The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed significant changes in the life of the whole society, putting us in the need to urgently find answers to new challenges. In this regard, we have decided to release the report on the Center’s activities which covers 2 years at once: the intensive 2019 and the no less active 2020 marked by innovation and firm determination.
During the pandemic, the ICLRC not only hasn’t slowed down for a day but even increased its work, significantly expanding the range of the issues under study.
Read about this and much more in the latest report on the International and Comparative Law Research Center activities.
The insolvency officer is a central figure in the insolvency (bankruptcy) procedure, the quality of his or her work significantly affects the result of each case. Improving legal regulation in the field of bankruptcy is especially relevant in the current realities when the economy has faced the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are glad to present the new research “Appointment of Insolvency Officers in Russia and Foreign Jurisdictions”.
The Library of the Center now displays a book collection of the Russian lawyer and expert in international arbitration Sergey Usoskin. The collection contains books by experts, historians, and journalists on private international law, as well as materials on the history of several international law firms, the evolution of the legal profession in the United States, and the legal system of England.
In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic affected almost every area of human relations, including international law, the International and Comparative Law Research Center prepared a series of overviews of publications on topics related to the spread of the virus.
The overviews “COVID-19 and International Law” cover issues related to the responsibility of states, as well as the impact that the pandemic has had on international law, including human rights, trade, investment, humanitarian, maritime law, and the law of the sea, etc.
The fourth issue also includes general conclusions on all overviews of publications prepared by the Center.
The legal regulation of international trade issues takes a special place in the International and Comparative Law Research Center international law agenda.
We are pleased to announce the conclusion of a Memorandum of Cooperation with the WTO Expertise Center, within the framework of which our colleagues will participate in our project “Digest of Russian Practice in International Law”.
Please inform us in advance (no later than two hours before the arrival) about the desired time and duration of the visit by e-mail: library@iclrc.ru or by phone +7 915 328 24 83. Readers are not allowed to enter the Library without a confirmation of the visit received from the Center’s staff.
We ask you to:
Laptops will not be provided in the Library.
We have confirmed our commitment to support and implementation of non-commercial activity, projects and programs, development of international, comparative law and other research in legal industry and other related sciences.
The International and Comparative Law Research Center Head of Sustainable Development Department Jean-Claude Knebeler took part in the expert discussion “Sustainable Development: a Perfect Vision or a Realistic Projection” at the Gaidar Forum.
“Last year was one of the few years when poverty on the planet increased, the degree of food security decreased, even in mature economies. The epidemic of the coronavirus may be evidence that humanity is subjecting our planet a too strong test,” Jean-Claude Knebeler said.
“During the pandemic, the climate received some respite, as industrial production fell, transportation and air traffic volumes decreased, but this is still not enough to reach the targets set by the Paris Agreement,” the expert explained. He believes that without more attention to developing countries, it will be impossible to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals until 2030.
“We cannot move forward until we have a clear perspective in front of us. Today, there is a need to formulate very clear policies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and appropriate indicators that can be measured should be ‘linked’ to them,” Jean-Claude Knebeler insists. In his opinion, the available data is too fragmented, which makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of activities in this area.
“Good data leads to better policy formulation. The availability of data will allow governments to not only go for the low-hanging fruit but to form a longer-term agenda, necessary to go beyond electoral cycles. In order to achieve the SDGs, governments need to improve policy coherence and institutional consensus, reach out to stakeholders and build trust between government, business, and society,” according to his address.
The Center invites an employee to join the team to work in the following areas:
We are looking for a specialist who has, first of all, the following qualities:
We offer:
The level of remuneration and other conditions are discussed with the successful candidate.
We are waiting for your CV at info@iclrc.ru!
The year 2020 is coming to an end!
It’s been an extraordinary year, full of challenges, new ideas, and bold decisions. Despite various limitations, together with you, we have always moved forward.
Now that the New Year is only a short time away, we wish you all the best in 2021.
May all your wishes come true! See you next year!
The tough year 2020 is coming to an end, and the New Year holidays are ahead! In advance of them, we’ve decided to publish the unique materials of the Summer School on Public International Law 2018 so that you can study them during the holidays.
