Symposium Announcement
What Law Governs International Commercial Contracts? Divergent Doctrines and the New Hague Principles

Brooklyn Law School, the Dennis J. Block Center for the Study of International Business Law and the Brooklyn Journal of International Law present Symposium: What Law Governs International Commercial Contracts? Divergent Doctrines and the New Hague Principles

Friday, October 18, 2013, 9:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Subotnick Center, Brooklyn Law School, 250 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

REGISTRATION: Please RSVP online at: http://www.brooklaw.edu/iblsymposium by Wednesday, October 16, 2013

FREE OF CHARGE

ABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM: With the continued dramatic growth of international commerce, a critical question has become even more important: What law governs the contracts behind the commerce? Key issues include:
- In much of the world, courts accept the choice of the parties to a contract as to what law will govern it - but this principle is not accepted everywhere. Even in nations where it is accepted, differences abound.
- Should the ability of parties to select the law governing their contract be approached differently in the increasingly prevalent world of international commercial arbitration?
- In many arbitral systems, parties may select not only the law of a sovereign state, but also "rules of law" emanating from non-state sources, such as "principles" promulgated by international organizations. Should courts show the same deference to the parties' choice of non-state law?

The Hague Principles on Choice of Law in International Contracts, prepared by the Hague Conference on Private International Law and now nearing completion, are expected to be quite influential, both in establishing the principle of party autonomy to select the law governing commercial contracts and in developing the principle and its limits. This symposium addresses the important issues described above - from the perspectives of both current law and the "best practices" represented by the draft Hague Principles.

AGENDA: View the Agenda at: http://www.brooklaw.edu/iblsymposium

SPEAKERS:
Nicholas W. Allard, Joseph Crea Dean and Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School
Neil B. Cohen, Jeffrey D. Forchelli Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School
Donald Earl Childress III, Associate Professor of Law, Pepperdine University School of Law
Robin Effron, Associate Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School
Lauro Gama, Jr., Adjunct-Professor, Private International Law and Contracts, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) Law School
Marta Pertegas, First Secretary, Hague Conference on Private International Law
Genevieve Saumier, Associate Professor of Law, Faculty of Law, McGill University
S.I. Strong, Associate Professor of Law, University of Missouri School of Law
Symeon C. Symeonides, Alex L. Parks Distinguished Professor of Law and Dean Emeritus, Willamette University College of Law
Aaron Twerski, Irwin and Jill Cohen Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School


CLE CREDIT:
- This symposium provides 4.5 CLE credits in the State of New York.
- The credits are transitional and non-transitional and the category is Areas of Professional Practice.
- Partial credit will be given if you do not attend the entire program, however full payment is required.
- Refunds cannot be granted less than 24 hours before the start of the program.

COST FOR CLE CREDIT:
- $55 ($10 per credit) for Brooklyn Law School graduates who hold a current BLS Alumni Association Membership Card. If you would like to join the Alumni Association call 718-780-7966.
- $220 ($40 per credit) for all others.
- Financial aid policy is available upon request.

APPLICATIONS/FURTHER INFORMATION: Please email cle@brooklaw.edu for more information.