The book, published by Cambridge University Press, analyses the power of private parties to enter into agreements as to the forum in which their disputes will be resolved or the law which governs their legal relationships. Such agreements have become an increasingly important part of cross-border legal relations, but many aspects of party autonomy remain controversial and contested.
The book explores in detail the historical origins of party autonomy and its various theoretical justifications. It also includes an in-depth comparative study of the rules governing party autonomy in the European Union, the United States, common law systems, and in international codifications, with further consideration of some other important jurisdictions including China and Brazil. It examines both choice of forum and choice of law, including arbitration agreements and choice of non-state law, and both contractual and non-contractual legal relations.
Dr Mills’ research covers a range of topics in and beyond the fields of Public International Law and Private International Law. He is also the author of The Confluence of Public and Private International Law (Cambridge University Press, 2009) and co-author of Cheshire North and Fawcett's Private International Law (15th edition, Oxford University Press, 2017). In 2010 he was awarded the American Society of International Law Private International Law Prize, and in 2015 he was Director of Studies for the Private International Law Programme of the Hague Academy of International Law.
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