Search

This proceedings volume combines chapters derived from papers presented at the 4th and 5th Annual Conferences on the Future of the Commercial Contract in Scholarship and Law Reform. This ongoing research project brings together scholars from all over the world at an annual international conference in London. The book focusses on technology in commercial contract law as well as on sustainability in commercial contracts. The latter theme was inspired by the United Nations'climate conference that was to take place in Glasgow in the United Kingdom that same year. The book combines topical current issues in commercial contract law and practice organized in three parts. The first part contains contributions to the area of law and technology. The second part of the book expands on aspects of sustainability understood as environmental reasonableness in the context of commercial contracts. The third part includes several chapters on the topics of supervening events and contractual ethics. Thisbook is therefore part of a coherent line of contributions to the furthering of modern contract theory. The choice of topics is closely following current issues of legal policy and contract practice.

This book identifies the role of insurance in a comprehensive system for managing environmental risks at the local, regional and global level. National and international legal instruments regulating environmental protection, especially aspects like pollution, are not precisely reflected in insurance concepts intended to cover environmental risks. As such, there is a need to identify environmental risks and to propose a taxonomy of environmental risks for various types of insurance coverage. The authors refer to the issues of liability in environmental protection, the scope of insurance coverage and comment on specific issues the importance of which has been noticed by the legislator or insurance practice. The book examines these issues horizontally and vertically from various standpoints, focusing on insurance as a means of managing environmental risks. In this regard, it mainly concentrates on (1) identifying and analyzing environmental risks and methods for managing them via private and public instruments, and (2) insuring these risks. The book is intended for all those interested in the field of insurance and environmental risk regimes, including lawyers, academics and legal professionals.

This book focuses on an emerging problem in English contract law: what should be done when a party has been unjustly enriched as the result of a breach of contract but there is no measurable loss suffered by said party? Two rulings are at the heart of the book: Wrotham Park Estate v Parkside Homes and Attorney-General v Blake. These two cases can be said to have established gain-based remedies in English contract law. However, the principles that underpin these remedies are not entirely clear and are subject to debate.This book analyses these principles through the lens of compensatory and restitutionary approaches. Moreover, it applies a comparative analysis of these approaches through the lens of the civil law jurisdiction in Poland.Since the term ‘compensation'is not a universal concept, the book distinguishes between two rationales in the compensatory analysis. The first, reparative compensation, is defined as a form of monetary recompense for loss or damage actually suffered. The second, substitutive compensation, represents a monetary equivalent to a right that a person has been deprived of or denied. Both rationales require the application of a broad notion of loss in order to make gain-based remedies workable in both English and Polish law.In contrast, ‘restitution'states that a person cannot be permitted to profit from their own wrongdoing. Based on this principle, the book argues that gain-based remedies could be applied under Polish law through the rules of unjust enrichment. However, in order to do so, a broader understanding of the subtraction prerequisite (the enrichment being at the aggrieved party's expense) would have to be adopted. The book concludes that unjust enrichment is a more natural way of implementing gain-based remedies in civil law jurisdictions.

This book examines national reports on contract law in each of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in order to provide a comparative analysis. It then establishes common principles, where possible, as well as a set of general “soft law” principles governing international commercial contracts in these countries. The importance of commercial transactions in the BRICS countries is rapidly growing, yet differences in contract law among these countries can lead to misunderstandings and disputes. The rapid development of the BRICS instruments (and the legal implications of their use) suggests the need to address common legal issues that could harm the continued development of the BRICS economies. Contract law represents one of the core areas in which this process can take place. Addressing the salient legal issues within the BRICS discourse requires a comprehensive, comparative approach that explores the different solutions provided by each member country, in order to identify similarities and convergences. This process may ultimately help to reduce the legal obstacles to, and indirect costs of, cross-border transactions by offering a transparent and predictable legal environment for any future attempt at adopting common legal instruments.

