occasion of the XVIII National Meeting of Private International Law Professors, the Private International and Comparative Law Master’s Degree Program of the Central University of Venezuela will launch its new website and the first issue of its yearbook in Caracas. The event, organized jointly with the “Tatiana de Maekelt” Institute of Law, will gather professors of Private International Law from different Venezuelan law schools to discuss current topics of interest, including new methods of teaching and evaluation in this subject.

The Yearbook will allow professors, graduates, current students and visiting professors to share their views on the classic and current topics of Private International and Comparative Law. Its launching represents the desire to have a specialized publication on these matters within the Venezuelan forum.

The first issue of the Yearbook contains the first thesis submitted for a Master’s Degree on the institution of renvoi, four papers spanning International Procedural Law, electronic means of payment, cross-border know-how contracts and International Family Law, sixteen of the papers presented during the Commemoration of the Twentieth Anniversary of the Venezuelan Private International Law Act’s entry into force, held on February 6, 2019 and a collaboration by Professor Esplugues Mota, Professor of Private International Law at the University of Valencia (Spain), where he recalls his time as a visiting professor in 2000, 2003 and 2008.

The Yearbook’s full table of contents is as follows:

Eugenio Hernández-Bretón
Presentación (Presentation)

I. Trabajos de Tesis (Thesis)

Caroline Bergeron

El reenvío en el Derecho Internacional Privado contemporáneo (The renvoi in Contemporary Private International Law)

II. Trabajos monográficos (Papers)

José Antonio Briceño Laborí

El principio de favor recognitionis como criterio de interpretación de los requisitos de eficacia de las sentencias extranjeras. Perspectivas desde el Derecho internacional privado venezolano (The Principle of favor recognitionis as an interpretation criterion of the effectiveness requirements of foreign judgements. Perspectives from Venezuelan Private International Law)

Andrea Cruz Suárez y Pedro Ramírez Braiz

El Dash como medio electrónico de pago. Aspectos contractuales internos e internacionales (Dash as an electronic means of payment. Internal and international contractual aspects)

Luis Carlos Mota Arocha

Derecho aplicable a contratos internacionales de know how de acuerdo a la Ley de Derecho internacional privado (Law applicable to international know-how contracts according to the Private International Law Act)

Eugenio Hernández-Bretón

La fractura de la familia venezolana ante el Derecho internacional privado (The fracture of the Venezuelan family before Private International Law)

III. Events. Commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the Private International Law Act’s entry into force

Eugenio Hernández-Bretón

La Ley de Derecho Internacional Privado y la universidad venezolana. Palabras de apertura (The Private International Law Act and the Venezuelan university. Opening words).

Claudia Madrid Martínez

Reflexiones en torno al sistema de fuentes del Derecho internacional privado venezolano (Reflections on the system of sources of the Venezuelan Private International Law Act).

Victor Gregorio Garrido Ramos

Cuestiones terminológicas en el artículo 1 de la Ley de Derecho Internacional Privado venezolana (Terminological issues in Article 1 of the Venezuelan Private International Law Act).

Anna María Tambasco B.

Situaciones jurídicas válidamente creadas (Vested Rights)

Rubén Valdivieso

Orden Público (Ordre Public)

Mirian Rodríguez Reyes de Mezoa

Los derechos reales en la Ley de Derecho Internacional Privado venezolana. 20 años después (In rem rights under the Venezuelan Private International Law Act. 20 years later)

Guillermo Palao Moreno

Criterios de conexión para la determinación de la ley aplicable en materia de familia y sucesiones en los sistemas de Derecho internacional privado venezolano y europeo (Connection criteria for the determination of the applicable law to family and successions matters under the Venezuelan and European Private International Law systems)

Froila Eugenia Pimentel C.

La indemnización de los daños punitivos en Venezuela en aplicación del artículo 9 de la Ley de Derecho Internacional Privado (The compensation of punitive damages in application of the Article 9 of the Private International Law Act)

Rosalvi Villegas

El principio de proximidad en la Ley de Derecho de Internacional Privado venezolana (The principle of proximity in the Venezuelan Private International Law Act)

Gerardo Feliche Lione Pedra

La cláusula de sumisión a la jurisdicción en los contratos de adhesión y las soluciones prácticas aportadas por la Ley de Derecho Internacional Privado (The choice of forum clause in adhesion contracts and the practical solutions provided by the Private International Law Act).

Andrea Carolina Olivares Hernández

La sumisión contemplada en el artículo 46 de la Ley de Derecho Internacional Privado (Submission to Venezuelan courts under Article 46 of the Private International Law Act).

Andrés Carrasquero Stolk

Derogatoria de la jurisdicción de los tribunales venezolanos en contratos de trabajo internacionales (Derogation of the Venezuelan jurisdiction in international labour contracts).

Luis David Briceño Pérez

Las acciones por intereses o derechos colectivos o difusos no son class actions (Actions for collective or diffuse interests or rights are not class actions)

María Alejandra Ruíz

Ejecución de las medidas cautelares de conformidad con la Ley de Derecho Internacional Privado venezolana (Enforcement of precautionary measures under the Venezuelan Private International Law Act)

José Antonio Briceño Laborí

Efectos de las sentencias extranjeras y procedimiento de exequátur (Effects of foreign judgments and exequatur procedure).

Eugenio Hernández-Bretón

La “historia secreta” de la Ley de Derecho internacional privado. Palabras de clausura (The “secret history” of the Private International Law Act. Closing remarks).

IV. Visiting Professors

Carlos Esplugues Mota

La Maestría de Derecho internacional privado de la Universidad Central de Venezuela: tres participaciones y un agradecimiento infinito (The Private International Law Master’s at the Central University of Venezuela: three visits and infinite gratitude)

The event will take place on June 10th.

Upon release the Yearbook will be available at: http://www.mdipc-ucv.com

Save the date: ASADIP’s Annual Conference will take place in Punta del Este, Uruguay on 21-22 November 2019

The American Association of Private International Law (ASADIP) is holding its XIII Annual Conference on 21 and 22 November 2019 in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The Conference is entitled Eficacia Transnacional del Derecho (Transnational Effectiveness of the Law). More information will be made available here.