Research subject Private International and Procedural Law

Private international law includes questions of how to deal with legal problems and issues that arise between private parties (such as individuals or different kinds of associations) and that in some way cross national borders.

The rules of Private International and Procedural Law (hereinafter PIP law) is based on national  law, but might also display links with public international law, especially when PIP legal rules are based on international conventions or directly applicable EU regulations. The rules essentially answer three questions: first, which country has jurisdiction; second, which country's law applies; and third, whether a judgment given in one country can be enforced in another country.

An example how PIP law may come into play is where the parties to a contract dispute (e.g. involving a purchase agreement) reside in two different countries, and, consequently, the contractual relationship has links to the legal systems of both countries. A similar situation arises in cases of transborder environmental damage , such as, in cases of an oil spill from a ship that causes damage to fishing or land owners in several countries. PIP law also has important implications for family law as when, for example, a person immigrates to live in another country. In such a case, questions may arise in the new country concerning the law to be applied to divorce, division of marital property and inheritance.