Read the lectures by Sir Michael Wood, Marcelo Kohen, Tullio Treves, and Bakhtiyar Tuzmukhamedov on https://iclrc.ru/en/summer-school/summer-school-2018 and apply for participation in the Summer School 2021 which will be held on August 2–13!
We gladly inform that the materials of the workshops “Evidence before International Courts and Tribunals: Distinct Fora, Similar Approaches?” and “Application of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law in an Armed Conflict” are now available not only in our Library but also on our website!
We are pleased to announce that ICLRC has signed the Cooperation Agreement with the Bishkek Centre of International and Comparative Law, whose main activity is aimed at conducting research on main issues and current events in the field of international law and comparative law!
Together we intend to promote the development and study of various aspects of international and comparative law, including through the implementation of joint educational projects.
Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University and the International and Comparative Law Research Center signed the Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Law.
The Memorandum is aimed at coordinating our intentions to join forces to establish partnership relations and develop long-term effective cooperation. Together, we plan to support and implement projects and programs in the field of international law, comparative law, and related fields.
He shared the expert vision on the significance of the sustainable finance in Russia and told the prospects of international cooperation within the ESG agenda.
Materials of the speakers, as well as the video of the conference, are available at https://www.moex.com/e17044.
Victoria Manko, the General Director of the International and Comparative Law Research Center, delivered remarks at a conference on the pressing issues of international arbitration organized by Kutafin Moscow State Law University and the Ministry of Economic Development.
She spoke about the current agenda of the UNCITRAL Working Group III in the context of discussions on the options of the investor-state dispute settlement reform, touching upon separately the initiative of establishing an international investment court. Currently, this reform option proposed by the European Union meets criticism from a number of states.
The International and Comparative Law Research Center provides expertise to Russian delegations to international organizations, including UNCITRAL. The ICLRC has obtained the observer status in three Working Groups of the Commission, including the Working Group III: Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform.
The Special Courses will be devoted to the pressing topic of International Investment Law. Apply before March 21, 2021, and get an opportunity to meet the leading scholars and practitioners!
For more info, visit https://iclrc.ru/en/summer-school.
The International and Comparative Law Research Center presents the fourth issue of the overview of publications by academics and practitioners, as well as various documents prepared by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, on topics related to the spread of COVID-19 and various aspects of international law. It also includes an Annex that provides general conclusions on the four overviews of publications “COVID-19 and International Law” prepared by the Center.
The cooperation between the International and Comparative Law Research Center and the Higher School of Economics Faculty of Law contributes to the study and development of international and comparative law in Russia. The respective agreement was signed by Victoria Manko, General Director of the Center, and Vadim Vinogradov, Dean of the HSE Faculty of Law.
Enhancing cooperation with leading Russian and foreign universities is one of the important activities of the Center. Combining the expertise of the Center and educational institutions opens up new opportunities for the development of legal knowledge, formation and implementation of advanced training practices. It is envisaged that the parties will jointly promote the development and renewal of the humanities in Russia and their integration into the global scientific community.
Special attention within the agreement is paid to issues related to creating favorable conditions for ensuring the possibility of conducting international, comparative, and other research in the field of law.
One of the projects the parties already cooperate in is the portal “Digest of Russian Practice in International Law” launched by the Center.
On October 19-23, the session of the UNCITRAL Working Group IV: Electronic Commerce will be held, and the ICLRC will take part in it as an Observer.
Also, on October 15, the course of lectures on transnational commercial law starts, organized by the University of Vienna and UNCITRAL as part of the celebrations of the CISG 40th anniversary.
The event, organized by the United Nations and the German Federal Foreign Office, will take place on October 9, against the background of the celebration of the United Nations’ 75th Anniversary.
Roman Kolodkin, a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the ICLRC Advisor on Public International Law, will partake in the panel discussion of the contribution of international courts to the development of international law.
You will find the program of the Conference here.
The competition is an annual event and is traditionally held under the auspices of the State Duma Committee on Informational Policy, Technologies and Communications. The competition is organized by IP CLUB together with the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ.
