Morris: The Conflict of Laws has, for over fifty years, been recognised as one of the principal textbooks in the field of conflict of laws, or private international law. It provides comprehensive coverage of the subject, charting the evolution of its core concepts and underlying principles while analysing how these are applied in contemporary English judicial practice.
The eleventh edition has been extensively updated to reflect significant recent developments in the field. Notable updates include discussion of the evolving English conflict of laws framework following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union; major revisions to the chapters on jurisdiction in light of the UK’s unsuccessful attempt to rejoin the Lugano Convention, together with expanded treatment of the Hague Choice of Court Convention and developments concerning service outside the jurisdiction; and new analysis of the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments following the UK’s implementation of the Hague Judgments Convention. The edition also introduces substantial revisions in international family law, particularly reflecting the central role of the Hague Child Protection Convention in English practice, and continues to examine developments related to the Rome Regulations and retained EU legislation that remain fundamental to international commercial law. Throughout the text, increased attention is given to the work of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, whose conventions have gained greater prominence in English law as the influence of EU law has diminished. In addition, the book incorporates significant recent case law, including thirteen decisions of the UK Supreme Court, and has been thoroughly reworked in several areas—such as the act of state doctrine and parentage—to support a deeper and more critical understanding of the subject.
Consistent with its longstanding approach, Morris integrates theoretical analysis and methodological discussion with a clear explanation of increasingly complex legal rules. The latest edition continues to promote critical engagement with the subject and highlights its growing importance within England’s multicultural society and an increasingly interconnected global legal landscape. Authoritative, comprehensive and accessible in style, the work remains an essential resource for undergraduate and postgraduate law students, as well as for legal practitioners.
