Private International Law or International Private Law governs the choice of law to apply when there are conflicts in the domestic law of different countries related to private transactions. This means that there is a dispute or transaction that involves one of the following: what jurisdiction applies - choice of court, forum selection, renvoi (transfer of proceedings), choice of applicable law, and recognition or enforcement of a foreign judgment.
National laws are the primary sources of Private International Law. The scope of Private International Law varies from country to country and each jurisdiction has its own rules. In the United States, Canada, and Great Britain the term conflict of laws is more popular. Private International Law deals with a variety of topics, such as (international) contracts, torts (lex loci delicti), family matters, recognition of judgments, child adoption and abduction, real property (lex rei sitae), intellectual property. In addition to the rules by made national authorities, treaties, model laws and other instruments have been brought in by international organizations to regulate the area of transnational disputes: the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) and the Hague Conference on Private International Law. The Hague Conference has seen impressive growth of both its membership and the range of States Parties to its Conventions.
Globalisation has encouraged the proliferation of private international law-making at national, regional and global levels. It has given a huge boost to private international law activities of legislators as well as judges around the world. At the regional level, in the Americas, the Organisation of American States (OAS) and Mercosur have adopted a wide range of private international law instruments, while in Europe, the European Union has acquired powers to legislate in the field of private international law.
This Research Guide is intended as a starting point for research on Private International Law. It provides the basic legal materials available in the Peace Palace Library, both in print and electronic format. Handbooks, leading articles, bibliographies, periodicals, serial publications and documents of interest are presented in the Selective Bibliography section. Links to the PPL Catalogue are inserted. The Library's subject heading (keyword) Private International Law are instrumental for searching through the Catalogue. Special attention is given to our subscriptions on databases, e-journals, e-books and other electronic resources. Finally, this Research Guide features links to relevant websites and other online resources of particular interest.
Sources of private international law
Treaties
- Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York, 10 June 1958)
- Convention on Choice of Court Agreements (The Hague, 30 June 2005)
- Hague Judgments Convention (The Hague, 2 July 2019)
- List of Hague Conventions on Private International Law
Collections and compilations of treaties and other documents of private international law
- Boele-Woelki, K. and R. ter Rele (eds.), Internationaal privaatrecht 2017/2019: verordeningen, verdragen & wetten, Elfde herziene editie, Nijmegen, Ars Aequi Libri, 2017.
- Bucher, A. et Guillaume, F. (eds.), Droit international privé: loi fédérale et conventions internationales: recueil de textes, 11e édition, Bâle, Helbing Lichtenhahn, 2021.
- Clavel, S. et E. Gallant, Les grands textes de droit international privé, 3e édition, Paris, Dalloz, 2019.
- Heuzé, V. (ed.), Les textes fondamentaux du droit international privé: textes français et internationaux, 3e édition, Issy-les-Moulineaux, LGDJ, 2019.
- Ibili, F., Bosters, M.W.F. and Lhoëst, B.F.P. (eds.), Wetgeving internationaal privaatrecht 2020/2021, Den Haag, Boom Juridisch, 2020.
- Fernández Rozas, J.C. y P.A. de Miguel Asensio, Derecho internacional privado: textos y materiales, 6a edición, Cizur Menor, Civitas, Thomson Reuters, 2017.
- Iriarte Ángel, J.L., M. Casado Abarquero y A. Muñoz Fernández, Derecho internacional privado, 16a edición, Cizur Menor, Thomson Reuters Aranzadi, 2018.
- Plekhanov, V. (compilation and ed.), Mezhdunarodnoe chastnoe pravo: sbornik nat︠s︡ionalʹnykh kodifikat︠s︡ii = Private International Law: Collection of National Codifications, Moskva, 2021.
- Schulze, R. und R. Zimmermann, Europäisches Privatrecht: Basistexte, 6. Auflage, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2020.
Case-law
- Blom, J., "Canadian Cases in Private International Law in 2018 = Jurisprudence canadienne en matière de droit international privé en 2018", The Canadian Yearbook of International Law 2018, 56 (2019) pp. 571-608.
- Carlier, J.-Y., M. Fallon et S. Francq, Droit international privé: recueil de jurisprudence, 8e édition, Bruxelles, Bruylant, 2018.
- Cuniberti, G., Conflict of Laws: a Comparative Approach: Text and Cases, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017.
- Hay, P., P.J. Borchers and R.D. Freer, Conflict of Laws: Private International Law Cases and Materials, Sixth Edition, St. Paul, Foundation Press, 2017.
- Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches und internationales Privatrecht, Die deutsche Rechtsprechung auf dem Gebiete des internationalen Privatrechts im Jahre 1926-20XX, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck.
