In-Person | Journal of Private International Law 20th Anniversary Conference

11 September 2025–13 September 2025, 1:00 pm–1:00 pm

Journal of Private International Law 20th Anniversary Conference

Event Information

Open to: All
Organiser: UCL Laws Events

laws-events@ucl.ac.uk
Location: UCL Laws

Bentham House, Endsleigh Gardens

London

WC1H 0EG

Journal of Private International Law 20th Anniversary Conference on The Functions and Futures of Private International Law

The Journal of Private International Law is holding its 20th Anniversary Conference at UCL Faculty of Laws from 11 to 13 September 2025.
The conference is being organised jointly by

Professors Ugljesa Grusic and Alex Mills (from the UCL Faculty of Laws) and
Professors Paul Beaumont and Jonathan Harris (General Editors of the Journal of Private International Law).

We look forward to welcoming conference participants to UCL Laws.

This conference is generously supported by

Conference Theme - The Functions and Futures of Private International Law

Private international law is experiencing a resurgence of activity and interest, driven by the continuing challenges of globalisation across a range of issues from commercial disputes to family law. This is reflected in a flourishing of both practice and academic scholarship. In practice, alongside the ever-growing body of case law before national and regional courts and tribunals, there are major recent developments in traditional private international law, like the coming into force of the Hague Judgments Convention 2019, alongside work developing innovative responses to new challenges, such as digital assets and other new technologies, or the complexities of recognising personal status in cross-border situations. In academic scholarship, there is renewed attention to the functions of private international law, seeking to better understand its past development, its present conceptions and effects, its relationship with neighbouring disciplines (such as international arbitration and foreign relations law), and the possibilities it presents for the future. One major challenge is how or whether the traditional purposes and techniques of private international law should be reimagined for a modern era where issues such as human rights, environmental protection and climate change have a new centrality in legal thinking. The 10^th Journal of Private International Law Biennial Conference, which also celebrates the 20^th anniversary of the first Conference and the launch of the Journal, is a landmark which provides an opportunity for private international lawyers from around the world to gather to renew their strong and characteristic sense of community, and to share and debate ideas across the discipline.

About the Organisers

The Journal of Private International Law

The Journal of Private International Law (J. Priv. Int. L.) was launched in spring 2005. We invite papers for this scholarly, peer-reviewed publication of original articles and analysis of current developments in the field. The journal covers all aspects of private international law (jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, and international administrative and judicial cooperation). It accepts analysis of private international law globally (focusing on the work of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH)), comparatively, regionally and in individual legal systems.

There are at least four scholarly articles of 8-12,000 words, including footnotes, per issue. We welcome articles from scholars anywhere in the world writing in English about developments in any jurisdiction on any aspect of private international law. We also welcome shorter articles or analysis from anywhere in the world, including analysis of new treaties and conventions, and lengthy review articles dealing with significant new publications.

UCL Faculty of Laws

The lead organisers from the UCL Faculty of Laws are Professor Ugljesa Grusic and Professor Alex Mills, and the conference is generously supported by the UCL Faculty of Laws Bentham House Conference Fund, which supports an annual flagship conference in the Faculty.

The UCL Faculty of Laws is one of the leading centres of legal education and research in the world. The Faculty is recognised as offering an outstanding educational experience, and was recently ranked first in the UK for law in The Times Good University Guide 2025. UCL Laws was also rated the top law school for research quality in the UK in REF 2021, ranking in the top five across all three measures (research outputs, research impact and research environment). This exceptional set of results reflects the Faculty’s commitment to being an inclusive and supportive research community which values methodologically diverse and rigorous scholarship, intellectual innovation and originality, and transformative real-world impact.

Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group

Routledge is the world’s leading academic publisher in the Humanities and Social Sciences. We publish thousands of books and journals each year, serving scholars, instructors, and professional communities worldwide. Our current publishing program encompasses ground-breaking textbooks and premier, peer-reviewed research in the social sciences, humanities, built environment, education and behavioural sciences.

Taylor & Francis publishes research from the forefront of science, medicine, technology and engineering. Our journals program began in 1798 with the publication of Philosophical Magazine, and since then the knowledge that we have published has been helping to shape human understanding and drive policy, discoveries and change. What began as a journals program is increasingly supporting researchers to share their research process via a broad range of outputs including data publication, impact statements, open citations, and video.

Conference Programme / Schedule

The full programme and list of papers will be available very soon.

Schedule:
Day 1: Thursday 11 September from 13:00 - 19:00
Day 2: Friday 12 September from 09:00 - 18:00 (followed by the optional conference dinner)
Day 3: Saturday 13 September from 09:00 - 13:00

About the venue

The conference will be held at:

UCL Faculty of Laws
Bentham House
Endsleigh Gardens
London WC1H 0EG

View a map of the conference location

The conference dinner (on Friday 12 September) will be held at:

Goodenough College (Great Hall)
Mecklenburgh Square
London WC1N 2AB

View a walking map from the conference venue to the dinner venue (18 mins slow walk)

Registration

Conference fees below are for a full conference (11th - 13th September 2025) and there is an additional fee for the optional conference dinner (12 September) - check the add on sections when making your booking to find the dinner ticket.
Single day rates at NOT available for this event.

Fees are Exempt of UK VAT.

Speakers

Conference speakers should register for a speaker ticket (free of charge). If a speaker wishes to also join the conference dinner they should register and pay for a dinner ticket during the booking process.

Early Bird fees - Before 1 July 2025

Academics and students = £160
Public = £200
Optional Conference Dinner (12th September) = £85

Standard fees

Academics and students = £175
Public = £220
Optional Conference Dinner (12th September) = £95

Cancellation terms

If you find that you are unable to attend the conference you can cancel your place and receive a full refund by 28th August 2025 at midnight. After that time no refund can be made.
Substitution can be made at any time.

Book your place

Register for the conference and conference dinner online and pay with a card (credit or debit). We cannot accept Amex.
https://UCL-JPIL-2025.eventbrite.co.uk

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