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In response to the growing complexity of cross-border family disputes – driven by increasing mobility and evolving family configurations – the recently published Guida alla mediazione familiare internazionale in materia di responsabilita genitoriale e sottrazione internazionale di minori, authored by Costanza Honorati and Ester di Napoli (Pacini Editore, 2025; available online in open access, in Italian), offers a rigorous and thematically cohesive guide to the law and practice of cross-border family mediation. Grounded in both European and multilateral legal instruments, the volume brings together doctrinal precision, procedural clarity, and practical insight, establishing itself as an essential reference for legal practitioners, judges, mediators, and scholars navigating the intricate terrain of cross-border family justice.

The volume opens with a foundational reflection on the evolving legal and social configurations of cross-border families in crisis (Chapter 1: La mediazione familiare nel contesto transfrontaliero: uno sguardo d’insieme, by Ester di Napoli). This Chapter offers a conceptual and normative overview of family mediation in a transnational context, exposing its principles, objectives, and the interplay between substantive family law and instruments of judicial cooperation. By engaging with key legal sources – from the Council of Europe, the European Union, and the Hague Conference on Private International Law – the Author provides a robust framework for understanding the legal underpinnings of cross-border family mediation.

A significant contribution of the work lies in its detailed treatment of mediation procedures in cases involving parental responsibility and cross-border child abduction (Chapter 2: Il procedimento di mediazione familiare nei casi di responsabilità genitoriale e di sottrazione internazionale, by Ester di Napoli and Costanza Honorati). The Authors examine diverse models of mediation, the temporal and geographical contours of the process, and the variety of actors involved. Particular emphasis is placed on the procedural integration of mediation within the architecture of pending judicial proceedings, revealing how alternative dispute resolution can be effectively harnessed even in the midst of litigation. The Chapter also devotes considerable attention to the child’s role in mediation, affirming the centrality of the child’s right to be heard and to be appropriately informed. This rights-based approach is not merely rhetorical: it is embedded in the procedural design and underlined by practical guidance. Yet, the Authors do not lose sight of the ethical and legal limits of mediation. This section also develops a substantiated analysis of the challenges posed by domestic violence, emphasising the need for rigorous screening mechanisms and a nuanced understanding of power asymmetries within family relationships. Building on this, the book offers a granular analysis of mediation in the context of cross-border child abduction, with particular focus on tight procedural timelines, the dialectic between return proceedings and negotiated solutions, and the use of “package agreements” to resolve multifaceted family disputes.

The final part of the volume (Chapter 3: La circolazione dell’accordo di mediazione familiare negli Stati UE, by Costanza Honorati) offers a carefully reasoned examination of the recognition, enforcement, and circulation of mediated agreements within the European Union. Drawing on the Brussels II-ter Regulation, the 1996 Hague Convention, and relevant national instruments, the Chapter provides an authoritative interpretation of the legal frameworks governing cross-border effectiveness. At the heart of the analysis lies the complex transformation of mediated settlements into binding and enforceable decisions, including the conceptual and procedural distinctions between “agreements” and “decisions” under EU law. This section exemplifies the volume’s commitment not only to legal clarity but to practical operability, offering pathways for turning negotiated consensus into enforceable outcomes across jurisdictions.

In sum, Guida alla mediazione familiare internazionale in materia di responsabilità genitoriale e sottrazione internazionale di minori is far more than a practical manual: it is an invitation to reflect on the evolving normative landscape of cross-border family dispute resolution – one that increasingly privileges dialogue, cooperation, and child-centred justice. Through its intellectual coherence, doctrinal depth, and clear policy relevance, the volume offers both a roadmap and a critical commentary on the current and future architecture of cross-border family mediation within Europe and beyond.

Building on the success of the two previous editions (here and here), the third edition of the EAPIL Winter School is currently being organised by the European Association of Private International Law and the Department of Law, Economics and Cultures of the University of Insubria in Como, in cooperation with the Law Faculty of the University […]

The Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan invites young scholars to present the outcome of their doctoral research on any topic within the field of private international law, transnational law or the law of international arbitration, at a dedicated seminar to be held in Milan (the MECSI Seminar). Each MECSI Seminar will revolve […]

La protection, l’indépendance et la reconnaissance du rôle des avocats et de leurs associations professionnelles sont indissociables d’un État de droit effectif et d’un accès réel à la justice.

La Convention du Conseil de l’Europe, constitue une avancée majeure pour répondre aux défis actuels et garantir que les avocats puissent continuer à jouer leur rôle de vigie de la démocratie et de défenseur des droits humains.