The competition is held in absentia and involves independent writing of an essay on one of the 20 proposed topics.
The winners are awarded valuable prizes from the organizers and partners of the competition, including the International and Comparative Law Research Center.
Apply your essays to the competition until February 1, 2021 (until 21:00 Moscow time)!
The Winter Academy “Beyond the Imaginable Borders: Transformation of Arbitration” will be held by the Russian Institute of Modern Arbitration on January 11–16, 2021.
The Academy will touch upon the most innovative topics and cover the transformation of the well-known concepts of arbitration in the technological era. The schedule is built around general courses coupled with case-studies on validity of arbitration agreements and choice of law.
Apart from theory, the participants will have an opportunity to get hands-on experience during workshops on advocacy, expert evidence & damages with the following application of acquired skills before the distinguished panel of arbitrators during the Moot Court.
The courses will be taught by the eminent Russian and foreign practitioners. All the courses will be held in English.
Deadline for applications: October 4, 2020.
The issues of sustainable development, environmental corporate social responsibility are increasingly reflected in the agenda of international fora and national development strategies. However, the implementation of such strategies and achievement of the indicators set eventually depend on the actions of particular companies.
In this regard, states, as well as international governmental and non-governmental organizations, are actively developing standards on public non-financial reporting, which, depending on jurisdiction, may be mandatory or voluntary. Moreover, the submission of such reports may often be a criterion for obtaining certain benefits or a condition for the listing of securities at the stock exchange.
The International and Comparative Law Research Center in its analytical note analyzes how the four BRICS countries (Brazil, India, China, and the RSA), as well as the USA, the EU, and Germany in particular approach the regulation of public non-financial reporting.
The International and Comparative Law Research Center expresses its gratitude to Marat Abzalov, Daria Bulaeva, Maxim Gubarev, Bharti Lamba, Carlos Noronha, Jose Mauricio Pacheco Jr., and Aleksey Petrenko who took part as experts in this research.
Today, the world is going through unprecedented changes: as a result of the rapid development of digital technologies, various areas of life are currently undergoing a radical transformation. The methods of manufacturing, consumption and distribution of goods and services are being improved at an ever-increasing pace, curbing trade expenses and making economic relations more efficient.
However, the successful development of technology does not automatically herald an advancement of human well-being, a dynamic increase in trade and the achievement of the necessary level of economic growth. It is crucial to learn how to manage the structural changes fuelled by the development of technology. These changes are cross-border in nature and, therefore, demand a response on the inter-state level.
An efficient way for states to manage these structural changes is by entering into agreements with other countries envisaging new approaches to international trade in the setting of a digital economy. Until recently, such arrangements had largely contained fragmented rules of electronic commerce not capable of serving as a model of effective regulation. Yet, the situation has changed dramatically since the introduction of the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), signed by the Republic of Chile, New Zealand and the Republic of Singapore on June 11, 2020. The document encompasses pre-existing best practices and determines the thrust of development.
The International and Comparative Law Research Center in this study examines the DEPA, seen as a cutting edge agreement in the area of digital trade and economy, in order to give momentum to the subsequent evolution of corresponding regulations, including those involving Russia in the context of its membership in the EAEU. While working on this study, we aimed to determine the factors underlying the introduction of the agreement, one of a new generation in this sphere; analyze the modular approach of the DEPA as a special drafting technique fitting its aims; and provide an overview of the rules agreed upon by the Parties.
The International and Comparative Law Research Center expresses its gratitude to Maxim Vorobyev, Ilia Kabanov, Victoria Manko, Aleksey Petrenko, and Anna Sysoeva, who took part as experts in this study.
We are grateful to Sir Michael Wood, Cedric Ryngaert, Alina Miron, Philippa Webb, Manfred Dauster, Roman Kolodkin, Vladimir Tarabrin, and all attendees of the Summer School 2020!
And we are starting to work on the Summer School 2021 and encourage you to apply for participation. Stay tuned and follow us on our website and social networks!
Summer School 2020 in online format is a reality that has required from us to search for new technological solutions.
We are grateful to the Bash.Today team, which is actively expanding the outsourcing development direction, for helping us prepare the online platform and prompt implementing of our bold ideas.
