MINUTES of BACL Council Meeting of 3 December 2010
Held at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, London

Present: Paula Giliker (Chair), Gordon Cameron (Treasurer), Claudina Richards (Secretary), Antonios Platsas (Derby).

Apologies: Esin Örücü (Glasgow), John Bell (Cambridge), Jens Scherpe (Cambridge), Annette Nordhausen Scholes (Manchester), Elspeth Reid (Edinburgh), David Carey-Miller (Aberdeen), Simon Whittaker (Oxford), Eric Descheemaeker (Bristol), Geoffrey Samuel (Kent), Susan Farran (Dundee), Stefan Vogenauer (Oxford), François Du Bois (Nottingham), Raymond Youngs (Kingston), Nick Foster (SOAS).

1. The minutes of the meeting of the BACL Council of 13 September 2010 were approved.

2. Matters arising.
It was decided that the second BACL meeting of the year would continue to take place in December.

3. Reports of officers.

i. The Chair reported that she had passed all the Secretary’s information to CR & would contact Geoffrey Samuel to see if there were any documents she should have as President. PG had contacted the International Academy to inform them as to the change of committee details, an announcement had been placed in the SLS Reporter to publicise the change of committee and it is on the BACL website. PG thanked Annette Nordhausen Scholes for her help with placing the advertisement in the SLS Reporter and Elspeth Reid for posting the changes on the website.

PG had been contacted by the Head of BIICL who has expressed an interest in collaborating with BACL & BIICL would be happy to host a joint event. PG raised the possibility that SLS gives convenors £250 for other activities linked to the SLS & this money could be used in conjunction with BIICL providing the venue and advertisement. Such an event would require someone willing to take on the responsibility for organising this extra activity. The matter will be raised again at the meeting in September 2011.

PG had been approached by Gassem Alfeleh of the Higher Judicial Institute, Saudi Arabia, asking for accreditation by BACL. It was agreed that PG would reply that BACL does not accredit educational institutions.

ii. The Treasurer reported assets of £10,868.02 between the two accounts. The income from universities to date is £850. GC will reply to universities which had requested the BACL bank details in order to make a BACS payment (even though this information was contained in the letter sent out to all universities by PG).

It was agreed that letters would be sent out to all universities including BACL bank details as well as a cheque slip as an option – PG, CG & CR would each write to a 1/3rd of the universities (GC to cover the Scottish universities & Northumbria).

For the 2010 PG workshop, to date expenses have been paid to P Legrand and Franz Werro and the hospitality costs to Kent University.

Concern was expressed that payments in euros by BACS transfers incur a £21 fee. It is cheaper to make payments by foreign cheque with a fee of £15, however the problem is with the postal service; Stefan Sottiaux’s cheque arrived late and Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou’s.cheque did not arrive at all. It was agreed that it would be preferable for guest speakers to the annual seminar to invoice BACL for SLS accommodation & travel as payment will be easier and more cost effective. Alternatively they can be paid in cash.

A policy was agreed that non-UK resident, where possible, should inform BACL in advance of their expenses and they will be paid in cash on arrival. It was also agreed that if speakers have to arrive on the Sunday night before the annual seminar, BACL should pay for their accommodation.

iii. The Secretary noted that there were a number of Council members who were unable to attend the meeting due to bad weather. CR reported that she was actively maintaining the membership list and that minutes of the last meeting and the agenda for the December meeting had been circulated to all Council members.

4. 2011 & 2012 BACL postgraduate workshop.
It was agreed that, in light of the association’s finances, the organisation of the workshops needs to be cost conscious and it is preferable for BACL members to contribute.

François du Bois had offered in September 2010 to host the 2011 workshop at Nottingham Law School. He had confirmed that his Head of School had agreed to this. The Committee thanked FDB for the work done in providing preliminary details for the event, including costings. The date for the workshop remains to be confirmed as this depends on the dates of examination boards; at the earliest it would take place in the week commencing 20th June. There would be a subscription from students. FDB to contact the committee to confirm the date & to contact CG in advance to agree expenditure.

Simone Glanert has volunteered to host the 2012 workshop at Kent Law School and the Committee thanked her for this.

5. 2011 BACL seminar.
As the BACL seminar takes place in the morning before the start of the SLS annual conference, in 2011 it will be held on 5 September in Cambridge.

PG has contacted John Bell & Jens Scherpe about hosting the seminar and both have replied that they are happy to help. The theme of the workshop should be in-line with that of the SLS conference which, in 2011, will be ‘Law in Politics, Politics in Law’. PG will speak to JB & JS to fix a theme for the workshop.

The 2012 SLS conference and BACL seminar will be held at Bristol University.

6. 2010 Annual Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law – proposal from England’s Northwest Conference Research Unit.

PG had been contacted by England’s Northwest Conference Research Unit bringing to her attention that the International Academy of Comparative Law had not yet fixed a venue for the 2016 half-week thematic congress and offering its assistance with any bid that might be made from the Northwest region. PG would forward this email to Annette Nordhausen Scholes as the Manchester representative although doubt was expressed as to whether BACL would wish to be involved in this, given the effort and expense involved in the organisation of such an event.

7. Date of the next meeting.
The next meeting will take place on Monday, 5 September 2011 in Cambridge.

8. Any other business.
CR noted that ANS is happy to liaise with the SLS to publicise BACL’s activities & the papers available from the International Conference.

The Committee will advertise the BACL seminar on Monday, 5 September 2011 via the SLS.




BACL Council Meeting of 3 December 2010
Held at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, London

Present: Paula Giliker (Chair), Gordon Cameron (Treasurer), Claudina Richards (Secretary), Antonios Platsas (Derby).

Apologies: Esin Örücü (Glasgow), John Bell (Cambridge), Jens Scherpe (Cambridge), Annette Nordhausen Scholes (Manchester), Elspeth Reid (Edinburgh), David Carey-Miller (Aberdeen), Simon Whittaker (Oxford), Eric Descheemaeker (Bristol), Geoffrey Samuel (Kent), Susan Farran (Dundee), Stefan Vogenauer (Oxford), François Du Bois (Nottingham), Raymond Youngs (Kingston), Nick Foster (SOAS).

1. The minutes of the meeting of the BACL Council of 13 September 2010 were approved.

2. Matters arising.
It was decided that the second BACL meeting of the year would continue to take place in December.

3. Reports of officers.

i. The Chair reported that she had passed all the Secretary’s information to CR & would contact Geoffrey Samuel to see if there were any documents she should have as President. PG had contacted the International Academy to inform them as to the change of committee details, an announcement had been placed in the SLS Reporter to publicise the change of committee and it is on the BACL website. PG thanked Annette Nordhausen Scholes for her help with placing the advertisement in the SLS Reporter and Elspeth Reid for posting the changes on the website.

PG had been contacted by the Head of BIICL who has expressed an interest in collaborating with BACL & BIICL would be happy to host a joint event. PG raised the possibility that SLS gives convenors £250 for other activities linked to the SLS & this money could be used in conjunction with BIICL providing the venue and advertisement. Such an event would require someone willing to take on the responsibility for organising this extra activity. The matter will be raised again at the meeting in September 2011.

PG had been approached by Gassem Alfeleh of the Higher Judicial Institute, Saudi Arabia, asking for accreditation by BACL. It was agreed that PG would reply that BACL does not accredit educational institutions.

ii. The Treasurer reported assets of £10,868.02 between the two accounts. The income from universities to date is £850. GC will reply to universities which had requested the BACL bank details in order to make a BACS payment (even though this information was contained in the letter sent out to all universities by PG).

It was agreed that letters would be sent out to all universities including BACL bank details as well as a cheque slip as an option – PG, CG & CR would each write to a 1/3rd of the universities (GC to cover the Scottish universities & Northumbria).

For the 2010 PG workshop, to date expenses have been paid to P Legrand and Franz Werro and the hospitality costs to Kent University.

Concern was expressed that payments in euros by BACS transfers incur a £21 fee. It is cheaper to make payments by foreign cheque with a fee of £15, however the problem is with the postal service; Stefan Sottiaux’s cheque arrived late and Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou’s.cheque did not arrive at all. It was agreed that it would be preferable for guest speakers to the annual seminar to invoice BACL for SLS accommodation & travel as payment will be easier and more cost effective. Alternatively they can be paid in cash.

