Center for Transnational Litigation and Commercial Law holds its second annual conference in Verona

The Center for Transnational Litigation and Commercial Law held its second annual conference at Verona University School of Law on March 11 and 12. The conference, organized by Professor Franco Ferrari, brought together academics from Bologna University, London School of Economics, NYU Law, University of Bayreuth, University of Chicago Law School, University of Copenhagen, University of Jena, and University of Mainz.

The two-day event, "The Harmonization and Divergence of International Sales Law," featured four discussions and 12 speakers. The first discussion, "The Article 4 CISG [Convention of the International Sales of Goods] validity exception” was presented by Professor Patrick C. Leyens from the University of Hamburg and commentated by Ferrari as well as Professor Peter Huber from the University of Mainz. The second, “Battle of Forms” was presented by Professor Giesela Rühl of the University of Jena. Professors Omri Ben-Shahar from the University of Chicago Law School and Martin Schmidt-Kessel from the University of Bayreuth were commentators. The discussion on damages was presented by Professor Michael Bridge of the London School of Economics and commentated by Professors Ulrich Magnus from University of Hamburg and Urs Peter Gruber from University of Mainz. The final discussion dealt with exemptions under Article 79 CISG. Clayton Gillette, Max E. Greenberg Professor of Contract Law at NYU, delivered a paper on how the financial crisis affects claims of excuse from contractual performance. Professors Joseph Lookofsky from University of Copenhagen and Marco Torsello of University of Bologna commentated.

Professor Gillette remarked, “The conference revealed the growing debate about legal harmonization in a world of globalized trade. This was a superb opportunity to bring academics and practitioners from the United States and Europe together to discuss matters of mutual interest from widely varying methodologies and perspectives. I think all the participants left with a better appreciation of the interactions of domestic and international commercial law.”

Posted on March 15, 2011