Soft law
- Brödermann, E.J., UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts: an Article-by-article Commentary, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2018.
- UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts
Reference works
- Bar, C. von, und P. Mankowski, Internationales Privatrecht, 2. (neu bearbeitete) Auflage, 2 Teile, München, Beck, 2003-2019.
- Basedow, J., G. Rühl, F. Ferrari and P. de M. Asensio (eds), Encyclopedia of Private International Law, 4 Volumes, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017.
- Bogdan, M. and M. Pertegas Sender, Concise Introduction to EU Private International Law, Fourth Edition, Amsterdam, Europa Law Publishing, 2019.
- Boggiano, A.,Tratado de derecho internacional privado, 6a edición actualizada, 3 Tomos, Buenos Aires, La Ley, 2017.
- Borras Rodríguez , A., Vidal, N.B., Garcimartín Alférez, F.J. y M. Virgós Soriano (eds), Legislación básica de derecho internacional privado, 32a edición, Madrid, Technos, 2021.
- Cuniberti, G., The UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration: a Commentary, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2022. [e-book]
- Dicey, A.V. and J.H.C. Morris (et al.) (eds), Dicey, Morris and Collins on the Conflict of Laws, Fifteenth Edition, 2 Volumes, London, Sweet and Maxwell Thomson Reuters, 2012. (with: Fifth cumulative supplement to the Fifteenth Edition, 2019.)
- Dolinger, J. y C. Tiburcio, Direito internacional privado, 13a edição revista, atualizada e ampliada, Rio de Janeiro, Forense, 2017.
- Dutoit, B. et Bonomi, A., Droit international privé suisse: commentaire de la loi federale du 18 decembre 1987, 6e édition, Basel, Helbing Lichtenhahn, 2022.
- Fernández Rozas, J.C. y Sánchez Lorenzo, S., Derecho internacional privado, 12a edición, Madrid, Thomson Reuters Civitas, 2022.
- Hartley, T.C., Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments in Europe: the Brussels I Regulation, the Lugano Convention, and the Hague Choice of Court Convention (online update), Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2019.
- Hausmann, R., und D. Henrich (Hrsg.), J. von Staudingers Kommentar zum Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuch mit Einführungsgesetz und Nebengesetzen: Einführungsgesetz zum Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuche/IPR [...] Art 3, 3a, 4 EGBGB; Anhang zu Art. 4 EGBGB (IPR - Anwendungsbereich, Renvoi und Länderberichte), Berlin, Otto Schmidt-De Gruyter, 2019.
- Junker, A., Internationales Privatrecht, 5. Auflage, München, C.H.Beck; 2022.
- Kessedjian, C. and H. Cantú Rivera, (eds), Private International Law Aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility, Cham, Springer, 2020.
- Kren Kostkiewicz, J., und M. Eichenberger, Schweizerisches internationales Privatrecht, 2. vollständig überarbeitete, ergänzte und aktualisierte Auflage, Bern, Stämpfli Verlag, 2018.
- Lurger, B. und M. Melcher, Handbuch Internationales Privatrecht: mit Hinweisen auf das Internationale Zivilverfahrensrecht, 2. Auflage, Wien, Verlag Österreich, 2021.
- Mayer, P. et V. Heuzé, Droit international privé, 11e édition, Paris, LGDJ, 2014.
- McClean, J.D. and Ruiz Abou-Nigm, V.; originally by the late J.H.C. Morris, The Conflict of Laws, 10th edition, London: Sweet & Maxwell, Thomson Reuters, 2021.
- Muir Watt, H., L. Bíziková, A. Brandão de Oliveira and D.P. Fernández Arroyo (eds), Global Private International Law Adjudication without Frontiers, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019.
- Muir Watt, H., Discours sur les méthodes du droit international privé (des formes juridiques de l'inter-altérité): Cours général de droit international privé, Leiden, Brill Nijhoff, 2019.
- Müller-Chen, M. und C. Widmer Lüchinger (Hrsg.), Zürcher Kommentar zum IPRG: Kommentar zum Bundesgesetz über das internationale Privatrecht (IPRG) vom 18. Dezember 1987, 3. aktualisierte und teilweise vollständig neu bearbeitete Auflage, 2 Teile, Zürich, Schulthess, 2018.
- Niboyet, M.-L. et G. de Geouffre de la Pradelle, Droit international privé, 6e édition, Issy-les-Moulineaux, LGDJ, 2017.
- Symeonides, S.C., Private International Law: Idealism, Pragmatism, Eclecticism, Hague Academy of International Law, Leiden, Boston, Brill Nijhoff, 2021.
