FAMIMOVE (FAMIlies on the MOVE) – the website is now live!

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FAMIMOVE is an international project co-funded by the European Commission under the JUST-2022-JCOO program. The FAMIMOVE website is now live and may be consulted by clicking here.

The project  aims to improve the protection of migrant children and families by bringing actual practice more in line with EU goals and values, such as the protection of fundamental rights and best interests of the child. It also seeks to provide more effectiveness to EU objectives through a better coordination of instruments in overlapping fields, such as Regulations in private international law in family law matters and migration law rules. The duration of the project is 24 months (from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2024). For more information, click here.

The Consortium is coordinated by Prof. Marta Pertegás Sender (University of Maastricht) and is comprised of the following partners: Prof. Bettina Heiderhoff (University of Münster), Prof. Costanza Honorati (University of Milano-Bicocca); Prof. Fabienne Jault (University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines), Prof. Ulf Maunsbach (Lund University), Prof. Orsolya Szeibert (Eötvös Loránd University) and Prof. Jinske Verhellen (Ghent University). Each Partner is further supported by colleagues with expertise in  cross-cutting fields, thus bringing together experts who are representatives from a large range of European regions. More information is available here.

FAMIMOVE (actually, FAMIMOVE 2.0) is a spin-off of an earlier project with the same name, which was very successful and resulted in two insightful documents published by the European Parliament: Children on the Move: A Private International Law Perspective and Private International Law in a Context of Increasing International Mobility: Challenges and Potential.

Any new developments on FAMIMOVE will be published here – stay tuned!

 

Registration Open: Webinar Series on the Future of Cross-border Parenthood in the EU

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As announced on this blog and on the blog of the EAPIL, a series of webinar has been organised under the title The Future of Cross-Border Parenthood in the EU – Analyzing the EU Parenthood Proposal.

This is just a quick reminder for those who also read the EAPIL blog – and a new announcement for those who do not – that registration is open through the form available here.

 

The programme of the series is as follows:

  • 3 May 2023, webinar chaired by Claire Fenton-Glynn: Surrogacy in comparative perspective (Jens Scherpe), and What’s in it? Subject matter, scope and definitions (Cristina González Beilfuss)
  • 10 May 2023, webinar chaired by Fabienne Jault-Seseke: The EU Proposal and primary EU law: a match made in heaven? (Susanne Gössl), and The law governing parenthood: are you my father? (Tobías Helms)
  • 17 May 2023, webinar chaired by Nadia Rustinova: The mutual recognition of decisions under the EU Proposal: much ado about nothing? (Alina Ontanu), and Who decides on parenthood? The rules of jurisdiction (Maria Caterina Baruffi)
  • 24 May 2023, webinar chaired by Steven Heylen: Authentic documents and parenthood: between recognition and acceptance (Patrick Wautelet), and The European certificate of Parenthood: a passport for parents and children? (Ilaria Pretelli)

The series of webinars is organized by Cristina González Beilfuss (Universitat de Barcelona), Susanne Gössl (Universität Bonn), Ilaria Pretelli (Institut Suisse de Droit Comparé), Tobias Helms (Universität Marburg) and Patrick Wautelet (Université de Liège) under the auspices and with the support of EAPIL, the European Association of Private International Law.

Jürgen Basedow 1949-2023

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Jürgen Basedow, a giant of private international law (and numerous other disciplines), has died –  suddenly, and completely unexpectedly, on April 6. He was my teacher (though only briefly so in a formal position), my predecessor as director of the Hamburg Max Planck Institute (where he served as director 1997-2017) and my colleague as an emeritus. His (impressive) vita is still visible on the MPI website.

Words fail me, as they have many, and so I will not attempt to write more here. A longer appreciation of his life and work and personality is in preparation. Until then, you may wish to read one or more of the following announcements that I am aware of; please announce in the comments or by email what I may have overlooked.

Also, the Hamburg Max Planck Institute is setting up a virtual book of condolences. Please consider sharing your own appreciation there, even if you have already written them up somewhere else.

RIP.

Longer appreciations:

Corinna Budras at Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Giesela Rühl at EAPIL

Federico Garau at conflictuslegum

José Carlos Fernández Rozas at his personal blog

Manfred Wandt at VersROnline

Konrad Duden / Matteo Fornasier in EuZW 2023, 395-396

Eva-Maria Kieninger / Ralf Michaels in RabelsZ 87 (2023), 229-235

Anatol Dutta / Christian Heinz in JZ 2023, 610-611

Brief online announcements:

GEDIP / EGPIL

Max Planck Institute for International and Comparative Law, Hamburg

Leuphana University

Tbilisi University

Università degli Studi di Pavia

International Academy of Comparative Law

Monopolkommission

Brief appreciations on social media (incomplete)