A policy was agreed that non-UK resident, where possible, should inform BACL in advance of their expenses and they will be paid in cash on arrival. It was also agreed that if speakers have to arrive on the Sunday night before the annual seminar, BACL should pay for their accommodation.

iii. The Secretary noted that there were a number of Council members who were unable to attend the meeting due to bad weather. CR reported that she was actively maintaining the membership list and that minutes of the last meeting and the agenda for the December meeting had been circulated to all Council members.

4. 2011 & 2012 BACL postgraduate workshop.
It was agreed that, in light of the association’s finances, the organisation of the workshops needs to be cost conscious and it is preferable for BACL members to contribute.

François du Bois had offered in September 2010 to host the 2011 workshop at Nottingham Law School. He had confirmed that his Head of School had agreed to this. The Committee thanked FDB for the work done in providing preliminary details for the event, including costings. The date for the workshop remains to be confirmed as this depends on the dates of examination boards; at the earliest it would take place in the week commencing 20th June. There would be a subscription from students. FDB to contact the committee to confirm the date & to contact CG in advance to agree expenditure.

Simone Glanert has volunteered to host the 2012 workshop at Kent Law School and the Committee thanked her for this.

5. 2011 BACL seminar.
As the BACL seminar takes place in the morning before the start of the SLS annual conference, in 2011 it will be held on 5 September in Cambridge.

PG has contacted John Bell & Jens Scherpe about hosting the seminar and both have replied that they are happy to help. The theme of the workshop should be in-line with that of the SLS conference which, in 2011, will be ‘Law in Politics, Politics in Law’. PG will speak to JB & JS to fix a theme for the workshop.

The 2012 SLS conference and BACL seminar will be held at Bristol University.

6. 2010 Annual Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law – proposal from England’s Northwest Conference Research Unit.

PG had been contacted by England’s Northwest Conference Research Unit bringing to her attention that the International Academy of Comparative Law had not yet fixed a venue for the 2016 half-week thematic congress and offering its assistance with any bid that might be made from the Northwest region. PG would forward this email to Annette Nordhausen Scholes as the Manchester representative although doubt was expressed as to whether BACL would wish to be involved in this, given the effort and expense involved in the organisation of such an event.

7. Date of the next meeting.
The next meeting will take place on Monday, 5 September 2011 in Cambridge.

8. Any other business.
CR noted that ANS is happy to liaise with the SLS to publicise BACL’s activities & the papers available from the International Conference.

The Committee will advertise the BACL seminar on Monday, 5 September 2011 via the SLS.

BACL Council Meeting of 13 September 2010

Held at the SLS conference, University of Southampton

Present:
Geoffrey Samuel (Chair), Paula Giliker (Secretary), Claudina Richards (UEA), Raymond Youngs (Kingston), Annette Nordhausen Scholes (Manchester), Eric Descheemaeker (Bristol), David Carey-Miller (Aberdeen), Susan Farran (Dundee), Francois du Bois (Nottingham).

Apologies were received from Elspeth Reid (Edinburgh), John Bell (Cambridge), Eva Steiner (KCL), Jane Ball (Sheffield), Simon Whittaker (Oxford), Stefan Vogenauer (Oxford), Antonios Platsas (Derby), Gordon Cameron (Dundee), Jens Scherpe (Cambridge), Nick Foster (SOAS), Susan Millns (Sussex), Myriam Hunter-Henin (UCL), Sophie Boyron (Birmingham).

1. The minutes of the meeting of the BACL Council of 11 December 2009 were approved.

2. Matters arising.
GS reported that, with regret, he had decided to resign as Chair having served for four years. He thanked everyone for their support, thanking in particular the Secretary and Treasurer and previous Treasurer, Elspeth Reid, for their assistance. PG expressed the gratitude of Council for GS’s work as Chair, notably the transformation of the UKNCCL into BACL.

3. Reports of officers.

i. The Chair reported that the BACL morning programme on 13 September 2010 had gone particularly well this year and thanked, in particular, Dr Ed Bates of Southampton for his excellent organisation and Professor Nick Wikeley of Southampton for his ongoing support. Thanks were also given to the Kent Centre for European and Comparative Law for financial assistance in providing refreshments. The Chair noted also the success of the postgraduate workshop, hosted by the University of Kent in June 2010, and noted the presence of two excellent speakers (Professors Pierre Legrand and Franz Werro) and the organisation and work of Simone Glanert of Kent University.

ii. The Secretary reported that she had sent subscription requests to all Law Schools with a member of Council and hoped that, with new Council members, this list could be expanded. Council thanked PG for her hard work in sending out the subscription letters.

iii. PG, on behalf of the Treasurer (GC), read out an email explaining and presenting the annual accounts for 2009. GC reported that the call for university subscriptions had gone well with 15 universities responding positively and two further institutions making enquiries as to payment. However, the funds gained had been counterbalanced with the costs of the workshop. PG noted that it was not clear whether the payments had been one-off cheques or standing orders.

ACTION: PG to ascertain from GC the position re subscriptions.

Council approved the accounts.


4. Appointment of Officers.
An election was held to appoint a new Chair. The nomination of PG was proposed and seconded and she was elected unanimously. In view of the resulting vacancy for Secretary, CR was nominated and Council again supported the appointment of CR as Secretary. Council also approved the nomination of Francois du Bois as Council Member for Nottingham.

ACTION: GS and PG to transfer respective files to new office holders.

5. Feedback on XVIIIth International Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law
The Secretary reported that ER had set up a website for national reports submitted to the July 2010 International Congress of Comparative Law (/bacl/xviiithinternationalcongressofcomparativelaw.aspx) and that reports were gradually arriving. She did note, however, that a number of national reports had not been submitted, but that some of the reporters had contacted her to explain that their non-involvement was due to problems with the unexpected length of some of the questionnaires, poor quality of English or that they were written from a civilian perspective which had little relevance to the common law. GS remarked on the difficulties of expecting long national reports in the light of the REF. DCM suggested that a change in the personnel of the IACL might make a difference and that he was pleased to report that 8 SACL reporters had agreed to send their reports to the BACL website. ANS remarked that such a valuable research resource should be publicised further, for example in the SLS newsletter. Council thanked PG for her work in organising and liaising with national reporters.
ACTION: PG/CR to publicise the website.

6. Funding of BACL: Progress of re-instatement of annual university contribution.
See Treasurer’s Report above.

7. 2010 and 2011 BACL postgraduate workshop.
The 2010 workshop took place at the University of Kent and was a great success. Council thanked the speakers and, in particular, GS and Simone Glanert for their organisation of this event.

Volunteers were sought to organise the 2011 postgraduate workshop. PG indicated that there was a set format and a number of regular speakers and that the main organisational tasks would be arranging student accommodation and a meal on the first night. Numbers were usually around the 10-15 mark. GS remarked that the early June date seemed to work well. FduB expressed interest and PG volunteered to send him a draft programme to give him a clearer idea of the format used.
ACTION: FduB to revert back to PG.

8. 2011 BACL seminar.
To be discussed at the December meeting. PG remarked that as the SLS conference would, in the next three years, be held at the Universities of Cambridge, Bristol and Edinburgh where established Council members worked, organisation should be more straightforward in future. It was noted that the 2011 conference would be on the theme of ‘Law in politics, Politics in Law’ and be held in Cambridge on 5-8 September 2011. ED expressed interest in organising the seminar at Bristol in 2012 and PG agreed to speak to JB and JS about the 2011 seminar.

9. Date of next meeting.
To be arranged. In view that many Council members were still unaware of their timetables, it was agreed that PG would email members who usually attended the December meeting to ascertain the most convenient date at a later date. PG stated that GC had emailed his general availability and hoped to bring together the new executive committee at the December meeting.
ACTION: PG to consult.

10. Any other business.
None.


BACL Council Meeting of 11 December 2009

Held at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies,
Russell Square, London at 3pm


Present:
Paula Giliker (Secretary), John Bell (Cambridge), David Carey-Miller (Aberdeen), Nick Foster (SOAS), Claudina Richards (UEA), Stefan Vogenauer (Oxford), Annette Nordhausen-Scholes (Manchester).

