private international legal research an introduction

Private International Legal Research: An Introduction.

ALR – International LawFebruary 18, 2004

What is private international law?

The body of international law that governs mainly commercial and business disputes among countries or private parties. International jurisdiction through treaty application or national courts apply concepts of international law, depending on the type of dispute (could be several claims in one suit). Three levels of international trade agreements: bilateral relationships, multilateral relationships, supranational relationships, and regional agreements.

Starting Research in this area:

Consult a research guide, bibliography, or website with a collection of links for the subject matter. Locate the applicable International Agreements/Treaties. Look for laws, regulations, restrictions, and special arrangements in the country that has jurisdiction over the claim.

UNCITRAL – UN Commission for International Trade Law.

Website – http://www.uncitral.org. Significant work toward the harmonization of private international law. UNCITRAL site has primary documents and status information about established int’l instruments (e.g.CISG). Numerous translations of documents (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian).

UNIDROIT – Int’l Institute for the Unification of Private Law.

Traces its origins to the League of Nations. Official Site: http://www.unidroit.org. Best-known accomplishment = UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts. Status Information / Current Projects.

Hague Conference on Private International Law and Conventions:

Active in development of conventions in various areas of private law (e.g. conflict of laws to intercountry adoption). Website: http://www.hcch.net/e/index.html. Full-text conventions, status and bibliographic information, and explanatory reports, when available. Translations of conventions: http://www.hcch.net/e/conventions/translat.html.

Private Int’l Law in the U.S.

UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). CISG and UNIDROIT principles – Pace University School of law website. http://cisgw3.law.pace.edu - CISG database (contains annotated text of the CISG). Int’l Sales Law – UNILEX (http://www.unilex.info).

Other places to start research after establishing topic . . .

Research Guides. Bibliographies. Web Collections.

Web Collections:

Hieros Gamos, “Guide to Global Trade Law” - http://www.hg.org/trade.html. Georgetown University, “Researching Int’l Economic Law on the Internet” - http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/intl/iiel/home.htm. WorldTradeLaw.net: The Online Source for World Trade Law - http://www.worldtradelaw.net.

International Agreement Collections:

Lex Mercatoria - http://www.lexmercatoria.org/. Fletcher’s Multilaterals Project, “Trade and Commercial Relations” - http://fletcher.tufts.edu/multi/trade.html. Foreign Trade Information Center, OAS - http://www.sice.oas.org/default.asp. Private Int’l Law Database (U.S. Dept. of State) - http://www.state.gov/s/l/c3452.htm. Juris International - http://www.jurisint.org/pub/.

Major Multilateral and Regional Agreements:

Andean Community - http://www.comunidadandina.org/endex.htm. CARICOM - http://www.caricom.org/. European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - http://secretariat.efta.int/. Free Trade of the Americas (FTAA) - http://www.ftaa-alca.org/. MERCOSUR (IDRC site of Canada) - http://www.idrc.ca/lacro/investigacion/mercosur.html.

Other Considerations . . .

Major international organizations involved in trade and related issues. U.S. Government Resources. Country Guides (e.g. “Doing Business in…). Statistics – EUROSTAT: http://europa.eu.int/comm/eurostat/. ARBITRATION / DISPUTE SETTLEMENT…

Int’l Commercial Arbitration -

An important component of private international law. TYPES: “ad hoc” vs. “institutional” international arbitration. Background information on Int’l Dispute Settlement (Harvard) - http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidtrade/issues/dispute.html.

Reasons for Choosing Arbitration…

Distrust of a foreign legal system by one or more parties. Avoid long delays in court systems. Resolution of dispute by someone w/expertise in a particular business. Exercise more control by specifying governing rules. Avoid problem of lack of int’l standard on the enforceability of foreign judgments.

Types of Arbitration -

Institutional vs. Ad Hoc (mentioned above). State vs. Private Parties. Specialized vs. General Purpose Institutions.

Treaties -

Aim to facilitate international commercial arbitration across national borders. United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards of 1958 (New York Convention), 330 U.N.T.S. 3, 21 U.S.T. 2517 (June 10, 1958). Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes Between States and Nationals of Other States (Washington Convention), 575 U.N.T.S. 159, 17 U.S.T. 1270 (March 18, 1965).

Major Arbitral Institutions - Permanent Court of Arbitration – http://www.pca-cpa.org. Int’l Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes – http://www.worldbank.org/icsid/. International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) - http://www.iccwbo.org/index_court.asp. London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) – http://www.lcia-arbitration.com/lcia/lcia/index.htm. American Arbitration Association (AAA) – http://www.adr.org/index2.1.jsp. WWW Virtual Library Arbitration - http://www.interarb.com/vl/pages/.

Arbitration Rules - Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw’s Int’l Arbitration site - http://www.interarbitration.net. ICSID Rules of Arbitration/Conciliation - http://www.worldbank.org/icsid/basicdoc/basicdoc.htm. LCIA Rules – http://www.lcia-arbitration.com/lcia/arb/index.htm. ICC Rules – http://www.iccwbo.org/court/english/rules/rules.asp. UNCITRAL Rules – http://www.uncitral.org/english/texts/arbitration/adrindex.htm.

Decisions/Awards - Often difficult to locate, even in print, in libraries. ICSID provides the full-text of selected cases and awards - http://www.worldbank.org/icsid/cases/cases.htm. Abstracts/Decisions for UNCITRAL texts are available through the “CLOUT” database - http://www.uncitral.org/english/clout/index.htm.

Internet Resources & Online Databases:

American Arbitration Association - http://www.adr.org/index2.1.jsp. International Chamber of Commerce - http://www.iccwbo.org/home/menu_international_arbitration.asp. London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) - http://www.lcia-arbitration.com/lcia/arb/index.htm. LEXIS / Westlaw (Releases in July 2003).

BNA – Int’l Trade ReporterAvailable at http://www.bna.com/ (on-campus) or through the Law Library’s “Electronic Resources” page/”Databases and Subscriptions.”General Search Engine (plus advanced); Search by Topic; Search by Case Citation.Also, separate databases searchable within Lexis/Westlaw (must have a subscription).In print (Law Lib. HF3000.I57).

Westlaw Databases:http://lawschool.westlaw.com.All Databases > International/Worldwide Materials > Multi-National Materials > “Rules and Regulations” (includes arbitral rules).All Databases > International/Worldwide Materials > Multi-National Materials > “Cases” (includes commercial arbitral cases – “ICA-CASES”).Treatise = “International Commercial Arbitration - Commentary”; Also, International Commercial Arbitration Treaties: “ICA-TREATIES”.

Lexis Databases:http://lexis.com.ADR Tab > “Legal News” > “International Arbitration: Mealey’s Litigation Report” (1993-present).ADR Tab > “Model ADR Practices and Procedures” > “CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution” > “Int’l ADR”.ADR Tab > “Law Reviews & Journals” – includes some int’l coverage (e.g. Central and Eastern Europe). Under “Legal/Excluding U.S.”, you can find “Int’l Arbitration: Mealey’s Litigation Report” under specific country’s materials (e.g. UK).

ASIL Publications/Membership:

http://www.asil.org/bulletin.htm. A Guide to Int’l Electronic Resources.http://www.asil.org/member.htm. Student Membership = $30. http://www.asil.org/. 98th Annual Meeting – March 31st-April 3rd.