The book analyzes the most relevant developments in the relation between contracts and technology, from automatically concluded contracts to today's revolutionary'smart contracts'developed through blockchain, which are beginning to and will increasingly disrupt many economic and social relations. First of all, the author offers a broad analysis of the peculiarities and evolution of the relation between contracts and technology. The main features and elements of electronic contracts are then examined in depth to highlight the specific rules applicable to them in the international comparative legal framework. In turn, the book provides a detailed explanation of the technology, economic and social dynamics, and legal issues concerning blockchain and smart contracts. The analysis focuses on the question of the legal nature of smart contracts, the issues posed by their development and the first legal solutions adopted in some countries. The comparative approach pursuedmakes it possible to focus attention on the first solutions adopted until now in various systems, with particular regard to the circulation of models and ideas and to the specificities of their local variations, in terms of e.g. applicable law and jurisdiction. In reviewing the characteristics of distributed ledger technologies, and in particular of the blockchain technology on which smart contracts are based, above all the peculiarities of the latter are taken into consideration, especially automatic execution and resistance to tampering, which simultaneously present significant opportunities and complex legal issues. A comprehensive framework is then provided to reconcile smart contracts with comparative contract law, in order to define the scope and specificities of their binding force, legal effectiveness and regulation in various legal systems. Lastly, with specific reference to the elements, pathologies and contractual remedies for smart contracts, the book examines the peculiarities of their application and the main issues that emerge in comparative contract law in order to promote their harmonized use, in keeping with the transnational nature of such a revolutionary tool.

This open access volume of the AIDA Europe Research Series on Insurance Law and Regulation offers the first comprehensive legal and regulatory analysis of the Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD). The IDD came into force on 1 October 2018 and regulates the distribution of insurance products in the EU. The book examines the main changes accompanying the IDD and analyses its impact on insurance distributors, i.e., insurance intermediaries and insurance undertakings, as well as the market. Drawing on interrelations between the rules of the Directive and other fields that are relevant to the distribution of insurance products, it explores various topics related to the interpretation of the IDD – e.g. the harmonization achieved under it; its role as a benchmark for national legislators; and its interplay with other regulations and sciences – while also providing an empirical analysis of the standardised pre-contractual information document. Accordingly, the book offers a wealth of valuable insights for academics, regulators, practitioners and students who are interested in issues concerning insurance distribution.

This book addresses the various sustainability issues that the tourism industry has faced over time like the trend from over-tourism to under-tourism or from tourism in increasingly distant destinations to a new local tourism with new needs. It also highlights how contracts, both between businesses and those with consumers, can represent tools for the financial, ecological and social sustainability of the tourism industry.

Diplomacy is an established discipline, but it is still wearing its old garments,failing to display its capacity to deal with new unique bi-lateral and international disputes. In conformity with the provisions of Article 33 of the UN Charter, thisbook emphasises the need for current-day diplomats to have appropriate training in negotiation and conciliation techniques rather than leaving inter-state or international dispute hearings unsettled with their inevitable consequences.The book also identifies the role and effectiveness of negotiating techniques in conducting business contracts, women's role in negotiating diplomatic and business deals, negotiating techniques in import-export trade, project finance, and syndicated loan agreements. It further discusses the UN system and diplomacy.The opinions expressed in this book are those of the author, and in no way may be attributed to theinstitution to which he belongs.

Welchen Wert hat ein Vertrag, wenn im Ausnahmefall eine Suspendierung vertraglicher Pflichten möglich bleibt? Dieser Frage nähert sich die Arbeit zunächst mit einer rechtsvergleichenden Analyse von Art. 4 IPbpR, Art. 15 EMRK und Art. XIX GATT. Sie nimmt dazu deren Entstehungsgeschichte, Inanspruchnahme- und Spruchpraxis in den Blick. Dabei entsteht die Ausgangsthese, dass Schutzklauseln den Vertragsbestand begünstigen und sogar eine Vertragsvertiefung bewirken. Dieser These geht die Arbeit sodann auf theoretischer Basis nach, indem sie fragt, inwiefern gerade die rechtliche Einbettung des Ausnahmefalls Vertragsbestand und Vertragsvertiefung begünstigt. Es entsteht die Hauptthese der Arbeit: Recht kann eine Integrationsfunktion zugeschrieben werden. So ergänzt die Arbeit das Forschungsfeld „Integration durch Recht“ durch eine rechtswissenschaftliche Perspektive.