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La rédaction de Dalloz actualité vous souhaite un très bel été

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Pologne / Commission (Annulation rétroactive de mesures provisoires)
Avocate générale Kokott : pas d’astreinte pour la Pologne concernant l’extraction de lignite à Turów

Katholische Schwangerschaftsberatung
Avocate générale Medina : le licenciement d’un employé par une organisation catholique en raison du retrait de cet employé de l’Église catholique peut constituer une discrimination fondée sur la religion

Meta Platforms Ireland (Compensation équitable)
Aide d'État
Avocat général Szpunar : les États membres peuvent adopter des mesures de soutien pour garantir l'effectivité des droits des éditeurs de presse pour autant que ces mesures ne portent pas atteinte à la liberté contractuelle

Rugu
Espace de liberté, sécurité et justice
Avocat général Rantos : l’État membre refusant d’exécuter un mandat d’arrêt européen en raison des conditions de détention dans l’État membre d’émission est tenu d’ordonner l’exécution, sur son propre territoire, de la peine infligée dans ce dernier État membre

An employment dispute between a Greek stewardess and her employer offered the Supreme Court of Greece the opportunity to discuss the interpretation of Articles 20 and 21 of the Brussels I bis Regulation, on jurisdiction over individual employment contracts. The Supreme Court’s ruling on the matter (Ruling No 1453 of 2024) relies heavily on the […]

 

Private international law in post-Soviet Central Asian countries is clearly underrepresented in the literature, despite the fact that countries such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have fairly detailed legislation on international jurisdiction, applicable law, and the enforcement of foreign judgments. (For a general overview of Kazakhstan, see the entry on the country in J. Basedow et al. (eds), Encyclopedia of Private International Law, Vol. III (Edward Elgar), p. 2229, and the English translation of the relevant provisions in Vol. IV, p. 3358.)

To help address this gap, I’m pleased to share the publication of a new monograph on Private International Law in Kazakhstan, authored by Nurzhan S. Yeshniyazov and Mokhammed Abdel Mottaleb, and published in June 2025 as part of the International Encyclopaedia of Laws – Private International Law, by Kluwer Law International:

This monograph offers a systematic and up-to-date overview of Kazakhstan’s legal framework governing cross-border civil and commercial matters, including international jurisdiction, applicable law, and the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. The content follows the standardized outline used across the Encyclopaedia, ensuring consistency and comparability with other national reports.

The addition of Kazakhstan to this global reference work is certainly a welcome development, helping to broaden the comparative scope of the series and providing valuable insights into a region that remains underrepresented in private international law scholarship.

 

The general table of contents of the monograph reads as follows:

Title Page – pp. 1–1

Copyright – pp. 2–2

The Authors – pp. 3–4

Table of Contents – pp. 5–12

List of Abbreviations – pp. 13–14

General Introduction – pp. 15–30

Part I. General Principles (Choice of Law Technique) – pp. 31–76

• Chapter 1. Sources of PIL
• Chapter 2. Determination of the Applicable Law
• Chapter 3. Basic Terms

Part II. Conflict of Law Rules – pp. 77–164

• Chapter 1. Persons
• Chapter 2. Obligations
•  Chapter 3. Property
•  Chapter 4. Intangible Property Rights
• Chapter 5. Family Law
• Chapter 6. Succession Law

Part III. Annex: International Civil Procedure – pp. 165–192

• Chapter 1. Sources of International Civil Procedure
• Chapter 2. The Principle of Lex Fori
• Chapter 3. National Jurisdiction
• Chapter 4. International Jurisdiction
• Chapter 5. Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Decisions
• Chapter 6. International Insolvency Law
• Chapter 7. International Arbitration

Selected Bibliography – pp. 193–195

Annexes – pp. 196–195

• Annex I: The Civil Code – pp. 196–210
• Annex II: Merchant Shipping – pp. 211–213
• Annex III: The Civil Procedure Code – pp. 214–227
• Annex IV: Arbitration Law – pp. 228–230

Table of Cases – pp. 231–232

Case Citation:

Sqimnga (Nig.) Ltd v. Systems Applications Products (Nig.) Ltd [2025] 2 NWLR 423 (Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, Nigeria)

The dispute in this case arose between two Nigerian companies, Sqimnga Nigeria Ltd (the appellant) and Systems Applications Products Nigeria Ltd (the respondent). Both parties had entered into a Master Service Agreement in Nigeria, relating specifically to software solutions. A critical provision of this agreement stipulated that the laws of South Africa would govern any disputes, and further, that South African courts would possess exclusive jurisdiction to hear any matters arising from the agreement.

When a disagreement emerged between the parties, Sqimnga Nigeria Ltd initiated legal proceedings at the Lagos State High Court. The respondent immediately contested the jurisdiction of the Nigerian court, relying on the contractual clause mandating the use of South African law and courts.

At the High Court level, the court declined jurisdiction over the matter. This decision hinged on the court’s determination that Sqimnga Nigeria Ltd had not provided sufficient evidence or compelling reasons why the Nigerian courts should assume jurisdiction contrary to the clearly stipulated jurisdiction clause in the Master Service Agreement.

Dissatisfied with the High Court’s ruling, Sqimnga Nigeria Ltd appealed to the Court of Appeal. The appellant argued that the trial judge had misapplied the relevant legal principles by overlooking uncontroverted pleadings and witness statements. Additionally, the appellant contended that litigating the case in South Africa would impose unnecessary expenses and inconvenience upon the parties.

However, the Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the decision of the trial court, dismissing the appeal. In reaching this conclusion, the Court emphasized several key considerations. First, it reinforced the fundamental principle of contractual agreements through the maxims pacta sunt servanda (agreements must be kept) and consensu facit legem (consent makes law), asserting that freely made agreements, absent fraud or duress, must be upheld.

