Private International Law

Does the English Court have jurisdiction? If so, should the English Court exercise jurisdiction? Does English law apply? If not, what law governs the dispute? Will the Court grant an injunction to restrain actual or threatened foreign proceedings? 

These are questions which often arise in disputes which cross borders. So too questions of procedure: 

How does a party obtain/resist permission to serve out? When is permission required? What rules govern service? And if a judgment has been obtained here or abroad, questions of enforcement may arise: Can it be enforced against assets in London? Does the foreign judgment give rise to an issue estoppel or res judicata? How does a party challenge recognition and enforcement in England of a foreign judgment?

Members of the Private International Law team are well-qualified to advise on the myriad of questions that arise when questions of jurisdiction and choice of law arise. Our barristers have appeared in many of the leading cases in this field. They are frequently asked to lecture, comment, and write about this often difficult, confusing and complicated area of law. 

Prof Jonathan Harris KC (Hon.) is a pre-eminent expert in all aspects of Private International Law, and joint general editor (with Lord Collins of Mapesbury) of the foremost practitioner work, Dicey, Morris and Collins, The Conflict of Laws.