In addition to intensive classes with leading scholars and practitioners in the field of international law, the attendees took part in an online quest and a meeting with Roman Kolodkin on the topic "International Law as a Profession".
Some rest and one more week of the Summer School is ahead of us!
The Summer School classes require working with a large number of publications and documents.
We are extremely grateful to the Partners of ICLRC Library that have provided all attendees with access to their information resources: Brill International Law & Human Rights Journal Collection, Hague Academy Collected Courses Online, Cambridge Law Journals, Kluwer Arbitration, Oxford Public International Law, Oxford Legal Research Library, Oxford Journals Law Collection, Westlaw International, HeinOnline, ICC Digital Library - Dispute Resolution Channel, DigiZeitschriften, Garant — and hold online workshops on how to work with the databases.
In addition, Anna Gorbunova, Specialist of our Information Center, conducted training sessions for the attendees and is always ready to assist them in finding necessary information for their studies.
This year it will be held in a fully remote format, at the tailor-made online platform.
33 attendees from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia will partake in the Summer School.
Sir Michael Wood will deliver the General Course on Public International Law, Cedric Ryngaert, Alina Miron, Philippa Webb, Manfred Dauster, and Roman Kolodkin will deliver Special Courses on National Jurisdiction and International Law.
Traditionally, as a part of the Summer School, informal meetings on international law issues and entertainment activities are planned.
The study presents a new methodology for analyzing regional trade agreements in relation to the regulation of non-tariff measures. The authors use the methodology to analyze the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
The International and Comparative Law Research Center presents the third overview of publications by academicians and practitioners, as well as of various documents prepared by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, on topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its legal consequences.
Relevant publications and documents continue to cover issues related to responsibility of States, international cooperation, international human rights law, international investment law, and the law of the World Trade Organization.
Dear colleagues, the Center gathered information about some interesting events on international law issues that will be held within a fortnight. We are planning to share such digests with you on an ongoing basis:
For the International and Comparative Law Research Center, 2019 was interesting, fruitful, and rich in various events. We would like to share the results of the past year with you, and we’ve prepared the infographic you can find on our website.
In just 3 days, traditionally, on the last Friday of June, International and Comparative Law Research Center holds the International Law Day!
This year it will be arranged online.
Registration is available on the event's webpage.
International and Comparative Law Research Center presents a new overview of publications by academicians and practitioners, as well as of various documents prepared by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, on topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its legal consequences.
This issue covers publications that were not included in the overview of April 28, 2020, along with new publications that came out between April 28 and May 28, 2020.
International and Comparative Law Research Center prepared an overview of publications by academicians and practitioners, as well as of various documents prepared by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, on topics related to the spread of the COVID-19 and various aspects of international law, including state responsibility, human rights, trade, investment, humanitarian, law of the sea and maritime law.
On April 11, 2020, within the framework of St. Petersburg International Legal Forum 9 ½: Rule of Corona, the International and Comparative Law Research Center held the discussion session on the topic “Is it the Epidemic itself or its Outcomes that Make a Force Majeure?”. Enrico del Prato (Professor of Civil Law, The Sapienza University of Rome), Ian K. Lewis (Managing Partner of the Beijing office, Mayer Brown), and Florian Heindler (Assistant Professor in Law, Sigmund Freud University of Vienna) took part in the discussion which was moderated by Anton Ivanov (Academic Supervisor, Faculty of Law, School Head, School of Private Law, National Research University Higher School of Economics). Victoria Manko (General Director of the Center) delivered the welcoming speech.
The materials of the discussion session are available on the Center’s website, in English and Russian.
We are pleased to announce that the access to The ICC Digital Library - Dispute Resolution Channel is now open at the Library of the International and Comparative Law Research Center.
The ICC Dispute Resolution Channel is a fully searchable online library containing a vast collection of Dispute Resolution information including the ICC International Dispute Resolution Bulletin, Supplements to the Bulletin, Dossiers of the ICC Institute of World Business Law, Case Decisions (Awards, Procedural Orders) and a lot of other relevant and related information including ICC Activities and Global developments in Dispute Resolution.
