Bibliographie sélective OHADA

Un juge en droit de la concurrence est un juge qui est chargé de veiller à ce que les lois sur la concurrence soient respectées. La difficulté est que cette définition peut s’appliquer autant à un juge qu’à une autorité. En effet, le choix de ne pas adapter l’appareil juridictionnel pour une juridiction spécialisée s’est traduit par la création d’une Autorité de la concurrence aux pouvoirs proche d’une juridiction. S’expliquant par une forte prégnance du fait économique dans l’analyse des pratiques anticoncurrentielles, à l’avantage notamment de l’Autorité de la concurrence, le rôle du juge a pourtant évolué au fil des ans. Finalement, est apparu un clivage entre une action publique qui vise à prévenir, à dissuader et à sanctionner les comportements anticoncurrentiels et une action privée qui favorise la réparation d’un préjudice causé aux victimes de pratiques anticoncurrentielles. Il en résulte un rôle différencié dans l’application du droit de la concurrence qui renouvelle la réflexion sur la définition d’un juge du droit de la concurrence

A avaliação para fins de apuração de haveres do sócio, decorrente de dissolução parcial de sociedades limitadas, deve apreciar ativos intangíveis da sociedade para aferir o seu valor patrimonial e da quota parte do sócio retirante, por força do art. 1.031 do Código Civil e do art. 606 do Código de Processo Civil. Essencialmente, o valor dos ativos intangíveis reside na sua expectativa de rentabilidade futura, que pode ser adequadamente avaliada por método econômico, sob a técnica do fluxo de caixa descontado. A doutrina e a jurisprudência são divididas em relação a admissão da avaliação de ativos intangíveis, via de regra analisada no âmbito da avaliação da sociedade, sob critério de continuidade e perenidade. A tese defende que os ativos intangíveis avaliados com base em expectativas de rentabilidade futura devem ser admitidos no escopo da avaliação para fins de apuração de haveres, desde que sob os estritos termos da avaliação conforme determinada pelo direito. O critério de avaliação aplicável é o da dissolução total ficta; o escopo da avaliação abarca todos os ativos sob controle da sociedade, escriturados pela contabilidade ou não, bem como os passivos; tais ativos e passivos são individualmente considerados e avaliados a preço de saída, de modo que o avaliador deve fazê- lo pelo método que retrate da forma mais adequada o preço de mercado do recurso sob avaliação. Deste modo, a tese propõe: a interpretação dos artigos 1.031 do Código Civil e 606 do Código de Processo Civil baseada na técnica dos termos e expressões empregados, bem como na análise do desenvolvimento do tema na legislação brasileira; critérios de reconhecimento dos ativos intangíveis para fins de avaliação; e interpretação pela adequação da avaliação econômica do preço de saída em relação a finalidade almejada pelo regime jurídico atual. The valuation for the purpose of calculating the partner\'s assets, resulting from the partial dissolution of limited liability companies, must assess the company\'s intangible assets to assess their equity value and the share of the withdrawing partner, pursuant to art. 1.031 of the Civil Code and art. 606 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Essentially, the value of intangible assets resides in their expected future profitability, which can be adequately evaluated by the economic method, under the discounted cash flow technique. The doctrine and jurisprudence are divided in relation to the admission of the evaluation of intangible assets, as a rule analyzed in the context of the evaluation of the company, under the criterion of continuity and perpetuity. This thesis argues that intangible assets evaluated based on expectations of future profitability should be admitted in the scope of the evaluation for the purpose of calculating assets, provided that under the strict terms of the evaluation as determined by law. The applicable evaluation criterion is the fictitious total dissolution; the scope of the assessment covers all assets under the company\'s control, whether or not recorded in accounting, as well as liabilities; such assets and liabilities are individually considered and valued at the exit price, so the valuer must do so using the method that most adequately portrays the market price of the asset under valuation. Thus, the thesis proposes: the interpretation of articles 1031 of the Civil Code and 606 of the Code of Civil Procedure based on the technique of terms and expressions used, as well as on the analysis of the development of the theme in Brazilian legislation; criteria for recognizing intangible assets for valuation purposes; and interpretation for the adequacy of the economic assessment of the exit price in relation to the purpose sought by the current legal regime.