This second volume on the constitutional dimension of contract law explores this increasingly relevant subject in jurisdictions that are usually overlooked by mainstream scholarship in the English-speaking world. With chapters on Finland and other Nordic Countries from a comparative perspective, Spain, Japan, Somalia, Nigeria, Brazil, and Peru, the contributions presented here offer much-needed, context-informed insights on whether – and if so, why, how and to what extent – the development of contract law is being influenced by constitutional values and fundamental rights issues (or vice-versa). The book represents a valuable addition to comparative law literature on the interplay between public (i.e., constitutional) and private (i.e., contract) law by revealing the inner dynamics through which these two branches interact and (at times) inform each other, whilst also enhancing our understanding of the law's nature, function, and transformative potential at the macro, meso, and micro levels.

'The incorporation of Chinese law is particularly interesting for Chinese legal researchers and even for the Chinese legislator considering the dramatic ongoing codification movement taking place within Chinese civil law, because one of the essential values of comparative law is to find alternative solutions to one's own legal system.'- Jiayou Shi, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China'Professor Kadner Graziano's book on comparative contract law is an invaluable source of inspiration to both study and teach contract law in a transnational perspective. His cases highlight the expected and sometimes less expected differences and similarities between the key jurisdictions in Europe and allow the reader to gain a concrete understanding of the various systems put in play. I cherish this book this book for my course on transnational contract law and highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in this stimulating field of study.'- Andre Prum, University of LuxembourgPromoting a'learning-by-doing'approach to comparative contract law and comparative methodology, this second edition of Comparative Contract Law updates the first true student reader on the subject. It brings together extracts from legislation and court practice in a way that lets students experience comparative law in action, presenting a unique guide to European and International contract law. This updated second edition provides: an international perspective on highly topical, real-life issues of contract lawmaterials from some 30 jurisdictions in both their original languages, and in excellent translationsthe chance for students to solve scenarios according to the laws of different jurisdictions and compare and evaluate the solutions and approaches they identifythe opportunity for students to engage with a broad array of case material and to develop their skills as comparative lawyers. Essential reading for all students, practitioners, and scholars of comparative contract law and methodology, this second edition remains a vital practical guide for those seeking to familiarise themselves with real-world materials and to better understand the diverse approaches to modern contract law.

This book explores commercial contract law in scholarship and legal practice, suggests new research agendas and provides a forum for debate of typical issues that might benefit from further attention by scholarship and legislatures. The authors from over ten different jurisdictions take an international and comparative approach. Not confined to EU law it re-opens the debate internationally and seeks to reclaim the wider meaning of European law as rooted in geography and cultural legal heritage. There is a need to focus on commercial contracts in more detail in research and legislation. The transactional approach, the role of recent law reform, including the new French Civil Code, cross-border dealings, substantive contract law in public international law and ICSID arbitration as well as current contractual practices like OEM, CSR, contractual co-operation, sustainability and intra-corporate arbitration contribute to a wider regulatory outlook for commercial transactions.

Over the last 30 years, the evolution of acquis communautaire in consumer law and harmonising soft law proposals have utterly transformed the landscape of European contract law. The initial enthusiasm and approval for the EU programme has waned and, post Brexit, it currently faces increasing criticism over its effectiveness. In this collection, leading academics assess the project and ask if such judgements are fair, and suggest how harmonisation in the field might be better achieved. This book looks at the uniform rules in the context of: the internal market; national legislators and courts; bridging the gap between common and civil law; and finally their influence on non-member states. Critical and rigorous, it provides a timely and unflinching critique of one of the most important fields of harmonisation in the European Union.

Force Majeure and Hardship are commonly invoked in international trade when unforeseen events occur making performance impossible or impracticable. Most national legislators provide rules to deal with these issues, but the specific solutions adopted in domestic laws vary substantially from one country to another.

