Foreign Legal Research: when & how

Anne L. Abramson

Foreign & International Law Librarian

The John Marshall Law School

Lois L. Biro Law Library

Frequent Foreign Law Issues

Doing business in a foreign country: what types of entities can do business there? Pros and cons of a particular business organization? (i.e. export/import, distributorship, overseas office)Potential disputes: what law applies; what forum decides; how will judgment be enforced in another jurisdiction

When to Research Foreign LawPotential conflicts of law issueForum selection, choice of law and arbitration provisions Globalization & rising expectationsHarmonization: treaty may make it unnecessary to research foreign law in certain areas Foreign counsel

Foreign Legal Research Strategies

Use secondary sources

Find subject collections

Preliminary question: does a treaty apply?

Hague Conference on Private International Law

http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php

State Department Website

http://www.state.gov/

Bureau of Consular Affairs

http://travel.state.gov/

Judicial Assistance

http://travel.state.gov/law/info/judicial/judicial_702.html

Getting to Know You SourcesDoing Business GuidesMartindale Hubbell International Law DigestDepartment of Commerce WebsiteUniversity of Ottawa WebsiteIntroduction to the legal system of a foreign country (i.e. books, articles)

Doing Business Guides

http://www.bakernet.com/BakerNet/Resources/Doing+Business+In+Guides/default.htm

Martindale Hubbell International Law Digest

Legal>Area of Law – Topic>International Law>Find Laws by Country or Region>Search International Law Digests

COUNTRY(germany) & TOPIC(patent!)

Department of Commerce

http://www.export.gov/

Export.gov

http://www.export.gov/

Country Information

http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/foreigngovt.htm

World Legal Systems

http://www.droitcivil.uottawa.ca/world-legal-systems/eng-monde.php

Civil law: based on comprehensive written codes covering an entire area (i.e. civil); decisions binding only on parties; public v. private

Common law: judicial decisions are precedent

Customary, Religious, Mixed

Finding Foreign Law

Foreign Law GuideGLIN: Global Legal Information NetworkLLRX & Globalex Research GuidesCatalogs & indexes: books and articlesLast resort: Embassies or consular officesExample: German patent law, Italian commercial agency law—Foreign Law Guide, JMLS catalog, Worldcat

Foreign Law Guide Materials Indexed

http://foreignlawguide.com

Subject Headings

Countries & JurisdictionsIntroduction to Legal System

http://foreignlawguide.com

Agency & Distribution Agreements

Link to Materials Indexed

Worldcat

http://firstsearch.org

Links to Websites

http://foreignlawguide.com

Paraguay

Global Legal Information Network

http://www.glin.gov/search.action

Globalex

http://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/

Globalex Country Guides

Websites of Particular Jurisdictions

http://www.jura.uni-saarland.de/english/glsindex.html

LLRX

http://www.llrx.com/

Websites on Particular Topics: FAOLEX

http://faolex.fao.org/faolex/

NATLEX of the ILO

http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex_browse.home

Global Insolvency Law Database

www.worldbank.org/gild

Buffalo Criminal Law Center

http://wings.buffalo.edu/law/bclc/resource.htm

International Supreme Court Decisions

www.globalcourts.com

Lexis and Westlaw Coverage

Embassies & Consular Offices

www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls

Understanding Foreign Law

Translations: consider currency and accuracy

Beware of Babelfish

Foreign Law in U.S. Courts

Lost in Translation § 202c Vorbereiten des Ausspähens und Abfangens von Daten(1) Wer eine Straftat nach § 202a oder § 202b vorbereitet, indem er 1. Passwörter oder sonstige Sicherungscodes, die den Zugang zu Daten (§ 202a Abs. 2) ermöglichen, oder2. Computerprogramme, deren Zweck die Begehung einer solchen Tat ist,herstellt, sich oder einem anderen verschafft, verkauft, einem anderen überlässt, verbreitet oder sonst zugänglich macht, wird mit Freiheitsstrafe bis zu einem Jahr oder mit Geldstrafe bestraft.(2) § 149 Abs. 2 und 3 gilt entsprechend.

§ 202c Prepare spying and interception of data (1) who a criminal offence after § 202a or § 202b prepared, by he 1st passwords or other safeguard codes, those the entrance to data (§ 202a Abs. 2) make possible, or 2nd computer programs, whose purpose is committing such an act, manufactures, or another provided, sold, another leaves themselves, common or otherwise accessible makes, with imprisonment up to one year or with fine one punishes. (2) § 149 Abs. applies for 2 and 3 accordingly.

Types & Sources

From: Hoffman, Marci & Rumsey, Mary. International and Foreign Legal Research: a coursebook Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2008). K85 .H64 2008 7 th flr

Highly recommended: Germain, Claire M. Germain's Transnational Law Research: a Guide for Attorneys, Transnational Juris Publications, (1991-). K85 .G47 1991, 7 th flr

Common Law Civil Law Public International Law

Private International Law

Primary Sources ConstitutionsStatutesRegulations Court Decisions

ConstitutionsStatutesRegulations

TreatiesCustomaryGenerally recognized principles of law

National lawTreatiesCustomary Law

Secondary Sources Scholarly commentary

Court decisionsScholarly commentary

Court decisionsTeachings of publicists (scholarly commentary)

Court decisionsScholarly commentary