Author Description

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW: CASES AND MATERIALS is a timely and useful book. Uncounted millions of “international” transactions occur daily, as goods and services are purchased across the national boundaries of some 200 political units. Capital flows from nation to nation, and so—to a lesser extent—do jobs, as companies seek more favorable locations for their business operations. The “rules” (laws) governing these exchanges quickly become complex, as persons (and governments) from different countries are involved. If problems arise in a cross-border relationship, whose rules apply? What forums are available to resolve disputes? Are there tax implications to the transaction? If so, where? These and similar questions need to be factored into the decision to “go overseas.” Each of the six chapters in this book begins with a brief overview of the subject-matter, followed by short previews of the chosen case examples. The primary content of the chapters consists of some 120 court and arbitration decisions in real disputes, between real parties. The actual text of the decisions in these cases has been edited; some excerpts are quite brief, others are more substantial. Most “background” facts have been summarized by the author, but the edited-decision part of each case is quoted from the actual recorded text of the court or arbitrator who decided it. Clearly, a minute sample from tens of thousands of cases cannot provide comprehensive coverage of what all the world’s legal rules are. Our objectives here are simply to indicate some of the major potential “flash points” of doing international business, to illustrate some of the significant differences in the applicable legal rules, and to provide an exposure to the language and process by which international business disputes are resolved. “Fore-warned is fore-armed.” Being aware of these potential trouble spots, a sensible business manager will presumably consider them in making the dec