The Development of Brussels Regime

From the beginning of mankind people of different nationalities have always interacted with one and other. Trading goods between tribes, cities and later on countries was the most common way for people from different nationalities to meet. The practice of trade has always been subject to conflict, especially difficult it because if is not uncommon that traders are from different regions where different laws governed the way of life. The first solution to the problem was introduced in Ancient Greece where special courts were made to settle international cases, although only local laws were applied there, it was equally available to all citizens, local or non-local. A similar method was used later in Rome, where special tribunals dealt with cases involving individuals from other states.
The modern day development of Private International Law, or Conflict of Laws as it is sometimes referred to, was in the middle ages, when trading between countries was the main way of life. Rules such as lex mercatoria governed the trading between merchants. But this set of rules was only applicable to merchants’ trading between cities. As the world grew new laws had to be introduced. The modern global world has changed dramatically since. Now Private International Law has a big part in our everyday lives. …