International business transactions

International business transactions este un manual universitar adresat, in principal, studentilor facultatilor de drept. Doamna Raluca Papadima imbina in aceasta carte solidele cunostinte teoretice (dobandite in calitate de cercetator si cadru universitar) cu bogata experienta practica in domeniu, dobandita in calitate de avocat specializat in tranzactii si litigii cu o componenta internationala. 

A rezultat astfel un manual in care „mecanisme” juridice (aparent complicate) ce sustin orice tranzactie comerciala internationala sunt „descifrate” metodic si expuse intr-o maniera logica si cursiva, presarata cu numeroase exemple si aplicatii practice, articulate pe o structura clara si usor accesibila.

Desi este scrisa in limba engleza (ori, poate tocmai din acest motiv), aceasta carte va fi interesanta si pentru practicienii dreptului afacerilor din Romania, precum si pentru departamentele societatilor comerciale din Romania cu activitati de import-export, mai ales prin prisma exemplelor (clauze tip, contracte, documente standard folosite in tranzactii comerciale cu o componenta internationala etc.), a precizarilor terminologice si a elementelor grafice menite sa sistematizeze conceptele mai dificile.

Structura:

Dupa un capitol introductiv care ofera cateva consideratii de fundal, urmatoarele zece capitole ale cartii urmaresc intregul proces al unei tranzactii comerciale internationale.

•    Capitolul I discuta principalele trei forme de tranzactii comerciale internationale.

•    Capitolul II analizeaza cadrul legal aplicabil tranzactiilor comerciale internationale, clarificand granitele dintre urmatoarele categorii de reglementari: dreptul national (de natura privata sau publica, inclusiv dreptul international privat), dreptul international public si instrumentele internationale de armonizare.

•   Capitolele III-V aprofundeaza in detaliu fiecare dintre principalele trei forme de tranzactii comerciale internationale: importul si exportul (discutand controalele guvernamentale si liberalizarea comertului); transferul de tehnologie (implicand contractele de licenta, de franciza si protectia drepturilor de proprietate intelectuala – o problema de importanta fundamentala in afacerile internationale de astazi) si investitiile straine directe (cu analiza tipurilor de investitii straine si a regimului juridic aplicabil investitiilor internationale).

•    Capitolul VI este dedicat metodelor de solutionare a conflictelor ce decurg din tranzactiile comerciale internationale, cu accent deosebit pe arbitrajul comercial international, pe langa judecata, mediere si conciliere.

•    Capitolul VII analizeaza in detaliu Conventia Natiunilor Unite privind contractele de vanzare internationala de marfuri, care reprezinta legea uniforma aplicabila contractelor de vanzare de marfuri incheiate intre parti comerciale situate in tari diferite.

•    Capitolul VIII trece in revista o serie de aspecte specifice utilizate pentru structurarea contractelor comerciale internationale de vanzare de marfuri (conditii comerciale, transport, finantare comerciala si vanzare documentara).

•    Capitolul IX trece in revista practica de redactare a contractelor comerciale internationale in general, inclusiv un numar de clauze standard care sunt folosite in vasta majoritate a contractelor comerciale internationale, precum si anumite reguli de interpretare specifice acestor contracte.

•    Capitolul X abordeaza responsabilitatea sociala corporativa si examineaza obligatiile intreprinderilor multinationale cu privire la aspectele legate de drepturile omului, conditiile de munca si mediu.

•    In sfarsit, desi intreaga lucrare contine numeroase exercitii practice, extrase din instrumente legale relevante si exemple de documente si clauze tip, capitolul XI este dedicat unei explorari mai profunde a tranzactiilor comerciale internationale in practica, printr-o serie de exercitii distractive si provocatoare, care contextualizeaza dezvoltarile teoretice cuprinse in cele zece capitole precedente.

About the book:

International business transactions is a textbook for law school students interested in international commercial law and disputes. It is written in a manner than enables students from a civil law jurisdiction (such as Romania or France) to understand that common law jurisdictions (such as the United States or the United Kingdom) might have a different approach with respect to a particular legal issue, and viceversa.

This book is written in English because English is the language of international commercial transactions under the influence of Anglo-Saxon practice. This enabled the author to draw not only from her vast academic experience but also from her experience as a practitioner. The result is a book replete with examples (standard clauses, possible variations of other clauses, standard documents used in connection with an international business transaction, sample contracts, etc.), legal sources in an excerpted format in other to allow focusing on the core of the regulations (international instruments, national laws, domestic cases, international arbitral awards, etc.), take away points in graphical form, as well as instructive and fun practical exercises. Because this book links theory and practice at every step of the way, it can serve as a useful guide to legal practitioners and business managers of import-export companies too.

The book reviews methodically the three main forms of doing business internationally: trade (import and export), technology transfer (licenses and franchises) and foreign direct investment.  After reviewing the applicable legal framework and the main concepts for each form (including trade liberalization and international protection of intellectual property rights), the book focuses on the contract for the international sale of goods in great detail by reviewing how such contracts are structured (trade terms, transportation, trade finance and the documentary sale), drafted, interpreted and performed. This book also discusses methods of dispute resolution used in connection with international business transactions, with a particular emphasis on international commercial arbitration. Lastly, this book explores the concept of corporate social responsibility and examines the obligations of multinational enterprises doing business globally.