The second issue of 2024 of the Rivista di diritto internazionale privato e processuale (RDIPP, published by CEDAM) was just released. It features:

Sara Tonolo, Professor at the University of Padova, Il contributo degli studiosi italiani ai corsi de l’Aja di diritto internazionale privato (1973-2023) [The Contribution of Italian Scholars to The Hague Academy Courses on Private International Law (1973-2023); in Italian]

The Private International Law Courses taught by Italian scholars within the Hague Academy have undergone an interesting evolution that deserves consideration on the occasion of the Academy’s Centennial Anniversary, especially regarding the period between 1973 and 2023. Alongside features commons to the courses of the initial period, such as the approach to the study of private international law, outlined by Pasquale Stanislao Mancini, and the comparative method, there are however distinctive and noteworthy features in the courses offered between 1973 and 2023. Among the topics analysed in the Italian Courses during the considered period, the recognition of the substantive effectiveness of judgments through private international law rules is particularly noteworthy both for its influence on the national codification of private international law, and for its relevance in addressing coordination issues arising from the communitarization of private international law. This topic is particularly relevant concerning the interrelation of private international law with other areas of international law, such as international protection of human rights. Given the circular relationship between international protection of human rights and private international law, coordination needs to be established within a debate that is becoming increasingly complex among private international law scholars, thanks also to the role of Italian scholars within the Hague Academy.

Giacomo Biagioni, Associate Professor at the University of Cagliari, Dichiarazione ONU sui diritti dei contadini e diritto internazionale privato dell’Unione europea [The UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and EU Private International Law; in Italian]

On 17 December 2018 the United Nations General Assembly adopted by a majority the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, stressing the importance of agricultural production and recognizing individual and collective rights granted to people living and working in rural areas. The paper aims at assessing the possible impact of the principles enshrined in the Declaration on the system of private international law sources, moving from the general assumption that UN declaration of principles may contribute to the interpretation of domestic law. As peasants and other workers in rural areas can qualify, under the 2018 Declaration, as weaker parties, the paper attempts to clarify to what extent solutions enacted in EU private international law for other categories of weaker parties (such as employees or consumers) with regard to conflict-of-laws and to jurisdictional competence in contractual matters may be extendable to peasants. However, the general approach of EU instruments concerning judicial cooperation in civil matters does not seem to be especially open to receiving the instances of protection of the rights of categories of weaker parties, which are not expressly mentioned in those instruments. Accordingly, as the law now stands, only recourse to general clauses (fraude à la loi, public policy, overriding mandatory rules) may lead to give some consideration to the special position of peasants and other workers in rural areas and to adapt private international law rules to the protection of their fundamental rights.

This issue also comprises the following comments:

Anna Liebman, Research Fellow at the University of Milan, Il rinvio ai criteri della convenzione di Bruxelles del 1968 nel diritto internazionale privato italiano: orientamenti consolidati e questioni aperte [The Reference to the Jurisdiction Criteria of the 1968 Brussels Convention in Italian Private International Law: Established Orientations and Open Questions; in Italian]

The article examines a few issues arising in connection with the reference made by Art 3(2) of Law 31 May 1995 No 218 to the criteria laid down in the 1968 Brussels Convention. In the article, it is first observed how, in recent times and especially in the light of two recent judgments of the Italian Supreme Court, the traditional orientation has completely changed, and that scholars and jurisprudence agree in considering the reference made by this provision as a reference to the most recent EU regulations and not to the 1968 Convention. Second, the article emphasises need for a uniform interpretation of the criteria nationalised by Art 3(2), as this is considered the only solution that allows not to undermine the coherence of the system. Lastly, the  article takes into consideration the possibility for Italian judges to submit a reference for a preliminary ruling to the Court of Justice of the European Union concerning the interpretation of the European discipline made applicable through Art 3 of Law No 218/1995, a possibility that seems to find consideration in the European case law.

Enrico Pedrotti, Juris Doctor, Problemi di giurisdizione in tema di azione contrattuale di garanzia proposta in via autonoma [Questions of Jurisdiction in Contractual Warranty Actions Brought in Autonomous Proceedings; in Italian]

Relying on the Italian Court of Cassation’s judgment No 613 of 8 January 2024, according to which Italian courts do not have jurisdiction pursuant to Art 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 when an action on guarantee is brought in autonomous proceedings, this article discusses the link between such provision and national procedural rules on guarantees, highlighting how the exercise of judicial discretion in the authorization of a third-party claim in accordance with Art 269 of the Italian Code of Civil Procedure bears significant consequences on jurisdiction. Furthermore, the Author discusses the applicability of Art 7(1)(b) of Regulation No 1215/2012 on the basis of Art 3 of Law 31 May 1995 No 218 reforming the Italian system of private international law, in case the place of performance is located outside the EU, concluding in the negative.

Finally, the issue features the following book review by Francesca C. Villata, Professor at the University of Milan: Mihail DANOV, Private International Law and Competition Litigation in a Global Context, Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2023, pp. XI-375.

The book is based on Dr. Ekaterina Aristova’s PhD thesis, completed at the University of Cambridge and subsequently refined through postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford. The core content of the book spans eight chapters across 297 pages, excluding the preface, series editor’s preface, table of contents, and index.

The book explores the approach of English courts to jurisdictional issues in foreign direct liability (FDL) claims brought against English-based parent companies and their foreign subsidiaries as co-defendants. While written from the perspective of English law, it incorporates comparative insights from similar FDL claims in other jurisdictions, including Australia, Canada, EU Member States, and the US.

