Western societies are witnessing an emerging socio-legal trend towards transnational civil litigation against multinational corporations in relation to harm caused toward people and the planet. These 'foreign direct liability cases' arise against the background of a global governance gap resulting from the rapid globalization of economic actors and activities with no global institutions to manage their worldwide impacts. The increasing reliance on private law mechanisms to realize corporate accountability for violations of human rights, health and safety, and environmental and labor norms perpetrated around the globe raises interesting and complex issues. This study sets out the legal and socio-political framework of this particular type of transnational civil litigation. The book traces the role that Western systems of tort law may play in promoting international corporate social responsibility/accountability. It focuses on the feasibility of bringing foreign direct liability claims before domestic courts in the EU Member States - the Netherlands in particular - and sets out a number of recommendations for European policymakers.

This book analyses the accountability of European home States for their failure to secure the human rights of victims from host States against transnational enterprises. It argues for a reconfiguration of the relationship between multinational enterprises and individuals, both of which have been profoundly changed by globalisation. Enterprises are now supranational entities with numerous affiliates all over the world. Likewise, individuals are increasingly part of a global community. Despite this, the relationship between the two is deregulated. Addressing this gap, this study proposes an innovative business and human rights litigation strategy. Human rights advocates could file a test case against a European home State, at the European Court of Human Rights, for its failure to secure the rights of victims vis-à-vis European multinational enterprises. The book illustrates why such a strategy is needed, and points to the lack of effective legal remedies against European multinationals. The goal is to empower victims from developing countries against European States which are failing to hold multinational enterprises accountable for human rights abuses.

Over the last two decades public law liability for breach of European Union law has been subject to remarkable developments. This book examines the convergence between its two constituent systems: the damages liability of the EU and that of its Member States for failing to comply with EU rules. Member State liability, based as it is on the Francovich case (1991) and Brasserie du Pêcheur and Factortame (1996) judgments of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) is well established. But it is yet to be closely scrutinised by reference to the detailed rules on the liability of the European Union. The focus of the book is on the two key legal criteria that are common to both systems, namely the grant of rights to individuals by EU law and the notion of sufficiently serious breach of such rights. The analysis concentrates on developments in the case law of the ECJ and the General Court since the Bergaderm judgment (2000), which consolidated the convergence of the two liability systems that was first indicated in Brasserie du Pêcheur and Factortame. These two criteria are set side by side to evaluate the extent, in real terms, of the convergence of Member State and EU institutional damages liability, and to determine the extent to which one has influenced the other. This book shows that although full convergence between the two liability systems is not likely, each stream of case law should look to the other more actively as this important element of EU remedial law develops. Convergence in EU law public liability is supported by developments in adjacent areas, most notably European tort law and European administrative law. This study also illustrates how convergence in the EU liability systems to date has had spill-over effects into national public liability law.

The Model Rules of Professional Conduct provides an up-to-date resource for information on legal ethics. Federal, state and local courts in all jurisdictions look to the Rules for guidance in solving lawyer malpractice cases, disciplinary actions, disqualification issues, sanctions questions and much more. In this volume, black-letter Rules of Professional Conduct are followed by numbered Comments that explain each Rule's purpose and provide suggestions for its practical application. The Rules will help you identify proper conduct in a variety of given situations, review those instances where discretionary action is possible, and define the nature of the relationship between you and your clients, colleagues and the courts.

The OECD Benchmark Definition of Foreign Direct Investment sets the world standard for FDI statistics. It provides a single point of reference for statisticians and users on all aspect of FDI statistics, while remaining compatible with other internationally accepted statistical standards.

Discusses the nature of corporate groups and networks, and provides arguments for rules extending liability beyond insolvent entities.

Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Notes on contributors -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1 Judicial remedies: The issue of jurisdiction -- 1.1 Overview -- 1.2 Impact of international human rights law on jurisdiction in private international law -- 1.2.1 Introduction -- 1.2.2 Human rights in private litigation -- 1.2.3 International human rights law and jurisdiction in private international law -- 1.3 Jurisdiction in private international law in Europe and the US -- 1.3.1 Introduction -- 1.3.2 The European approach: the Brussels I Regulation -- 1.3.2.1 Scope of application -- 1.3.2.2 Rules on jurisdiction -- 1.3.2.3 Policy debate regarding the reform of the Brussels I Regulation -- 1.3.3 The US approach to jurisdiction -- 1.3.3.1 Doctrines that may limit access to US courts in transnational cases -- 1.3.3.2 The Alien Tort Statute: presumption against extraterritoriality and personal jurisdiction -- 1.3.3.3 Further doctrines that may limit access to US courts in transnational cases -- 1.3.3.4 Litigating torts in state courts and/or under state law -- 1.3.4 Comparing the EU and US approach to jurisdiction in private international law -- 1.4 Residual jurisdiction in Europe -- 1.4.1 Introduction -- 1.4.2 Forum necessitatis -- 1.4.3 Joining of defendants -- 1.4.4 Pursuing civil remedies through criminal jurisdiction -- 1.5 Conclusions and recommendations -- 2 Judicial remedies: The issue of applicable law -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Legal context -- 2.2.1 Foreign direct liability and beyond -- 2.2.2 Private international law and extraterritoriality -- 2.2.3 Discussion -- 2.3 Applicable law -- 2.3.1 Rome II Regulation: general rule -- 2.3.2 Rome II Regulation: special rule on environmental damage -- 2.3.3 Rome II Regulation: relevant exceptions -- 2.3.3.1 Overriding mandatory provisions -- 2.3.3.2 Rules of safety and conduct.

This is the first book offering a comprehensive historical and contemporary analysis of the emerging business and human rights field.

The EU Commission has set the goal of facilitating a competitive transport system, increasing mobility and supporting growth while simultaneously reaching a target of 60 per cent emissions reductions by 2050. In light of past performance and estimated development, the target will not be reached without further behavioural change in the transport sector. This interdisciplinary book examines how such a behavioural shift can be achieved by various organizational and legal means, focusing primarily on the European Union and its specific policies related to greening transport.

Corporate Social Responsibility has for long been on the agenda in the business world and recently, it has also become a political agenda in the European Union. Focusing on international supply chains and their control based on studies of law in several European jurisdictions, this book aims to advance the discussion on the application and enforcement of CSR. Drawing parallels to US and Canadian law, the book explores to what extent private law tools can be used as an enforcement device and it ultimately asks if what we are witnessing is the formation of a new area of law, employing the interplay of contract and tort – a law of "production liability", as a corollary of the concept of "product liability".