Vasco Becker-Weinberg, Pejovic Caslav, Axel Halfmeier, Matthias Kurth, Michael Kubiciel, Monopolkommission, Gülüm Özçelik, Mateusz Pilich

Final Call for Participation in the EAPIL Working Group Survey on the Reform of the Brussels Ibis Regulation

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The following information has kindly been provided by Tess Bens, Research Fellow at the Luxembourg Max Planck Institute:

In September 2022, an EAPIL Working Group met for a conference in Luxemburg to discuss the perspectives and prospects of a reform of the Brussels Ibis Regulation. There were panels on the role and scope of the Brussels Ibis Regulation, collective redress, third state relationships, jurisdiction and pendency, and recognition and enforcement. As a result of the conference, Professor Hess and a team of Researchers of the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg published a preliminary Working Paper which put forward 32 proposals for the reform of the Brussels Ibis Regulation.

Parallel to the preliminary Working Paper, a survey was set up to collect reactions and comments on the proposals. By now, over 60 participants from many different Member States have answered the survey. Participation in the survey is open to anybody interested in the reform of the Brussels I bis Regulation, irrespective of whether they are a member of the European Association for Private International Law. Your input is greatly appreciated. Please note that the survey will be open until 15 April 2023.

UK Law Commission – Recruitment for Lead Lawyer

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The following information has kindly been provided by Professor Sarah Green, UK Law Commissioner for commercial and common law:

Thank you for your interest in our project Digital assets: which law, which court?. We would like to draw your attention to an opportunity to join the team, as the Law Commission is currently recruiting for a lawyer or legal academic to lead this project. This is an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of legal policy development in this cutting-edge and complex area, working with a range of domestic and international stakeholders.

We are ideally looking for specific experience or demonstrable interest in the private international law of England and Wales. This role will ultimately require a good knowledge of conflict of laws, digital assets and electronic trade documents. However, we are also interested in receiving applications from lawyers or academics with different commercial or common law backgrounds, with an interest in law reform and who can demonstrate a capacity to quickly acquire knowledge of complex areas of law.

Details of how to apply, along with the full job description, essential qualifications and other details, are available at this link: Law Commission: Commercial and Common Law Team, Lawyer(Ref: 73409) – Civil Service Jobs – GOV.UK

We would be grateful if you could draw this opportunity to the attention of anyone who might be interested. The role is also potentially available as a secondment opportunity from a business or academic institution. Please note that, due to civil service policies, the candidate must be UK-based.

If you would like to discuss further, please contact:

Laura Burgoyne, Head of the Commercial and Common Law Team
Email:  laura.burgoyne@lawcommission.gov.uk
Telephone: 07793 966 296

Out Now: 3rd Edition of Ostendorf, Internationale Wirtschaftsverträge

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Internationale Wirtschaftsverträge ediAbbildung von Ostendorf | Internationale Wirtschaftsverträge | 3. Auflage | 2023 | beck-shop.deted by Patrick Ostendorf (Berlin University of Applied Sciences) but otherwise exclusively written by practitioners occupies a unique position with the German literature on international transactions. It is undeniably aimed at practitioners, featuring a great number of check lists, English sample clauses, and practical tips. Accordingly, most of the book is structured around specific elements of international contracts such as penalties (ch. 6), indemnities (ch. 7), limitations of liability (ch. 8), force majeure (ch. 10), choice of law (ch. 13) and so on. In addition, the book features a number of cross-cutting chapters dedicated to particular types of contracts (ch. 18–23). But despite this hands-on approach, the book’s authors reflect on, and draw from, a wealth of academic material, which they condense into immediately applicable guidance.

Although coming out a mere five years after the previous edition, the third editions contains significant updates to most chapters in light of Brexit, Covid 19, Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the updates to Incoterms (2020) and the ICC Arbitration Rules (2021), and some significant legislative activity in Germany and Europe, e.g. with regard to international supply chains. Of course, these rapid developments make the book all the more useful for German lawyers navigating the high seas of international transactions.

ArbMetaBlock2023 Conference, Ghent, 26 May 2023

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At the ArbMetaBlock2023 Conference leading experts in technology and dispute resolution will discuss the impact of blockchain, the Metaverse, and Web3 on arbitration. These concepts have become part of the conversation in the arbitration community, but few understand their true significance and potential impact.

Panelists will discuss the impact of blockchain and the Metaverse on arbitration, the changing role of lawyers and arbitration institutions, and the effect of new technology on arbitration fundamentals during our full-day event.

Confirmed speakers include Mihaela Apostel, Pedro Arcoverde, Elizabeth Chan, Paul Cohen, Dirk De Meulemeester, David Earnest, Elizabeth Zoe Everson, Anna Guillard Sazhko, Wendy Gonzales, Emily Hay, Cemre Kadioglu Kumptepe, Creguta Leaua, Matthias Lehman, Niamh Leinwather, Aija Lejniece, Maud Piers, Colin Rule, Sean McCarthy, Sophie Nappert, Ekaterina Oger Grivnova, Pietro Ortolani, Amy Schmitz, Takashi Takashima, David Tebel, Leandro Toscano, and Dirk Van Gerven.