Apologies were received from Geoffrey Samuel (Chair), Gordon Cameron (Treasurer), Elspeth Reid (Edinburgh), John Blackie (Strathclyde), Jens Scherpe (Cambridge), Susan Millns (Sussex), Eric Descheemaeker (Bristol), Jane Ball (Sheffield), Eva Steiner (KCL), Susan Farran (Dundee), Raymond Youngs (Kingston), Antonios Platsas (Derby), Roderick Munday (Cambridge).

1. The minutes of the meeting of the BACL Council of 9 September 2009 were approved. Problem of a suitable date for meeting in December raised

2. Matters arising.
None.

3. Reports of Officers

Report from Treasurer:
o annual expenditure of £2,000, for e.g. hospitality costs, speakers
o funding of approx. £11,000 remaining which can sustain the association for a maximum of the next 4-5 years, but it is not a finite amount of money
o reminds attendees that until 2004 the association claimed a subscription from universities – with mixed responses from universities

Report from (Geoffrey):
Payment of IACL fee – Q: is payment of their annual subscription still a good use of association funds (given that the association has not paid for the past few years)?

- the association pays two separate subscriptions
(1) IACL
(2) IALS – International Association of Legal Science

- Agreed that would check whether the association is paying a subscription to either or both

- Re IALS – agreed that the association will not pay a subscription to this
But IACL – if the association receives a request for payment this will be considered

- Geoffrey’s letter is not for the IALS and is not to be sent to IALS
& should not be used if the IACL send the association a request for payment as the association wishes to maintain links with the IACL

Report from Secretary:
- PG workshop is operating – Kent university has taken this on for this year and it will take place in June with publicity sent to all universities on the mailing list
(for information - Uttrecht is also running a workshop as part of Dutch research training)
The BACL workshop is an opportunity to present a paper and receive feedback

- International Congress – there is a website providing information on things participants need to know
Paula has acted as liaison and has facilitated getting questionnaires to rapporteurs (the English versions of questionnaires has proved problematic) & some people have dropped out due to the length of the questionnaires and the time required to do them – so mixed feedback & hopefully enough people to provide reports

Query raised whether the format of the exercise is worthwhile (in the light of Geoffrey’s letter) and the problems with the format of the questionnaire?
Query whether the association wishes to take part in the future given the costs involved in attending (cf event in Utrecht)
Agreed that it would be good to have feedback from someone who attends the Congress in Washington

4. Reinstatement of university contributions – starting with £50 per year
Paula had drafted a letter to promote the association to go to Heads of Schools/Departments – this letter will be redrafted following comments from attendees
Query starting date for payments? If payment is to be for the start of the academic year, it will be too late for 2010/11, unless the letter goes out as soon as possible due to the way in which dept/school budgeting is done
Suggested that a standing order form be sent out with the letter.
10-12 universities used to pay in the past
Date set for payment – suggested as 1st October
Suggested adding to letter the benefits/advantages of comparative law, that it is a developing area, there are a considerable number of PhD students researching into comparative law, particularly overseas students
Suggested adding reference to research methodology – into 1st paragraph
Agreed that attendees be forewarned when the final letter goes out to Heads of School so that they could encourage Heads to agree payment

5. SLS in Southampton – half day seminar
Geoffrey had contacted Southampton asking if a member of their faculty would like to organise this event, but has not had a reply
Conference theme – Human Rights
Southampton has a Centre for Ethics & Globalisation
Suggested that SOAS’ Mashood Baderin who specialises in Human Rights and Islamic Law may be interested in participating
Volunteers to organise the event are called for
Suggested approaching Kathryn Dupary, Humanitarian law (Aberystwyth) or Michael Addo, International Human Rights (Exeter) may be approached

6. Attendance at meetings – December is not an easy time to arrange a meeting but equally, it is half way through the year so it is a good time to meet
Suggested a meeting be conducted via email/Blackboard or alternatively via telephone conference or Skype
Suggested – having the date in advance, or knowing it earlier, which would make it easier for people to timetable it – getting more notice would facilitate attendance
Considered that it was preferable to have a meeting with members attending in person with the possibility of electronic means being used for those who were unable to attend

7. Date of next meeting – end of first day of SLS conference – agreed and Paula will book a room at Southampton.

8. AOB: Elspeth is still happy to continue running the website, but would be glad for someone with greater technical knowledge to take it over

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BACL Council Meeting of 7 September 2009

Held at the SLS conference, University of Keele

Present:
Geoffrey Samuel (Chair), Paula Giliker (Secretary), John Bell (Cambridge), Eric Descheemaeker (Bristol), David Carey-Miller (Aberdeen), Eva Steiner (KCL), Annette Nordhausen-Scholes (Manchester), Jane Ball (Sheffield), Susan Farran (Dundee), Raymond Youngs (Kingston), Antonios Platsas (Derby).

Apologies were received from Elspeth Reid (Edinburgh), John Blackie (Strathclyde), Gordon Cameron (Dundee), Claudina Richards (UEA), Jens Scherpe (Cambridge), Nick Foster (SOAS), Susan Millns (Sussex).

1. The minutes of the meeting of the BACL Council of 19 December 2008 were approved.

2. Matters arising.
None.

3. Reports of officers.

i. The Chair reported that the BACL morning programme on 7 September 2009 had gone well, despite a few last minute problems. He was pleased to inform Council that BACL had organised two successful events this year: the Postgraduate workshop in June 2009 and the September 2009 seminar on the History and Teaching of comparative law.

ii. The Secretary reported that she had assisted a number of national reporters for the International Congress of Comparative Law who had experienced difficulties in contacting their general reporter, but that if anyone had still not been contacted, they should contact her immediately for assistance. She also mentioned that she had received very positive feedback from the Postgraduate workshop and had been pleased to meet two students at the SLS conference that day. She reported that it had been decided not to hold a meeting in May 2009 (as mentioned in the minutes of 19 December 2008); a view having been taken that all matters could be dealt with at the September 2009 meeting. She also reported that BACL had been pleased to support the project organised by JS at the University of Cambridge on ‘Marital agreements and private autonomy in a comparative perspective’ which had taken place on 26-28 June 2009.

iii. PG, on behalf of the Treasurer (ER), read out an email explaining and presenting the annual accounts for 2008. ER took the opportunity to explain that the accounts retained the title “UKNCCL” due to the fact that the name change took place in December 2008, but that this would be changed to BACL in 2009.

Council approved the accounts.


4. Appointment of Treasurer.
Due to other commitments, ER had, with reluctance, reached the decision that she should stand down as Treasurer. The name of Gordon Cameron (Dundee) had been put forward and a number of Council members spoke in favour of the nomination.

The nomination of Gordon Cameron as Treasurer was approved.

ACTION: PG to inform GC and contact ER in relation to future operation of website.

5. XVIIIth International Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law
PG outlined to Council the details available at present concerning the Congress and its website. JB enquired whether it was intended to publish the national reports in some form. PG stated that the national reports from the 2006 Congress had been published in a special edition of the Electronic Journal of Comparative Law, with some subsidy from BACL, but that if this was not desired, it might be possible to give national reporters the opportunity to place their reports on the BACL website as a web-based resource. This latter option received support from Council.
ACTION: PG to contact ER re BACL website and possibility of uploading papers.
ACTION: If possible, PG to contact national reporters before July 2010.

ES commented that it would be helpful to ascertain how many members of Council intended to attend the Congress.
ACTION: PG to email members of Council.

6. Funding of BACL and re-instatement of annual university contribution.
GS commented that the last year had brought a reduction in many university research budgets and a reluctance from the professions to fund academic projects. Council took the view that if the annual university contribution was to be re-instated, it was necessary to resell BACL to Law Schools and that a letter should be drafted, highlighting the work of BACL, for example, in organising the Postgraduate workshop, the annual seminar before the SLS conference, the BACL website (with papers?) and in acting as a representative body for UK based comparative lawyers.
ACTION: GS and PG to draft letter and then circulate to Council for comment. It was suggested that particular emphasis should be placed on the training element of the Postgraduate workshop and that a fee reduction would only be available for contributing universities.
ACTION: On approval of letter, it was hoped that Council Members would speak to their Head of School/Department in support of the annual contribution.

