Geert Van Calster
@gavclaw.bsky.social
Geert is a practising lawyer and full professor at KU Leuven, and a visiting prof i.a. at Monash University, Melbourne. Mostly law. Just law. Blogs at www.gavclaw.com
We will remember them.
November 11, 2025 at 12:01 AM
We will remember them.
This is going into my conflict of laws class slidedeck.
November 8, 2025 at 5:19 AM
This is going into my conflict of laws class slidedeck.
Upside: current ‘spring’ in Melbourne means I aced a run, seeing as I had to pace consistently just to keep warm….
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Smorgasbord of weather conditions to hit east coast this weekend
Australia's weather has been highly volatile during the past fortnight, and this weekend will serve up another smorgasbord of atmospheric variability.
www.abc.net.au
November 8, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Upside: current ‘spring’ in Melbourne means I aced a run, seeing as I had to pace consistently just to keep warm….
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Dutch Supreme Court on valid dépeçage within the context of A3 Rome I choice of law, lex voluntatis
Airgas USA v Universal Africa Lines ECLI:NL:HR:2025:1665 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
For the clause at issue see ⬇️
Airgas USA v Universal Africa Lines ECLI:NL:HR:2025:1665 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
For the clause at issue see ⬇️
November 7, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Dutch Supreme Court on valid dépeçage within the context of A3 Rome I choice of law, lex voluntatis
Airgas USA v Universal Africa Lines ECLI:NL:HR:2025:1665 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
For the clause at issue see ⬇️
Airgas USA v Universal Africa Lines ECLI:NL:HR:2025:1665 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
For the clause at issue see ⬇️
Reposted by Geert Van Calster
As predicted, the EU is ready to dismantle its Digital Rulebook as it did with the Green Deal.
It does so upon US administration’s demand and under Big Tech pressure.
It’s a self-inflicted political decision putting the EU on a deregulatory turn on.ft.com/47vqFOl
It does so upon US administration’s demand and under Big Tech pressure.
It’s a self-inflicted political decision putting the EU on a deregulatory turn on.ft.com/47vqFOl
EU weighs pausing parts of landmark AI act in face of US and Big Tech pressure
Brussels is set to water down part of its strict digital rule book as it aims to make bloc more competitive
on.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:07 AM
As predicted, the EU is ready to dismantle its Digital Rulebook as it did with the Green Deal.
It does so upon US administration’s demand and under Big Tech pressure.
It’s a self-inflicted political decision putting the EU on a deregulatory turn on.ft.com/47vqFOl
It does so upon US administration’s demand and under Big Tech pressure.
It’s a self-inflicted political decision putting the EU on a deregulatory turn on.ft.com/47vqFOl
Mornington Peninsula.
With storms slowly brewing in central Melbourne.
With storms slowly brewing in central Melbourne.
November 7, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Mornington Peninsula.
With storms slowly brewing in central Melbourne.
With storms slowly brewing in central Melbourne.
Opinion AG at the Dutch SC following CJEU judgment in Athenian Brewery
A8(1) BIa, anchor defendants, competition law, liability of mother holding
Suggests Court of Appeal judgment should stand.
Links and background here gavclaw.com/2025/02/13/a...
A8(1) BIa, anchor defendants, competition law, liability of mother holding
Suggests Court of Appeal judgment should stand.
Links and background here gavclaw.com/2025/02/13/a...
Athenian Brewery: The CJEU is less claimant-friendly than its AG in use of the anchor defendant mechanism for competition law damages claims. Rules out mini-trials at the jurisdictional stage yet insi...
If you do use the blog for research, practice submission or database purposes, citation would be appreciated, to the blog as a whole and /or to specific blog posts. Many have suggested I should tur…
gavclaw.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Opinion AG at the Dutch SC following CJEU judgment in Athenian Brewery
A8(1) BIa, anchor defendants, competition law, liability of mother holding
Suggests Court of Appeal judgment should stand.
Links and background here gavclaw.com/2025/02/13/a...
A8(1) BIa, anchor defendants, competition law, liability of mother holding
Suggests Court of Appeal judgment should stand.
Links and background here gavclaw.com/2025/02/13/a...
