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Where can I find documents on the rationale for forum shopping and forum non conveniens?

I keep coming across terms like forum shopping and forum non conveniens in private international law. Where can I find solid explanations or documents that explain the rationale behind these concepts?

All Answers (2 Answers In All)

By Veena Answered 1 month ago

A good place to start is standard textbooks on private international law, which explain both doctrines and the policy reasons behind them. Landmark case law from common law jurisdictions—most notably Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno—is essential for understanding how forum non conveniens operates in practice. For deeper analysis, academic articles in journals like the American Journal of International Law and International and Comparative Law Quarterly discuss the strategic use of forum shopping and courts’ efforts to limit its abuse.

Replied 1 month ago

By Vishal

Thank you—that gives me a solid foundation. I’ll start with the textbooks and then move on to the case law and journals you mentioned.

 

By Maninder Answered 1 month ago

You may also find it useful to consult comparative law sources. Many treatises and edited volumes examine how different legal systems approach forum shopping, which helps illuminate the policy justifications behind accepting or rejecting forum non conveniens. In particular, commentaries on EU private international law and civil law jurisdictions often explain why those systems are more skeptical of the doctrine, offering a useful contrast to common law reasoning.

Replied 1 month ago

By Vishal

That’s a great point—I hadn’t considered comparative perspectives. Looking at civil law approaches should help clarify the policy debate.

 

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