7. 2009 and 2010 BACL postgraduate workshop.
The 2009 workshop took place at the University of Edinburgh and was a success. Council thanked the speakers and, in particular, ER and DCM for their organisation of this event.

Volunteers were sought to organise the 2010 postgraduate workshop. PG indicated that there was a set format and a number of regular speakers and that the main organisational tasks would be arranging student accommodation and a meal on the first night. Numbers were usually around the 10-15 mark.
ACTION: Council members to consider hosting the event, with the support of the BACL committee.

8. Date of next meeting.
To be arranged, but the date of Friday, 11 December 2009 at the Institute of Advanced Studies in London at 2pm was provisionally agreed.
ACTION: PG to consult.

9. Any other business.
Council wished to thank ER for her excellent contribution to BACL, her work as Treasurer and overall contribution to the successful operation of BACL.

GS also raised the issue of the September 2010 BACL seminar which would take place at the University of Southampton. PG mentioned that she had been contacted in relation to the 2009 launch of the Centre for Law, Ethics and Globalisation at Southampton University (organisers: Dr Oren Ben-Dor (O.Ben-Dor@soton.ac.uk) and Dr Emily Reid (e.s.reid@soton.ac.uk)). Established in March 2009, the Centre for Law, Ethics and Globalisation states that it “seeks to respond to a growing demand for wide ranging, critical thinking on the processes of globalisation and their impact on all aspects of social life and relations. The Centre encourages comparative, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research and serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas relating to law, ethics and globalisation.” The theme for the SLS 2010 conference would be human rights, but GS urged Council Members to consider ideas generally for the seminar.
ACTION: Council Members to consider options for discussion at the December 2009 meeting of Council.

BACL Council Meeting of 19 December 2008

Held at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, London.


Present:
Geoffrey Samuel (Chair), Elspeth Reid (Treasurer), Paula Giliker (Secretary), David Carey-Miller (Aberdeen), Esin Örücü (Glasgow), Eva Steiner (KCL), Nick Foster (SOAS), Jens Scherpe (Cambridge), Annette Nordhausen-Scholes (Manchester), Raymond Youngs (Kingston), Antonios Platsas (Derby).

Apologies were received from Michael Addo (Exeter), Camilla Baasch-Andersen (Leicester), John Bell (Cambridge), Sophie Boyron (Birmingham), Susan Farran (Dundee), Susan Millns (Sussex), Claudina Richards (UEA), Stefan Vogenauer (Oxford).

REPORT FROM CAMILLA BAASCH-ANDERSEN:

Dear UKNCCL Colleagues,

I have just returned from the first Thematic Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law which was held in Mexico, and co-hosted by the newly established Mexican Centre for Comparative Law. Since I am out of the Country again on study-leave, Paula is kindly giving this report in my stead.

These forms of congresses are an innovation brought on by criticism that the 4-yearly general congresses lack specific purpose and clarity, and the goal was to introduce conferences which enable the sharing of research and output on specific topics. (These new conferences were initially dubbed "intermediary" but will now be referred to as "thematic").

The conference in Mexico was a great success, mainly because of this thematic specialisation. Specialists on topics concerning a main theme (this year it was the impact of harmonised law on national law) met over 4 days, delivering papers from a cross-section of jurisdictions and topics in law which were relevant to the theme. Most papers were delivered under the umbrella of a general report, led by a general reported who had initiated a multijurisdictional investigation and was drawing comparative observations in a certain field. Some general reports were delivered more cohesively than others, but the overall effect was a conference where all subject sections (all delivered in plenary) were relevant to the theme. Whether looking at - for example - criminal law, commercial law, cultural heritage law or arbitration, (and regardless of the jurisdictions presented), the observations on harmonisation and its effects would be of interest to anyone interested in any field of harmonisation of law.

The conference was also a success because of the care taken by the Mexican Centre of
Uniform Law to extend a professional and well-functioning feel to the proceedings. Although delays were often the order of the day, everything was dealt with very smoothly, and the head of the Centre, Dr Sanchez, is to be congratulated for having hosted this conference so well.

I delivered the UK national report in one subject section, and listened to all other sections while there. I was able to go thanks to the funding afforded by the British Academy, for which I am grateful. And - although not much of a conference-person – I was very glad I went as it was a very fruitful conference to attend. I realise that the UKNCCL have previously discussed the utility of Academy conferences, which have seemed disjointed and unclear. But I strongly believe that these new thematic conferences address all these concerns. The benefits of world specialists participating in thematic conferences where one theme is central, and specific varying topics in that theme are examined closely on a comparative level are very clear. When the next Thematic Conference is scheduled (4 years from now) I would strongly recommend it to anyone interested in that specific theme (which is, as yet, unannounced).

As to the Washington conference in 2010. My enthusiasm for the Academy has been
reawakened by this thematic conference, and I have returned with a programme from
Washington showing a strong thematic content, so I plan to attend (subject to funding) as I am hoping a similar clarity can be brought to that conference.

Anyone wishing to discuss the conference is welcome to contact me in the New Year.

Let me take the opportunity to wish my friends at UKNCCL the best for the season,
from my sunny Caribbean island where I am currently recovering from all that hard
comparative law thinking!

Best,

Camilla

Minutes of UKNCCL Council Meeting of 15 September 2008

Held at the London School of Economics

Present:
Geoffrey Samuel (Chair), Elspeth Reid (Treasurer), Paula Giliker (Secretary), David Carey-Miller (Aberdeen), Esin Örücü (Glasgow), Eva Steiner (KCL), Jane Ball (Sheffield), Claudina Richards (UEA), Raymond Youngs (Kingston).

Apologies were received from John Bell (Cambridge), Stefan Vogenauer (Oxford), Nick Foster (SOAS), Simon Whittaker (Oxford), Susan Millns (Sussex), Annette Nordhausen (Manchester), Stathis Banakas (UEA), Jens Scherpe (Cambridge).

1. The minutes of the meeting of the UKNCCL Council of 20 December 2007 were approved.

2. Matters arising.

DCM reported that he had attended the March 2008 IACL meeting in Paris on behalf of SACL and the UKNCCL in relation to the choice of topics for the 2010 International Congress of Comparative Law. Some of the topics put forward had been chosen. The Council formally thanked DCM for acting on its behalf.

3. Reports of officers.

i. The Chair reported that he had spoken to Camilla Baasch-Andersen in relation to the future of the Journal of Comparative Law following the withdrawal of Nick Foster, but that the meeting had been inconclusive. EO also reported that volumes 1 and 2 of the 2008 edition had yet to be published. Council expressed regret at the ongoing difficulties experienced by this journal, which rendered the possibility of future collaboration less likely. GS agreed to continue in his efforts to see if it would be possible to negotiate a subscription reduction for UKNCCL members.

ii. The Secretary reported that Camilla Baasch-Andersen and Stathis Banakas, chosen to present English reports at the 2008 Thematic Congress in Mexico, had both received offers to publish their reports. She had been informed that CBA had funding to travel to Mexico and that SB was still pursuing a funding application. She had also received documentation from the International Academy of Comparative Law concerning the topics and timetable for the 2010 Congress.

iii. The Treasurer presented the annual accounts of the UKNCCL. These were approved. The Secretary reiterated her concern that the balance was steadily decreasing.


4. Funding of UKNCCL

Council considered the options which received support at the December 2007 meeting in the light of feedback received from Council members since that meeting.

• Change of name.
PG stated that she had received considerable feedback on this point and that unanimously correspondents expressed concern at the suggestion of changing the name to the Trans-national Comparative Law Association (TNCLA). Most correspondents favoured some alternative form of wording using the words “Association of Comparative Law”, which had the advantage of being similar to that adopted in other jurisdictions, including Scotland. Council agreed that the name of the UKNCCL should be changed to the British Association of Comparative Law (BACL).

• Sponsorship.
ER expressed concern that this might be more difficult to obtain in the current economic climate. However, Council agreed that this option should still be pursued and interest was expressed in finding sponsorship for the annual workshop held on the morning of the first day of the SLS conference. JB suggested that the Society for Trusts and Estate Practitioners had expressed interest in European matters and might be a source of sponsorship: JB to investigate. DCM additionally agreed to pursue the possibility of financial support from the BIICL. CR also suggested that law firms, with a particular interest in European matters, such as Pritchard Engelfield would be worth investigating.