Tese de doutorado de Direito Comercial desenvolvida em forma de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, com a utilização preponderante do método analítico e, em alguns momentos, do dialético, que objetiva investigar a recuperação judicial dos concessionários. A pesquisa almeja elaborar uma teoria que mapeie e segregue os vários interesses públicos e privados que orbitam em torno do contrato de concessão, visando encontrar um ponto de equilíbrio na relação existente entre o Concessionário e o Poder Concedente, assim como dos princípios da preservação da empresa e do interesse público no curso de uma recuperação judicial. Para tanto, o trabalho será dividido em três etapas: (i) a primeira parte dedicada à apresentação da estrutura funcional da recuperação, bem como às particularidades deste procedimento de reestruturação; (ii) a segunda parte dedicada ao estudo das concessões, apresentando as particularidades aplicáveis a esta figura jurídica, seus diferentes tipos e seus aspectos comuns; e, finalmente, (iii) a terceira parte cuja exposição é centrada no desenvolvimento da teoria investigando as particularidades da recuperação judicial dos concessionários. As principais questões a serem dirimidas neste trabalho são: (a) qual seria o tratamento dispensado à concessão na recuperação judicial; (b) teria o devedor em recuperação judicial o direito de ser e de se manter concessionário; (c) seriam sujeitos à recuperação os créditos derivados das multas administrativas ou as obrigações do contrato de concessão; (d) quais os efeitos do despacho de processamento sobre as prerrogativas do Poder Concedente e teria o juízo da recuperação judicial poderes de limitar tais prerrogativas; (e) como o Poder Concedente seria convocado para a recuperação judicial e qual seria a consequência desta convocação; (f) seria possível prever a venda da concessão como meio de recuperação, inclusive em forma de unidade produtiva isolada, e qual seria a consequência desta alienação; (g) teria ou não o Poder Concedente o dever de se manifestar de maneira fundamentada na recuperação judicial, considerando as regras do procedimento aplicáveis para outros credores e o seu regime próprio; e (h) considerando a fase de controle de legalidade, seria legal a previsão de tratamento mais favorecido para o Poder Concedente pelo devedor considerando a importância estratégica da concessão; e qual seria a extensão dos poderes do juízo da recuperação judicial para controlar manifestações e decisões do Poder Concedente no curso da recuperação judicial. Corporate law doctoral thesis developed in the form of bibliographic and documental research, with a preponderant usage of the analytical method and, in specific chapters, the dialectical method, focused on the investigation of the bankruptcy of public utilities\' grantees. The research aims to elaborate a theory that captures and segregates the multiple public and private interests that orbit over the public utility contract, looking for a middle ground in the relation between the public utility\'s grantor and the public utility\'s grantee, as well as the concerns over public interest and going concern preservation amidst a bankruptcy reorganization proceeding. In order to achieve such goals, the research was structured in three different parts: (i) the first one dedicated to the presentation of the functional structure of bankruptcy reorganization and the exposition of its specificities; (ii) the second part focused on the study of public utilities, taking into account all their particularities, different kinds available, and looking to identify their common aspects; (iii) the third part centered on the construction of a theory investigating the special aspects applicable to the bankruptcy reorganization of public utilities\' grantees. The major topics addressed in this work were: (a) how should the public utility contract be treated in a bankruptcy reorganization; (b) should a Debtor-in-Possession have the right to become a public utility\'s grantee or maintain such status after filing for bankruptcy reorganization; (c) should credits owed by the Public Utility\'s Grantor comprised in administrative fines or derived from the public utility\'s agreement be subject to bankruptcy reorganization effects; (d) which effects does the bankruptcy\'s automatic stay produce over Public Utility\'s Grantor entitlements and could the bankruptcy court impose some limitation to its usage; (e) how is Public Utility\'s Grantor summoned to bankruptcy court and what consequences could this summoning produce; (f) could a bankruptcy restructuring plan set a provision selling the public utility as a recovery strategy, even as a fire sale, and what consequences such sale could produce; (g) should or not Public Utility\'s Grantor manifest its positions reasonably and thoroughly while on a bankruptcy reorganization, taking into account restructuring procedural requirements imposed to all creditors and special legal regime applicable to Public Utility\'s Grantor; and (h) during procedural phase dedicated to checking legality and adequacy of all workouts prior to granting of reorganization, should bankruptcy court accept provision set on restructuring plan providing more favorable treatment to Public Utility\'s Grantor in relation to all other creditors, taking into account its approvalstrategic importance for debtor\'s duly restructuring; and what is extend of power of bankruptcy court as to challenge or control reasoning and decisions brought on by Public Utility\'s Grantor during reorganization.

