Human Rights Day 2020: IBA Webinars, 10/11 December 2020

On the occasion of this year’s Human Rights Day, the IBA Business and Human Rights Committee and the IBA Human Rights Law Committee have put together a day of virtual events – actually, taking into account time differences across the globe, the three sessions are spread out over two days from a European time zone’s perspective. Session 2 on the impact of human rights on businesses is particularly timely, given the recent legislative initiatives in Germany, the EU and elsewhere – the Swiss will be voting on this coming Sunday on an initiative called “For responsible businesses – protecting human rights and the environment”.The proposed legislation would require Swiss companies to examine whether they can comply with internationally recognised human rights and environmental standards when carrying out their business operations. Swiss companies would be liable for damage caused by companies that they control. However, they will not be held liable if they can prove that they complied with their due diligence obligations. Continue reading

IBA Virtually Together: Managing International Litigation, 4 November 2020

At this year’s International Bar Association‘s virtual annual conference, I have the pleasure of  moderating a session on managing international litigation, with this wonderful panel:

  • Sam Hosseini of Stikeman Elliott in Toronto, providing the perspective of outside counsel,
  • James Menz, Senior Litigation Counsel at Bombardier, sharing his insights from the corporate perspetive
  • and last but not least Brody Warren of the Hague Conference on Private International Law’s Permanent Bureau in The Hague. Inter alia, Brody will shed light on the use of video technology under the Hague Evidence Convention.

Join us on Wednesday, 4 November 2020 at 12:00 AM GMT!

IBA Webinar, 30 June 2020: The Art Market is Going Digital – What Are the Legal Challenges?

On 30 June 2020, the IBA Art, Cultural Institutions and Heritage Law Committee is presenting a webinar that looks at the impact of digitization on the art market. The massive move to digital business models is of course driven by the loss of live auctions and in-person art fairs. They have resulted in a dramatic shift in the practices of the art market. Continue reading

IBA Litigation Committee: Impact of COVID-19 on Court Operations and Litigation Practice

IBA LOGOThe IBA Litigation Committe has produced a survey looking at the impact of COVID-19 on court operations and litigation practice across 37 different jurisdictions – from Argenina to the United States. Jeff Galway and Urs Hoffmann-Nowotny served as general editors and I had the honour of contributing the chapter on Germany. The plan is to update the survey as matters develop in the various jurisdictions. Here’s the link to the IBA Litigation Committe homepage and here is a link to the report in its current form. Continue reading