Abstract
The past sixteen years have witnessed the proliferation of international commercial courts around the world. However, up until recently, this was largely an Asian and a Middle Eastern phenomenon. Only during the past decade have Continental European countries, notably Germany, France and the Netherlands, joined the bandwagon and started to create new judicial bodies for international commercial cases. Driven by the desire to attract high-volume commercial litigation, these bodies try to offer international businesses a better dispute settlement framework. But what are their chances of success? Will more international litigants decide to settle their disputes in these countries? In this essay, I argue that, despite its recently displayed activism, Continental Europe lags behind on international commercial courts. In fact, although the various European initiatives are laudable, most cannot compete with the traditional market leaders, especially the London Commercial Court, or with new rivals in Asia and the Middle East. If Continental Europe wants a role in the international litigation market, it must embrace more radical change. And this change will most likely have to happen on the European––not the national––level.
Highlights
The past sixteen years have witnessed the proliferation of international commercial courts[1] around the world.[2]
Driven by the desire to attract high-volume commercial litigation, these bodies try to offer international businesses a better dispute settlement framework. What are their chances of success? Will more international litigants decide to settle their disputes in these countries? In this essay, I argue that, despite its recently displayed activism, Continental Europe lags behind on international commercial courts
The law is necessary to make sure that courts, including the already existing international chambers, may conduct full English-language legal proceedings: under the current German Court Constitution Act and the Code of Civil Procedure the use of the English language is limited to the oral hearing and the submission of documents whereas court decisions and the minutes of the proceedings still must be delivered in German.[17]
Summary
The past sixteen years have witnessed the proliferation of international commercial courts[1] around the world.[2]. During the past decade have Continental European countries, notably Germany, France and the Netherlands, joined the bandwagon and started to create new judicial bodies for international commercial cases. Driven by the desire to attract high-volume commercial litigation, these bodies try to offer international businesses a better dispute settlement framework. If Continental Europe wants a role in the international litigation market, it must embrace more radical change. This change will most likely have to happen on the European––not the national––level
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