Max Planck Lecture Series: Prof. Hannah Buxbaum gave a lecture on “Foreign Governments as Plaintiffs in US Courts”

26 June 2015

In her lecture at the MPI on 24 June 2015, Prof. Buxbaum addressed a subject that is rarely, if ever, addressed in the scholarly literature – the subject of foreign states acting as plaintiffs, and not defendants, before U.S. courts. She presented an overview of her thorough research which is extensive both in its depth and extent. Drawing on the lessons from the practice of foreign governments acting as plaintiffs in US courts, she then drew interim conclusions on such essential subjects as the extraterritorial application of US law, regulatory litigation in the US and perceptions of ‘judicial imperialism’.

The lecture stirred vivid and interesting debate among the attendees of the guest lecture. During the questions and answers sessions, Prof. Buxbaum elaborated on her research and shared her views on the subject.

Professor Buxbaum’s research is in the areas of private international law and international litigation and jurisdiction, and is published in leading U.S. and European journals. She is also the co-author of a leading casebook on international business transactions. Professor Buxbaum is active in a number of national organizations, including the American Society of International Law, the American Society of Comparative Law, and the Association of American Law Schools. She has been elected to membership in the American Law Institute, where she is currently an Advisor for the Restatement (Fourth) of Foreign Relations Law: Jurisdiction and Judgments, and is a titular member of the International Academy of Comparative Law.