Reflections on One-Sided Jurisdiction Clauses in International Litigation (About the Rothschild Decision, French Cour de Cassation, 26 September 2012)
Banque & Droit, mars-avril 2013, n°148, pp. 3-9 (English version)
10 Pages Posted: 9 May 2013
Date Written: May 7, 2013
Abstract
By criticising the "potestative nature" of one-sided jurisdiction clauses, the Rothschild decision may be construed as imposing on litigants perfect equality in their access to justice. This decision therefore threatens many of our jurisdiction clauses. In fact, if clauses that give one party unfettered discretion to choose where to sue have to be set aside, the other type of one-sided jurisdiction clauses, those that are simply dissociative, should be upheld as long as they do not substantially disadvantage one of the parties.
Keywords: private international law, jurisdiction clause, choice of court agreement, one-sided jurisdiction clause, potestativité, discretion, Brussels I regulation, equality of arms
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