Treatment of Foreign Law - Dynamics towards Convergence?

Description

This work presents a thorough investigation of existing rules and features of the treatment of foreign law in various jurisdictions. Private international law (conflict of laws) and civil procedure rules concerning the application and ascertainment of foreign law differ significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Combining general and individual national reports, this volume demonstrates when and how foreign law is applied, ascertained, interpreted and reviewed by appeal courts. Traditionally, conflicts lawyers have been faced with two contrasting approaches. Civil law jurisdictions characterize foreign law as “law” and provide for the ex officio application and ascertainment of foreign law by judges. Common law jurisdictions consider foreign law as “fact” and require that parties plead and prove foreign law. A closer look at various reports, however, reveals more differentiated features with their own nuances among civil law jurisdictions, and the difference of the treatment of foreign law from other facts in common law jurisdictions. This challenges the appropriacy of the conventional “law-fact” dichotomy. This book further examines the need for facilitating access to foreign law. After carefully analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of existing instruments, this book explores alternative methods for enhancing access to foreign law and considers practical ways of obtaining information on foreign law. It remains to be seen whether and the extent to which legal systems around the world will integrate and converge in their treatment of foreign law. Front Matter ....Pages i-xiii Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Treatment of Foreign Law: Dynamics Towards Convergence? ― General Report (Yuko Nishitani)....Pages 3-60 Front Matter ....Pages 61-61 Belgium: Foreign Law in Belgian Courts – From Theory to Practice (Patrick Wautelet)....Pages 63-92 Croatia: Foreign Law Before Croatian Authorities – At the Crossroads? (Mirela Župan)....Pages 93-111 Czech Republic – Treatment of Foreign Law in the Czech Republic (Monika Pauknerová)....Pages 113-129 Denmark: Foreign Law in Danish Civil Litigation: A Pragmatic Approach (Clement Salung Petersen)....Pages 131-144 Estonia: Applying Foreign Law in Estonia – The Perspective of an e-State (Maarja Torga)....Pages 145-155 France – The Evolving Balance Between the Judge and the Parties in France (Sabine Corneloup)....Pages 157-181 Germany: Proof of and Information About Foreign Law – Duty to Investigate, Expert Opinions and a Proposal for Europe (Oliver Remien)....Pages 183-220 Greece: Foreign Law in the Greek Private International Law: Positive Solutions and Future Perspectives (Chryssapho Tsouca)....Pages 221-237 Hungary: Inconsistencies Between Theory and Practice in the Treatment of Foreign Law in Hungary (László Burián, Sarolta Szabó)....Pages 239-253 Italy: Proof and Information about Foreign Law in Italy (Nerina Boschiero, Benedetta Ubertazzi)....Pages 255-287 Poland: Proof and Information About Foreign Law – Theory and Reality (Michal Wojewoda)....Pages 289-308 Portugal: Proof of and Information About Foreign Law in Portugal (Rui Manuel Moura Ramos)....Pages 309-322 Romania: Proof of and Information About Foreign Law in Romania (Flavius George Păncescu)....Pages 323-327 Spain: The Application of Foreign Laws in Spain – Critical Analysis of the Legal Novelties of 2015 (Carmen Azcárraga Monzonís)....Pages 329-346 Sweden: Proof of and Information About Foreign Law in Civil and Commercial Matters – Swedish Perspectives (Ulf Maunsbach)....Pages 347-360 United Kingdom: The Traditional Approach to Foreign Law in Civil Litigation in the Legal Systems of the United Kingdom (Verónica Ruiz Abou-Nigm)....Pages 361-374 Switzerland: The Principle Iura Aliena Novit Curia and the Role of Foreign Law Advisory Services in Swiss Judicial Practice (Ilaria Pretelli, Shaheeza Lalani)....Pages 375-393 Front Matter ....Pages 395-395 The United States: The Use and Determination of Foreign Law in Civil Litigation in the United States (Peter Hay)....Pages 397-427 Canada: The Status and the Proof of Foreign Law in Québec (Gérald Goldstein)....Pages 429-451 Argentina: The Changing Character of Foreign Law in Argentinian Legal System (Diego P. Fernández Arroyo, Paula María All)....Pages 453-472 Uruguay: Proof of and Information About Foreign Law in Uruguay (Cecilia Fresnedo de Aguirre)....Pages 473-486 Venezuela: Finding Foreign Law in Venezuela. General Overview (Eugenio Hernández-Bretón, Claudia Madrid Martínez)....Pages 487-500 Front Matter ....Pages 501-501 Australia: Foreign Law in Australian International Litigation: Developing the Common Law (Mary Keyes)....Pages 503-528 Japan: Proof of and Information About Foreign Law in Japan (Shunichiro Nakano)....Pages 529-540 Macau: Proof and Information About Foreign Law in Macau (Guangjian Tu)....Pages 541-548 Turkey: The Treatment of Foreign Law in Turkey (Zeynep Derya Tarman)....Pages 549-561 Israel: Proof of and Information About Foreign Law in Israel (Talia Einhorn)....Pages 563-582 Tunisia: Treatment of Foreign Law in Tunisia (Lotfi Chedly, Béligh Elbalti)....Pages 583-600 Commonwealth Africa: Foreign Law in Commonwealth African Courts (Richard Frimpong Oppong)....Pages 601-611 Front Matter ....Pages 613-613 The Evolution of Work on Access to Foreign Law at the Hague Conference on Private International Law (Philippe Lortie, Maja Groff)....Pages 615-637 Back Matter ....Pages 639-643