The book is particularly notable for its observation—citing Professor Robert McCorquodale—that FDL claims intersect with various fields of law, such as domestic criminal law, tort law, contract law, human rights and constitutional law, comparative law, public international law, and private international law. Despite these intersections, the book primarily focuses on the private international law aspect of civil jurisdiction in FDL claims before English courts.

Chapter 1 introduces the book by highlighting the significant role of transnational corporations (TNCs) and the substantial impact their operations have had on human rights violations within the business context. It also briefly clarifies key terminologies used throughout the book.

The introduction is divided into three crucial sections. Section A provides the necessary context for discussing foreign direct liability (FDL) claims. Section B defines the book’s scope, identifies the research questions, and outlines the general methodology employed in the study. Section C concludes with an overview of the book’s structure.

Chapter 2 addresses a major challenge in the regulation of transnational corporations (TNCs): the mismatch between the global nature of TNCs’ operations, carried out by legally distinct companies, and the territorial jurisdiction of sovereign states. Aristova highlights the difficulties in providing a clear legal definition of TNCs due to their complex, multi-tiered structures. While a precise definition is not offered, she notes that TNCs typically possess characteristics of corporate groups and contractual networks.

The chapter then discusses the challenges and potential solutions for holding TNCs accountable, focusing on the principles of corporate legal personality that separate parent companies from their subsidiaries and the public international law principle of territoriality. Finally, Aristova traces the origins of an emerging legislative trend toward legally binding instruments that mandate parent companies of TNCs to conduct human rights due diligence in cross-border business operations.

Chapter 3 provides a comprehensive analysis of litigation against transnational corporations (TNCs) across various jurisdictions, with a particular focus on English courts. It examines how foreign direct liability (FDL) claims have contributed to enhancing corporate accountability for human rights violations.

The chapter begins by introducing a hypothetical FDL case, involving an English-based parent company accused of negligently exercising (or failing to exercise) control over the overseas operations of its foreign subsidiary, resulting in harm to the subsidiary’s employees. Next, it explores how tort law, particularly the negligence element of the duty of care, has been utilised in English courts to circumvent the principle of corporate legal personality, which separates parent companies from their subsidiaries.

Chapter 3 also offers a comparative overview of the global litigation landscape, highlighting key case law developments in Western countries where powerful multinational corporations are headquartered. Jurisdictions considered include the United States, Canada, EU Member States (notably Germany and The Netherlands), and Australia, where claimants have sought justice by initiating FDL claims.

Finally, the chapter addresses the regulatory function of FDL claims, examining issues such as the uneven litigation landscape, fact-sensitive inquiries, the lack of precedents, the interplay between tort law and human rights, barriers to justice in home states, the balance between compensation and deterrence, and the question of whether tort law provides an effective solution.

Chapter 4 examines the capacity and challenges faced by English courts in adjudicating foreign direct liability (FDL) claims.

First, Section A presents the pre-Brexit framework of jurisdictional rules, focusing on Articles 4, 8, 33, and 34 of the Brussels I Recast Regulation. During the UK’s membership in the EU, establishing the domicile of an EU defendant company in transnational and parallel litigation was crucial for determining jurisdiction. It also considers the traditional English jurisdictional rules applied to other foreign companies during the pre-Brexit period.

Second, Section B addresses the impact of Brexit on jurisdictional matters. Post-Brexit, jurisdiction between the UK and the EU is now determined primarily by English traditional jurisdiction rules, the Hague 2005 Convention, and as from 1 July 2025,  the Hague 2019 Convention. Under common law, jurisdiction is fundamentally based on service, which is divided into two categories: jurisdiction as of right and jurisdiction with leave of the court. Jurisdiction as of right is determined by presence and/or submission of the defendant within England, subject to the principle of forum non conveniens. Jurisdiction to serve a defendant outside England with leave of the court is governed by Civil Procedure Rules 6.36 and 6.37, which require the claimant to demonstrate that (i) a jurisdictional gateway applies, (ii) the claim has a reasonable prospect of success, and (iii) England is the appropriate forum to hear the case.

Finally, Section C concludes by discussing some of the conceptual and practical flaws in the jurisdictional rules applied by English courts in FDL claims.

Chapter 5 explores the impact of transnational corporations (TNCs) and their rapid expansion across borders, which complicates the traditional view of private international law as a neutral set of rules. While Aristova does not seek to challenge the conventional understanding of the discipline or propose a normative stance on its role in addressing globalisation, the chapter instead aims to establish a more refined and focused approach to exercising jurisdiction in FDL claims.

Chapter 6 builds on the objectives of Chapter 5 by identifying the key factors to consider when assessing the suitability of English courts as a forum for disputes involving English parent companies and their foreign subsidiaries as co-defendants. These factors are divided into two categories: the private interests of litigants involved in FDL claims and the State’s interests in exercising jurisdiction over such cases.

Section A briefly examines why claimants often choose to bring FDL claims in England, setting the stage for jurisdictional disputes over the venue. Section B evaluates the claimants’ choice of forum against the procedural fairness of jurisdictional rules from the corporate defendant’s perspective. It considers factors such as the English-based parent company’s personal connections to the home state, the economic and managerial structure of TNCs, the avoidance of parallel litigation across multiple forums, the burden on corporate defendants defending in England, and the predictability and legal certainty of jurisdictional rules.

Section C discusses the broader policy implications English courts cannot avoid when English-based TNCs are accused of overseas human rights violations. It argues that the increasing significance of international, regional, and domestic frameworks for holding TNCs accountable calls for an open acknowledgment of the public interest in trying FDL claims against English parent companies and their subsidiaries in English courts.

