International Commercial Litigation

This is a carefully structured, practice-orientated textbook. The strong comparative component provides a thought-provoking international perspective, while at the same time allowing readers to gain unique insights into international commercial litigation in English courts.

PART I: INTRODUCTION 1: Introduction PART II: LEGAL RISK AND MULTISTATE TRANSACTIONS 2: Managing Litigation Risk 3: Managing Transaction Risk PART III: LIABILITY AND RECOVERY IN MULTISTATE LITIGATION 4: The Dynamics of Choice of Law 5: The Laws Governing Multistate Transactions 6: The Laws Governing Recovery PART IV: COMMENCING AND PREVENTING PROCEEDINGS 7: Strategic Choices 8: The Framework of Jurisdiction 9: Establishing and Challenging Jurisdiction 10: Excluded Claims 11: Declining Jurisdiction: The European Regime 12: Declining Jurisdiction: The European Regime and Third States 13: Declining Jurisdiction: English National Law 14: Procedural Objections to Proceedings 15: Preclusive Proceedings 16: Restraining Foreign Proceedings PART V: EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT 17: Preseving Judgement Assets 18: Enforcing Judgement Debts PART VI: THE CONDUCT OF PROCEEDINGS 19: Procedure, Costs, and Evidence in Multistate Disputes 20: The Proof of Foreign Law.

In the process of resolving disputes, it is not uncommon for parties to justify actions otherwise in breach of their obligations by invoking the need to protect some aspect of the elusive concept of public order. Until this thoroughly researched book, the criteria and factors against which international dispute bodies assess such claims have remained unclear. Now, by providing an in-depth comparative analysis of relevant jurisprudence under four distinct international dispute resolution systems – trade, investment, human rights and international commercial arbitration – the author of this invaluable book identifies common core benchmarks for the application of the public order exception. To achieve the broadest possible scope for her analysis, the author examines the public order exception’s function, role and application within the following international dispute resolution systems: relevant World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements as enforced by the organization’s Dispute Settlement Body and Appellate Body; international investment agreements as enforced by competent Arbitral Tribunals and Annulment Committees under the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes; provisions under the Inter-American Convention of Human Rights and the European Convention of Human Rights as enforced by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights, respectively; and the New York Convention as enforced by national tribunals across the world. Controversies, tensions and pitfalls inherent in invoking the public order exception are elucidated, along with clear guidelines on how arguments may be crafted in order to enhance prospects of success. Throughout, tables and graphs systematize key aspects of the relevant jurisprudence under each of the dispute resolution systems analysed. As an immediate practical resource for lawyers on any side of a dispute who wish to invoke or strengthen a public order exception claim, the book’s systematic analysis will be welcomed by lawyers active in WTO disputes, international investment arbitration, human rights law or enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. Academics and policymakers will find a signal contribution to the ongoing debate on the existence, legal basis, content and functions of the transnational public order.

This is the fourth edition of this highly regarded work on the law of international commercial litigation as practised in the English courts. As such it is primarily concerned with how commercial disputes which have connections with more than one country are dealt with by the English courts. Much of the law which provides the framework for the resolution of such disputes is derived from international instruments, including recent Conventions and Regulations which have significantly re-shaped the law in the European Union. The scope and impact of these European instruments is fully explained and assessed in this new edition. The work is organised in four parts. The first part considers the jurisdiction of the English courts and the recognition and enforcement in England of judgments granted by the courts of other countries. This part of the work, which involves analysis of both the Brussels I Regulation and the so-called traditional rules, includes chapters dealing with jurisdiction in personam and in rem, anti-suit injunctions and provisional measures. The work's second part focuses on the rules which determine whether English law or the law of another country is applicable to a given situation. The part includes a discussion of choice of law in contract and tort, with particular attention being devoted to the recent Rome I and Rome II Regulations. The third part of the work includes three new chapters on international aspects of insolvency (in particular, under the EC Insolvency Regulation) and the final part focuses on an analysis of legal aspects of international commercial arbitration. In particular, this part examines: the powers of the English courts to support or supervise an arbitration; the effect of an arbitration agreement on the jurisdiction of the English courts; the law which governs an arbitration agreement and the parties' dispute; and the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitration awards. This title is included in Bloomsbury Professional's International Arbitration online service.

This treatise describes the practice of international commercial arbitration with reference to the major international treaties and instruments, arbitration rules and national laws. It provides an analysis of the interaction between party autonomy and arbitration practice.

The book presents international commercial courts from a comparative perspective and highlights their role in transnational adjudication.

Park and Cromie: International Commercial Litigation focuses on national commercial litigation in its international context. England and Wales, USA, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Australia and Canada are all covered, with the book being structured in such a way that the procedural and substantive law of each country is covered in equal depth. A team of international contributors analyses the factors which must be taken into consideration in choosing the forum and how to proceed after that choice has been made. The conduct of simultaneous proceedings in the various countries and how decisions may be enforced in the light of relevant bilateral and multilateral conventions (in particular the Brussels, Lugano and Hague Conventions) are also covered.

Over the last half-century, as UNCITRAL official, professor, arbitrator and father of the Willem C. Vis Arbitration Moot, Eric Bergsten has been at the forefront of progress in international commercial arbitration. Now, on the occasion of his eightieth birthday, the international arbitration and sales law community has gathered to honour him with this substantial collection of new essays on the many facets of the field to which he continues to bring his intellect, integrity, inquisitive nature, eye for detail, precision, and commitment to public service. Celebrating the long-standing and sustained contribution Eric Bergsten has made in international commercial law, international arbitration, and legal education, more than fifty colleagues - among them quite a few of the best-known arbitrators and arbitration academics in the world - present 45 pieces that, individually both engaging and incisive, collectively present a thorough and far-reaching account of the state of the field today, with contributions covering international sales law, commercial law, commercial arbitration, and investment arbitration. In addition, nine essays on issues in legal education mirror the great importance of the renowned Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, Eric's Vienna project which has offered a life-changing experience for so many young lawyers from all over the world.

The new edition of this highly regarded work has been fully updated to reflect current trends and concerns in commercial litigation practice. It considers the many significant changes in the law since the first edition, and how they affect both the structure and drafting of commercial transactions, and the strategic choices of litigants. It includes extensive treatment of the recast Brussels I Regulation, which takes effect from January 2015, and which willsignificantly affect the handling of cross-border disputes. It offers extended analysis of important recent decisions including VTB v Nutri.