Le démembrement est traditionnellement défini comme un acte juridique entrainant le partage des attributs du droit de propriété sur un bien. L'usufruitier aura le droit d'user du bien (usus) et d'en percevoir les fruits (fructus). Sa seule limite est de ne pas porter atteinte à la substance du bien puisqu'il devra le restituer au nu-propriétaire à la fin du démembrement, celui-ci en deviendra alors pleinement propriétaire. Pendant la durée de l'usufruit, le nu-propriétaire ne détiendra que l'abusus qui est le droit de disposer de la chose. Mais il ne pourra pas exercer ce droit sans l'accord de l'usufruitier, en effet, le nu-propriétaire ne doit pas porter atteinte au droit de jouissance de l'usufruitier.Il existe des biens dépourvus d'usus ou dont l'usus et l'abusus se confondent. Il s'agit des choses consomptibles pour lesquels l'usufruit prendra la forme d'un quasi-usufruit. L'usufruitier n'aura plus pour obligation de restituer le bien démembré mais un bien de même quantité et qualité ou sa valeur estimée à la date de la restitution.Les droits sociaux n'étant pas des choses consomptibles, il existerait un usus des droits sociaux. La présente étude aura pour objectif de démontrer que les droits sociaux sont nécessairement dotés d'un usus puisqu'ils constituent des biens meubles fongibles mais non consomptibles et que le lien unissant l'associé à ses droits sociaux est un rapport de droit réel. La présente étude aura ensuite pour ambition de repenser le partage des prérogatives politiques dans le cadre d'un démembrement de droits sociaux, en distinguant celles qui relèvent de l'usus et celles qui relèvent de l'abusus. Ce nouveau partage sera l'occasion de s'interroger sur la qualité d'associé en cas de démembrement de droits sociaux et de proposer une solution à mi-chemin entre la théorie moniste et dualiste de la qualité d'associé : le nu-propriétaire et l'usufruitier partagent la qualité d'associé. Une telle approche nécessitera d'avoir un regard critique sur la position récemment adoptée par la jurisprudence qui refuse la qualité d'associé à l'usufruitier.

O objetivo do trabalho foi identificar tendências de investigações científicas, publicadas no período de 2008 a 2020, sobre a aplicação das International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) nos países africanos. Por meio de uma revisão da literatura, foram analisados, em particular, os tópicos abordados, motivos e teorias aplicadas nos estudos. As fontes de recolha de dados foram as bases de dados da Emerald Insiht e Sience Direct. A amostra consiste em 31 artigos extraídos das revistas internacionais de contabilidade que publicaram sobre a adoção, compliance e consequências das IFRS no continente africano. Ainda que tenham ocorrido numerosas variações na aplicação dos normativos internacionais, principalmente relacionados à conformidade, a maioria dos países africanos tem adotado às normas IFRS. No entanto, mesmo que a maioria tenha prolongado a implementação das IFRS, os resultados apontam que a adoção das mesmas gera criação de vantagens competitivas e integração para os mercados globais. Concluiu-se que: (i) a regulamentação institucional limita a aplicação das IFRS na África; (ii) as práticas contábeis são influenciadas pelos ambientes externos e internos da organização institucional; (iii) elas devem ser baseadas em decisões racionais e nas crenças das instituições. Por fim, os achados apontam as influências culturais como justificativas da forma escalonada de como os países do mundo, não somente africanos, vem adotando às normas IFRS.