• Mission statement.
It was agreed that GS/PG/ER should draft the statement and that it should be placed on the website. In particular, it should stress:

(i) Themed conference every year prior to the SLS conference.
(ii) Highly successful postgraduate research workshop every year
(iii) Gateway to four-yearly International Congress of Comparative Law: the UKNCCL is the national organisation which nominates both individual and general reporters and supports publication of the reports.
(iv) Channel for the appointment of members of the International Association of Comparative Law.

Feedback would be sought from members before final publication.

EO also suggested that the website could provide links for those teaching Comparative or foreign legal systems in the United Kingdom and, in so doing, promote the teaching of comparative law. It would permit an exchange of ideas and could provide course outlines for those considering teaching these subjects. This suggestion was welcomed: EO to provide list of universities teaching comparative law, compiled in 2000.

• Reinstating annual contribution from each university.
In view of diminishing reserves, it was agreed that the annual contribution should be reinstated at an amount of £50 per institution per annum, commencing in 2010: letters to be sent to universities in Autumn 2009.

5. International Congress of Comparative Law, Washington, USA 2010: list of subjects.

PG stated that she had received a number of expressions of interest.

She noted down further suggestions from Council and undertook to produce a draft list to be agreed prior to the October 2008 deadline. Council were thanked for their helpful suggestions.

6. 2009 UKNCCL Postgraduate workshop.

Little feedback had been received as to the implications of moving the workshop from Cambridge to Utrecht. PG expressed her eagerness to receive details of the 2009 workshop to enable publicity to be sent to postgraduate tutors. Council expressed its ongoing support for the workshop: GS to contact JB.

7. Date of next meeting.

The next meeting (subject to confirmation) would be scheduled for December 19, 2008 at the Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, London: PG to contact Orla Fee.

8. Any other business.

None.

UKNCCL Council Meeting of 20 December 2007

Held at the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge.

Present:
Geoffrey Samuel (Chair), Elspeth Reid (Treasurer), Paula Giliker (Secretary), David Carey-Miller (Aberdeen), John Bell (Cambridge), Claudina Richards (UEA), Annette Nordhausen (Manchester).

Apologies were received from Francesco Giglio (Manchester), Jane Ball (Sheffield), Esin Örücü (Glasgow), Stefan Vogenauer (Oxford), Nick Foster (SOAS), Simon Whittaker (Oxford), Susan Millns (Sussex), Sophie Boyron (Birmingham), Stathis Banakas (UEA), Eva Steiner (KCL), Thomas Watkins (Bangor).

1. The minutes of the meeting of the UKNCCL Council of 10 September 2007 were approved.

2. Matters arising.

None.

3. Reports of officers.

i. The Chair reported that he had received a request for subject proposals for the International Congress of Comparative Law to be held in Washington DC in 2010 (probably the last week of July 2010). The letter invited written proposals for topics and for one or several potential general reporters to be submitted by the end of February 2008 in time for the meeting in Paris on 18 March 2008. It was agreed that GS should attend the meeting in Paris on behalf of the committee. PG would email the UKNCCL and SLS mailing lists to solicit suggestions. A number of suggested topics were put forward: environmental law, e-commerce, medical law, sports law and privacy.

GS also reported that Nick Foster would be withdrawing as editor of the Journal of Comparative Law on medical advice. Any suggestions for his replacement should be sent to GS or Camilla Baasch-Andersen.

ii. The Secretary reported that Camilla Baasch-Andersen and Stathis Banakas would be presenting English reports at the 2008 Thematic Congress in Mexico. She had received further information which she would pass on to them. She had also received notification that the International Academy of Comparative Law had officially recognised the Scottish Association of Comparative Law.

iii. The Treasurer commented that the balance of the UKNCCL account now stood at around £13,500. Although no subsidy would be offered for the Mexico congress, the UKNCCL continued to support the Postgraduate workshop with a per capita subsidy. It was noted that the annual fee paid to the International Academy had been increased to 50 Euros from 2008.

4. Funding of UKNCCL

Council considered a number of potential options to resolve the future funding of the UKNCCL:
• Disbanding the UKNCCL
• Reinstating the annual contribution from each university
• Merger with the SLS comparative law subject group
• Continuing as present while funds persist
• Scaling down activities and then continuing while funds persist
• Developing a relationship with the Scottish Association of Comparative Law.

It was noted that the SACL having received independent recognition, the role of the UKNCCL required reconsideration, notably its relationship with the SLS. An email received from Professors Vogenauer and Whittaker of the University of Oxford questioned the need for two parallel organisations serving the limited number of comparatists in the UK and suggested that merger with the SLS should be seriously considered. Council considered this option for some time. Concerns were raised as to the lack of control which would result in merger and, in particular, the risk that the SLS might close down the Comparative Law subject group due to its current policy of reducing the number of subject groups. It was also argued that the interests of the UKNCCL did not overlap entirely with that of the SLS Comparative Law subject group. In this light, the Council agreed that it would be preferable to maintain the UKNCCL as a separate group, which would co-operate with the SLS subject group, but that fundamental changes were needed:

• Name.
It was agreed that “UKNCCL” was problematic as a name. On consideration, Council suggested a possible change to: Trans-national Comparative Law Association (TNCLA). Opinions, and alternative suggestions, would be sought.

• Sponsorship
It was suggested that more should be done to look for sponsorship in future. Possibilities include approaching the Franco-British Lawyers Association and German-British Lawyers Association. DCM agreed to investigate any possible relationship with the BIICL.

• Mission statement.
A list of activities would be compiled to demonstrate at a glance the benefits of membership of the UKNCCL. The following benefits were identified:
(i) themed conference every year prior to the SLS conference.
(ii) highly successful postgraduate research workshop every year (reduced rate for members?)
(iii) gateway to four-yearly International Congress of Comparative Law: the UKNCCL is the national organisation which nominates both individual and general reporters and supports publication of the reports.
(iv) using the website to provide electronic working papers on comparative law.
(v) reduced subscription to Journal of Comparative Law?
(vi) optional one or half day training programmes on comparative law for postgraduate students (subject to demand)?

On this basis, the subscription could be reinstated at a suggested rate of £100 per university. GS/ER/PG to refine the suggestions in time for the September 2008 meeting.

5. 2008 Postgraduate Workshop in Utrecht:
PG raised concerns at the gaps in the programme she was asked to publicise in the UK. Both she and ER had been asked at short notice to speak, but, due to prior commitments, had been unable to travel to Utrecht. ER had suggested a number of alternative speakers but again, due to the lateness of the request, they were unable to oblige. It was suggested that the 2009 workshop might take place in Edinburgh – ER and DCM to liaise with JB.

6. Date of next meeting.

On the first day of the SLS conference in London, September 2008.

7. Any other business
ER kindly agreed to organise the UKNCCL conference in September 2008 prior to the SLS conference. This year the theme would be privacy. ER encouraged members to email her with suggestions for speakers, particularly from the common law world.

GS suggested that he and PG should meet with Camilla Baasch-Andersen to discuss the relationship between the UKNCCL and the JCL – GS to arrange.

GS additionally informed Council of a one day workshop to be held at the University of Kent in September 2009 on the development of English contract law. It would be jointly organised by the Journal of Comparative Law and the Kent Centre for European and Comparative Law and accommodation would be provided. Suggestions for speakers would be welcomed. It was anticipated that the papers would be published in a special edition of the JCL.

UKNCCL Council Meeting of 10 September 2007

Held at SLS conference, University of Durham

Present: Geoffrey Samuel (Chair), Elspeth Reid (Treasurer), Paula Giliker (Secretary), David Carey-Miller (Aberdeen). Apologies were received from John Bell (Cambridge), Stefan Vogenauer (Oxford), Simon Whittaker (Oxford), Susan Millns (Sussex), Roderick Munday (Cambridge), Nick Foster (SOAS), Stathis Banakas (UEA), Michael Addo (Exeter), Thomas Watkins (Bangor).

1. The minutes of the meeting of the UKNCCL Council of 15 December 2006 were approved.

2. Matters arising.

None.