- Torremans, P. (ed.), Cheshire, North & Fawcett Private International Law, Fifteenth Edition, Oxford, United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 2017.
- Vareilles-Sommières, P. de, et Laval, S., Droit international privé, 11e édition entièrement refondue, Paris, Dalloz, 2023.
We have selected these reference works and books for you based on relevance, author and imprint. Of course there are many more and it is almost impossible to show them all here. More reference works, classified by country, can be found in the following overview page: Private International Law References by Country
Selected books and articles
- Ahmed, M., The Nature and Enforcement of Choice of Court Agreements: a Comparative Study, Oxford, Hart Publishing, 2017.
- Araujo, N. de, Direito internacional privado: teoria e prática brasileira, 8a edição revista e atualizada, São Paulo, Thomson Reuters Brasil, 2019.
- Basedow, J., "Non-Recognised States in Private International Law", Yearbook of Private International Law, 20 (2020), pp. 1-14.
- Banu, R., "Conflicting Justice in Conflict of Laws", Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, 53 (2020), No. 2, pp. 461-523.
- Boele-Woelki, K. (ed.), Convergence and Divergence in Private International Law: Liber Amicorum Kurt Siehr, Zürich, Schulthess, 2010.
- Carruthers, J.M. (ed.), Transfer of Property and Private International Law, Cheltenham, Northampton, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016.
- Dickinson, A. and Peel, E. (eds.), A Conflict of Laws Companion, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2021.
- Fernández Arroyo, D.P., "Denationalising Private International Law: a Law with Multiple Adjudicators and Enforcers", Yearbook of Private International Law, 20 (2020), pp. 31-45.
- Ferrari, F. and D.P. Fernández Arroyo (eds.), Private International Law: Contemporary Challenges and Continuing Relevance, Cheltenham, Elgar Publishing, 2019.
- Fitchen, J., The private international law of authentic instruments, Oxford, Hart Publishing, 2020.
- Gerner-Beuerle, C., F.M. Mucciarelli, E. Schuster, und Siems (eds.), The Private International Law of Companies in Europe, München, Beck; Oxford, Hart; Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2019.
- Hartley, T.C., "Basic principles of jurisdiction in private international law: the European Union, the United States and England", International and Comparative Law Quarterly, Vol. 71 (2022), No. 1, pp. 211-226.
- Hatzimihail, N.E., Preclassical Conflict of Laws, Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press; 2021.
- Hayward, B., Conflict of Laws and Arbitral Discretion: the Closest Connection Test, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2017.
- Heiderhoff, B.S. and I. Queirolo (eds), Old and New Problems in Private Law, Canterano, Aracne editrice, 2020.
- Hornung, C., Internationales Privatrecht zwischen Wertneutralität und Politik, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2021.
- Jayme, E. und R. Hausmann, Internationales Privat- und Verfahrensrecht: Textausgabe,19. neubearbeitete und erweiterte Auflage, München, Beck, 2018.
- John, T., R. Gulati, and B. Koehler, (eds), The Elgar Companion to the Hague Conference on Private International Law, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020.
- Keyes, M. (ed.), Optional Choice of Court Agreements in Private International Law, Cham, Springer, 2020.
- Kronke, H., "The Role of Private International Law: UNIDROIT and the Geneva Conventions on Abitration", in M. Erpelding, B. Hess and H. Ruiz Fabri (eds), Peace through Law: the Versailles Peace Treaty and Dispute Settlement after World War I, Baden-Baden, Nomos, 2019, pp. 183-192.
- Loon van, H., "Le Brexit et les conventions de La Haye", Revue critique de droit international privé, 108 (2019), No. 2, pp. 353-363.
- Michaels, R., Ruiz Abou-Nigm, V. and Loon, H. van (eds.), The Private Side of Transforming our World - UN Sustainable Development Goals 2013 and the Role of Private International Law, Cambridge, Intersentia Online, 2021.
- Mills, A., "Connecting Public and Private International Law", in V. Ruiz Abou-Nigm, K. McCall-Smith and D. French (eds.), Linkages and Boundaries in Private and Public International Law, Oxford, Hart, 2018, pp. 13-31.
- Moya, D., "Conflits intra-européens de lois et conflits de souverainetés", Journal du droit international, 147 (2020), No. 2, pp. 529-569.
- Muir Watt, H., L. Biziková, A. Brandão de Oliveira, D.P. Fernández Arroyo, M. Ma et P. Lagarde, (dir.), Le tournant global en droit international privé, Paris, Pedone, 2020.
- Muir Watt, H. and D.P. Fernández Arroyo (eds), Private International Law and Global Governance, Oxford; New York, Oxford University Press, 2014.