Correct application of A31(2) Brussels Ia, stay of Dutch proceedings ordered pending decision by later seized Austrian court whether it has jurisdiction on the basis of A25 choice of court
First instance Midden-Nederland X BV v Asfinag ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2025:5217 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
First instance Midden-Nederland X BV v Asfinag ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2025:5217 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
Rechtspraak.nl - Zoeken in uitspraken
Zoeken in uitspraken
deeplink.rechtspraak.nl
November 6, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Correct application of A31(2) Brussels Ia, stay of Dutch proceedings ordered pending decision by later seized Austrian court whether it has jurisdiction on the basis of A25 choice of court
First instance Midden-Nederland X BV v Asfinag ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2025:5217 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
First instance Midden-Nederland X BV v Asfinag ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2025:5217 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
IMO plainly wrong decision of Dutch first instance judge holding reflexive effect of A24(1) Brussels Ia, viz ownership of house in Morocco (with both partners domiciled in the Netherlands)
ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2025:5478 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2025:5478 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
Rechtspraak.nl - Zoeken in uitspraken
Zoeken in uitspraken
deeplink.rechtspraak.nl
November 6, 2025 at 10:41 PM
IMO plainly wrong decision of Dutch first instance judge holding reflexive effect of A24(1) Brussels Ia, viz ownership of house in Morocco (with both partners domiciled in the Netherlands)
ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2025:5478 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2025:5478 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
Interesting, unsuccessful application for judicial review of permitted waste incineration facility, based on (initially EU) waste hierarchy in particular the proximity principle
Stop Portland Waste Incinerator v [HMG] [2025] EWCA Civ 1405 www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
Stop Portland Waste Incinerator v [HMG] [2025] EWCA Civ 1405 www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
Stop Portland Waste Incinerator v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government & Ors [2025] EWCA Civ 1405 (06 November 2025)
www.bailii.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Interesting, unsuccessful application for judicial review of permitted waste incineration facility, based on (initially EU) waste hierarchy in particular the proximity principle
Stop Portland Waste Incinerator v [HMG] [2025] EWCA Civ 1405 www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
Stop Portland Waste Incinerator v [HMG] [2025] EWCA Civ 1405 www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
Successful appeal, A12 Hague Convention, 'settled into its new environment' exception (A13(b) appeal unsuccessful)
B (Child Abduction: Settlement) (Rev1) [2025] EWCA Civ 1382
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
B (Child Abduction: Settlement) (Rev1) [2025] EWCA Civ 1382
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
Access denied
www.bailii.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Successful appeal, A12 Hague Convention, 'settled into its new environment' exception (A13(b) appeal unsuccessful)
B (Child Abduction: Settlement) (Rev1) [2025] EWCA Civ 1382
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
B (Child Abduction: Settlement) (Rev1) [2025] EWCA Civ 1382
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled…In my Father’s house are many rooms’.
—All Saints, All Souls.
—All Saints, All Souls.
November 1, 2025 at 7:16 AM
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled…In my Father’s house are many rooms’.
—All Saints, All Souls.
—All Saints, All Souls.
Emiliou AG yesterday took a nuanced view in first of many CJEU cases re Maltese betting companies & consumer law
C‑198/24 TQ v Mr Green curia.europa.eu/juris/docume...
This Opinion re APO Account Preservation Order Regulation.
More soon, background is here
gavclaw.com/2025/03/08/m...
C‑198/24 TQ v Mr Green curia.europa.eu/juris/docume...
This Opinion re APO Account Preservation Order Regulation.
More soon, background is here
gavclaw.com/2025/03/08/m...
CURIA - Documents
curia.europa.eu
October 31, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Emiliou AG yesterday took a nuanced view in first of many CJEU cases re Maltese betting companies & consumer law
C‑198/24 TQ v Mr Green curia.europa.eu/juris/docume...
This Opinion re APO Account Preservation Order Regulation.
More soon, background is here
gavclaw.com/2025/03/08/m...
C‑198/24 TQ v Mr Green curia.europa.eu/juris/docume...
This Opinion re APO Account Preservation Order Regulation.
More soon, background is here
gavclaw.com/2025/03/08/m...
Blogged.
The CJEU in [Pome], yesterday: Member States cannot hide rules clearly restrictive of choice of court behind Article 25 Brussel Ia's lex fori prorogati rule. Re-emphasises party autonomy as a foundational principle under Brussels Ia.
gavclaw.com/2025/10/31/t...
The CJEU in [Pome], yesterday: Member States cannot hide rules clearly restrictive of choice of court behind Article 25 Brussel Ia's lex fori prorogati rule. Re-emphasises party autonomy as a foundational principle under Brussels Ia.
gavclaw.com/2025/10/31/t...