3. Reports of officers.

i. The Chair reported that the UKNCCL section prior to the SLS conference on Comparative Constitutional Property Law had been very successful and thanks were given to DCM for undertaking to organise the session. Thanks were also given to the Kent Centre for European and Comparative Law for sponsoring the refreshments for the session.

ii. The Treasurer presented the 2006 UKNCCL accounts to Council. These were formally approved. ER commented that, due to forthcoming commitments, the balance now stood at around £14,000. It was noted that the UKNCCL had agreed to continue its support for the annual postgraduate workshop on comparative law by offering a subsidy to the proposed joint event with the University of Utrecht. A subsidy of £25 per student had been offered, but hardship requests would be considered. The Treasurer also explained that the University of Edinburgh Law School had kindly agreed to host the UKNCCL website and progress was being made. She would inform Council when the site was up and running.

iii. The Secretary reported that the deadline for the 1^st Intermediate Congress of the IACL had been extended until 26 September 2007. She also noted that she had yet to receive any publicity for the postgraduate workshop, but would circulate it to Council members on receipt.

4. Funding of UKNCCL

Council noted that this was an ongoing matter of concern and that the question of the future financing of the UKNCCL needed to be dealt with. However, in view of the low attendance at Durham, it was resolved that this matter should be dealt with at a larger meeting at a later date. It was therefore suggested that a special meeting should be held in London in December 2007 to discuss the issue in depth, and that a date should be chosen which permitted as high attendance as possible (PG to arrange). Provisionally, a number of potential options were suggested:

• Disbanding the UKNCCL
• Merger with the SLS comparative law subject group
• Continuing as present while funds persist
• Scaling down activities and then continuing while funds persist
• Developing a close relationship with the Scottish Association of Comparative Law

In view of DCM’s absence until 11 December 2007, a provisional date of 14 December was suggested – PG to consult.

5. Thematic Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law, Mexico: ‘The impact of uniform law in the national law: Limits and Possibilities’ November 13 to 15, 2008: PG had received three expressions of interest which unfortunately overlapped. One application provided a detailed CV and covering letter. The Council decided to approve this candidate for the topic of “Vienna Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (1980) and its Incidence on National Law”. The other candidates would be asked to provide more detailed information to enable the committee to submit another name prior to the September 26, 2007 deadline.

6. Utrecht World Congress 2006: Any outstanding matters.

None.

7. Date of next meeting.

December 2007 – PG to inform by email.

8. Any other business.

None.

*******

UKNCCL Council Meeting of 15 December 2006

Held at BIICL, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square London

Present:
Geoffrey Samuel (Chair), Elspeth Reid (Treasurer), Paula Giliker (Secretary), Stefan Vogenauer (Oxford), Nick Foster (SOAS), David Carey-Miller (Aberdeen), Michael Addo (Exeter).

Apologies were received from Camilla Baasch-Andersen (Leicester), Esin Örücü (Glasgow), Simon Whittaker (Oxford), John Bell (Cambridge).

1. The Minutes of the meeting of the Council of 4 September 2006 were approved.

2. Matters arising

None.

3. Reports of Officers

a. The Chair reported that the UKNCCL section at the Keele conference had been successful. He also informed Council that the Kent Centre for European and Comparative Law had met with NF to discuss support for the Journal of Comparative Law.

b. The Treasurer reported that the UKNCCL currently possessed funds of approximately £17,000, but that this figure would be subject to liabilities. A sum of £75 had been received from OUP as a copyright fee.

4. Utrecht World Congress 2006:

a. Publication
ER stated that 15 papers had been received (about two thirds of the UK papers submitted to the World Congress). They were currently being edited for publication in the Electronic Journal of Comparative Law (EJCL) but, at present, there was no indication of editorial costs. The Council thanked ER for her work on this project.

b. Any other matters.
Concerns were again expressed as to the cost of the World Congress and that representations made by the Chair on behalf of the UKNCCL had never been acknowledged by the organisers of the conference. The format was also criticised. SV suggested that, in view of the change of personnel at the IACL, it would be worthwhile approaching the new Secretary General, Jürgen Basedow. It was agreed that GS should contact Professor Basedow at a future date.

5. UKNCCL Research Student workshop.
PG reported that this will take place in Cambridge between 10-12 January 2007. She gave an overview of the aims and objectives of the workshop. It was suggested that it could be further publicised through the UKNCCL website and that postgraduate directors in Law Schools should be added to the mailing list.

6. Application for funding by the editors of Journal of Comparative Law (JCL).
NF gave a detailed explanation of the objectives of the Journal of Comparative Law and its contribution to comparative scholarship. Whilst its publishing and marketing costs are met by the publisher, the editors were left with the cost of copy editing (approximately £4,000 per annum). Concerns were raised as to the ability of the UKNCCL under its constitution to support the journal. Council agreed that Article II, Objects, of the Constitution did permit some form of collaboration with the JCL which would further the comparative study of law. It was agreed, therefore, that it would be permissible for the UKNCCL to support a joint conference with the JCL. A number of topics were suggested, including methodology, comparative corporate law, and tort law and culture (GS and NF to consult). It was hoped that a proposal could be formulated either in time for the next UKNCCL Council meeting or, if earlier, to be circulated to Council members by email for comment.

Council congratulated NF for his work with the JCL.

7. Stock of UKNCCL books in storage at BIICL.
The BIICL had sent the committee a list of outstanding stock of UKNCCL publications which were deemed unsellable (2,031 volumes). PG repeated her offer that the volumes would be free to members (subject to agreement over postage with the BIICL). Whilst some interest was expressed, it was acknowledged that the earliest 13 volumes would be of little or no value to members – PG to report to BIICL and liaise with members desiring volumes. MA suggested that some of the volumes could be donated to law schools in Africa or the new University of Cornwall.

8. SLS conference 2007.
GS reported that the time and space for the UKNCCL section had been booked with Celia Wells, University of Durham. It was to be hoped that the Kent Centre for European and Comparative Law would again be able to fund a breakfast for participants. There was some discussion as to the topic of the September 2007 session and support was received for the suggestion of Property Law which would include both personal and real property: ER to approach D C-M as a potential organiser. It was also suggested that the organiser liaise with the convener of the Property Law section.

9. Date of next meeting.
Monday, 10 September 2007 at the SLS conference at the University of Durham (venue and time to be arranged).

10. Any other business.
The Chair asked Council members to consider the issue of subscriptions, and how the profile of the UKNCCL could be raised. This will be discussed at the next Council meeting.

*******

UKNCCL Council Meeting of 4 September 2006

Held at the University of Keele.

Present: Geoffrey Samuel (Chair), Paula Giliker (Secretary), John Bell (Cambridge), Nick Foster (SOAS), Camilla Baasch-Andersen (Leicester), David Carey-Miller (Aberdeen), Sue Millns (Kent), Jane Ball (Sheffield).

Apologies were received from Elspeth Reid (Treasurer), Stefan Vogenauer (Oxford), Sophie Boyron (Birmingham), Simon Whittaker (Oxford), Stathis Banakas (UEA), Thomas Watkin (Bangor) and Roderick Munday (Cambridge).

1. The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council Meeting of 13 January 2006 were approved.

2. Matters arising

None.

3. Reports of Officers

a. The Chair thanked the Kent Centre for European and Comparative Law for sponsoring the coffee and juice for the UKNCCL section at the Keele conference. He also thanked the organisers of the SLS conference at Keele for their support and assistance.

b. The Secretary reported that she continued to update the contact list and sought to maintain representatives at each of the UK universities.

c. The Treasurer was unable to attend, but had forwarded the annual accounts, which were circulated to Council members. In a detailed email, read out by the Secretary, she explained the subsidy for the Cambridge workshop and the grant for the Scottish Association for Comparative Law (SACL). D C-M confirmed that SACL had run three successful seminars this year, and the work of the SACL was praised by the Council. It was also requested that the subscriptions arrangements could be clarified.

The annual Accounts were approved by Council members.

