CISG@40: Lectures on Transnational Commercial Law at the University of Vienna in cooperation with UNCITRAL
The course is organized by the University of Vienna and UNCITRAL as part of the celebrations of the CISG 40th anniversary. The course is coordinated by the Principal Legal officer Mr. José Angelo Estrella-Faria and will feature various world renowned experts on international commercial law. It focuses on the fundamentals of transactional commercial law, its main areas of application, and the process of commercial law harmonisation: choice of harmonisation instrument and their respective advantages and disadvantages; harmonisation through specific binding instruments (CISG, Hague-Visby Rules and New York Convention); harmonisation through contract and institutional rules; harmonisation through model laws; the future development of transnational commercial law.
The course offers an overview of both the general framework, policies and problems of transnational commercial law, as well as of the main international commercial law conventions, standard terms and uniform rules, so that the student gains a perception of the way transnational law comes into being and can be used by international legal practitioners to bridge the gap between different legal systems. The course will then introduce the main instruments of transnational law in three areas of international transactions (international contracts, transportation and international payments) and highlight the differences between the legal framework for international and domestic transactions.
The central element of the course is the analysis of the CISG. In cooperation with UNCITRAL, the course is included in the series of events to celebrate the CISG 40th anniversary.
The course will be held at the University of Vienna and external participants may follow the lecture online. https://ustream.univie.ac.at/live/watch.html?id=3fbd020a-6b23-4708-a9ae-f00441a24299
Topic 1: The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG)
Thursday, 15 October 2020
3-6 p.m. CET
Lecture Video
Guest Speaker
- Prof. Hiroo Sono, Hokkaido University on "Obligations of the Seller" (recorded remarks)
Topic 2: The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG)
Friday, 16 October 2020
4-7 p.m. CET
Lecture Video
Guest Speaker
- Prof. Alejandro Garro, Columbia University on "Force Majeure and Hardship as an excuse for non-performance under the CISG" (by video conference)
Topic 3: The CISG as a backbone of Transnational Commercial Law
Monday, 19 October 2020
4-7 p.m. CET
Lecture Video
Guest Speakers
- Prof. Ingeborg Schwenzer, Zürich University (by video conference) on "The CISG@40 - Quo vadis?"
- Prof. Alexander Komarov, Russian Academy of Foreign Trade on "The impact of the CISG in the development of Russian contract law and the application of the CISG in Russia" (by video conference)
- Prof. Pilar Perales-Viscasillas, Carlos III University, Madrid on "Extended scope of application of the CISG" (by video conference)
- Prof. Jingxia SHI, School of Law, Renmin University of China (RUC), on "The Impact of the CISG on the development of contract law in the Chinese civil code" (by video conference)
- Prof. Anna Veneziano, Deputy Secretary General, International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (Unidroit) on "The contribution of the CISG to the development of international contract law" (by video conference)
Topic 4: International rules and usages for bills of lading and letters of credit
Tuesday, 27 October 2020
6-9 p.m. CET
Lecture Video
Guest Speaker
- Prof. Henry Gabriel, Elon University on "Fraud exception and letters of credit" (by video conference)
Topic 5: The law of the international carriage of goods by air, road and sea: an overview
Thursday, 29 October 2020
3-6 p.m. CET
Lecture Video
Guest Speaker
- Prof. Alexander von Ziegler, Zürich University on "Stoppage in Transit (CISG) and the Right of Control (Rotterdam Rules)" (recorded remarks)