This study analyzes intellectual property rights disputes between PSGlow and MSGlow in terms of Law no. 20 of 2016 concerning Trademarks and Geographical Indications (analysis of case decision number: 2/pdt.sus.HKI/Merek/2022/pn.niaga Sby) which aims to explain and analyze the basic considerations of Surabaya Commercial Court judges in accepting lawsuits, explaining and analyzing how is the legal protection of trademarks that have been registered based on Law No. 20 of 2016 concerning Trademarks and Geographical Indications, explaining and analyzing whether there is an element of passing off between PS Glow and MS Glow based on Case Decision Number: 2/Pdt.Sus.HKI /Merek/2022/PN. Niaga Sby.The legal materials in this research are primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials using normative research methods.The basis for consideration is that a lawsuit was filed from PS Glow for the use of the brand without rights against MS Glow. and legal protection for brands that have been registered under Law no. 20 of 2016 concerning Marks and Geographical Indications, namely that the penalties that will be imposed on these counterfeiters can be in the form of imprisonment, imprisonment and fines, as referred to in articles 100 to 102 of Law No. 20 of 2016 concerning Marks and Geographical Indications. and between PS Glow and MS Glow there is no element of passing off based on Case Decision Number: 2/Pdt.Sus.HKI/Merek/2022/PN.Niaga Sby, because the MS Glow brand registers its brand in HAKI in class 32 with the classification of powdered drinks and PS Glow registered their brand on Intellectual Property Rights in class 3 with a cosmetic classification.

The processes by which a model of social regulation channels its way of resolving conflicts make the strength of its conflict resolution system. Court justice has lost its exemplary function. The crisis of effectiveness and the crisis of legitimacy that the processual mode of dispute resolution is undergoing in our States, make it a justice system that is considered to have broken down. The need for justice thus directly raises the question of social regulation, the relevant model of social regulation. The call for a ‘right to sue’ open to the system of alternative dispute resolution rather than restrictively to the judiciary to resolve disagreements is the spearhead of the combinatorial approach to the administration of conflicts, the ferment of a plural approach to access to justice. Has Cameroonian law begun to renew its vision of the right to take legal action? Does it renew the dominant classical approach to the system of social regulation? The study notes the global and integral recognition of the alternative dispute resolution system, another, less contentious, way of dealing with disputes, the emergence within the traditional dispute resolution system of a right to amicable dispute resolution, but in an embryonic state. It then poses, in a prospective approach, the need for a unitary and global approach to private justice as challenges to be met to ensure the quality of this form of justice.

Competition law and intellectual property law share the objective of incentivising innovation. However, this objective is achieved in different ways, which, at times, can create tension between the two areas of law. It is imperative that this tension at the interface of competition law and intellectual property law is resolved in a manner that encourages innovation. Issues regarding the licensing of intellectual property, Standard Essential Patents, pay-for-delay agreements and no-challenge clauses are instances where the tension between competition law and intellectual property law is especially prevalent. These instances will be discussed in detail, and what is learnt from how the European Union and Australia handles it, will be applied to South Africa. The European Union, Australia and South Africa have different ways of dealing with situations where the exercise of intellectual property rights has an effect on competition. The European Union has block exemptions, which contains “safe havens” for conduct in specific circumstances. The block exemptions are often accompanied by guidelines, providing firms and individuals with greater detail in order to self-assess their compliance with the exemption. Australia has authorisation, notification and class exemption procedures. Firms can apply to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to authorise conduct that might potentially breach the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Exemptions may also be granted more broadly by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in terms of the class exemption procedures. In South Africa, the law concerning the interface between competition law and intellectual property is still in its infancy, and a lot can be learned from jurisdictions like the European Union and Australia regarding the most efficient way to handle this tension. Currently, the Competition Act 89 of 1998 in South Africa contains Section 10(4), the intellectual property exemption clause. A firm can apply to the Competition Commission for an intellectual property exemption from the application of Chapter 2 of the Competition Act “to an agreement or practice, or a category of agreements or practices” which pertains to the exercise of intellectual property rights. However, it is submitted that Section 10(4), by itself, is not the most efficient mechanism to resolve the tension that arises at the interface of competition law and intellectual property law in a way that incentivises innovation. It is proposed that the exemption provision can be made more effective if it is properly applied in conjunction with class exemptions and guidelines.