Finally, Section D considers English courts’ assertions of jurisdiction in FDL claims from the perspective of host states, addressing foreign policy concerns such as potential infringements on state sovereignty. It examines whether home state adjudication of FDL claims can align with the host state’s interests.

Chapter 7 explores whether introducing a new connecting factor that explicitly accounts for the economic reality of transnational corporations (TNCs) could better address the complexities of FDL claims and improve how English courts determine jurisdiction. Aristova discusses the economic enterprise theory, which proposes that when a parent company and its subsidiaries are closely integrated and function as a single economic entity, their separate legal identities may be disregarded. This theory, Aristova explains, could provide a new framework for jurisdiction in FDL claims.

Aristova acknowledges that the economic enterprise theory has received limited attention in academic and judicial contexts and remains somewhat vague and uncertain. Nevertheless, she suggests that the theory might offer a viable approach for FDL jurisdiction cases in English courts.

I must confess, without claiming expertise in this area, that Chapter 7 is particularly complex—especially the discussion of the economic enterprise theory, which I found unclear. Aristova distinguishes this theory from the concept of piercing the corporate veil, but her arguments would have been more persuasive had she more convincingly demonstrated why this theory is superior to the existing tort-based approach. The current approach, endorsed by the UK Supreme Court, holds that a parent company owes a duty of care to individuals harmed by its subsidiary’s activities if it exercises de facto control or oversight over the relevant harmful actions. Furthermore, Aristova does not advance the economic enterprise theory with much confidence, instead tentatively suggesting it as a potential alternative for future legislative consideration.

Chapter 8 concludes the work by reaffirming the importance of ensuring that victims of FDL claims are given the opportunity to have their day in court and access a remedy.

A minor critique is that the use of abbreviations in the substantive chapters could have been reduced to improve readability. A better approach would be to introduce the full term followed by its abbreviation in each chapter, rather than doing so only once for the entire book.

Overall, the monograph is well-written and highly engaging. It is thorough, particularly in its coverage of English cases, and Aristova demonstrates expert knowledge of the subject.

Written by Rishi Gulati

After a highly successful first series, all episodes of UEA Law School’s Second Podcast Series hosted by Rishi Gulati are now available on leading platforms, including on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud. The second series consists of several interesting discussions on key transnational concerns with experts from around the world.

There are two episodes on climate change litigation. Tyndall Centre PhD researcher Millie Prosser and Friends of The Earth Lawyer and PhD researcher Acland Bryant are joined by the renowned environmental lawyer David Wolfe KC and Norwich-based climate litigator Dr Andrew Boswell to discuss the opportunities and limitations in UK climate change litigation in the context of judicial review, and Rishi Gulati is joined by Dr Dalia Palombo on the potential impact of the landmark April 2024 European Court of Human Rights climate change decisions on corporations.

In other episodes, there are conversations between the host and Mr William Rook on sports and human rights, with Dr Nikos Skoutaris on state secession, and with Dr Hansong Li on the history & current political climate of the Indo-Pacific.

The series also consists of recordings from two fascinating events. One of the episode presents the Earlham Law Lecture 2024 by  Professor Sarah Green, Law Commissioner for Commercial and Common Law “on the topic: Of Digital Assets and Sausages: Confessions of a Law Commissioner”. Another episode brings to listeners the launch of the Elgar Companion to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law which includes remarks from Ms Anna Joubin-Bret,  Secretary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, and Director at the International Trade Law Division of the Office of Legal Affairs at the United Nations. Finally, one of the episodes is a conversation between Rishi Gulati and Ms Kate Lister, London-based singer and song-writer, voice coach, and graduate of the Guildhall School of Music, on presentation skills and voice tips.

The third series will return in September 2024 with several more fascinating discussions!

Issue 3/2024 of ZEuP – Zeitschrift für Europäisches Privatrecht has just been published. It includes contributions on EU private law, comparative law, legal history, uniform law, and private international law. The full table of content can be accessed here.

The following contributions might be of particular interest for the readers of this blog:

• Die Europäisierung des internationalen Erwachsenenschutzes
  Jan von Hein on the proposal for a regulation on the international protection of adults: On 31.5.2023, the European Commission presented a proposal for a regulation on the international protection of adults. This proposal is closely intertwined with the Hague Convention on the international protection of adults. Therefore, the proposed regulation shall be accompanied by a Council decision authorising Member States to become or remain parties to the Hague Convention. The following contribution analyses the proposed regulation and its relationship with the Hague Convention.
• Justizgrundrechte im Schiedsverfahren? – Pechstein und die Folgen fu?r die Handelsschiedsgerichtsbarkeit
  Gerhard Wagner and Oguzhan Samanci on human rights and commercial arbitration: Does the ECHR and the German constitution require public hearings in arbitral proceedings, provided that one of the parties had the power to impose the arbitration agreement on the other through a contract of adhesion? This article analyzes the potential implications that the Pechstein decision of the Federal Constitutional Court and ist precursor in the jurisprudence of the ECHR may have for commercial arbitration. The focus is on arbitration clauses in general business terms and in contracts with undertakings that occupy a dominant position in a specific market. The conclusion is that, despite the broad formula employed by the Federal Constitutional Court, the right to a public hearing should remain limited to sports arbitration.
• Die Auslegung von EuGH-Entscheidungen – ein Blick aus der Gerichtspraxis
  David Ullenboom on the interpretation of CJEU decisions: This article examines the question whether a European methodology is needed to interpret judgments of the CJEU for judicial practice. It argues that judgments of the CJEU need to be interpreted in the same way as legal provisions and are therefore subject to a grammatical, systematic, genetic and teleological interpretation in order to determine their meaning for future legal cases.
• Schweizerisches Bundesgericht, 8 June 2023, 5A_391/2021
  Tanja Domej discusses a decision of the Swiss Federal Tribunal on the recognition of the deletion of a gender registration under German law.

