Business Law International (BLI)
About Business Law International
Published by the IBA’s Legal Practice Division, Business Law International covers the latest developments in all areas of business law across the globe, from M&A to employment, competition to tax, offering rigorous comparative analysis of how the law affects business in different jurisdictions and across borders.
Business Law International is edited by Peter Alexiadis, visiting professor at King’s College London. Peter is assisted by an editorial board of experts in international business law. Business Law International reaches approximately 16,000 leading practitioners around the world.
Articles aim to reflect and analyse current developments in all area of business law. You can find out more by reading our guidelines for contributors. If you would like to contribute to Business Law International, please email the Managing Editor at editor@int-bar.org.
If you are not a member of the IBA, you can find out more about how to join here.
Members of the Legal Practice Division receive Business Law International as part of their membership. PDF-only subscriptions are also available to non-members. Please email editor@int-bar.org to order.
ISSN 1467 632X
Pricing: £113 per issue
£307 per year, three issues per year
Five per cent agency discount available on annual subscription
Latest Issue - Volume 26 Number 1, January 2025
Since the introduction of the legislative regime for class actions in Canada, there has been a growing number, size and scope of legal claims being litigated as class proceedings in Canada, including mass consumer class actions. As most class actions settle before proceeding to trial, and the court must approve any class action settlement, this has led to increased judicial scrutiny of class action settlements, and a growing body of case law in Canada analysing what a class action settlement that is fair, reasonable and in the best interest of the class members looks like, particularly in the unique context of a mass consumer class action.
In this article, we provide an in-depth review of the law in Canada concerning the settlement of mass consumer class actions, outline the observed trend of increased judicial scrutiny over mass consumer class action settlements and ultimately conclude that the question of whether a settlement is fair, reasonable and in the best interest of the class can be a challenging question to answer in mass consumer class actions, given the unique features of these types of claims.
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Language in the context of the law can affect the ability of parties to participate and access justice, thus influencing sovereign equality and due process. With such implications, the choice of language in the law is one requiring significant reflection. The choice of law may also bring with it certain legal and cultural influences.
This article explores the language of the law in different contexts. The use of language is the common thread throughout, affecting the law in a wide range of environments. It addresses five topics, each of which is the subject of substantive and extensive exploration and research in the academic papers of legal and linguistic experts alike. The article therefore provides an overview of the use of language in the practice of international business law.
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This article provides a comprehensive examination of Pakistan’s legislative and policy framework for attracting and protecting foreign direct investment (FDI). It examines key legislative acts, including the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947, the Foreign Private Investment (Promotion and Protection) Act 1976 and the Protection of Economic Reforms Act 1992, highlighting their significance in fostering a stable and investor-friendly environment. The article also examines the Investment Policies of 2013 and 2023, focusing on liberalisation efforts and facilitation measures such as the one-window operations and incentives for high-value sectors.
The article provides comparative analysis with India and Bangladesh’s FDI regimes, which underscores similarities and differences, with a focus on regulatory measures, challenges and special programmes such as Make in India and Bangladesh’s open-door policy. The article further highlights Pakistan’s emphasis on Special Economic Zones and significant infrastructure projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as key components of its strategy for attracting varied international investment.
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To explore the recent evolution of Fintech, this article provides a general analysis of the latest IBA Banking & Financial Law Committee research project, Fintech: how is the world shaping the financial innovation industry? (2024). In doing so, it aims to illustrate the key changes across various areas of interest and regions, focusing on how different jurisdictions have adapted their regulatory frameworks to accommodate new technologies and user behaviour.
This analysis includes an overview of Fintech and crypto regulatory frameworks, payment service providers and digital wallets and open banking. Each area has seen major developments, and there exist clear examples of how different jurisdictions have chosen specific approaches in law-making to adapt to new or upcoming technologies.
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Case comment: UK Court of Appeal Redefines Patentability Boundaries for Artificial Neural Networks -
In a landmark judgment, the UK Court of Appeal has clarified the patent eligibility of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven systems, examining artificial neural networks under the computer program exclusion and clarifying patent eligibility requirements for intellectual property protection in AI innovation.
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- Volume 25 Number 3, September 2024
- Volume 25 Number 2, May 2024
- Volume 25 Number 1, January 2024
- Volume 24 Number 3, September 2023
- Volume 24 Number 2, May 2023
- Volume 24 Number 1, January 2023
- Volume 23 Number 3, September 2022
- Volume 23 Number 2, May 2022
- Volume 23 Number 1, January 2022
- Volume 22 Number 3, September 2021
- Volume 22 Number 2, May 2021
- Volume 22 Number 1, January 2021
- Volume 21 Number 3, September 2020
- Volume 21 Number 2, May 2020
- Volume 21 Number 1, January 2020
- Volume 20 Number 3, September 2019
- Volume 20 Number 2, May 2019
- Volume 20 Number 1, January 2019
Business Law International Podcasts
Assessing the UK’s Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act
In this, the first Business Law International (BLI) podcast, Melissa Stock, Member of the BLI Editorial Board and a barrister at Millennium Chambers in London, invites a panel of experts to analyse the UK’s Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, which became law in October 2023. The panel discuss the background to the legislation and its implications, including in respect of failure to prevent obligations and corporate liability.
Joining Melissa are:
- Tim Harris, Podcast Officer for the IBA Anti-Corruption Committee and counsel at Cohen & Gresser in London, whose practice focuses on white collar criminal defence, including internal and regulatory investigations, regulatory enforcement, and financial crime compliance;
- Alex Swan, Website Officer on the IBA Business Crime Committee and of counsel in the London White Collar Defence & Investigations practice at Greenberg Traurig; and
- Shaul Brazil, Conference Coordinator on the IBA Criminal Law Committee and a partner at BCL in London, specialising in business crime and regulatory enforcement.
(Editor’s notes: This podcast was recorded in mid-December 2023. The podcast makes reference to the case brought by the SFO against former Barclays executives in 2019. All of those charged in the case pleaded not guilty.)
How to order the journal
Member of the Legal Practice Division receive Business Law International as part of their membership. PDF-only subscriptions are also available to non-members. Please email editor@int-bar.org to order.
ISSN 1467 632X
Pricing: £113 per issue
£307 per year, three issues per year
Five per cent agency discount available on annual subscription
Books for review
Please send details of books for review to editor@int-bar.org.
Guidelines for authors
Prospective authors should read the Guidelines for Authors and IBA Style Guide documents before submitting their paper for review.
Copyright and Disclaimer
Copyright: The IBA holds copyright in all articles, newsletters and papers published by them. If you wish to reproduce or distribute any IBA publication or any part of an IBA publication, permission must be requested in writing from the Managing Editor at editor@int-bar.org, and due acknowledgment given.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in journals, newsletters and papers are those of the contributors, and not necessarily those of the International Bar Association