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Dr Ardavan Arzandeh shortlisted for St. Petersburg International Private Law Prize

Press release issued: 17 March 2020

The Law School’s Dr Ardavan Arzandeh is among the global nominations for the prestigious St. Petersburg International Legal Forum Private Law Prize for his monograph ‘Forum (Non) Conveniens in England: Past, Present, and Future’.

The annual St. Petersburg International Legal Forum (SPBILF) is a foremost gathering of legal practitioners and scholars from around the world to discuss a broad range of critical questions faced by legal professionals as well as examining ideas on modernising law amidst current global changes.

As part of this international event, the SPBILF recognises outstanding academic books in the field of Russian and/or foreign private law, private international law, or comparative law by awarding the SPBILF Private Law Prize.

Dr Ardavan Arzandeh’s book, Forum (Non) Conveniens in England: Past, Present, and Future¸ is one of five books selected for the prize in 2020.

The SPBILF states that the “conferral of this truly global academic award is intended as a testimony of its winner’s ultimate academic excellence, while the cash prize component is meant to advance the realization of the laureate’s ideas of worldwide significance.”

The forum (non) conveniens doctrine provides the basis for the discretionary exercise of jurisdiction by English courts in private-international-law disputes. London’s pre-eminence as a centre for international commercial litigation has meant that the doctrine is frequently deployed in proceedings where parties disagree over where the case should be heard. The doctrine’s significance is not limited to England but extends to many Commonwealth jurisdictions which have embraced it.

Ardavan’s monograph is the first book-length study devoted entirely to examining the forum (non) conveniens doctrine’s past, present, and future from the perspective of the law in England – where the doctrine is most commonly in contention. It seeks to fill gaps in relevant knowledge of the English forum (non) conveniens doctrine, and challenge certain views concerning its origins and current application that have come to be regarded as representing the orthodoxy.

The book’s main contribution is in relation to the future of the doctrine, where theoretical and pragmatic arguments for refining the doctrine are advanced. Its ultimate objective is to act as a first stop for those with an interest in the doctrine, in particular, and private international law, in general.

Commenting on his work’s nomination, Ardavan said:

"I am delighted that my book has received this recognition from such an eminent panel of judges, following a highly competitive selection process. It is also nice to follow in the footsteps of my colleagues, Professor Paula Giliker and Dr Oliver Quick, whose books were shortlisted for the Prize in 2018 and 2019 respectively. I look forward to representing Bristol at the Forum in May."

The St. Petersburg International Legal Forum will be held from 19-23 May 2020. The Winner of the Prize will be announced during a special ceremony on 20 May.

Further information

Dr Ardavan Arzandeh is Senior Lecturer in Law. His research expertise is principally in the field of commercial conflict of laws. In addition to authoring ‘Forum (Non) Conveniens in England: Past, Present, and Future’, Ardavan has published in leading law journals, including the Law Quarterly Review, Legal Studies, International & Comparative Law Quarterly, Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly, and the Journal of Private International Law. He frequently presents his research to academics and practising lawyers at national and international conferences, research seminars and presentations at City law firms.

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