By Zihao Fan (Ph.D. Candidate in Law, Peking University Law School)

The ‘Global Value Chains and Transnational Private Law’ workshop was successfully held at Edinburgh Law School in a hybrid format from June 23 to 25, 2024. This project is funded by the Law Schools Global League (LSGL), convened by Prof. Verónica Ruiz Abou-Nigm (Edinburgh Law School) and Prof. Michael Nietsch (EBS Law School). The workshop attracted scholars and researchers from 15 universities and institutions worldwide. Over two days, participants shared inspiring work in progress and engaged in discussions on how transnational private law influences and shapes global supply chains. During the workshop plans for the upcoming publication and dissemination were discussed. This overview aims to briefly summarise the research outcomes presented during the workshop (following the sequence of the presentations).

Morning Session on 24 June

Dr. Catherine Pedamon (Westminster Law School) and Dr. Simone Lamont-Black (Edinburgh Law School) first introduced a previous related workshop held in Edinburgh Law School on ‘Sustainability in the Food Supply Chain: Challenges and the Role of Law & Policy’. This project consists of contributions from a variety of legal and policy areas at the UK, EU, and international levels, focusing on the role of law (including commercial law, contract law, competition law, and corporate law) in resolving regulatory difficulties and opportunities in food supply chains, with a particular emphasis on sustainability and food security, therefore highly connected to the current project.

Afterwards, Dr. Pedamon and Dr. Lamont-Black also presented their research titled ‘Responsible Contracting in Agri-Food Supply Chains: Mitigating Power Asymmetries on the Road Towards Sustainability’. They pointed out that recent events like the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, climate-related price instability, and inflation have severely impacted the global economy, creating an unprecedented food crisis. Complex food supply chains reveal power imbalances, with larger trading partners often imposing unfair practices on less powerful suppliers. This research aims to shed light on the issues surrounding governance gaps and the various challenges and opportunities that arise from private international law, examining UK domestic law pertaining to food supply relationships, taking the EU level regulation into account, and providing potential examples of its implementation.

Dr. Francesca Farrington (School of Law, University of Aberdeen) and Dr. Nevena Jevremovic (School of Law, University of Aberdeen) then presented their work titled ‘Private International Law and the Race to the Bottom in Labour Standards: The Case of Begum v Maran’, discussed the recent Court of Appeal case, Begum v Maran. They noted that the literature has generally focused on the unique arguments relating to duty of care, and the Court of Appeal’s conclusion that the claim was not fanciful – it illustrates that the Rome II Regulation does little to prevent a ‘race to the bottom’ in labour standards especially given that corporate liability was a rapidly expanding field of law. They also discussed the different results when courts adopting different characterization methods on business-related human rights (BHR) claims.

Dr. Sara Sanchez Fernandez (IE Law School, Spain) shared her research on ‘Civil Liability under the CS3D: International Jurisdiction Rules and Access to an Effective Legal Remedy’. She first introduced the background: the EU recently enacted the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), which establishes due diligence responsibilities and civil consequences for violations of such obligations. The CS3D establishes rules for organizations’ risk-based due diligence requirements across their entire value chain. Her research centred on the assurance of access to Member State courts for CS3D-related issues, scrutinizing the interaction between CS3D, international jurisdiction in the Brussels I bis Regulation, and the foreign jurisdiction rules of Member States. She also explored the potential solutions for cases where entities are non-EU domiciled.

First Afternoon Session on 24 June

Prof. Toshiyuki Kono (Faculty of Law, Kyushu University) and Prof. Ren Yatsunami (Faculty of Law, Kyushu University) presented their work on ‘The Global Value Chain & Network Responsibility: The New Possibilities of Private Ordering’. They pointed it out that in recent years, policymakers and scholars from numerous disciplines have concentrated on mapping the outlines of the modern global value chain, with the concept of ‘network’ emerging as a repeating theme. They investigate the relevance of viewing networks as lenses through which better understand the GVC and its regulation, particularly in terms of human rights and environmental issues. Besides, they also examine the failure of the network and related legal responses, suggesting that a mixture of public and private norms, hard laws and soft laws should be considered as alternatives.

Prof. Carlos Vasquez (Georgetown Law School, US) then discussed his research on ‘Applicable Law in BHR Cases’. He focused on the applicable substantive law in BHR suits brought in developed countries (usually the home state of the defendant corporation) for injuries suffered in developing countries (the host state). He centred on both vertical and horizontal choice-of-law inquiries: ‘vertical’ refers to the decision-making process that involves choosing between international law and national (or subnational) law as the primary source of relevant law, while ‘horizontal’ refers to the decision between applying the legal system of the host country or the legal system of the home State.

Dr. David Capper (School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast) presented his research next, on ‘Procedural Aspects of Transnational BHR-Litigation’. Continuing with BHR cases he discussed how victims of tortious conduct by multinational corporations are seeking remedy against the latter in a Global North jurisdiction, with a focus on the UK. He illustrated the procedural mechanisms in the UK that are available for mass tort litigation of this kind and suggested that the Group Litigation Order (GLO) would be the appropriate mechanism in the majority of cases of mass tort litigation. Then he elaborated on several aspects of GLO, including group registers, case management, and costs. Finally, he suggested examining the Okpabi case to see how GLOs work.