4. Utrecht World Congress 2006
ii. Publication
The Treasurer reported in her email that plans were still going ahead for the publication of the UK Utrecht papers in the EJCL. The submission deadline was the end of September 2006 and that she would be sending a reminder in the next few weeks. Editing costs would be capped at £3,000, as agreed at the Council meeting of 6 September 2005. JB reported that the corruption papers would probably be published in the ICLQ.

ii. Any other matters
Concerns were raised by Council members as to the methodology of the World Congress. In particular, criticism was raised of the use of questionnaires and the varying quality of submissions. JB suggested that it would be preferable for papers to be submitted in advance and some form of peer review undertaken.

GS reported that he had written, at the request of Council, of its concerns to the organisers of the Utrecht conference and received no response.

Council resolved that it would be advisable to contact the organisers of the 2010 World Congress in the United States and express the UKNCCL’s concerns at an early stage. It was suggested that GS should contact David Clark (President of the ASCL) or George Bermann.

5. Discussion of possible restructuring of UKNCCL and link with the Journal of Comparative Law
Council welcomed the success of the JCL and praised the work undertaken by NF and C B-A. Some form of collaboration was suggested in view of the commitment of both the UKNCCL and the editors of the JCL to forwarding the study of comparative law (GS and NF to discuss).

C B-A raised the issue of editing costs for the JCL and requested some assistance from the UKNCCL. Copy editing cost £1,800 per issue (2 issues a year). Costs could be met by a loan, grant or some other arrangement.

In the absence of the Treasurer, it was requested that C B-A present figures to the Treasurer, which could be discussed at the next Council meeting.

6. UKNCCL Research Student workshop
The workshop is scheduled to run this year from Wednesday January 10 – Friday 12 January 2007, to be organised by John Bell at the University of Cambridge. Council members were requested to publicise the conference to their research students.

JB additionally outlined plans for collaboration with the University of Utrecht for 2008. UK students would continue to be subsidised and it was noted that AHRC funded students would have access to research funding to travel to Utrecht. GS also raised the possibility of some form of collaboration with the Kent Centre for European and Comparative Law.

7. Date of next meeting
To be arranged. Suggested date: London, December 2006.

8. Any other business
None.

*******

UKNCCL Council Meeting of 13 January 2006

Held at the British Institute for International and Comparative Law.

Present: Geoffrey Samuel (Chair), Elspeth Reid (Treasurer), Paula Giliker (Secretary), John Bell (Cambridge), Esin Örücü (Glasgow), David Carey-Miller (Aberdeen), Nick Foster (SOAS).

Apologies were received from Stefan Vogenauer (Oxford), John Blackie (Strathclyde), Eva Steiner (King’s), Francesco Giglio (Manchester), Julian Lonbay (Birmingham), Michael Addo (Exeter), Stathis Banakas (UEA), Thomas Watkin (Bangor), Susan Millns (SLS), Nina Boeger (Bristol), Annette Nordhausen (Sheffield).
.
.
1. The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council Meeting of 6 September 2005 were approved.

2. Matters arising
John Bell reported that the UKNCCL Research Student workshop had successfully taken place in Cambridge on 11-13 January 2006. It was well attended and JB expressed his gratitude to all those who took part.

The Council thanked JB for his organisation of the workshop. It was agreed that the workshop should be publicised at the start of the Autumn term 2006 to ensure maximum publicity. PG and JB would liaise over date and venue for 2007.

3. Reports of Officers

a. The Treasurer reported that the UKNCCL bank account had a healthy balance, despite the decision not to ask for subscriptions until the restructuring of the UKNCCL was complete. Future costs would include the expenses incurred for the Research Workshop, travel expenses for General Reporters to Utrecht and the sum agreed for publication of the Utrecht papers.

b. The Secretary reported that she had liaised with the BIICL concerning the remainder of the UKNCCL books and that progress had been made. Those willing to pay postage had been contacted with estimates, books were available at the Council meeting for those who had requested them, and those querying postage would be contacted. She agreed to resolve any confusion over the books ordered by EO.

4. Utrecht World Congress 2006
a. Funding
Concern was raised at the cost of registration for the conference and the early deadline for payment of a reduced sum. ER expressed particular unease at the deadline for early payment in the absence of a definite programme and the absence of any provision for reduced rates for attendance at part of the conference.

GS agreed to report the Council’s concerns to the organisers of the conference. He would liaise with JB as to the appropriate persons to approach. It was noted that Professor Katarina Boele Woelki appeared to be the Utrecht contact at present.

b. Publication
ER reported that a definite timetable had yet to be agreed with the EJCL. She estimated that papers should be submitted by the end of September 2006 with a view to publication in 2007. It was agreed that the authors’ contributions should include the relevant questionnaire, and that authors should be able to add a section placing the subject in context, if they so wished.

The Council thanked ER for her work on this matter.

c. Contributors/Any other matters
ER reported that 25 reporters were willing to contribute papers for the conference and that they had all been informed at the deadline for reduced registration.

Concerns were raised, however, as to the methodology utilised by the World Congress and whether it represented an out-dated approach towards comparative research. Fears were also expressed that the current format would discourage participation and be unattractive to comparative lawyers in the United Kingdom. It was agreed that representations would have to be made to this effect.

5. Discussion of possible restructuring of UKNCCL
GS had spoken to Tony Dugdale of the SLS, who had expressed no opposition towards a merger of the UKNCCL with the SLS Comparative Law Subject Section. Concerns were, however, expressed as to the different focuses of the SLS Subject Section and UKNCCL. It was felt that the UKNCCL had a broader remit beyond national boundaries.

It was proposed that to differentiate the two bodies, it would be helpful to change the name of the UKNCCL to the Association of Comparative Law (ACL). There was general agreement that it would also be advantageous to link the ACL with the Journal of Comparative Law – NF and GS to discuss. Fees could be structured to allow for membership (individual or university?) of the association with the possibility of subscription to the journal at a subsidised rate. It was also suggested that the ACL could be formed under the shelf company set up by NF. This would require a transfer of assets and a possible application for charitable status – ER to investigate and consult. There was general agreement that this change should take place as soon as possible with a target date of October 2006. It was resolved that a website would also be desirable – ER to contact Strathclyde University re possibility of hosting site.

The Council agreed that it would also be advisable to establish a schedule of events for each calendar year and publicise them within the UKNCCL. This would include the planned events of the Journal of Comparative Law.

6. SLS Conference 2006 (Keele)
GS suggested a full day’s programme based on developments in comparative law methodology. He also suggested a number of speakers who might be willing to attend.

The Council thanked GS for his suggestions. It was agreed that the theme would be discussed by email and that Council Members should feel free to raise alternative suggestions. GS would liaise with Sue Millns (SLS Comparative Law Subject Convenor) on this matter.

Other suggestions to be considered included dividing the section between theory and substantive papers and discussion of a text of particular note in the comparative law field.

JB raised the difficulty of the absence of a comparative lawyer at Keele and that the assistance of a local comparative law academic might be required.

7. Date of next meeting
To be arranged.

8. Any other business
None.

*******

UKNCCL Council Meeting of 6 September 2005

Held at the University of Strathclyde.

Present: Geoffrey Samuel (Chair), Elspeth Reid (Treasurer), Paula Giliker (Secretary), John Bell (Cambridge), John Blackie (Strathclyde), Annette Nordhausen (Sheffield) and Esin Örücü (Glasgow).

Apologies were received from Stefan Vogenauer (Oxford), Sophie Boyron (Birmingham) and Nick Foster (SOAS).

1. The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council Meeting of 16 December 2004 were approved.

2. Matters arising

The BIICL has offered the UKNCCL a number of unsold books. The Chair has contacted Orla Fee to obtain a complete breakdown of the texts available. It is planned to offer them to members.

3. Reports of Officers
a. The Chair reported that an informal meeting of the committee had taken place on 25 August 2005. Minutes were available for that meeting.

He also reported that a meeting of the International Association of Legal Science was taking place in China in October 2005. The Chair was unable to attend, but suggested that anyone wishing to attend should contact him directly.

b. The Treasurer presented the Annual Accounts for approval. She reported that some difficulties had been experienced with the transfer of accounts, but that these should be overcome in the next few weeks. She reported that requests for subscriptions would not be made for the coming year in view of plans to restructure the activities of the UKNCCL.

c. The Secretary reported that she had updated the list of Council members, but would welcome any further information on membership details.