For the duration of restrictions related to COVID-19, we are ready to provide you with the documents you need upon request by email at library@iclrc.ru. Once the normal operation of the Library is restored, access will be available for all visitors.
International and Comparative Law Research Center suspends the work of its Library for an indefinite period as part of a set of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which also includes the transition of the Center's staff to remote work.
At the same time, we plan to organize access to the information resources of the Center's Library on an unprecedented basis for those of our visitors who continue to work on their research projects, graduate and master's theses.
In this regard, upon request by email via library@iclrc.ru we are ready to send you the specific articles you need from electronic foreign legal databases, as well as scanned copies of certain chapters of the books you need, if available in the Library collection.
We are confident that the forced steps to restrict business and other activities aimed at combating COVID-19 will simultaneously open up new opportunities for strengthening the scientific and educational activities of our Library's visitors!
We will inform you on the restoration of normal operation mode additionally.
Take care of yourself and your close ones and stay healthy!
Following the effective interaction started within the workshop on “Application of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law in an Armed Conflict” held on October 4, 2019, in San Remo, Italy, the Center and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law have agreed to cooperate within the areas of joint research, publications, educational activities, organization of internships, experience sharing, and other areas.
Among others, the ISA’s Council continued the discussion on development of the Regulations on exploitation of mineral resources in the Area. The Center has been providing comments and suggestions to the Draft Regulations on a regular basis since 2018.
Adoption of the Regulations on exploitation of mineral resources in the Area is the ultimate phase in regulating exploration and exploitation of mineral resources – the common heritage of mankind – in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
See more about the ISA and its ongoing work on the development of Regulations at https://www.isa.org.jm/.
The new working hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday – from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday – from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday – from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday are days off.
We are waiting for you in our Library!
On January 19-25, 2020, Maxim Gubarev, Senior Expert at the International and Comparative Law Research Center, participated in the work of the resumed 38th session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group III, in Vienna. Last year, the Center was granted the observer status at the Working Groups III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform), IV (Electronic Commerce), and VI (Judicial Sale of Ships).
The Working Group III discussed various issues of reforming the system of dispute settlement between investors and States, including:
Earlier, these questions were considered during the practical workshop organized by the Center, with the participation of Diego Gosis, Evgeniya Goriatcheva, Baiju Vasani, Michail Risvas, and Sergey Usoskin.
Following the effective interaction started within the framework of Tashkent Law Spring 2019, the Center and Research institute of Legal policy have agreed to cooperate within the areas of joint research, publications, educational activities, organization of internships, experience sharing, and others.
On December 4-5, expert of the International and Comparative Law Research Center, Egor Fedorov, participated in The 9th Annual Asia-Pacific Deep Sea Mining Summit, which took part in Singapore and brought together professionals from the sphere of deep seabed mining. Egor presented on the topic of Comparative Analysis of National Legislation Regulating Activities in the Area.
The Audiovisual Library of International Law started publication of lectures given by some of the leading Russian scholars and practitioners within the sphere of international law.
The International and Comparative Law Research Center was pleased to assist in the organization of the recording of lectures, in particular, to provide its Library’s facilities. The Center’s contribution was noted in the official materials of the United Nations, the UN Secretary-General expressed gratitude to the Centre in his report.
We often receive questions about internships, practices, and other formats of cooperation with the Center. In this regard, we start calling for:
We invite you to test yourself and get interesting experience in conducting research / preparing events, to bring your vision to our projects!
Send your CV to events@iclrc.ru with the theme “Volunteering”, “Internship”, or “Design”, go through an interview with the representatives of the Center and join our team!
Conditions are discussed individually with each candidate.
We are happy to inform that our colleagues from the Geneva Center for International Dispute Settlement (CIDS) have opened the application for the Geneva LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS).
MIDS is a leading program with a distinguished faculty and a talented class aiming at building a successful career as well-rounded lawyers in all four corners of international dispute settlement.
See the brochure for the academic year 2020-2021 at https://www.cids.ch/images/Documents/MIDS-Program/MIDS_Brochure_2020-2021.pdf
