Discusses the importance of optional choice of court agreements in different legal systems

Offers an overview of this area of the law and a synthesis of the findings of 19 national reporters

Presents contributions by leading academics

Part I: General Report.- Optional Choice of Court Agreements in Private International Law: General Report.- Part II: National Reports.- Australia: Inconsistencies in the Treatment of Optional Choice of Court Agreements.- Belgium: Optional Choice of Court Agreements, Legal Uncertainty Despite a Modern Legal Framework.- Québec : Les Clauses D'Élection De For facultatives En droit international Privé Québécois.- Choice of Court Agreements in Common Law Canada.- People's Republic of China (PRC): Optional Choice of Court Agreements in the Vibrant Age.- Czech Republic: The Treatment of Optional and Exclusive Choice of Court Agreements.- France: A Game of Asymmetries, Optional and Asymmetrical Choice of Court Agreements Under French Case Law.- Optional Choice of Court Agreements: German National Report.- Greece: A Forum Favorable to Optional Choice of Court Agreements.- Japan: Quests for Equilibrium and Certainty.- The Netherlands: Optional Choice of Court Agreements in a Globalizing World.- Romania: Interpretation and Effects of Optional Jurisdiction Agreements in International Disputes.- Singapore: A Mix of Traditional and New Rules.- South Africa: Time for Reform.- Switzerland: Choice of Court Agreements According to the Code on Civil Procedure, the Private International Law Act and the Lugano Convention.- Taiwan: Legislation and Practice on Choice of Court Agreements in Taiwan.- Turkey: Optional Choice of Court Agreements.- United Kingdom: Giving Effect to Optional Choice of Court Agreements-Interpretation, Operation and Enforcement.- United States: The Interpretation and Effect of Permissive Forum Selection Clauses.