The event is organized by the Center for the Future of Dispute Resolution at the University of Ghent in collaboration with leading organizations, including ArbTech, Arbitrate.com, Cepani, Cepani40 CyberArb, MetaverseLegal, and UNCITRAL.

See here for more information and registration.

Diversity & Inclusiveness In International Arbitration: Hybrid event on 24 April 2023

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The School of Law of the University of Aberdeen is organising a hybrid even on Diversity & Inclusiveness In International Arbitration: Challenges, Progress and Excuses on Monday 24 April (13.00 – 14.15 British Summer Time).

Despite the broadly accepted desirability and value of diversity in international arbitration, statistics show that very little changes in the appointment practices in international arbitration. Tribunals remain largely non-diverse – with the exception of a growing number of female arbitrators. In this context, there is a clear need to reconceptualize the approach to diversity efforts, starting with the questions guiding the diversity debate, the parameters of success and the methods of their realization.

The speaker is Fahira Brodlija.

The event is free. Please contact Mr Georgi Chichkov for more information at georgi.chichkov@abdn.ac.uk or enrol here.

Save the Dates: EAPIL Webinar Series on the Proposal for an EU Regulation on Parenthood

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As already reported here, the European Kommission adopted a Proposal for a Regulation in December 2022 which aims to harmonize at the EU level the rules of private international law with regard to parenthood. In May the EAPIL is organizing a series of four webinars to discuss the main elements of the proposal, find weaknesses and possibilities of improvement.

Each Wednesday, the webinar will start at 6 pm and end at 8 pm CET. It will focus on two topics, each presented by one expert, who will discuss the content of the proposal and examine the questions and possible improvement it raises. There will be ample room for discussion.

The programme of the series is as follows:

  • 3 May 2023, chaired by Claire Fenton-Glynn:
    • The EU Proposal on Parenthood: lessons from comparative and substantive law (Jens Scherpe)
    • What’s in it? Subject matter, scope and definitions (Cristina González Beilfuss)
  • 10 May 2023, chaired by Fabienne Jault-Seseke:
    • The EU Proposal and primary EU law: a match made in heaven? (Susanne Gössl)
    • The law governing parenthood: are you my father? (Tobías Helms)
  • 17 May 2023, chaired by Nadia Rustinova:
    • The mutual recognition of decisions under the EU Proposal: much ado about nothing? (Alina Ontanu)
    • Who decides on parenthood? The rules of jurisdiction (Maria Caterina Baruffi)
  • 24 May 2023, chaired by Steven Heylen:
    • Authentic documents and parenthood: between recognition and acceptance (Patrick Wautelet)
    • The European certificate of Parenthood: a passport for parents and children? (Ilaria Pretelli)

For more information please visit the Website of the EAPIL.

Amended Rules of procedure of the General Court of the EU and Practice rules came into force

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The Rules of Procedure of the General Court of the European Union (OJ 2023 L 44, p. 8) and the Practice Rules for the Implementation of the Rules of Procedure of the General Court (OJ 2023 L 73, p. 58) have been amended, as communicated in the press release of 31 March 2023, no 58/23, The amendments have come into force on 1 April 2023.

The amendments introduce several features to the rules of proceedings before the General Court, with the aim to promote modern and efficient justice. For instance, the amended Rules of Procedure permit the use of videoconferencing during the hearings. A request for use of videoconferencing made by a representatives prevented from participating at the hearing in person shall be satisfied, if the request is based on ‘health, security or other serious reasons’ (Article 107a Rules of Procedure).

Another amendment worth noticing is the new concept of ‘pilot case’. The concept is introduced by Article 71a of the Rules of Procedure. Article 71a lists the conditions, under which two or more pending case shall be considered as raising the same issue of law. If the conditions are met, one of the cases may be identified as the pilot case and the others stayed.

The General Court has also updated model/guidance documents addressed to the parties’ representatives, who may use the documents to prepare the actions. The guidance documents include the Aide-mémoire – Application, Model summary of the pleas in law and main arguments relied on in the application’, Aide-mémoire – Hearing of oral argument, Notice on the omission of data vis-à-vis the public in judicial proceedings. Furthermore, a new guidance has been issued to assist in their (decisions on) requests to make oral submissions by videoconference (Practical recommendations for representatives making oral submissions by videoconference).

Other amendments relate to joint hearings (Article 106a Rules of Procedure), protection of data other than personal data (Article 66a Practice Rules), signing of originals of judgements and orders of the General Court by ‘qualified electronic signature’ (Article I(F)(37) Practice Rules).