Synopses & Reviews
The past 30 years have seen important legal developments in relation to the immunities and privileges enjoyed by the subjects of international law, not least the enactment in several jurisdictions of detailed legislation on these issues. The editors provide detailed annotations and commentary on a large range of key materials, including international agreements and domestic legislation, concerning the immunities of states, international organisations, diplomatic missions and consular posts. Focusing on legislation in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, the commentary looks at the application of immunities and privileges as well their practical significance for practitioners in both jurisdictions. The text will be fully cross-referenced and indexed.
About the Author
Clifford Chance is unique in having a dedicated International Law Group, based in London, comprising lawyers who specialize in all aspects of public and private international law. The Group is frequently consulted on matters of considerable sensitivity, and has substantial experience of managing large and complex cases and of co-ordinating the response of governments, other organizations and entities (both public and private) to them. They represent clients in international claims tribunals in the English courts and in other domestic and regional tribunals, and undertake a wide range of advisory work.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Summary of materials and discussion of trends in the immunities of international legal persons
Part 1: Sovereign immunity
International instruments (with tables of signatures and ratifications) including:
Brussels Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules relating to the Immunity of State Owned Vessels 1926 (and 1934 Protocol).
European Convention on State Immunity 1972 (with explanatory notes).
ILC Draft Articles of the Jurisdictional Immunities of States and their Property 1991 (with explanatory notes)
Draft Articles of the International Law Association and other international law bodies
Domestic legislation including:
UK: State Immunity Act 1978 (with commentary).
USA: Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act 1976 (with commentary).
Relevant legislation from other jurisdictions, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Pakistan, Singapore and South Africa
Part 2: International organizations
International instruments dealing generally with the immunities of international organizations including
ILC Draft Articles on Relations between States and International Organizations.
Domestic legislation including:
UK: International Organizations Act 1968 (with commentary).
USA: International Organizations Immunities Act 1945 (with commentary) Relevant legislation from other jurisdictions
Materials relating to the immunities and privileges of particular international organizations. Extracts from constitutive documents (and headquarters agreements) of principal international organizations dealing with their status, immunities and privileges. Extracts from relevant UK/US legislation (primary or subordinate) relating to principal international organizations
Part 3: Immunities of diplomatic missions, consular posts and special missions
International instruments including: UN Convention on Special Missions 1969. Vienna Convention on the Representation of States in their Relations with International Organizations of a Universal Character 1975
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963.
Relevant UK/US domestic legislation
Select bibliography and list of websites
Subject-matter index