W10 A&Q (Jurisdiction & Conflict of Law) Flashcards
What should be considered when a dispute has an international dimension?
1) Do the courts of England & Wales have jurisdiction to determine the Claim?
2) Which Country’s laws will apply to determine a dispute?
3) Will it be necessary to enforce the judgment abroad and how will this be done?
What is the question concerned with ‘Do the courts of England & Wales have jurisdiction to determine the Claim?’
Whether English/Wales courts will decide a dispute or is it a dispute that should not be resolved in some other court/tribunal
What is the question concerned with Which Country’s laws will apply to determine a dispute?
Which laws in English and Wales will apply to decide the dispute, assuming they have jurisdiction
Why is it important to know which court(s) have jurisdiction?
Because:
1) If you commence proceedings in a court which does not have jurisdiction, the court might refuse to decide the dispute, and this can lead to time and money being wasted
and
2) It is possible that more than one court has jurisdiction to determine a dispute. You might then be able to choose whichever is preferable.
When would a claim with an international dimension be referenced by the Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreement?
Where proceedings are commenced on or after 1st of January, 2021
If a proceeding is commenced with an international law convention after 1st of January 2021, how should the courts determine which jurisdiction would be applicable?
The Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreement
If the Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreement, does not apply which rules applies?
Common Law rules applies
What dispute matters will the Courts of England and Wales determine?
Will determine dispute over matters occurring in England & Wales
Can the Court of England and Wales determine disputes over matters automatically, that take place outside England and Wales or that concerns nationals of other countries?
No,
You need to consider whether there are additional criteria that must be satisfied to establish that the courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction.
What is the aim of The Hague Convention on Choice of Court aim to do?
To provide certainty in this area for commercial parties that wish to choose a particular country’s courts to determine their disputes regardless of where the dispute takes place or where the parties are based.
(Allows the parties to control which court will hear a dispute)
Does the Hague Convention apply to choice of court agreement concluded before the 1st of October 2015?
No
Does the Hague Convention apply to choice of court agreement concluded after/on the 1st of October 2015?
Yes.
When does the Hague Convention apply to choice of court agreement?
If the choice of court agreement concluded on or after the 1st of October 2015.
Do the parties need to be based in a contracting State of the Hague Convention in order to enter a choice of court agreement?
No
The parties to such an agreement may be based in any jurisdiction.
What are key considerations that should be addressed to ascertain whether the parties have effectively given jurisdiction to the courts of England and Wales?
1) Is the matter a civil or commercial matter?
2) Is it an excluded matter?
3) Does the clause give jurisdiction to a Contracting State?
4) Is jurisdiction given exclusively?
5) Is the agreement concluded/documented/ evidenced in writing?
6) Is the agreement an ‘asymmetric’ one?
Which disputes are covered in the Hague Convention?
Civil and commercial matter
Which disputes are not covered in the Hague Convention?
Public law and criminal disputes
Is criminal disputes covered in the Hague Convention?
No
Is public law disputes covered in the Hague Convention?
No
What certain types of disputes from civil and commercial matters are excluded from the Hague Convention?
Consumer and Employment matters
Would the Hague Convention apply to if there is no clause which give exclusive jurisdiction to a particular country?
No, the Hague convention only applies to clauses which gives exclusive jurisdiction to a particular country
Is jurisdiction given exclusively for a clause that states ‘ The Courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction to determine any dispute arising out of this contract’?
Yes
The Hague Convention applies
Is jurisdiction given exclusively for a clause that states “The Courts of England and Wales will have jurisdiction to determine any dispute arising out of this contract”?
Yes
The Hague Convention states that this will be assumed to mean exclusive jurisdiction, and the Hague Convention applies
Is jurisdiction given exclusively for a clause that states “The Courts of England and Wales will have non-exclusive jurisdiction to determine any dispute arising out of this contract’?
No
The clause aims to give the Courts of England and Wales jurisdiction on top of any other country which would have jurisdiction under any other relevant rules = Hague Convention does NOT apply.