Herbert Smith Seminar Series on Private International Law

Jacob van de Velden, Director

Justine Stefanelli, Research Fellow

Andrew Dickinson, Visiting Fellow

Dates for your diary

25 September

From Samengo-Turner to Duarte: Jurisdiction and Applicable Law in the Context of Employment

February 2009

Finality in International Litigation and Arbitration: Res Judicata in National, European and International Law

This conference is the culmination of a project titled funded by the European Commission as part of its 2006 EU framework programme on judicial cooperation in civil matters. The project and the conference are coordinated by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. The first day focuses on the practice of domestic courts involved in international litigation. The second day will consist of specialised sessions on the practice of international courts and (arbitration)tribunals highlighting the significance of res judicata in international and European law. The conference will feature several keynote speeches on issues such as whether res judicata can be considered a general principle of law, and its potential impact on human rights in light of Article 6(1) of the European Convention on Human Rights. Full conference programme forthcoming.

9 October 2008

A New EU Regime for Cross-border Torts: The Rome II Regulation

The conference deals with the forthcoming Rome II Regulation on the law applicable to cross-border torts. This Regulation, which enters into force in 2009, will launch a novel EU regime for cross-border torts in determining the law applicable to non-contractual obligations. The proper functioning of the internal market apparently creates a need to improve the predictability of the outcome of cross-border litigation by providing certainty as to the applicable law, aside from the free movement of judgments guaranteed by the Brussels I Regulation. Rome II therefore harmonises the conflict-of-law rules in the Member States to designate the same national law irrespective of the country of the court in which an action is brought. Full conference programme forthcoming.

The following issues will be adressed:

The Scope of the New Regime
The Application of Rome II by the English Courts: Questions that May Arise
The Rules of Applicable Law of the New Regime
Significant Changes for Law and Practice in England
What remains to be done for the EU Regime for Cross-border Torts?
The interrelation of the Rome II and (prospective) Rome I Regulations
Interrelation of Rome II and other Community Law
Interrelation of Rome II with Rome I

In addition, the conference will feature specialist sessions for specialists on international litigation in the following areas:

Unfair competition
Product liability
IP-infringement
Environmental liability
Cross-border traffic accidents and insurance

The Herbert Smith Seminar Series on Private International Law

'...the British Institute constitutes a regular and high-level forum where practitioners and academics can meet and discuss the pressing issues and developments in the field of private international law in the UK and abroad.' (Former Institute Director, Professor Gillian Triggs)

This seminar series places the Institute's activities in the field of private international law in a central position within its international law programme. The series has been kindly sponsored by Herbert Smith since 2006. The 2007-2008 series continues with evening seminars presented by leading academics and practitioners, who explore developments of topical importance for current legal practice and study in the field of private international law.

The series was launched on 11 July 2007 with a highly successfull seminar on the West Tankers Inc v RAS & Others [2007] UKHL 4, concerning the Brussels I Regulation and its application in relation to antisuit injunctions and arbitration. In November 2007, the recognition of the Bear Stearns insolvency proceedings in the US was addressed. On 17 April this year, the cross-border insolvency regimes for financial groups will be discussed. Moreover, following recent developments in case law and legislation, the Institute organises short-notice seminars following developments, for example up-dates on the West Tankers ECJ reference.

More generally, the series is dedicated to an important (re)evaluation of the British landscape in the field of private international law which is subject to increasing processes of cultivation at the European Community level, and important developments at the international level, for example with the establishment of several important Conventions at the Hague Conference for Private International Law.

Below you will find references to past and future seminars in the series. This page is also used to publish the transcripts which are prepared shortly after each seminar for the benefit of the Institute's members. You can also subscribe to the Institute's online discussion list.

I look forward to meeting you at one of the forthcoming events.

Jacob van de Velden

British Instiute of International and Comparative Law

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Private international law discussion list

If you have a particular interest in private international law you are encouraged to sign up to the Institute's Private International Law Discussion List. The list currently has over 200 expert members.