4. Utrecht World Congress 2006
a. Funding
John Bell reported that in the past the Committee had made a group application for the travel costs of the World Congress, but that individuals would be requested to seek support from their own institutions for the accommodation and conference fee. Only General Reporters would be provided with funds for this purpose. However, due to a change in funding rules, claims would now have to be made on an individual basis with deadlines of October 2005 and January 2006. It would therefore be advisable to warn individual reporters of the need to make their own applications. John Bell agreed to liaise with the UK reporters to ensure that information has been received in relation to the conference.

b. Publication
It was noted that Nick Foster (SOAS) had spoken to Wileys in relation to publication. However, the Treasurer’s suggestion of publication electronically in the EJCL met with general approval. It was also agreed that a payment would be offered for any additional editorial costs. This would be at the Treasurer’s discretion, but subject to an absolute cap of £3,000.

c. Any other matters
It was noted that the Chair would be invited to attend the meeting of presidents at the Utrecht conference in July 2006.

5. Discussion of possible restructuring of UKNCCL
There was general agreement that the current status of the UKNCCL was problematic. Esin Örücü gave a very useful outline of the reasons for a separate SLS Comparative Law Subject section. Discussion highlighted a number of possible options for the future development of the organisation. It was agreed that the Committee would consider carefully the comments made and present a number of formalised models for change at the next Council meeting.

6. Date of next meeting
It was noted that in the past, a meeting had usually taken place in December on the same day at the SLS meeting in London. However, it was suggested that March 2006 would be a suitable date for the next meeting.

7. Any other business
John Bell informed the meeting that a Workshop for postgraduates on comparative law would be held in Cambridge in January 2006. The Council welcomed this news.

*******

Minutes of UKNCCL Committee Meeting
Oxford, August 25 2005

In attendance: Geoffrey Samuel (GS), Elspeth Reid (ER), Paula Giliker (PG)

1. UKNCCL books
The email from Orla Fee of 9 August 2005 was discussed. It was agreed that GS would ask OF for a list of the books and for some idea of the number to be returned. It was suggested that these could be offered to members and a selection could be taken for this purpose to the SLS conference.

2. Utrecht World Congress 2006
(i) Funding
An application for travel would have to be made to the British Academy. It was noted that most of the participants could fly relatively cheaply to Utrecht and that the transport costs could be capped at a relatively low level. ER to look into drafting application.

(ii) Publication
There was considerable discussion of the best means of organising publication of the papers. It was noted that Nick Foster had at a previous meeting stated that he would organise a meeting with Wiley’s to discuss the idea of publication of the papers. It was felt that in view of the difficulties in publishing a set of unrefereed papers, the best option would be to publish the papers on the EJCL website. ER to contact editor. It was also suggested that the best papers might be placed in a refereed special edition of the Edinburgh Law Review in January 2007 – ER to contact Board of Editors. GS to contact NF informally in relation to Wiley’s and possible future relationship with his new journal of comparative law. PG to contact participants once publication details have been resolved.

3. Restructuring of UKNCCL
The committee agreed that the current status of the UKNCCL was problematic. The levy on universities was not being requested on a regular basis and the purpose of the organisation was under question. On that basis, it was agreed that the September 2005 meeting should raise a discussion as to the current status of the UKNCCL and suggest a merger between the Comparative Law SLS section and the UKNCCL. This would have a number of structural advantages and enable the organisation to levy fees in 2006 with a clear mission statement of its activities. A fee would not on that basis be levied for 2005 prior to restructuring. PG to draft agenda. GS to consult with Convenor of SLS section and Secretary of SLS and speak to Susan Millns (Kent) as possible new Convenor. GS/ER to look into need to amend UKNCCL constitution.

4. Website
ER commented that the UKNCCL website was out-of-date. Several options were discussed, including using the SLS website or joining forces with the Kent Centre for European and Comparative Law. It was felt that this was a matter which would require consideration at a later date.

5. International Academy of Legal Science
Questions were raised as to the current status of this organisation. GS to consult.

6. SLS conference in Glasgow, September 2005
The next UKNCCL meeting would take place at 5.30pm on September 6 2005 (the latest programme on the SLS conference website suggesting that the meeting was now scheduled to end at 5.30pm).

PG to organise agenda and convene meeting
ER to contact Kenneth Norrie re room and proposed publication of papers.

*******

UKNCCL Council Meeting of 16 December 2004

Held at the British Institute of International & Comparative Law

Present: John Bell (Chair), Jules Lombay (Treasurer), Mads Andenas (Secretary), David Carey Miller (Aberdeen), Michael Addo (Exeter), Eva Steiner (King’s College London), Nick Foster (SOAS)

Apologies were received from Stathis Banakas (UEA), Paula Giliker and Stefan Vogenauer (Oxford), Elspeth Reid (Edinburgh), William Butler (University College London), Geoffrey Samuel and Susan Millns (Kent), Annette Nordhausen (Sheffield), Francesco Giglio (Manchester)

1. The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council Meeting of 13 September 2004 were approved with the addition of Stathis Banakas among those listed as present.

2. Matters arising
The suggestion by Stathis Banakas that the UKNCCL should change its name met with broad approval. The present name was not considered to be clear. A name along the lines of the proposed “Scottish Association of Comparative Law” was thought more appropriate. It was agreed that the issue would be pursued further by the incomong officers.

3. Election of officers 2005
The following were elected as officers of the UKNCCL from 1 January 2005.
Chair: Professor Geoffrey Samuel (Kent)
Treasurer: Ms Elspeth Reid (Edinburgh)
Secretary: Dr Paula Giliker (Oxford)
The current officers were thanked for their service.

4. Reports of Officers
a. The Treasurer reported orally on the income of the UKNCCL. In broad terms, income was matching expenditure. The principal expenditure of the recent period had been the expenses of the Colloquium in Sheffield, including the travel of Professor Van Gerven.
The Treasurer also reported that he had attended the meeting of the American Association of Comparative Law in St Louis. The UKNCCL was now an associate member and members would be able to attend its conferences.
Requests for subscriptions had now gone out and it was hoped that we would be up to date by the beginning of the year.
b. The Chair reported that a workshop for postgraduates on comparative law would be held in Cambridge from 6-7 January 2005 with the participation of about 12 students. Geoffrey Samuel, Paula Giliker and Sophie Boyron would be helping to give input into the sessions.
c. The Secretary had no items to report.

5. Comparative Law in Scottish Universities
David Carey Miller reported on a meeting in Edinburgh on 4 December of representatives of Scottish universities. The distinctiveness of Scottish interests and activities in comparative law has been recognised for some considerable time, not least in the contributions made by the UKNCCL to the World Congress. There is a distinct range of issues and networks that needs to be fostered in order to support comparative law in Scotland. This has been enhanced in recent years by a high level of comparative law activity in Scottish law schools and by devolution. The Edinburgh meeting had concluded that a devolved sub-committee of the UKNCCL would provide a valuable focus for comparative law research in Scotland. Ultimately it was hoped that the new sub-committee would be recognised by the International Academy of Comparative Law, along the lines of the Quebec Committee.

The Council welcomed this positive development and agreed to support both the new sub-committee and its potential recognition by the International Academy. In order to support the planned seminar series the Council voted an allocation of £1500 to the Scottish sub-committee. It was for the Scottish sub-committee to choose its own title, but the currently favoured title of the “Scottish Association for Comparative Law” met with no objection.

6. Strathclyde Colloquium 2005
The Council welcomed the proposal of the Edinburgh meeting and Kenneth Norrie that the next colloquium of the UKNCCL on 5 September 2005 would be held on the theme of civil partnerships and same sex marriage. The Council agreed to allocate up to £1500 for the colloquium. It was expected that the colloquium would break even.

7. Utrecht World Congress 2006
The appended list of national reporters had been sent to the International Academy. Approaches from General Reporters would be coming in the new year. Nick Foster reported that Wiley’s was interested in publishing the UKNCCL contributions and a meeting would be set up soon to discuss the idea. The Chair reported that an application would be made to the British Academy for conference funding. However, this only covered travel expenses. Individuals would have to look to their own institutions for money to cover the conference fee and accommodation.

8. The date of the next meeting would be arranged by the incoming officers.