English Commercial Law as a System for Transnational Commerce

The 2023 Hamlyn lectures focus on the relationship between law and nations through specific issues of current and longer term interest: (1) the scope of Welsh law after its re-birth and (2) law used in transnational commerce. The lectures explore the laws that a nation needs and are national in their application and the laws needed for transnational commerce that are best if transnational in their application or agreed as transnational law.

The University of Birmingham are delighted to host the Rt Hon Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd to deliver this years Second Hamlyn Lecture.

This second lecture turns to examine the needs of international commerce, past and present for law and the effect of the significant changes in commerce (including digitalisation, AI and climate change) on that need. It will explain the basis of the successful development of English commercial law so that its wide use in meeting those needs gave it a transnational status. The lecture will then consider the role English commercial law has played and plays in the development of transnational law and the continuing attraction of commerce to the defining characteristics of English commercial law. It concludes by examining the current position of English commercial law in its transnational context.