Prof Trevor Hartley NAB 6.02

Dr Jacco Bomhoff NAB 6.29

This course is available on the Master of Laws and Master of Laws (extended part-time study). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Specialism International business law.

This course is capped at 30 students. Students must apply through Graduate Course Choice on LSEforYou.

Knowledge of conflict of laws (private international law) would be useful but is not essential.

Jurisdictional problems arising in litigation resulting from international business transactions. The following topics will be studied from the point of view of European Union law, English (common and statute) law, Canadian law and US law: a. Jurisdiction over companies and individuals; b. Branches and agents; c. Constitutional limitations on jurisdiction in the United States; d. Choice-of-court clauses; e. Forum non conveniens; f. Lis pendens.

20 hours of seminars in the MT. 2 hours of seminars in the ST.

All students are expected to produce one 2,000 word formative essay during the course.

Core textbook: Trevor C Hartley, International Commercial Litigation (Cambridge University Press, 2009) (Chapters 1–8 plus selected parts of other chapters). Further reading: Born (Gary B) and Rutledge (Peter B), International Civil Litigation in United States Courts: Commentary and Materials (Wolters Kluwer, Austin, Boston, Chicago, New York, the Netherlands, 5th edn, 2011); Briggs (Adrian), Agreements on Jurisdiction and Choice of Law (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2008); Fentiman (Richard), International Commercial Litigation (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2010); Hill (Jonathan) and Chong (Adeline), International Commercial Disputes (Hart Publishing, 4th ed. 2010); Layton (Alexander) and Mercer (Hugh) (eds), European Civil Practice (Sweet and Maxwell, London, 2nd edn, 2004).

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.