Rechtswahlvereinbarungen

Rechtswahlverein is a term that may denote an organization devoted to the promotion and harmonization of choice-of-law clauses in private international law. The name literally means “choice of law association” in German. While there is no widely recognized international body by this exact name, the concept describes a type of NGO or professional association that advocates for clear, predictable governing-law selections in cross-border agreements and disputes.

In private international law, the parties' ability to choose the applicable law is a well-established tool to regulate legal relationships that cross borders. A Rechtswahlverein, in this sense, would typically engage in activities such as publishing model contract clauses, guidelines for drafting choice-of-law provisions, training for lawyers and judges, and guidance on how such clauses interact with mandatory rules and public policy. It might also provide resources on the interpretation and enforcement of selected laws within different jurisdictions, as well as comparative analyses of leading systems such as the Rome I Regulation for contractual obligations in the European Union.

Critically, choice-of-law clauses must respect mandatory local rules and have proper formatting to avoid conflicts of law or unenforceability. Debates around the Rechtswahlverein's work would center on balancing freedom of contract with consumer protection, public policy, and the limits of judicial cooperation in cross-border cases.

See also: choice of law, private international law, Rome I Regulation, Rome II Regulation, conflict of laws.