Second Afternoon Session on 24 June

Prof. Irene-Marie Esser (School of Law, University of Glasgow) and Dr. Christopher Riley (Durham Law School) presented their research on ‘Groups and Outsiders in the Context of Tort and Human Rights Violations’, examining the challenges that arise in protecting the interests of ‘outsiders’ from corporate groups’ misbehaviour. They argued that regulations applied to individual ‘stand-alone’ companies suffer weaknesses when applied to corporate groups. By using the UK’s experience of enforcing human rights norms against groups and of applying tort law, they demonstrate the implications of an ‘enterprise approach’ for regulation.

Dr. Catherine Pedamon (Westminster Law School) shared her work in progress on the French duty of vigilance. The French Loi de Vigilance has been enacted for seven years, yet its first decision was rendered on 5th December 2023. It still appears to be in the initial stages of development, not only due to its groundbreaking nature but also the obstacles to enforcement. She then shared some key preconditions on the applicability, the public availability of a vigilance liability plan, compensation for damages due to the companies’ failure to comply, etc. She also introduced the recent developments in the related cases in France.

Prof. Michael Nietsch discussed his research, ‘Corporate Accountability of Multinational Enterprises for Human Rights Abuses – Navigating Separate Legal Entity and Attribution under Delict’, elaborating the growing interest in corporate accountability for human rights violations in the German judicial system. In contrast to the UK, Germany has seen few incidents of damages lawsuit with the implementation of statutory due diligence procedures under the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act 2021 (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz, LkSG). Nonetheless, legal academics continue to discuss the basis for corporate liability for human rights violations under German private law, as well as the proper standards of care that arise as a result. This is a fundamental issue in German delict law and the separation of legal entities. He argued that the LkSG has ruled out private liability based on a violation of the Act’s due diligence criteria while allowing such liability on other grounds, which adds to the complexity.

At the end of the day, Dr. Juan Manuel Amaya Castro (Faculty of Law, University of the Andes, Colombia) presented his work on ‘Global Value Chains with a Human Face’. He discussed the definition of social traceability from a legal perspective and its requirements, purpose, and reasons for tracing a particular good in the supply chain. He then explained how traceability is mandated in due diligence and reporting legislation, pointing out that practices including auditing and certification, feedback loops, administrative guidelines, and civil liability standards should be considered.

Morning Session on 25 June

Dr. Biset Sena Güne? (Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law, Hamburg, Germany) started the day with her research, ‘Harmonisation of Private International Law Rules to Promote Sustainability in Global Value Chains?’. She elaborated that the role of private international law is frequently constrained concerning sustainability. In most cases, the ability to reach a truly sustainable outcome is dependent on the applicable private legislation. When this is the case, it is difficult to justify the need for harmonisation of current private international law standards without simultaneously focusing on uniform private law regulatory remedies. Nonetheless, she suggested that the need for harmonisation of private international law standards governing corporate social responsibility should be explored further and proposed a comparative approach for that further research.

The morning session on 25 June also discussed the plans for the upcoming publication and the dissemination conference to be held in Germany in 2025.

In summary, the workshop enabled fruitful discussion of work-in-progress and shared insights on the complexities of global value chains and the role of transnational private law. Key topics included sustainability, corporate accountability, and legal frameworks affecting global supply chains. The project successfully fosters international collaboration amongst and beyond LSGL researchers, nurturing comparative and interdisciplinary approaches. Participants gained a deeper understanding and ideas to take the research forward to address regulatory and coordination challenges in furthering sustainability in global commerce.

As recently highlighted by contributions on this blog, new technologies have a significant impact on the development of the law. Hence, the Curatorium of the Hague Academy of International Law has chosen for the the 2025 edition of the Centre for Studies and Research (18 August – 5 September 2025) to focus on the emerging topic of “Artificial Intelligence and International Law“. This year, the selected researchers will be work under the guidance of the Directors of Research, Marion Ho-Dac (Université d’Artois) for the French-speaking section as well as Marco Roscini (University of Westminster) for the English-speaking section.

Interested candidates must be researchers and preferably hold an advanced degree (PhD or Doctorate degree). Registration for the 2025 Centre is open from 1 July to 15 October 2024 via the institution’s own Online Registration Form.

For further information on the HAIL 2025 Centre and the Academy in general, please consult the HAIL Homepage or refer to the attached PDF Programme.

In this blog post, I respond to a recent critique by Dr. Cosmas Emeziem of a blog post co-authored by Dr. Abubakri Yekini and myself. Our post celebrated the elevation of Justice H.A.O. Abiru to the Nigerian Supreme Court and highlighted its significance for the development of Nigerian conflict of laws.

Dr. Emeziem argues that institutional expertise should be prioritised over individual expertise. He states, “[I]t is essential to stay focused on institutional capacities, expertise and competence and how to enhance them—instead of individualized expertise, which, though important, are weak foundations for enduring legal evolution and a reliable PIL regime.” He concludes that: “Thus, the idea that “an expert in conflict of laws is now at the Supreme Court after a long time”  is potentially misleading—especially for persons, businesses, and investors who may not know the inner workings of complex legal systems such as Nigeria.”

Yekini and I in our blog post , clearly stated: “Nevertheless, this is not to suggest that Justice Abiru’s expertise is limited to conflict of laws, nor that other Nigerian judges do not possess expertise in conflict of laws. The point being made is that his Lordship’s prominence as a judicial expert in conflict of laws in Nigeria is noteworthy.” [emphasis added]. The work of a judge is challenging, and academics should recognize and celebrate their expertise.