This study investigates the impact and importance of the legal regulation of trade union recognition and associated challenges in South Africa. It evaluates the current regulation of trade union recognition, including legislation and judicial attitudes apparent from the interpretation, application, and enforcement of such legislation, to ascertain its continued appropriateness in the current South African industrial relations environment. The study considers the policy choices of both voluntarism and majoritarianism underlying the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (“LRA”) and the “workplace” constituency to which it applies as factors that might be contributing to challenges experienced in the current regulation of collective bargaining in South Africa. It evaluates the current model of trade union recognition and representativeness as it applies to the acquisition by trade unions of organisational rights, collective bargaining rights and trade union recognition for purposes of retrenchment consultation. It recognises that the specific model chosen to regulate the representative status of trade unions has a significant effect on the ability of trade unions to organise and conclude collective agreements and, as such, on the distributive effects of such agreements in the labour market and broader society. The study commences with an historical overview of the regulation of trade union recognition under the 1956 LRA and thereafter considers the 1995 LRA as a product of criticism against the 1956 LRA. Specific issues considered, largely based on the analysis of the relevant decisions by the Constitutional Court, include the following: the impact of Constitutional Court jurisprudence relating to trade union recognition on the process of collective bargaining and on the legal regulation of the right to strike; the role of representativeness and its link with the workplace as the constituency for recognition and acquisition of organisational rights; the often winner-takes-all effect of the current model on collective bargaining as a major cause of labour unrest; the reactive role the legislature has played over the past, almost three decades to address challenges; the extent to which intervention should take place to safeguard the institution of collective bargaining from being undermined as well as the regulation of collective agreements as the product of collective bargaining and as the primary source of terms and conditions of employment. The comparative review of Canadian law focuses on a number of issues selected specifically for their potential to provide insights into how the weaknesses in South African regulation may be remedied. This includes insights into the accommodation of special or significant minority interests and how to address recognition in the context of multi-location employers. The thesis concludes with remarks on the insights gained from the Canadian model and the 1956 LRA. Where appropriate, suggestions are made on the way forward for South Africa as to the appropriate regulation of trade union recognition and representativeness.

Le recours à l’arbitrage en matière des litiges contractuels entre des parties privées présente des avantages par rapport aux procédures devant les tribunaux. Les avantages de l’arbitrage qui a une valeur particulière en matière contractuelle se multiplient : les arbitres peuvent être choisis en raison de leurs compétences spéciales selon le sujet du contrat; la confidentialité peut être préservée; l’arbitrage peut être utilisé pour régler des questions sur le même sujet ou des sujets semblables mais survenant dans des pays différents, ceci peut présenter l'avantage de régler en une seule fois tous les différends entre les parties, surtout en matière de commerce.

Dans une économie de plus en plus globalisée, faute d’harmonisation juridique, les parties aux litiges contractuels n’hésitent plus à consulter les forums juridiques pour identifier les pays susceptibles de leur offrir le meilleur niveau de protection. Presque tous les litiges en matière contractuels se prêtent au début des conflits à la médiation. Il arrive souvent que lors d’un litige relatif aux droits contractuels, les parties recourent à la médiation. Cependant, pour pouvoir y recourir de manière utile, il est important d’éluder certains obstacles. Un litige ayant trait à un contrat, soulève des questions complexes de faits et de droit, peut nécessiter des dépenses importantes et exiger la présence de témoins experts. Puisque l’obligation contractuelle émise sera presque toujours un enjeu, un litige ayant trait au commerce, notamment international, commande une connaissance approfondie de la législation sur les objets de transactions, ainsi qu’une expérience des tribunaux qui traitent la plupart du temps de ces questions. En pratique, l’espace de rencontre entre la médiation et les litiges contractuels est le contrat lui-même. Or, le domaine contractuel est le domaine privilégié de la médiation. En réalité, la médiation peut avoir lieu dans les relations liée aux contrats de commerce, dans lequel une dévolution des droits contractuels est prévue. Ce mode alternatif fournit un moyen pour éviter les contentieux judiciaires.

