Conflict of Laws

In modern business and personal life, significant events frequently involve more than one state or nation.  What law applies to multi-jurisdictional transactions?   Which court has the authority to adjudicate any dispute that develops?  When can a judgment—or a marriage—in one state create legal rights in another?  Can one state make it illegal to do something—like pay bribes—in the territory of another?

This course examines the legal rules that have developed for resolving these conflict-of-law problems.  Specific topics include: domestic jurisdiction, international jurisdiction, domestic choice of law, extraterritorial application of national law, conflicts between state and federal law, and enforcement of judgments.  Course time is split roughly equally between domestic and international topics.