Celebrating judicial expertise is beneficial. For instance, Dr. Mayela Celis on 24 November 2021 in one blog post praised the appointment of Justice Loretta Ortiz Ahlf – a private international law expert – to the Mexican Supreme Court. Celis concluded in her blog post that: “This appointment will certainly further the knowledge of Private International Law and Human Rights at the Mexican Supreme Court.”

It is common for judges to specialize in certain legal fields, especially at the appellate level. This specialization enables them to provide leading judgments in relevant cases. This is particularly true in common law jurisdictions, where judges are known for their individual attributes and often provide separate decisions, which can result in a diverse range of opinions even within the same case. For example, in the English case of Boys v Chaplin, the House of Lords was unable to provide a coherent ratio decidendi due to differing opinions regarding the law applicable to torts when applying English law to heads of damages.

In Sonnar (Nig) Ltd v Partenreedri MS Norwind (1987) 4 NWLR 520 at 544 Oputa JSC of the Nigerian Supreme Court, although concurring, expressed a separate view that as a matter of public policy, Nigerian courts “should not be too eager to divest themselves of jurisdiction conferred on them by the Constitution and by other laws simply because parties in their private contracts chose a foreign forum.” Many other Nigerian judges have since followed this individual approach taken by Oputa JSC, despite the majority of the Nigerian Supreme Court in Sonnar unanimously, and repeatedly in Nika Fishing Company Ltd v Lavina Corporation (2008) 16 NWLR 509, and Conoil Plc v Vitol SA (2018) 9 NWLR 463, expressing preference for the enforcement of a foreign jurisdiction clause, except where strong cause is advanced to the contrary. In this context, the influence of an individual judge in decision-making in conflict of laws cannot be undermined.

In England, former United Kingdom Supreme Court Judges like Lord Collins and Lord Mance are renowned for their expertise in conflict of laws. Indeed, Lord Collins’ academic prowess in conflict of laws is internationally renowned, as he is one of the chief editors of the leading common law text on the subject. Nevertheless, this is not to suggest that judges who are not specialists in conflict of laws cannot make significant contributions to the subject. For instance, Lord Goff, known for his expertise in unjust enrichment, significantly contributed to the principle of forum non conveniens, delivering the leading judgment in the seminal case of Spiliada Maritime Corp v. Cansulex Ltd. The point being made is that judges’ specialization in a subject significantly enhances the quality of judicial decisions, a fact that scholars should celebrate.

The rise of international commercial courts in Asia and the Middle East, which resemble arbitral tribunals, underscores the importance of individual judicial expertise. These courts, including those in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Qatar, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi attract top foreign judicial experts to preside over and decide cases, thereby instilling confidence in international commercial parties (Bookman 2021; Antonopoulou, 2023). For instance, Lord Collins a former non-permanent Member of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, delivered the leading judgment in the significant cross-border matter of Ryder Industries Ltd v Chan Shui Woo, with the agreement of all other judges on the panel.

Yekini and I stated in our blog post, that Justice Abiru’s “dissenting opinion in Niger Aluminium Manufacturing Co. Ltd v Union Bank (2015) LPELR-26010(CA) 32-36 highlights his commitment to addressing conflict of laws situations even when the majority view falls short.” If the bench in the conflict of laws case where Justice Abiru dissented had been conversant with private international principles in Nigeria, a different outcome might have been reached. This is crucial in the context of the numerous per incuriam decisions by Nigerian appellate courts, which hold that in inter-state matters, a State High Court can only assume jurisdiction over a cause of action that arose within its territory, regardless of whether the defendant is present and/or willing to submit to the court’s jurisdiction (Okoli and Oppong, Yekini, and Bamodu) . The key point is that having more specialists in conflict of laws in Nigerian courts will significantly enhance the quality of justice delivery in cross-border issues.

In conclusion, while Justice H.A.O. Abiru is not the entire Nigerian Supreme Court for conflict of laws, there is nothing wrong with emphasizing and celebrating his specialization in this field. Therefore, I stand by my co-authored blog post and will continue to highlight such expertise.

The latest issue of the Journal of Private International Law was published yesterday It contains the following articles.

Alex Mills, Sustainability and jurisdiction in the international civil litigation market

The sustainability of the global economy, particularly in response to the concerns of climate change, is an issue which impacts many different aspects of life and work around the world. It raises particular questions concerning globalised industries or markets which depend on long distance transportation for their function. This article takes as its focus international civil litigation – the judicial resolution of cross-border disputes – as a particular example of a globalised market in which sustainability considerations are presently neglected, and examines how this omission ought to be addressed. It proposes a modification to English law which aims to ensure that jurisdictional decisions by the English courts take into account their environmental impact – that is to say, the environmental impact of the selection of a particular forum. The article also considers the implications of adopting this change on the position of the English courts in the global litigation marketplace, arguing that the effects are likely to be limited, and it could have an incidental benefit in promoting the development and adoption of communications technologies in judicial dispute resolution.

Saloni Khanderia, The law applicable to documentary letters of credit in India: A riddle wrapped in an enigma?

Despite significantly fostering international trade in India, letters of credit and the determination of applicable law in cross-border disputes arising from the same have received negligible attention from lawmakers. The Indian Supreme Court, too, has failed to use its power to mould the law despite regularly being confronted with disputes on this subject. This paper demystifies India’s conflict of law rules on the law governing disputes on letters of credit by examining relevant judicial trends. It highlights rampant references to the lex fori – and explores reasons why it is considered the “proper law” by being the country possessing the closest and most real contractual connection. It anticipates a “ripple effect” prompting parties to evade Indian courts through choice-of-court agreements preferring a foreign forum or to avoid business with Indian traders insisting on such payment mechanisms. Accordingly, it identifies the need for coherent rules and suggests some solutions that Indian lawmakers should consider.