For several decades, environmentalists have raised the alarm regarding the impending environmental catastrophe that results from the Anthropocene. Much attention has been given to the role that States play in contributing to ecological damage being wrought upon the Earth. However, we have only looked at the environmental destruction perpetrated by multinational companies (“MNCs”) in the past decade. Natural disasters like the Deepwater Horizon explosion have placed MNCs' dangerous impact on the environment in sharp relief. At the same time, revelations in the Carbon Majors Report and global litigation quantify the damage MNCs cause to the environment. Multinational companies (“MNCs), as a result of globalisation and trade liberalisation, are powerful entities within the global economy. Despite their size, MNCs remain primarily unregulated in international human rights law. Debates regarding who bears the duty for human rights intersect with a battle of political will between the Global North and Global South for developing binding human rights duties for MNCs. As a result, they can commit environmental harm, especially in the Global South, with relative impunity due to a lack of effective liability mechanisms. The doctrine of separate legal personality creates specific issues for holding MNCs liable for environmental harms in the Global South. Domestic courts in home States struggle to exercise jurisdiction over the environmental harms MNCs commit. In contrast, systemic barriers in host States create situations where victims are unable to seek redress within their State. To address these concerns, this thesis proposes a global liability regime founded on the principle of integrated regulation. This regime will utilise regulation at the institutional, national and international levels to enforce the environmental obligations of MNCs, rooted in the right to a healthy environment. This gives rise to multiple intersection human rights obligations which will regulate the behaviour of MNCs. This thesis recognises that such a framework requires a drastic reform in how the law and companies are conceptualised. However, such a reform would have wide-reaching implications for vindicating human rights violations.

This thesis investigates the relationship between cross-country mandatory environmental, social and governance (ESG) regulations and firm-level outcomes, such as ESG performance, corporate finance, and investment, for both developing and developed countries. ESG performance is initially examined to determine whether mandatory ESG regulations affect it and to what extent. Second, the study investigates the impact of mandatory ESG on corporate finance and investment. Lastly, the study explores whether mandatory ESG regulations affect firm-level outcomes based on countries' governance and economic systems, and industries. The study uses a large sample of 69,010 firm-years across 73 countries, over the period 2005 – 2020 to address the foregoing issues. In addressing the impact of mandatory ESG regulations on ESG performance, the study employs a difference-in-differences (DiD) design. The DiD technique can isolate the effect of regulatory shocks to firm-level outcomes. According to the DiD analysis conducted, cross-country mandatory ESG improves firm-level ESG performance in developed countries, but not in developing countries. The study also concludes that mandatory ESG regulations have a positive impact only on ESG components in developed countries and have a more dominant impact on environmental (E) component. The findings are robust to a range of checks and test cases, including a triple DiD design set-up and propensity score-matched sample. The study employs an investment Euler equation framework and generalised method of moments (GMM) estimators to explore how mandatory ESG impacts corporate finance and investment. Euler frameworks account for the dynamic nature of investment, whereas GMMs account for endogenous dynamics in dynamic models. The study demonstrates that mandatory ESG increases corporate investment by increasing firms' access to external funds. The findings are robust to a battery of tests, including a triple DiD design set-up, propensity score-matched sample and the parallel trends assumption. Using an investment Euler equation framework and the GMM estimators, the study explores whether the impact of mandatory ESG on corporate finance and investment is dependent on a country's governance and economic system. When mandatory ESG is affected by country factors such as governance systems and economic well-being, the effect of mandatory ESG on investment via internal finance channel persists, according to the study. However, while consistent results are found in developed countries, inconsistent results are found in developing countries. According to the study, oil, gas, and mining firms are likely to respond effectively to mandatory ESG regulations because of increased scrutiny and pressure. Overall, the findings from the study imply that cross-country mandatory ESG has had a positive impact on corporate ESG performance, finance, and investment. For firms located in developed countries, these findings hold consistently, while for those located in developing countries, the opposite holds true. Also, the study reveals that firms in the oil, gas, and mining industries effectively respond to regulatory requirements. As a result, this study provides policy makers and accountants with an understanding of how mandatory ESG impacts firm ESG activities and performance, which is crucial for regulatory reforms.

This paper discusses the practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. The main purpose is to highlight and clarify the gaps between CSR regulations and human rights abuses caused by business organizations.

