Enhancing legal capacity by assisting businesspersons and their professional advisers from developing countries and transition economies.
Welcome
What is it?
The main objective of ITC’s Legal Aspects of
International Trade programme is to provide a better understanding of, and
access to, international trade law and practice in the areas of legal
information, contract negotiation and dispute resolution. These services are
provided by legal experts and institutions from several countries and managed
through ITC’s Geneva offices.
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Juris International - A multi-language
(English, French, Spanish) database of essential information on international trade law.
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Model international contracts and guides for SMEs - A series of
"economically neutral" model international contracts and user guides
for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
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Dispute resolution centres
- Assisting new dispute resolution centres in setting up
their services and training activities in alternative dispute resolution
including arbitration.
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Networking of company lawyers and jurists
- Assisting trade law professionals in
networking.
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Legal framework (national and regional)
- assistance for Chambers of Commerce, governments
and governmental bodies in updating their national legal framework with regard
to foreign trade.
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Capacity-building - Advanced training seminars on the latest techniques in contract drafting
and dispute resolution, international trade law and practice.
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Who is it for?
It is intended for businesspersons and their
professional advisers from developing countries and
transition economies engaged in export/import operations. ITC also assists
Chambers of Commerce, governments, para-statal and regional organizations, in
updating their legal framework on international trade.
Where is it used?
ITC’s legal programme is a world-wide service.
1.Building up Information Services
2.Enterprise Competitiveness
3.Export Packaging
4.Export Quality Management
5.International Purchasing and Supply
6.Multilateral Trading System & Business
7.Trade Finance
8.Trade Support Infrastructure
JURIS INTERNATIONAL
A database on international trade law
What is it?
 Juris International is the world’s foremost multi-language collection (English, French, Spanish) of essential information on international trade law.
It contains 30,000 pages of material selected for its practical relevance.
This database offers access to full-text international legal instruments, over 150 model contracts, dispute resolution centres and a network of business lawyers.
It also contains two special collections: the key provisions of the WTO agreements and the complete texts,
regulations and forms of OHADA (Organization for the Harmonization of Trade Law in Africa).
Who is it for?
Juris International is an invaluable tool for lawyers, small and medium-sized companies and state organizations in developing countries and economies in transition.
It addresses the lack of practical legal information by helping business lawyers, advisers and in-house counsel find affordable legal information,
thereby strengthening their positions when negotiating internationally.
Where is it used?
Juris International was co-developed by ITC, the University of Montreal (Canada) and the University of Nancy (France) in cooperation with organizations in over 100 countries.
It is used worldwide on the Internet (http://www.jurisint.org) and on CD-ROM.
Model International contracts and guides for SMEs
A series of "economically neutral" model international contracts and users’ guides for SMEs
Model International contracts and guides for SMEs
ITC’s legal programme is developing a series of "economically
neutral" model international contracts and users’ guides for SMEs. Although
contracts rarely duplicate each other in complex business arrangements of
international trade, model clauses and guides are extremely useful tools for
exporters and importers in the course of their basic international transactions
such as sales, distribution, franchising and other contracts. The guides also
offer practical information and advice on the use of existing model contracts
offered by various private or public organizations in a wide range of sectors.
The contracts and guides are being developed by a group of prominent experts
from developed and developing countries.
E-commerce and Legal Aspects of International Trade
A Training Package on Legal and Contractual Issues in E-commerce
Rational:
The E-Commerce Legal Kit provides the necessary legal tools and materials
for those who wish to acquire expertise in the operational legal aspects of e-commerce.
The kit is primarily intended for private sector operators, including SMEs, lawyers, legal counsel,
professionals working in the areas of trade information, advisory and training services.
It may also be of interest to public sector officials involved in making the necessary legal adjustments
for an enabling and secure e-commerce environment.
Contents:
The E-Commerce Legal Kit has four components: a paper guide, an e-law reference library,
sample contracts and powerpoint presentations, the latter three being on CD-Rom.
The paper guide and CD-Rom should be used complementarily.
The paper guide is composed of three short books written in question and answer format:
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Global E-Commerce Law, is an introduction to the main institutions, legal texts, and legal issues in the field. |
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E-Commerce Contracting, describes eight different contracts, four related to developing a web presence and four to operating on-line. |
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Case Studies, presents four situations where legal advice is sought, with possible answers. They are meant to test the reader's ability to draw practical knowledge from the first two volumes. |
Because background material is quite sizeable, the e-law reference library on CD-Rom contains the full text of laws,
conventions and other material referred to in Volume 1.
As will be noted, direct quotation of legal texts has been avoided in the three volumes.
Therefore, reference to the CD-Rom is necessary for an in-depth knowledge of issues.
Full text contracts discussed in Volume 2 are also on the CD-Rom.
In preparing a training session, the speaker may decide, for example,
to print a few sample contracts or laws for study in conjunction with the paper guide.
Finally, a word about the powerpoint presentations also contained in the CD-Rom.
These are meant to be used use by trainers or professionals when presenting e-commerce law issues based on the guide.
The slides can be adapted as best suited to the needs of the speaker and his/her audience.
Training session:
A training session typically lasts two days, covering volumes 1 to 3.
Publications
Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution: How to Settle International Business Disputes (English, French)
Handbook focusing on available methods for preventing and resolving commercial disputes -
deals with different types of disputes encountered in international trade and
describes methods for preventing and or resolving them;
outlines fundamental principles applicable to international commercial arbitration.
Explains how to draft an arbitration clause and provides selected standard model clauses.
Appendices contain text of major international arbitration conventions and rules,
as well as list of arbitration institutions worldwide.
Financements et garanties dans le commerce international: guide juridique (French)
Ouvrage présentant, du point de vue juridique, les fondements de principaux mécanismes de paiement, de
financement et de sûreté du commerce international - examine leurs avantages ainsi que les moyens d'en limiter les risques -
couvre les termes et modalités de paiement, les crédits documentaires,
les différentes garanties ainsi que le règlement des litiges -
indique les décisions judiciaires et arbitrales pertinentes ainsi que l'état du droit harmonisé et des contrats types applicables -
propose des modèles de clauses contractuelles en anglais et en français -
fournit des adresses d'institutions internationales oeuvrant dans ce domaine - contient un glossaire.
Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution How to settle international business disputes
What is it?
It is a practical guide that helps enterprises choose and prepare an alternative to state court proceedings,
in order to prevent or settle business disputes in an international context.
The guide covers the following topics:
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| The various dispute resolution schemes. |
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| Choosing the most suitable method. |
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| A stage by stage explanation of an international commercial arbitration. |
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| Guidance on how to draft arbitration clauses. |
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| Model clauses and references |
Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution is customized nationally for countries that have decided to join the programme.
Who is it for?
It is for SMEs entering into international contracts and for business lawyers.
This guide can also be used as a training resource in business schools.
Arbitration institutions willing to advocate and promote the advantages of arbitration and
alternative dispute resolution mechanisms will also find this guide useful.
Where is it used?
National versions are being completed in Bangladesh, Bolivia, Croatia, Egypt and the Philippines.
Several other countries have expressed an interest in customizing the guide.
Chamonix III – Symposium on the management of
commercial dispute resolution services
Offering effective dispute resolution services to SMEs
Programme
List of participants
Date: 13-16 May 2009
Venue: Centre de Congrès “Le Majestic” Chamonix, France
Background
The International Trade Centre (ITC), the export development joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization,
is organizing the third International Symposium on the management of commercial dispute resolution services: “
Offering effective dispute resolution services to SMEs” .
The purpose of the Symposium is to address, from a practical standpoint,
the different approaches to the management of dispute resolution services involving Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). These enterprises play a central role in most economies,
but they are confronted with dispute resolution services that are ill-adapted to their size.
Along with this subject, current challenges, trends and best practices in the management of
arbitration and mediation services will be identified and discussed at a truly world scale.
A special feature of the Symposium will be the one-to-one 15 minutes networking meetings between participants (inter-institutional or
other) with the aim of promoting inter-institutional cooperation. Approximately 250 such meetings will take place in Chamonix III.
Participants
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Managers of commercial arbitration and/or mediation services, and other professionals/institutions
(lawyers, business associations, chambers of commerce) involved in administering or supporting these services.
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Representatives of international institutions.
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Contact us
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| Postal Address |
International Trade Centre
Legal Aspects of Foreign Trade
Division of Trade Support Services
Palais des Nations
1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
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| Senior Adviser on Legal Aspects of Foreign Trade |
Mr. Jean-François BOURQUE
Phone: +41 22 / 730 03 13
Fax: +41 22 / 730 05 76
E-Mail:
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