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International Arbitration Vis Moot

International Institute for the Unification of Private Law

The International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) is an independent intergovernmental Organisation with its seat in the Villa Aldobrandini in Rome. Its purpose is to study needs and methods for modernising, harmonising and co-ordinating private and in particular commercial law as between States and groups of States and to formulate uniform law instruments, principles and rules to achieve those objectives.

It was set up in 1926, as part of the League of Nations.  And re-established in 1940, on the basis of a multilateral treaty--the UNIDROIT statute. 

UNIDROIT's Governing Council approves Principles of International Commercial Contracts

The Fourth Edition, appearing in 2016, consists of 211 Articles and covers important topics related to general contract law.  

Commentary on  the 2016 Principles is available at this link

UNILEX

UNILEX offers specific guidance on UNIDROIT Principles, including searchable case abstracts (where available) and references to interpreting commentary. [Note: UNILEX is based on a research project started in 1992 by the Centre for Comparative and Foreign Law Studies – a joint venture of the Italian National Research Council, the University of Rome I “La Sapienza”, and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT)]. 

International Case Law & Bibliography.  

You may search by cases by:

  • date
  • court
  • arbitral tribunal
  • article and issues
  • type of contract
  • nationality of parties
  • domestic law, as interpreted by UNIDROIT Principles
  • international law, as interpreted by UNIDROIT Principles

You may search the UNIDROIT Bibliography by:

  • author
  • article
  • area
  • subjects