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EVENTS

The Fundamental Rights of Companies: Have the European Courts Got it Right?

Event Details

Time: 18:00-20:00 (followed by a drinks reception)

Venue: British Institute of International and Comparative Law, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5JP


On this side of the Atlantic, the question as to the extent to which commercial entities should enjoy fundamental rights has received practically no attention, except amongst competition lawyers. That is despite the steady stream of judgments delivered by the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the EU on the issue. International law does not generally recognise that companies can have fundamental rights at all. That is emphatically not the case under the European Convention. The same applies to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and many or most domestic legal systems where the rule of law applies.

Some argue that companies should enjoy no fundamental rights, but the ruling of the ECtHR in Yukos v Russia (in relation to the right to property and to access to justice and to a fair trial) highlight their need for such rights. At the same time, great caution is required to ensure that companies only enjoy fundamental rights to the extent that that is in the public interest (viz. the controversial ruling of the US Supreme Court in Citizens United).

This event will explore the question of whether commercial entities should enjoy fundamental rights by way of reference to judgments delivered by the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the EU. Though the focus will be on the ECHR and EU Law, there will be brief forays into other legal systems.


Chair

  • Professor Sir Francis Jacobs KCMG QC, King's College London

Speakers

  • Sir Nicholas Forwood QC, White & Case, Brussels and former Judge of the General Court of the EU
  • Dr Liza Lovdahl Gormsen, BIICL
  • Judge Paul Mahoney, former Judge at the European Court of Human Rights
  • Peter Oliver, Monckton Chambers and External Fellow of the Bingham Centre

Download the event flyer


CPD Accreditation

This event is accredited with 2 CPD hours.


Pricing and Registration

BIICL Members:

  • Individual - £55
  • Full-time Academic - £35
  • Full-time Student - £25

Non-members:

  • Individual - £95
  • Full-time Academic - £60
  • Full-time Student - £35

N.B. The Academic rate also applies to staff of government and non-profit organisations.


Free NGO Places

A limited number of places for this event are available for staff of NGOs to attend free of charge as part of an initiative by the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law to provide NGOs with access to legal education and training events.

Please email our Events Team at eventsregistration@biicl.org with your contact details, your position and the NGO that you work for. We will organise your attendance, subject to availability.


Contact

If you have any queries, please contact the events team.


Photography and audio recording

Please note that our events may be photographed or audio recorded. These materials will be used for internal and external promotional purposes only by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. If you object to appearing in the photographs, please let our photographer know on the day. Alternatively you can email BIICL Marketing Manager, Carmel Brown, in advance of the event that you are attending.


Event Cancellation Policy

Cancellation by us

The British Institute of International and Comparative Law reserves the right to modify or cancel any event if unforeseen circumstances arise. If we cancel an event we shall inform you as soon as possible using the contact details provided to us and offer you a full refund.

Cancellation by you

All cancellations must be made in writing via email to eventsregistration@biicl.org and be no less than one week prior to the event.

Payment for registration will always be required, and must be made prior to the event. If sufficient written notification of cancellation is received, a full refund will be given. If insufficient notice is given, payment for your registration will still be required.

No charge events

All events are costly to set up, even those for which there is 'no charge'. If you register but find you are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible. As a charity we need to cover the costs of events, and we may charge you a fee of £10 for administration and catering costs if you fail to attend or give us less than 24 hours' notice.

By registering for an event, you have confirmed that you have read and understood our cancellation policy.

 
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