- Perdue, W.C., Procedure and Private International Law, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017.
- Ramani Garimella, S. and S. Jolly (eds), Private International Law: South Asian States' Practice, Singapore, Springer, 2017.
- Ruiz Abou-Nigm, V. and M.B. Noodt Taquela (eds), Diversity and Integration in Private International Law, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2019.
- Strikwerda, L., Inleiding tot het Nederlandse internationaal privaatrecht, Twaalfde druk, Deventer, Wolters Kluwer, 2019.
- Symeonides, S.C., "Choice of Law in the American Courts in 2019: Thirty-Third Annual Survey", American Journal of Comparative Law, 68 (2020), No. 2, pp. 235-320.
- Symeonides, S., Codifying Choice of Law around the World: an International Comparative Analysis, New York, Oxford University Press, 2017.
- Yaqub, N., Parental child abduction to Islamic law countries: a child rights analysis of the legal framework, Oxford, New York, Hart, 2022. [e-book]
- Yekini, A.O., The Hague Judgments Convention and Commonwealth Model Law: a pragmatic perspective, Oxford, Hart Publishing, 2021.
- Zarra, G., Imperativeness in Private International Law: a view from Europe, The Hague, Asser Press, 2022.
Periodicals, serial publications
- Anuario Español de Derecho Internacional Privado
- Czech Yearbook of Public and Private International Law
- Elgar Monographs in Private International Law
- European Review of Private Law
- Ius Comparatum
- Journal of Private International Law
- Materialien zum ausländischen und internationalen Privatrecht
- NIPR: Nederlands internationaal privaatrecht: Repertorium op verdragenrecht, wetgeving, literatuur en rechtspraak
- Oxford Private International Law Series
- Praktijkreeks IPR
- Praxis des internationalen Privat- und Verfahrensrecht: IPRax e-journal only accessible in the Reading Room of the Library
- Rabels Zeitschrift für ausländisches und internationales Privatrecht
- Revue critique de droit international privé
- Rivista di diritto internazionale privato e processuale
- Studien zum ausländischen und internationalen Privatrecht
- Studies in Private International Law
- Studies in Private International Law - Asia
- Yearbook of Private International Law
- Zeitschrift fur europaisches Privatrecht
- ZfRV: Zeitschrift für Rechtsvergleichung, internationales Privatrecht und Europarecht
Bibliographies
- Oppong, R.F., "Private International Law Scholarship in Africa (1884-2009): a Selected Bibliography", American Journal of Comparative Law, 58 (2010), No. 2, pp. 319-342.
- Symeonides, S.C., "Private International Law Bibliography 2021: U.S. and Foreign Sources in English", American journal of comparative law, 70 (2022), No. 2, pp. e1-e14.
- Symeonides, S.C., "Private International Law Bibliography 2020: U.S. and Foreign Sources in English", American journal of comparative law, 69 (2021), No. 2, p. 263-270.
- Symeonides, S.C., "Private International Law Bibliography 2019: U.S. and Foreign Sources in English", American Journal of Comparative Law, 68 (2020), No. 2, pp. 321-331.
- Symeonides, S.C., "Private International Law Bibliography 2018: U.S. and Foreign Sources in English", American Journal of Comparative Law, 67 (2019), No. 1, pp 99-108.
- Symeonides, S.C., "Private International Law Bibliography 2017: U.S. and Foreign Sources in English", American Journal of Comparative Law, 66 (2018), No. 2, pp 89-100.
- Questia List of Full-text Online Books and Articles on Private International Law
Dictionaries
- Baratta, R. (ed.), Diritto internazionale privato, Milano, Giuffrè, 2010.
- Basedow, J., G. Rühl, F. Ferrari and P. de M. Asensio (eds), Encyclopedia of Private International Law, 4 Volumes, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017.
- Basedow, J., K.J. Hopt, und R. Zimmermann (Hrsg.), Handwörterbuch des europäischen Privatrechts, 2 Teile, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, 2009.
- Beliard, G., E. Riquier et X.-Y. Wang, Glossaire de droit international privé: recherche interuniversitaire effectuée avec le soutien de la Communauté française de Belgique [et] l'Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique, Bruxelles, Bruylant, 1992.
- Calvo, C., Dictionnaire de droit international public et privé, Berlin, 1885.
- Lipstein, K. (ed.), International Encyclopedia of Comparative Law, Vol. 3, Private International Law, Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck, Leiden, Nijhoff, 2011.
- Vincent, R. et É. Pénaud, Dictionnaire de droit international privé: législation, doctrine, jurisprudence françaises, Paris, Larose et Forcel, 1888.