Herbert Kronke

When the first edition of this student work was published some eight years ago transnational commercial law, introduced as a postgraduate course at the University of Oxford in 1995, was taught at a relatively small number of law schools. Since then the subject has blossomed and is now taught at law schools around the world. Focused on the products and processes of the harmonization of law relating to international commercial transactions, the book is an invaluable resource for students in this field. In this new edition the work has been completely revised and updated, covering a number of new or substantially revised international instruments. In addition four new chapters have been added by specialist contributors dealing with regional harmonization, carriage of goods by sea, transactions in securities and the relationship between international conventions and national law. The authority of the text is enhanced by the fact that all the authors have played leading roles in the drafting and development of many of the instruments examined in the work.

Transnational commercial law represents the outcome of work undertaken to harmonize national laws affecting domestic and cross-border transactions and is upheld by a diverse spectrum of instruments. Now in its second edition, this authoritative work brings together the major instruments in this field, dividing them into thirteen groups: Treaty Law, Contracts, Electronic Commerce, International Sales, Agency and Distribution, International Credit Transfers and Bank Payment Undertakings, International Secured Transactions, Cross-Border Insolvency, Securities Custody, Clearing and Settlement and Securities Collateral, Conflict of Laws, Civil Procedure, Commercial Arbitration, and a new section on Carriage of Goods. Each group of instruments is preceded by linking text which provides important context by identifying the key instruments in each group, discussing their purposes and relationships, and explaining the major provisions of each instrument, thus setting them in their commercial context. This volume is unique in providing the full text of international conventions, including the preamble - which is important for interpretation - and the final clauses and any annexes. In addition, each instrument is accompanied by a complete list of dates of signature and ratification by all contracting states, all easily navigated through the detailed tables of contents which precedes it. This fully-indexed work provides an indispensable guide for the practitioner or academic to the primary transnational commercial law instruments.

The 1958 New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards is without a doubt the single most important treaty in the field of international commercial arbitration, and has enjoyed remarkable success over its half-century of use. It has been praised as a convention which 'perhaps could lay claim to be the most effective instance of international legislation in the entire history of commercial law.' In honour of the Convention's fiftieth anniversary, outstanding scholars of international commercial arbitration have contributed to this comprehensive commentary. Following a design calling for article-by-article analysis (or even, in the case of the crucial Article 5, by sub-article), this unique book provides an in-depth analysis of the Convention's first fifty years in light of internationally accessible case law from a wide range of jurisdictions around the world. In so doing it greatly clarifies and enhances our knowledge of both the theoretical underpinnings and the practical application of the Convention in its global context. The authors, each of whom is an experienced practitioner in the field of international arbitration, draw on experience in a wide variety of national jurisdictions. In addition to drafting chapters independently, each has made invaluable contributions to other authors' chapters. Authoritative case law research was further provided by dozens of contributors with expertise in specific jurisdictions worldwide. The analysis thoroughly covers the major issues that have arisen in the application of the Convention, including the following: - the use of reservations made by Contracting States; - the distinctions between recognition and enforcement and between recognition sought at the seat of the arbitration and outside the seat; - the role of the courts in reviewing arbitral awards and, in particular, the Convention's focus on safeguarding due process standards; - the more favourable rightsA" principle embodied in Article VII(1); - the relevance of forum shopping and asset spotting to the application of the Convention; and - the role of formalities and formalism. The end result is an invaluable work that will prove enormously useful to all international commercial arbitration practitioners and scholars, regardless of location.

This companion to Transnational Commercial Law: Text, Cases and Materials contains up-to-date primary materials for students without linking commentary. This compilation of instruments covers areas such as treaty law, contracts, electronic commerce, international sales, agency and distribution, international credit transfers and bank payment undertakings, international secured transactions, cross-border insolvency, securities settlement and securities collateral, conflict of laws, civil procedure, and commercial arbitration