Secondly, the Court emphasized that the explicit foreign jurisdiction clause agreed upon by the parties could only be set aside if a compelling justification were provided. To evaluate whether such justification existed, the Court applied the Brandon tests derived from the English case of The Eleftheria (1969) 1 Lloyd’s L. R. 237. These tests require the party challenging the jurisdictional clause to present clear evidence demonstrating “strong cause” for a local court to assume jurisdiction in deviation from the contractual agreement. The Court concluded that Sqimnga Nigeria Ltd failed to meet this evidentiary standard, as its arguments relied primarily on pleadings, unadopted witness statements, and legal submissions from counsel, none of which constituted adequate evidence to satisfy the Brandon tests.

The Court acknowledged the appellant’s concern regarding the inconvenience and additional costs associated with litigating abroad but held that such factors alone, without further compelling justification, were insufficient to disregard the jurisdiction clause explicitly agreed upon by both parties.

Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, thereby reaffirming the position that Nigerian courts will generally respect and enforce foreign jurisdiction clauses and choice of law provisions in contracts unless the challenging party can conclusively demonstrate compelling reasons otherwise. Additionally, the appellant was ordered to pay the associated costs.

 

It is worth noting that South African courts may also be inaccessible where the parties cannot establish a sufficient connection to that forum. For example, in Veneta Mineraria Spa v Carolina Collieries (Pty) Ltd (1987) (4) SA 883 (A) at 894 A–B, Viljoen JA held that in a dispute between two foreign parties (peregrini), the mere submission of the defendant (a peregrinus) is not, by itself, sufficient to confer jurisdiction on the South African court.

In such a case, to which court should the party seeking to enforce its rights turn? Had counsel and the Nigerian courts benefited from comparative research on South African law, the outcome might have been different, potentially on grounds of public policy. The Nigerian Supreme Court’s decision in Sonnar (Nig.) Ltd v. Nordwind (1987) 4 NWLR (Pt. 66) 520, 535, affirms that where a foreign court is inaccessible, a Nigerian court may decline to enforce a foreign jurisdiction clause on public policy grounds.

In conclusion, a private international law lawyer best serves their client by being well-versed in the comparative dimensions of the subject.

Kaili / Parlement
Accès aux documents : le Tribunal annule la décision du Parlement ayant refusé l’accès de son ancienne vice-présidente, Mme Eva Kaili, à certains documents

sprd.net / EUIPO (Majuscule "I" et cœur rouge sur la partie gauche de la poitrine d’un vêtement)
Le signe en tant que tel ne peut pas être enregistré comme marque de l’Union européenne pour des vêtements comme des tee-shirts

Spin Master Toys UK / EUIPO - Verdes Innovations
Marques de l’Union européenne : le Tribunal confirme l’annulation des marques constituées de la forme du « Rubik’s cube »

Fritz Egger e.a. / ECHA (Mélamine)
La décision de l’Agence européenne des produits chimiques identifiant la mélamine comme substance pouvant avoir des effets graves sur la santé humaine et sur l’environnement est confirmée

Gotek
Fiscalité
Neuf mois après s’être vu confier une compétence en matière de renvoi préjudiciel, le Tribunal de l’Union européenne rend son premier arrêt préjudiciel

The T.M.C. Asser Institute has launched a call for abstracts for the panel Emerging Voices in Private International Law, which will take place as part of Adapting Private International Law in an Era of Uncertainty – Asser Institute 60 Years Series Conference, to be held on 24 October 2025 in The Hague. PhD candidates and […]

Alors que la publication de l’enquête sur « l’accès aux droits et sur les relations entre police et population » par le Défenseur des droits, appelant notamment à modifier le cadre légal de la pratique des contrôles d’identité et à mieux en encadrer la pratique, a été publiée le 24 juin 2025, la France a également été condamnée ce 26 juin par la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme. Elle ne l’a cependant pas été pour la pratique du contrôle au faciès en tant que telle, mais s’agissant de la situation spécifique d’un requérant qui a subi des contrôles discriminatoires.

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L’article R. 211-13, 2°, du code des assurances, dans sa rédaction antérieure au décret du 21 décembre 2023, excluait la garantie de l’assureur en cas d’accident survenu pendant la suspension du contrat pour non-paiement des primes. Cette disposition est contraire aux articles 3, § 1 et 13 de la directive n° 2009/103/CE du Parlement européen et du Conseil du 16 septembre 2009 qui imposent aux États membres d’assurer la couverture obligatoire de tous les véhicules en circulation, afin de garantir une protection effective des victimes d’accidents. Cependant, malgré cette violation, tant la cour d’appel que la deuxième chambre civile, ont jugé que l’assureur n’était pas tenu à garantie. Ce refus s’explique, d’une part, par l’absence d’effet direct vertical inversé des dispositions de la directive et, d’autre part, par l’impossibilité pour le juge national de procéder à une interprétation conforme des dispositions nationales sans en altérer le sens.

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