This book deals with the contractual platform for arbitration and the application of contractual norms to the parties'dispute. Arbitration and agreement are inter-linked in three respects: (i) the agreement to arbitrate is itself a contract; (ii) there is scope (subject to clear consensual exclusion) in England for monitoring the arbitral tribunal's fidelity and accuracy in applying substantive English contract law; (iii) the subject-matter of the arbitration is nearly always a ‘contractual'matter. These three elements underlie this work. They appear as Part I (arbitration is founded on agreement), Part II (monitoring accuracy), Part III (synopsis of the English contractual rules frequently encountered within arbitration). The book will be a useful resource to foreign lawyers or English non-lawyers, English lawyers seeking a succinct discussion, and to arbitral tribunals.​

If a dispute between commercial parties reaches the stage of arbitration, the cause is usually ambiguous contract terms. The arbitrator often resolves the dispute by applying trade usages, either to interpret the ambiguous terms or to determine what the given contract's terms really are. This recourse to trade usages does not create many problems on the domestic level. However, international arbitrations are far more complex and confusing. Trade Usages and Implied Terms in the Age of Arbitration provides a clear explanation of how usages, and more generally the implicit or implied content of international commercial contracts, are approached by some of the most influential legal systems in the world. Building on these approaches and taking account of arbitral practice, this book explores possible conceptual frameworks to help shape the emerging transnational law of trade usage. Part I covers the treatment and conceptual grounding of usages and implied terms in the positive law of influential jurisdictions. Part II defines the approach to usages and implied terms adopted in the design and implementation of important uniform law instruments dealing with international business contracts, as well as in the practice of international commercial arbitration. Part III concludes the book with an outline of what the conceptual grounding of trade usages could be in the transnational law of commercial contracts.

Patentpools haben in einigen Sparten der Elektronikindustrie grundlegende Signifikanz, da sie Technologietransfer im Einzelnen überhaupt erst ermöglichen und zudem effizient gestalten. Durch die Bündelung und paketierte Lizenzierung von Patenten, die auf viele Inhaber verstreut und für eine Technologie wesentlich sind, wird bestehendes Patentdickicht gelöst und für Lizenzsucher die berechtigte Technologienutzung zu beherrschbaren Transaktions- und Lizenzierungskosten erreicht.Die Untersuchung befasst sich mit der ökonomischen und rechtlichen Analyse der vertraglichen Gestaltung des Patentpools im Innenverhältnis, der Lizenzierung und des Marktverhaltens. Hierbei beschränkt sich die Untersuchung nicht auf die Klärung der rechtlichen Vereinbarkeit mit dem europäischen, deutschen und U.S.-amerikanischen Recht in funktional rechtsvergleichender Perspektive; anknüpfend werden Lösungsansätze für die ökonomisch bestmögliche und rechtlich verträgliche Gestaltung des Patentpools erarbeitet.

In force in 70 countries around the world and covering more than two thirds of world trade, the 1980 United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) is considered to be the most successful convention promoting international trade. According to many commentators, this success is due, among others, to the fact that the Convention does not directly impact on the domestic law of the various legal systems, as it applies only to international - as opposed to purely domestic - contracts. The Convention, in other words, does not impose changes in the domestic law, which makes it easier for States to adopt the Convention. This does not mean, however, that the Convention does not have any impact on the domestic law at all. This book analyzes - through 24 country reports as well as a general report submitted to the 1st Intermediate Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law held in November 2008 in Mexico City - to what extent the Convention de facto influences domestic legal systems. In particular, the book examines the Convention's impact on the practice of law, the style of court decisions as well as the domestic legislation in the area of contract law.

Despite ever growing international trade and dispute settlement, a consistent international methodology of uniform private law has yet to be formed. The potential of uniform law has not yet been fully recognised. In this book, the author examines uniform contract law comprehensively in all relevant areas of legal doctrine and practice and considers the barriers which exist toward it in modern nation states, namely in the German and English legal systems. She suggests ways in which these barriers can be overcome and develops an autonomous methodology of interpretation of transnational contract principles. The author wants to encourage the use of existing uniform transnational law rules, such as the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts, which are analysed here as an example.

The European Community harmonised the contractual laws of the member states in some ways. In this respect, the Community did not orient itself on the factual questions of contractual law but on the actual problem relations. The author examines the questions how the totality of the Legal File of the European Community is combined to one system as regards contractual law.