The health of a country’s banking system is a key determinant to the development of the country. A fragile banking system portends danger not only to the financial system but the entire economy. This study investigates the state of the Nigerian banking system in terms of stability or fragility from 1981 to 2020. We used the banking system fragility index (BSFI) proposed by Kibritçioğlu (2003) to analyze Nigerian banking industry aggregate data from three risk areas: credit, market and liquidity. We estimated that out of the 40 years examined, the banking system was fragile for 23 years given their BSFI less than 0 while it was not fragile for 17 years with BSFI = 0 or greater. We found that most of the years when the Nigerian banking system was fragile were periods of relaxed monetary policies, deregulation and credit expansion. Secondly, the years of banking system stability were when the county’s banking system was subjected to stiff regulation and consolidation. Given the number of years that the system was fragile, we observed that sustained economic growth and development requires that the banking system remain strong as long as possible, and that the Nigerian situation could not promote this important objective. We recommend that the financial regulatory authorities put in place more stringent policies as banks are more fragile during the deregulation of the banking industry.

Recent scandals have brought rankings to the forefront of the legal profession. Several of the most prestigious academic institutions have withdrawn from being ranked, citing the problematic nature of the rankings. However, rankings persist for both legal academics and practice, and there is substantial sentiment to improve the methodologies, with little detail as to how to improve. In this paper, we rank law firms on their clients’ IPO performance. We focus on the most relevant outcomes: litigation, first-day returns, disclosure, and legal fees. The focus on these measures provides benefits relative to other methodologies, which typically focus on inputs or size-related characteristics. Namely, this ranking is less manipulable and more accurately captures performance metrics that matter most to clients’ shareholders. Our rankings control for observable and unobservable deal characteristics, which helps ensure we capture law firm quality, not client traits. With the rankings based on legal fees, potential clients can compare the benefits of a particular law firm (e.g., lower litigation or higher selling prices) against the additional cost of hiring a higher-quality law firm. Hence, our rankings allow for a value-for-the-money comparison of law firms for clients selling shares in an IPO.

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) have recently gained prominence in global markets and feature among the world’s most influential enterprises. The aim of this research project is to analyse the international norms in force regulating whether SOEs are considered state or non- state actors, and their conduct state or non-state conduct, the interpretation and application of these norms by adjudicators in different international regimes, and to provide alternative prisms through which these rules and decisions can be assessed and re-thought by political actors. I show that, in relation to SOEs, the concepts ‘state and ‘act of state’ have been ascribed diverse meanings by adjudicators and other international actors, who have employed legal standards with divergent wording and thresholds when dealing with similar questions. I argue that the fragmented meaning of these terms should be understood, in part, as a result of the inherent malleability of these terms and the different expert vocabularies employed across regimes. It is exhibited that adjudicators in the international trade and investment regimes are more inclined towards piercing the corporate veil of SOEs, potentially evidencing the existence of biases against SOEs, which are perceived as inherently economically inefficient and politically motivated actors in an indiscriminatory manner. In the last chapter, I introduce alternative lines of thought regarding the regulation of SOEs in international law. I suggest that, instead of engaging in theoretical discussions on the proper delineation between the public and the private sector, it is more useful to focus on the distributional impact of international rules on various actors, especially on developing and emerging economies where the presence of SOEs is very high. Such alternative prisms of analysis open paths for future research and practice, with the goal of designing an international economic order that incentivises institutional experimentation in the pursuit of economic development and distributional equity.