Frederick Rieländer, The EU private international law framework for civil disputes concerning credit ratings: Exploring the status quo and prospects of reform

This article addresses the EU private international law framework for cross-border disputes concerning credit ratings. It argues that investors harmed by faulty ratings face considerable challenges when enforcing claims against credit rating agencies. These challenges arise not only due to the high standard of proof for damages claims and additional barriers rooted in substantive law but also from the limited territorial reach of the common EU civil liability regime of Article 35a of the amended Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009. Additionally, uncertainties concerning the determination of the concurrently applicable national law and the lack of unified European cross-border collective redress mechanisms in the area of capital markets law compound the problem. Against this background, this article discusses the options for reforming the existing private international law regime to enhance investors’ access to justice in disputes with CRAs.

Tony Ward & Ann Plenderleith Ferguson, Proof of foreign law: a reduced role for expert evidence?

This article considers the position as to proof of foreign law in the English courts in light of the case of FS Nile Plaza v Brownlie [2021] UKSC 45 and the 11th edition of the Commercial Court Guide. We discuss the “old notion” of proof by expert witnesses, the extent to which recent developments displace the traditional role of the expert and enhance that of the advocate, and the dicta in Brownlie concerning the presumptions of similarity and continuity and judicial notice. While welcoming the greater flexibility in the way foreign law can be put before the English court, we argue that the use of oral expert evidence and cross-examination will remain important in at least two types of case: those where the issue of foreign law is complex or novel, and those where the English court does not just need to ascertain the “correct” interpretation of foreign law, but rather predict whether a foreign court would in reality provide appropriate relief in relation to the matter before the court.

Olivera Boskovic, Extraterritoriality and the proposed directive on corporate sustainability due diligence, a recap

Tortious actions brought against companies for the violation of human rights and/or environmental damage have raised important issues of jurisdiction and choice of law. Damage caused abroad by subsidiaries of European companies or the possibility of bringing actions against non-European companies for damage caused outside of the European union have been referred to in terms of extraterritoriality. This paper examines these issues in relation to the proposed directive on corporate sustainability due diligence.

Leonard Lusznat, The Brussels IIb Regulation – Most significant changes compared to its predecessor and enhancement of the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction

The Brussels IIb Regulation, dealing with proceedings in matrimonial matters, those of parental responsibility and international child abduction cases, is the newest instrument of the European Union in international family law. The article critically evaluates its most significant changes compared to its predecessor, the Brussels IIa Regulation, in the fields of jurisdiction and of recognition and enforcement. In addition, it analyses how the Brussels IIb Regulation optimises the provisions of the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction between the member states of the European Union. The article argues that the regulation is overall a helpful and welcome addition to international family law because it strengthens the welfare of the child and enhances the practical functionality and normative structure of its predecessor. Nevertheless, scope for further improvements in another recast regulation is identified.

Olga Bobrzy?ska & Mateusz Pilich, Cases of cross-border child abduction in times of populism: a Polish perspective

This article analyses the case law in Poland on matters of the return of children wrongfully removed or retained within the framework of the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction during the period of the “populist” government (2020–2022). It takes account of the legislative and judicial developments in the EU and the European Court of Human Rights and of the aims of the Hague Convention. It seeks to ascertain whether the influence of populist reforms and politicisation of the courts has become apparent in the case law of the Polish Supreme Court on international child abduction cases.

Ye Shanshan & Du Tao, The Jurisdiction of China International Commercial Court: substance, drawbacks, and refinement

The wave of setting up international commercial courts has emerged internationally. Following the trend, China established the China International Commercial Court (CICC) in 2018. The CICC exercises consensual jurisdiction and non-consensual jurisdiction over international commercial disputes, and has jurisdiction to support international commercial arbitration. This article analyses the CICC’s criteria for determining international commercial disputes and the specific requirements for each type of jurisdiction based on the relevant provisions and judicial practice of the CICC. In addition, this article identifies the drawbacks of the CICC’s current jurisdiction system, and provides several suggestions for refinement, including the modification and clarification of the criteria for determining the internationality and commerciality of disputes, the removal of restrictions on jurisdiction agreements, the clarification of substantive standards for case transfer, and the expansion of its jurisdiction to support international commercial arbitration.

Gülüm Bayraktaroglu-Özçelik, When migration meets private international law: issues of private international law in divorce actions of Syrian migrants under temporary protection before the Turkish courts

The extended stay of Syrian nationals under temporary protection in Türkiye for more than a decade has caused an increase in their involvement in private law actions before the Turkish courts. Even though their substantive rights have mostly been regulated following their arrival, the private international law legislation has not yet been reviewed. This research, focusing on the most recent judgments of Turkish courts in divorce actions of Syrian migrants identifies important issues of private international law. These include questions on determination of international jurisdiction of Turkish courts, their access to legal aid and the obligation to provide security, questions of applicable law concerning marriage (including the recognition of the marriages validly celebrated in Syria), determination of the law applicable to divorce and the content of Syrian law. The study demonstrates that some of these questions arise because of the ongoing unfamiliarity of Turkish courts with “temporary protection status” as a relatively new concept in Turkish law, whereas others are related to application of general provisions to temporary protection beneficiaries and highlights the urgent need to review the Turkish private international law legislation considering the status of these persons to provide uniformity in court decisions and to ensure predictability.