The CJEU in [Pome]: Member States cannot hide rules clearly restrictive of choice of court behind Article 25 Brussel Ia’s lex fori prorogati rule. Re-emphasises party autonomy as a foundational princi...
In Case C‑398/24 [Pome], the CJEU yesterday held without AG Opinion. Under Estonian law, choice of court is only valid in respect of disputes connected with the economic or professional activity of…
gavclaw.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Blogged.
The CJEU in [Pome], yesterday: Member States cannot hide rules clearly restrictive of choice of court behind Article 25 Brussel Ia's lex fori prorogati rule. Re-emphasises party autonomy as a foundational principle under Brussels Ia.
gavclaw.com/2025/10/31/t...
The CJEU in [Pome], yesterday: Member States cannot hide rules clearly restrictive of choice of court behind Article 25 Brussel Ia's lex fori prorogati rule. Re-emphasises party autonomy as a foundational principle under Brussels Ia.
gavclaw.com/2025/10/31/t...
Interesting viz discovery forum shopping www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/bhp-ask...
BHP asks High Court to block Pogust Goodhead's US proceedings
Firm is seeking evidence from a witness for not yet issued English proceedings which mining company describes as 'oppressive' and 'unjust'.
www.lawgazette.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Interesting viz discovery forum shopping www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/bhp-ask...
Blogged
The impact of full (rights and obligations) and partial (rights only) assignment on choice of court under Article 25 Brussels Ia. The CJEU in E.B. v K.P.
gavclaw.com/2025/10/27/t...
The impact of full (rights and obligations) and partial (rights only) assignment on choice of court under Article 25 Brussels Ia. The CJEU in E.B. v K.P.
gavclaw.com/2025/10/27/t...
The impact of full (rights and obligations) and partial (rights only) assignment on choice of court under Article 25 Brussels Ia. The CJEU in E.B. v K.P.
The CJEU held last Thursday in C-682/23 E.B. sp. z o.o. v K.P. sp. z o.o. (my usual grumble on anonymisation: there is exactly zero reason to anonymise names in a bog standard B2B litigation fought…
gavclaw.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Blogged
The impact of full (rights and obligations) and partial (rights only) assignment on choice of court under Article 25 Brussels Ia. The CJEU in E.B. v K.P.
gavclaw.com/2025/10/27/t...
The impact of full (rights and obligations) and partial (rights only) assignment on choice of court under Article 25 Brussels Ia. The CJEU in E.B. v K.P.
gavclaw.com/2025/10/27/t...
Anti-suit partially lifted to allow settlement in USA even though E&W courts & English law say they are right on the matter
Held commercial freedom takes priority over the theory of private international law
Cape v Protopapas[2025] EWHC 2706 (Ch)
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
Held commercial freedom takes priority over the theory of private international law
Cape v Protopapas[2025] EWHC 2706 (Ch)
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
Cape Intermediate Holdings Ltd & Anor v Protopapas & Ors (Rev2) [2025] EWHC 2706 (Ch) (20 October 2025)
www.bailii.org
October 27, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Anti-suit partially lifted to allow settlement in USA even though E&W courts & English law say they are right on the matter
Held commercial freedom takes priority over the theory of private international law
Cape v Protopapas[2025] EWHC 2706 (Ch)
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
Held commercial freedom takes priority over the theory of private international law
Cape v Protopapas[2025] EWHC 2706 (Ch)
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
The Court of Justice this morning on assignment of claims in the event of transfer of rights only but not obligations, and their impact on choice of court, Article 25 Brussels Ia
C‑682/23 E.B. v K.P. lnkd.in/eHidw98u
More on my first take here www.linkedin.com/posts/geert-...
C‑682/23 E.B. v K.P. lnkd.in/eHidw98u
More on my first take here www.linkedin.com/posts/geert-...
Language of document : | Geert van Calster
The Court of Justice this morning on assignment of claims and their impact on choice of court, Article 25 Brussels Ia.
C‑682/23 E.B. sp. z o.o. t K.P. sp. z o.o. https://lnkd.in/eHidw98u
Whether the...
www.linkedin.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The Court of Justice this morning on assignment of claims in the event of transfer of rights only but not obligations, and their impact on choice of court, Article 25 Brussels Ia
C‑682/23 E.B. v K.P. lnkd.in/eHidw98u
More on my first take here www.linkedin.com/posts/geert-...
C‑682/23 E.B. v K.P. lnkd.in/eHidw98u
More on my first take here www.linkedin.com/posts/geert-...
