Conflict of Laws Posts
The Use and Abuse of Governing-Law Clauses in Trusts: What Should the New Restatement Say?
Thomas P. GallanisThis Essay offers a novel solution to a thorny problem at the intersection of trust law and the conflict of laws: When should the settlor be able to choose a governing law other than the law of the jurisdiction with the most significant relationship to the trust?
Certainty vs. Flexibility in the Conflict of Laws
Kermit Roosevelt IIITraditional choice of law theory conceives of certainty and flexibility as opposed values: increase one, and you inevitably decrease the other. This article challenges the received wisdom by reconceptualizing the distinction.
From International Law and International Relations to Law and World Politics
Christopher A. WhytockPolitical scientists — primarily in the discipline’s international relations subfield — have long studied international law. This article identifies five stages of political science research on international law, including the current interdisciplinary international law and international relations (IL/IR) stage, and it reviews three trends in political science research that constitute an emerging sixth stage of interdisciplinary scholarship: a law and world politics (L/WP) stage.
The Draft Restatement (Third) of Conflict of Laws: A Response to Brilmayer & Listwa
Kermit Roosevelt III and Bethan JonesThis Essay responds to Lea Brilmayer and Dan Listwa’s criticisms of the Draft Restatement (Third) of Conflict of Laws.
Continuity and Change in the Draft Restatement (Third) of Conflict of Laws: One Step Forward and Two Steps Back?
Lea Brilmayer and Daniel B. ListwaA deep contradiction lies at the heart of the Draft Restatement (Third) of Conflict of Laws. The Draft Restatement embraces a novel theoretical framework—the “two-step” theory—that attempts to integrate the basic tenets of so-called “modern” choice of law theory into a coherent intellectual whole.
Delaware Supreme Court Choice of Law Ruling Vacates a $13.7 Million Verdict Against Travelers
Gregory Capps and Zachery RothOn July 16, 2018, the Delaware Supreme Court held in Travelers Indemnity Company v. CNH Industrial America, LLC, No. 420, 2017 (Del. Jul. 16, 2018), that a court’s choice of law inquiry in an insurance coverage dispute should focus on the contacts most relevant to the insurance contract rather than the location of the underlying claims.
Republicans Vow To Appeal Pa. Supreme Court Decision To Throw Out District Voting Maps
Cherri GreggThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling is potentially the first final decision requiring a congressional map to be redrawn, but Republicans are calling the ruling “partisan” and the timeline to redraw the map “impossible” and want the nation’s highest court to weigh in.
Choice of Law in Host Government Agreements
John P. BowmanChoice of law stands as the second “pillar” of contract stabilization, together with stabilization clauses and international arbitration. In fact, choice of law provisions sometimes consist of stabilization clauses in the form of “freezing” by incorporation and inopposability provisions.
A Theoretical Perspective of the Public Policy Doctrine in the Conflict of Laws
Kenny ChngThe public policy doctrine in the conflict of laws has been often characterised as uncertain and ambiguous. This article aims to examine the doctrine at common law from a theoretical perspective in order to: first, determine whether the substantive considerations which courts have invoked under the public policy doctrine are theoretically justifiable; second, discern principled boundaries around the courts’ exercise of the defence.
October Council Meeting Updates
Jennifer MorinigoAt its meeting in New York City on October 19 and 20, The American Law Institute’s Council reviewed drafts for eight projects, with the following outcomes: