The insolvency of multinational corporate groups creates a compelling challenge to the commercial world. As many medium and large-sized companies are multinational companies with operations in different countries, it is important to provide appropriate solutions for the insolvency of these key market players. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the cross-border insolvency theories, practical solutions and regulatory solutions for the insolvency of multinational corporate groups. Whilst the book recognises certain merits of these solutions, it also reveals the limitations and uncertainty caused by them. An analysis of the provisions and tools relating to cross-border insolvency of multinational corporate groups in the new EU Regulation on insolvency proceedings 2015, the UNCITRAL Model Law on cross-border insolvency, the Directive on preventive restructuring frameworks and the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive 2014, along with a study of directors' duties, are included in this book. This book focuses on the insolvency and rescue of non-financial corporate groups. However, it is also important to recognise the similarities and differences between corporate insolvency regimes and bank resolution regimes. In particular, lessons learnt from bank resolution practices may be useful for non-financial corporate groups. This book aims to provide an in-depth examination of the existing solutions for the insolvency of multinational corporate groups. It also aims to view cross-border insolvency of corporate groups within a broad context where all relevant regimes and theories interact with each other. Therefore, directors' duties in the vicinity of insolvency, preventive insolvency proceedings, procedural consolidation, international cooperative frameworks and bank resolution regimes are considered together. This book may appeal to academics, students and practitioners within the areas of corporate law, cross-border insolvency law and financial law.

Renmin Chinese Law Review, Volume 6 is the sixth work in a series of annual volumes on contemporary Chinese law which bring together the work of well-known scholars from China, offering an insight into current legal research in China. This book examines the study of Chinese law and the reality of legality and Chinese society. It provides chapters focusing on studies of recent developments in the areas of tax and financial governance, judicial reform, and commercial law. It also explores counterterrorism models in China as well as the logic, policy, and interpretation of 'the division of three rights'. This astute and contemporary work will be invaluable to scholars of Chinese law, society, and politics, and members of diplomatic communities as well as legal and governmental professionals interested in China. Contributors include: Y. Biao, Z. Changjun, S. Chen, Z. Daqi, L. Jun, H. Ming, X. Ruiyang, L. Tao, L. Xiang, W. Xin, W. Yilong, G. Yongliang, L. Zehua, J. Zihan

The Research Handbook on Cross-Border Enforcement of Intellectual Property systematically analyzes the unique difficulties posed by cross-border intellectual property disputes in the modern world. The contributions to this book focus on the enforcement of intellectual property primarily from a cross-border perspective. Infringement remains a problematic issue for emerging economies and so the book assesses some of the enforcement structures in a selection of these countries, as well as cross-border enforcement from a private international law perspective. Finally, the book offers a unique insight into the roles played by judges and arbitrators involved in cross-border intellectual property dispute resolution. Providing a comprehensive approach to cross-border enforcement, this Handbook will prove a valuable resource for academics, postgraduate students, practitioners and international policymakers. Contributors: E. Arezzo, S. Bariatti, M. Blakeney, A.F. Christie, T. Cook, P.A. De Miguel Asensio, F. Dessemontet, P. Ellis, V. Ferguson, C. Geiger, S. Hailing, N.H.B. H ng, T. Kono, M. Leaffer, T. Leepuangtham, S. Neumann, C.O.Garcia-Castrillon, M. Schneider, I. Stamatoudi, P. Torremans, O. Vrins, P.K.Yu

This comprehensive Commentary provides an in-depth, article-by-article analysis of the Rome III Regulation, the uniform rules adopted by the EU to determine the law applicable to cross-border divorce and legal separation. Disputes on family matters form part of everyday litigation in the EU, with around 140,000 international divorces per year; this Commentary offers a clear legal understanding of the Regulation that governs this increasingly significant area of family law. Written by a team of renowned experts on private international law in relation to family matters, chapters contextualize and examine the provisions of the Regulation, with clear insight into the rationale behind the text. The contributors engage critically with each article, analysing Rome III's overall effectiveness and offering a balanced critique from a variety of European perspectives. Private international law scholars and practitioners alike will find this Commentary an incisive and useful point of reference. It will be of particular interest to those working in family law, including judges, lawyers, public notaries and family mediators, as well as graduate students looking for in-depth knowledge of the subject. Contributors include: A. Boiche, L. Carpaneto, C. Chalas, S. Corneloup, S. Dominelli, P. Franzina, C. Gonzalez Beilfuss, S.L. Goessl, P. Hammje, B. Heiderhoff, F. Jault-Seseke, N. Joubert, T. Kruger, C. Rupp, J. Verhellen

IF, WHEN YOU SAY "CONSUMPTION TAX, " YOU MEAN . . . by Ernest S. Christian, Jr. and Cliff Massa III Much has been said and written about consumption taxes in the United States, but mostly in a theoretical context. Dozens of schol arly treatises have been published, along with innumerable papers and speeches most of which were more argumentative than illumi nating in nature. Audiences have sat through uncounted confer ences on the merits or evils of consumption taxes, depending on the speakers' perspectives. There have been only three comprehensive legislative proposals to which these theories and arguments could be 1 applied, no one of which was acted upon in the Congress. Purveyors of conventional wisdom have suggested that this theo retical context might be replaced within a year or two by actual con sideration of a federal-level consumption tax. Some see enactment of such a tax as a desirable -- or at least a necessary -- means for reducing the federal deficit. The National Economic Commission, which was created by legislation in 1987 to recommend deficit reduction measures, was perceived by many skeptics and proponents alike to be the Trojan Horse which would carry a consumption tax Lrhe proposals were H. R. 7015, ''The Tax Restructuring Act of 1980," introduced by Rep. Al Ullman; S. 1102, ''The Business Transfer Tax Act of 1985," introduced by Senator William Roth; and H. R. 4598, introduced by Rep."

The Encyclopedia of Private International Law quite simply represents the definitive reference work in the field. Bringing together 195 authors from 57 countries the Encyclopedia sheds light on the current state of Private International Law around the globe, providing unique insights into the discipline and how it is affected by globalization and increased regional integration. The role and character of Private International Law has changed tremendously over the past decades. With the steady increase of global and regional inter-connectedness the practical significance of the discipline has grown. And so has the number of legislative activities on the national, international and, most importantly, the European level. The Encyclopedia is a rich and varied resource in four volumes. The first two volumes provide comprehensive coverage of topical aspects of Private International Law in the form of 247 alphabetically arranged entries. The third volume provides insightful detail on the national Private International Law regimes of 80 different countries. The fourth volume presents invaluable, and often unique, English language translations of the national codifications and provisions of Private International Law in those countries. Key Features: 247 substantive entries 80 national reports Entries organized alphabetically for ease of navigation Fully cross-referenced Entries written by the world s foremost scholars of Private International Law National codifications in English collected together into a single volume for quick reference World class editorial team.

This book systematically examines claims for contribution and reimbursement in an international context. As such claims are often made in third party proceedings, particularly detailed analyses are given to the conflict-of-laws dimensions of third party procedure. The issues considered include: * Which courts have jurisdiction over a contribution claim? * What choice-of-law rules apply where contribution is sought under the English Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978 or by way of subrogation? * What procedural requirements and jurisdictional requirements have to be satisfied to bring a contribution claim in third party proceedings? * Can a contribution claim be brought in third party proceedings if there is an arbitration agreement or a foreign jurisdiction agreement between the defendant and the third party? * Is it possible to obtain an antisuit injunction to restrain foreign proceedings corresponding to the domestic proceedings which form part of third party procedure? * Where the party to two adjacent contracts in a chain transaction has an expectation that his liability under one contract will be covered back-to-back by his right of reimbursement under the other contract, to what extent is it possible to argue that the reimbursement claim is governed by the same law as the governing law of the original claim so as to ensure the correspondence of liability and the right of reimbursement? In addressing these issues, the lawyers must be able to unravel the complexity of the situation from which the claim for contribution or reimbursement arises - the complexity created by the involvement of at least three parties (the original claimant, the contribution claimant and the respondent to the contribution claim) and exacerbated by the international elements which may embrace multiple jurisdictions and legal systems. This book provides a valuable guide to this complex area for practitioners advising clients who wish to bring, or are being threatened with, a claim for contribution or reimbursement in an international context. Its scholarly approach will also stimulate academic interest.

This book is devoted to the applicable law to contractual and non-contractual obligations in the European Union. The Rome I and II Regulations provide uniform conflict-of-laws rules in order to avoid undue forum-shopping. In theory, all national courts of EU Member States (excluding Denmark) apply the same rules determining the applicable law. Rome I and Rome II in Practice examines whether the theory has been put into practice and assesses the difficulties that may have arisen in the interpretation and application of these Regulations. Such a study appears invaluable as the Rome I and II Regulations may be seen as a critical stepping stone towards the construction of a true and far-reaching European Private International Law. Providing clear and detailed insights into the national case law of most EU Member States, as well as the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, and followed by a comparative analysis, this book is a valuable resource for practitioners, the judiciary and academics who are interested in understanding how EU law is applied on national and European levels.

The harmonization of private international law in Europe has advanced rapidly since the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam. Most aspects of private international law are now governed or at least affected by EU legislation, and there is a substantial and growing body of case-law from the European Court as well as the courts of the Member States. This timely Handbook addresses key questions and problems that currently exist in the rules of private international law laid down by European Union regulations. Bringing together perspectives from both civil law and common law traditions, the book mainly considers issues relating to the Brussels I Regulation on civil jurisdiction and judgments, and to the Rome I and II Regulations on choice of law in respect of contractual or non-contractual obligations. Weaknesses in the current law are identified, and suggestions are made for possible improvements. The expert contributors focus on currently relevant problems including some issues which have tended to be neglected. Academics, law students and public officials interested in private international law will find this Handbook to be a valuable resource. Both practising lawyers and commercial lobbyists will also find many useful insights. Contributors include: O. Bamodu, I. Carr, Y. Farah, G. Guneysu-Gungoer, L. Heffernan, S. Hourani, D. Kenny, M. Koutsias, X.E. Kramer, P. Stone, E. Treppoz, A. Yilmaz-Vastardis, H.-L. Yu

Globalization is an extraordinary phenomenon affecting virtually everything in our lives. And it is imperative that we understand the operation of economic power in a globalized world if we are to address the most challenging issues our world is facing today, from climate change to world hunger and poverty. This revolutionary work rethinks globalization as a power system feeding from, and in competition with, the state system. Cutting across disciplines of law, politics and economics, it explores how multinational enterprises morphed into world political organisations with global reach and power, but without the corresponding responsibilities. In illuminating how the concentration of property rights within corporations has led to the rejection of democracy as an ineffective system of government and to the rise in inequality, Robe offers a clear pathway to a fairer and more sustainable power system.

International child abduction occurs when one parent wrongfully (i.e. in breach of the parental responsibility of the other parent) takes a child to a country other than that of the child's habitual residence, or wrongfully keeps a child in such a country. The author of this work was part of a research team that conducted a study, partially funded by the European Commission, to examine this problem in Belgium and Hungary, analyzing cases from 2007 and 2008 and interviewing the affected parents. This book is a revised version of the Belgian research report, which sets the problem of child abduction within its international context. It looks at the families in which abductions took place, how preparations were made for an abduction, the quest for the return of the child (including legal proceedings), and the aftermath of the abductions. Throughout the book, the results of the quantitative and qualitative data are explained. What emerges is that when a child is abducted, the solutions offered by the law are often inadequate. Family conflict is a complex societal issue, and child abduction is a severe form of family conflict. Rather than responding to child abduction with strict and contentious legal proceedings, the book argues that solutions based on respect, psychological assistance, and a search for consensus should be favored. (Series: Studies in Private International Law)

This collection brings together a team of outstanding scholars from across the common law world to explore the treatment of misleading silence in private law doctrine and theory. Whereas previous studies have been contractual in focus, here the topic is explored from across the full spectrum of private law. Its approach encompasses equitable and common law principles, as well as taking an integrated approach to key statutory regimes. The highly original contributions draw on rich theoretical, historical, comparative, cross-disciplinary and doctrinal perspectives. This is truly a landmark publication in private law, with no counterpart in the common law world. Contributors: Professor Elise Bant, Professor Jeannie Paterson, Professor Rick Bigwood; Professor Michael Bryan; Professor John Cartwright; Professor Mindy Chen-Wishart; Professor Simone Degeling; Professor Pamela Hanrahan; Professor Luke Harding; Professor Matthew Harding; Professor Catharine MacMillan; Professor Hector MacQueen; Professor Donna Nagy; Justice Andrew Phang; Professor Pauline Ridge; Professor Andrew Robertson; Ms Anna Williams.

How far do contemporary English and German judges go when they interpret national legislation? Where are the limits of statutory interpretation when they venture outside the constraints of the text?Judicial Law-making in English and German Courts is concerned with the limits of judicial power in a legal system. It addresses the often neglected relationship between statutory interpretation and constitutional law. It traces the practical implications of constitutional principles by exploring the outer limits of what courts regard themselves as authorised to do in the area of statutory interpretation. The book critically analyses, reconstructs and compares judicial law-making in English and German courts from comparative, methodological and constitutional perspectives. It maps the differences and commonalities in both jurisdictions and then offers explanatory accounts for these differences and similarities based on constitutional, institutional, political, historical, cultural and international factors.It will be shown that a fundamental unity of statutory interpretation exists in English and German judicial practice in the sphere of rights-consistent and EU-conforming judicial law-making. The constitutional settings and legal cultures in Germany and the UK have converged in both areas of judicial law-making. However, that is not the case for judicial law-making under conventional canons of statutory interpretation, where significant differences in judicial approach to statutory interpretation remain.Judicial Law-making in English and German Courts is the first monograph in English that compares English and German legal methodology as applied in judicial practice, appealing to those interested in statutory interpretation, comparative law or legal methodology.

First published in 1998. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are two of the world's major institutions conducting development projects. Both banks recognize the importance of transparency, participation and accountability. Responding to criticisms and calls for reform, they have developed policies that are designed to protect these values for people affected by their projects. This original and timely book examines these policies, including those recently revised, through the prism of human rights, and makes suggestions for further improvement. It also analyzes the development of the Banks' stance to human rights in general.This unique book contains valuable and deeply insightful information drawn from extensive face-to-face interviews with relevant actors, including key personnel from both banks, consultants to the banks and members of civil society organizations. It expands the scope of research/discussion on the human rights obligation of International financial institutions that will prove insightful for both academics and students. Practitioners will gain a great deal from the detail given on the standards of transparency, participation and accountability and their applicability to the day-to-day operations of development institutions. Contents: Foreword by Paul Hunt Introduction 1. The World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Human Rights 2. Human Rights Critique of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank's Information Disclosure Policy 3. Human Rights Critique of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank's Participation Policy 4. Human Rights Critique of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank's Inspection Policy 5. Case Studies: Human Rights Analysis of Inspection Cases of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank Conclusion Bibliography Index

This book describes and assesses an emerging threat to states' territorial control and sovereignty: the hostile control of companies that carry out privatized aspects of sovereign authority. The threat arises from the massive worldwide shift of state activities to the private sector since the late 1970s in conjunction with two other modern trends - the globalization of business and the liberalization of international capital flows. The work introduces three new concepts: firstly, the rise of companies that handle privatized activities, and the associated advent of "post-government companies" that make such activities their core business. Control of them may reside with individual investors, other companies or investment funds, or it may reside with other states through state-owned enterprises or sovereign wealth funds. Secondly, "imperfect privatizations:" when a state privatizes an activity to another state's public sector. The book identifies cases where this is happening. It also elaborates on how ownership and influence of companies that perform privatized functions may not be transparent, and can pass to inherently hostile actors, including criminal or terrorist organizations. Thirdly, "belligerent companies," whose conduct is hostile to those of states where they are active. The book concludes by assessing the adequacy of existing legal and regulatory regimes and how relevant norms may evolve.

This is the first major treatment of the conflict of laws within the UK, a subject often dealt with only incidentally in the main texts on private international law. In particular, the book examines the effect of the UK's changing constitutional arrangements on questions of jurisdiction, choice of law and issues of recognition and enforcement which arise within the UK.
The book offers practical guidance on the applicable rules in intra-UK conflicts situations with sections devoted to forum shopping within the UK, and other procedural matters. A chapter is also included on the impact of EU legislation on intra-UK conflicts, concluding with a discussion on how "Europeanization" might affect the conflict of laws in the UK. There is also coverage of how public policy functions in the conflict of laws. The book's approach to the treatment of intra-UK conflicts is enhanced by a comparative analysis of the recent response of Canada and Australia to, respectively, interprovincial and interstate conflicts.

This book deals with a key feature of globalization: the rise of regulation beyond the state. It examines the emergence of transnational regulatory cooperation between public and private actors and pursues an inquiry that is at once legal, empirical and theoretical. It asks why a private actor and an international organization would regulate cooperatively and what this tells us about the material meaning of concepts such as 'expertise', 'authority' and 'legitimacy' in specific domains of global governance. Additionally, the book addresses the structures and patterns in which cooperation evolves and how this affects the broader global order. It does so through an investigation of two public-private cooperative agreements: one between the International Standards Organization, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Global Compact and the International Labor Organization and one between the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Judgment recognition and enforcement (JRE) between the US states, between EU Member States, and between mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao, are all forms of 'interregional JRE'. This extensive comparative study of the three most important JRE regimes focuses on what lessons China can draw from the US and the EU in developing a multilateral JRE arrangement for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao.Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao share economic, geographical, cultural, and historical proximity to one another. The policy of 'One Country, Two Systems' also provides a quasi-constitutional regime for the three regions. However, there is no multilateral JRE scheme among them, as there is in the US and the EU; and it is harder to recognise and enforce sister-region judgments in China than in the US and the EU. The book analyses the status quo of JRE in China and explores its insufficiencies; it proposes a multilateral JRE arrangement for Chinese regions to alleviate current JRE difficulties; and it also provides solutions for the macro and micro challenges of establishing a multilateral arrangement, drawing upon the rich literature on JRE regimes found in the US and the EU. ENDORSEMENTS 'Professor Huang has completed a highly readable and comprehensive study of the issues governing recognition and enforcement of judgments among the three distinct legal regimes of the People's Republic of China...Her ideas will surely enrich the Chinese debate as well as provide interesting scholarly material for non-Chinese seeking greater understanding of legal reform in the PRC'. Peter D Trooboff, Senior Counsel, Covington & Burling LLP, Washington DC, USA 'The book shows meticulous, analytical and comparative scholarship. Dr Huang's proposal of a multilateral arrangement makes an original and valuable contribution to the study of interregional judgment recognition and enforcement among Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao'. Renshan Liu, Professor and Dean, Law School of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, China 'Dr Huang's timely work provides an insightful analysis of one of the more vexed aspects of the inter-regional legal relations in Greater China. Her careful investigation makes a valuable contribution to the academic and practical work on the recognition and enforcement of judgments between China and her two special administrative regions. The comparative approach she adopts represents the true utility of comparativism for legal scholarship'. Bing Ling, Professor of Chinese Law, Sydney Law School, Australia PREFACE AND FOREWORD Please click on the link below to read the preface and foreword: www.hartpub.co.uk/Huang_Preface_Foreword.pdf The book won the First Prize for Excellent Scholarship awarded by the China Society of Private International Law in 2015.

This book presents the findings of the first comprehensive study on the most recent and most unique and innovative method of monitoring international human rights law at the United Nations. Since its existence, there has yet to be a complete and comprehensive book solely dedicated to exploring the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. Women and International Human Rights Law provides a much-needed insight to what the process is, how it operates in practice, and whether it meets its fundamental aim of promoting the universality of all human rights. The book addresses the topics with regard to international human rights law and will be of interest to researchers, academics, and students interested in the monitoring and implementation of international human rights law at the United Nations. In addition, it will form supplementary reading for those students studying international human rights law on undergraduate programmes and will also appeal to academics and students with interests in political sciences and international relations.

The Brussels I Regulation has undergone a lengthy review process, resulting in Regulation (EU) 1215/2012 of 12 December 2012 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (recast). The provisions of the new Regulation apply from 10 January 2015. This work, written by a number of leading experts on the subject, provides a commentary on the Recast Regulation. It contains a concise article-by-article commentary on all provisions of the recast Regulation with reference to the existing case law of the European Court of Justice and leading national decisions, and provides additional focus on the newly introduced changes, in particular to the provisions on lis pendens and the recognition and enforcement of judgments.

This book describes and assesses an emerging threat to states' territorial control and sovereignty: the hostile control of companies that carry out privatized aspects of sovereign authority. The threat arises from the massive worldwide shift of state activities to the private sector since the late 1970s in conjunction with two other modern trends - the globalization of business and the liberalization of international capital flows. The work introduces three new concepts: firstly, the rise of companies that handle privatized activities, and the associated advent of "post-government companies" that make such activities their core business. Control of them may reside with individual investors, other companies or investment funds, or it may reside with other states through state-owned enterprises or sovereign wealth funds. Secondly, "imperfect privatizations:" when a state privatizes an activity to another state's public sector. The book identifies cases where this is happening. It also elaborates on how ownership and influence of companies that perform privatized functions may not be transparent, and can pass to inherently hostile actors, including criminal or terrorist organizations. Thirdly, "belligerent companies," whose conduct is hostile to those of states where they are active. The book concludes by assessing the adequacy of existing legal and regulatory regimes and how relevant norms may evolve.

With cross-border successions becoming increasingly common in the context of the European Union, this timely book offers a systematic practical analysis of how cross-border successions should be treated, including examination of which courts may establish jurisdiction over succession disputes and which law governs such disputes. Key Features: Practical analysis of the provisions of the EU Succession Regulation Consideration of issues at the intersection between cross-border successions and taxation Analysis of the specificities of the European Certificate of Succession and its interface with national laws Study of cross-border successions in the context of both estate planning and the opening and liquidation of a succession Contextualization of the EU Succession Regulation in the framework of the national law and practice of several EU Member States A comprehensive study of EU cross-border succession law with global reach, this book is an invaluable source of reference and guidance for practitioners specialising in estate planning, family law and property law, including judges, notaries, tax specialists and lawyers. Scholars of European succession law and conflict of laws will also find this book's critical analysis an instrumental tool in their research.

This insightful book, with contributions from leading international scholars, examines the European model of social justice in private law that has developed over the 20th century. The first set of articles is devoted to the relationship between corrective, commutative, procedural and social justice, more particularly the role and function of commutative justice in contrast to social justice. The second section brings together scholars who discuss the relationship between constitutional order, the values enshrined in the constitutional order and the impact of constitutional values on private law relations. The third section focuses on the impact of socio-economic developments within the EU and within selected Member States on the proprietary order of the EU, on the role and function of the emerging welfare state and the judiciary, as well as on nation state specific patterns of social justice. The final section tests the hypothesis to what extent patterns of social justice are context related and differ in-between labor, consumer and competition law. The Many Concepts of Social Justice in European Private Law will prove to be of great interest to academics of law, as well as to private lawyers and European policy makers. Contributors include: C. Chwaszcza, H. Collins, K.J. Cseres, A. Dyevre, P. Letto-Vanamo, U. Mattei, H.-W. Micklitz, M.-A. Moreau, E.-U. Petersmann, H. Rosler, W. Sadurski, B. Schuller, R. Sefton-Green, A. Somma, C. Torp, C. Willett

A nation's prosperity depends not only on the willingness of its businesses to export goods and services, and of its citizens and residents to travel to take advantage of opportunities overseas, but also on the willingness of the businesses and citizens of other nations to cross the nation's borders to do business. Economic expansion, and parallel increases in tourism and immigration, have brought Australians more frequently into contact with the laws and legal systems of other nations. In particular, in recent years, trade with partners in the Asia-Pacific Region has become increasingly important to the nation's future. At the same time, Australian courts are faced with a growing number of disputes involving foreign facts and parties. In recognition of these developments, and the need to ensure that the applicable rules meet the needs both of transacting parties and society, the Attorney-General's Department launched in 2012 a full review of Australian rules of private international law. This collection examines the state and future of Australian private international law against the background of the Attorney-General's review. The contributors approach the topic from a variety of perspectives (judge, policy maker, practitioner, academic) and with practical and theoretical insights as to operation of private international law rules in Australia and other legal systems.