Interesting case of petitioner having asked & been declared bankrupt on domicile grounds (part of the English test) using Brexit to block the estate being wound up seeing Austria will not recognise the order: COMI is in Austria
Nilsson ea v Jones [2025] EWHC 2652 (Ch)
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
Nilsson ea v Jones [2025] EWHC 2652 (Ch)
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
Nilsson & Anor v Jones [2025] EWHC 2652 (Ch) (16 October 2025)
www.bailii.org
October 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Interesting case of petitioner having asked & been declared bankrupt on domicile grounds (part of the English test) using Brexit to block the estate being wound up seeing Austria will not recognise the order: COMI is in Austria
Nilsson ea v Jones [2025] EWHC 2652 (Ch)
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
Nilsson ea v Jones [2025] EWHC 2652 (Ch)
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWH...
Exercise of inherent jurisdiction in the Family Law Act FLA exercised in light of lack of Hague 1996 jurisdiction
The quagmire of the oft-amended FLA
JK (Return Order Under Inherent Jurisdiction) [2025] EWCA Civ 1309
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
The quagmire of the oft-amended FLA
JK (Return Order Under Inherent Jurisdiction) [2025] EWCA Civ 1309
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
JK (Return Order Under Inherent Jurisdiction) [2025] EWCA Civ 1309 (17 October 2025)
www.bailii.org
October 20, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Exercise of inherent jurisdiction in the Family Law Act FLA exercised in light of lack of Hague 1996 jurisdiction
The quagmire of the oft-amended FLA
JK (Return Order Under Inherent Jurisdiction) [2025] EWCA Civ 1309
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
The quagmire of the oft-amended FLA
JK (Return Order Under Inherent Jurisdiction) [2025] EWCA Civ 1309
www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
Exercise of jurisdiction despite ICC arbitration: length of ICC proceedings, lack of contractual arbitral interim relief necessitates intervention of court in ordinary
IT restructuring has no impact: debt concerned not covered
A'dam Albatross v Rizzani deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
IT restructuring has no impact: debt concerned not covered
A'dam Albatross v Rizzani deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
Rechtspraak.nl - Zoeken in uitspraken
Zoeken in uitspraken
deeplink.rechtspraak.nl
October 17, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Exercise of jurisdiction despite ICC arbitration: length of ICC proceedings, lack of contractual arbitral interim relief necessitates intervention of court in ordinary
IT restructuring has no impact: debt concerned not covered
A'dam Albatross v Rizzani deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
IT restructuring has no impact: debt concerned not covered
A'dam Albatross v Rizzani deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
Another wonky GDPR, Brussels Ia jurisdictional finding (but with stay of the case pending CJEU review in Rotterdam Amazon case) in WAMCA collective proceeding
More on the blog soon
SOMI and DPS v various Mata /Facebook entities ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2025:7489 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
More on the blog soon
SOMI and DPS v various Mata /Facebook entities ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2025:7489 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
Rechtspraak.nl - Zoeken in uitspraken
Zoeken in uitspraken
deeplink.rechtspraak.nl
October 17, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Another wonky GDPR, Brussels Ia jurisdictional finding (but with stay of the case pending CJEU review in Rotterdam Amazon case) in WAMCA collective proceeding
More on the blog soon
SOMI and DPS v various Mata /Facebook entities ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2025:7489 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
More on the blog soon
SOMI and DPS v various Mata /Facebook entities ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2025:7489 deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
WOLSPEDTRANS v COMPENSA TOWARZYSTWO
Good example of how choice of court clauses may be too clever by half, therefore unclear and invalid
Dutch court accepts jurisdiction on the basis of A13 Brussels Ia, insurance
deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
Good example of how choice of court clauses may be too clever by half, therefore unclear and invalid
Dutch court accepts jurisdiction on the basis of A13 Brussels Ia, insurance
deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
Rechtspraak.nl - Zoeken in uitspraken
Zoeken in uitspraken
deeplink.rechtspraak.nl
October 16, 2025 at 12:51 PM
WOLSPEDTRANS v COMPENSA TOWARZYSTWO
Good example of how choice of court clauses may be too clever by half, therefore unclear and invalid
Dutch court accepts jurisdiction on the basis of A13 Brussels Ia, insurance
deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
Good example of how choice of court clauses may be too clever by half, therefore unclear and invalid
Dutch court accepts jurisdiction on the basis of A13 Brussels Ia, insurance
deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id...
'Objective' science.
🧵🚨
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 16, 2025 at 7:51 AM
'Objective' science.