As some readers will have seen through various other blogs and social media, this month the book Research Methods in Private International Law. A Handbook on Regulation, Research and Teaching, edited by Xandra Kramer (Erasmus University Rotterdam/Utrecht University) and Laura Carballo Piñeiro (University of Vigo) was published. The book is part of the Handbook in Research Methods of Law Series of Edward Elgar Publishing.

“The book seeks to provide insights into the different methodological approaches to private international law from both a regulatory approach and from a research and educational perspective. Established methodologies as well as evolving regulatory and empirical approaches that shape the future of private international law are discussed. To this end, the book is structured in three parts that correspond to three core debates, although they inevitably overlap: (I) the classification of private international law as private law and its interaction with international public law and regulation; (II) inter- and multidisciplinary approaches and research methods; and (III) how private international law helps to frame and address the critical debates of our time as well as the role of legal scholarship and education in shaping the future of private international law.” (Introductory Chapter, p. 1-2).

The book contains 18 chapters written by a team of authors spanning all continents discussing classical themes of private international law and new challenges in regulation, research, and teaching. It includes views from politics, human rights, legal theory, soft law and private regulation,  comparative law, empirical studies, economics, EU law making, technology, laymen, feminism, colonialism, as well as university teaching in Mexico, Nigeria and The Netherlands.

Contributors are (in alphabetical order): María Mercedes Albornoz, Adriani Dori, Diego P. Fernández Arroyo, Sai Ramani Garimella, Marco Giacalone, Paola Giacalone, Nuria González-Martin, Christoph A. Kern, Mary Keyes, Patrick Kinsch, Dulce Lopes, Cristina M. Mariottini, Ralf Michaels, Chukwuma Samuel Adesina Okoli, Marta Pertegás, Giesela Rühl, Veronica Ruiz Abou-Nigm, Carlota Ucín, Aukje van Hoek, Christopher Whytock, and Abubakri Yekini.

Further information is available on the publisher’s website here. The Prelims and the introductory chapter by the editors ‘Private international law in a global world: a revival of methodologies and research methods’ are freely accessible here. Critical acclaim by Geert Van Calster (KU Leuven), Yuko Nishitani (Kyoto University), Hans van Loon (former SG Hague Conference on Private International Law) and Symeon C. Symeonides (Willamette University College of Law).

Save the Date! Two launch webinars will take place on:

• 10 September 2024, from 10-12am CET: Research Methods in Private International Law: Views from Regulation, Research and Education (confirmed speakers include Dulce Lopes, Diego Fernández Arroyo, Giesela Rühl, Adriani Dori and Mary Keyes)
• 23 September 2024, from 10-11.30 CET: Research Methods in Private International Law: Educational Perspectives (co-organised by the University of Sydney, moderated by Jeanne Huang; confirmed speakers include Veronica Ruiz Abou-Nigm/Ralf Michaels, Ramani Garimella, Abubakri Yekeni & Chukwuma Okoli and Aukje van Hoek

More details and information on registration will follow soon.

For those interested, a report of an extensive online interview with the editors by Young-OGEMID can be downloaded from the website of Transnational Dispute Management.

Collective actions and the financing of complex mass damage cases have been among the most debated and controversial topics in civil justice in Europe over the past decade. It doesn’t need much explanation that oftentimes these complex cases involving a multiplicity of parties and events or consequences taking place in different countries trigger private international law questions, as for instance the ongoing evaluation of the Brussels I-bis Regulation evidences (see among others the 2023 Study in support of the evaluation; a 2021 Working Paper by Burkhard Hess; a 2022 report by BEUC on PIL and Cross-border Collective Redress). Another key issue is the funding of these inherently costly litigations. The Representative Action Directive, applicable since June 2023, and the European Parliament Resolution on Responsible private funding of litigation, adopted in 2022, have proliferated discussions on the funding of collective actions. With the entry into force of the Dutch collective damages procedure (WAMCA) in 2020, enabling compensatory actions, the Netherlands has re-confirmed its reputation as one of the frontrunners in having a well-developed framework for collective actions and settlements in Europe. High stake cases involving privacy, environmental law, human rights and consumer law have found their way to the courts and have benefitted from third party funding.

These developments have triggered the Dutch Research and Documentation Centre of the Ministry of Justice and Security to commission a Study on the need for a procedural fund for collective actions, published in 2023 (in Dutch). The book Financing Collective Actions in the Netherlands: Towards a Litigation Fund?, based on this study and including updates, has just been published (Eleven International Publishing 2024) and is available open access. The book is authored by Xandra Kramer (Erasmus University Rotterdam/Utrecht University), Ianika Tzankova (Tilburg University), Jos Hoevenaars (Erasmus University Rotterdam, researcher Vici team) and Karlijn van Doorn (Tilburg University). It discusses developments in Dutch collective actions from a regulatory perspective, including the implementation of the RAD, and contains a quantitative and qualitative analysis of cases that have been brought under the WAMCA. It then examines funding aspects of collective actions from a regulatory, empirical and comparative perspective. It delves into different funding modes, including market developments in third party litigation funding, and  addresses the question of the necessity, feasibility, and design of a (revolving) litigation fund for collective actions.

The hardcover version of the book can be ordered from the publisher’s website, which also provides access to the free digital open access version through the publisher’s portal.

A launch event and webinar on ‘Financing Collective Actions: Current Debates in Europe and Beyond’ will take place on 3 July from 15-17.15 CET. Confirmed speakers include Jasminka Kalajdzic (University of Windsor) and Rachael Mulheron (Queen Mary University London). Registration for free here.