La place de l'arbitrage en droit de l'investissement est discutée. Les réfutations à son encontre grandissent. De nombreuses problématiques édulcorent la définition même de la notion d'investissement. Les controverses doctrinales restent toujours nombreuses et débattues à ce sujet. De même, des doctrines s'affrontent sur la question de savoir s'il faut ou non élaborer un corps de règles cohérentes pour des sentences arbitrales homogènes. L'opposition à l'arbitrage dans le droit de l'investissement se retrouve aussi dans les problématiques liées à l'exequatur des sentences arbitrales liées à l'arbitrage d'investissement dans l'Union européenne. Un manque de soutien apparent au développement de l'arbitrage dans l'Union européenne s'est installé, comme le démontre le récent traité CETA conclu entre l'Union européenne et le Canada. L'arbitrage d'investissement ferait courir le risque d'un recul de la souveraineté. En effet, du fait l'arbitrage d'investissement, les Etats seraient moins incités à légiférer sur des matières pouvant avoir un impact sur l'activité d'une entreprise étrangère, par crainte d'une procédure arbitrale. Un lien délicat apparait alors, entre souveraineté et arbitrage d'investissement. Plusieurs doctrines se sont longtemps affrontées, notamment celle élaborée par Calvo et Drago en Amérique Latine entre 1870 et 1900, proposant de réduire les droits des investisseurs étrangers, face à une doctrine opposée, celle militant pour un standard minimum international de protection des investisseurs étrangers. Or, une renaissance de ces débats apparaît aujourd'hui, avec une problématique liée à la souveraineté de plus en plus ancrée dans les débats liés à l'arbitrage d'investissement. Pourtant, l'arbitrage d'investissement doit être perçu comme une méthode permettant à des investisseurs de bénéficier d'un arbitre indépendant et permettant de « dépolitiser » les contentieux. Mais des Etats admettent de moins en moins que leurs lois établies démocratiquement pour l'intérêt général puissent être contestées par des investisseurs étrangers devant un tribunal arbitral. Des auteurs parlent de « chilling effect », par lequel des Etats n'osent plus légiférer, par crainte de contentieux ultérieurs. De plus en plus d'Etats refusent que leur droit soit remis en cause par des juges privés. Plusieurs questions se posent. Est-il toujours concevable de protéger davantage un investisseur étranger qu'un investisseur national ? Est-il légitime de privilégier des juges privés, plutôt que des juges nationaux pour trancher les litiges en matière d'investissement ? L'utilité de l'arbitrage peut être comprise, dans des pays où la justice étatique est dite « corrompue » ou « biaisée ». En pareille situation, un investisseur étranger est légitime à vouloir saisir un arbitre neutre et indépendant. Mais la légitimité d'avoir recours à l'arbitrage dans des pays développés bénéficiant d'une justice étatique indépendante pose plus de difficultés. Dès lors, faudrait-il limiter l'arbitrage d'investissement aux pays souffrant d'un déficit d'indépendance de justice étatique ? Et donc d'exclure ce mode de règlement des litiges en la matière dans l'Union européenne ? La « politisation » du débat est en pleine renaissance. L'arbitrage d'investissement est un domaine relativement jeune et il convient de se demander s'il s'agit là d'un mode de règlement des litiges adéquat et d'un mode adapté au commerce international en général ? Assistera-t-on prochainement ou assiste-t-on déjà à ce que des auteurs qualifient de « fin de cycle » ? Il s'agit de questions ancrées dans l'actualité, que ce soit en France ou ailleurs dans le monde. The place of arbitration in investment law is discussed. The rebuttals are growing. Many issues water down the very definition of the notion of investment. The doctrinal controversies are still numerous and debated on this subject. Similarly, doctrines clash on the question of whether or not it is necessary to develop a body of coherent rules for homogeneous arbitral awards. The opposition to arbitration in investment law is also found in issues related to the exequatur of arbitral awards related to investment arbitration in the European Union. An apparent lack of support for the development of arbitration in the European Union has set in, as demonstrated by the recent CETA treaty concluded between the European Union and Canada. Investment arbitration would run the risk of a decline in sovereignty. Indeed, because of investment arbitration, States would be less encouraged to legislate on matters that could have an impact on the activity of a foreign company, because of the fear of arbitration proceedings. A delicate link then appears between sovereignty and investment arbitration. Several doctrines have long clashed, in particular the one developed by Calvo and Drago in Latin America between 1870 and 1900, proposing to reduce the rights of foreign investors, in front of an opposing doctrine, that campaigning for a minimum international standard of protection for foreign investors. A revival of these debates is appearing today, with an issue linked to sovereignty increasingly rooted in the debates linked to investment arbitration. However, investment arbitration must be seen as a method allowing investors to benefit from an independent arbitrator and allowing disputes to be “depoliticised”. But states admit less and less that their laws democratically established for the general interest can be challenged by foreign investors before an arbitration tribunal. Authors talk about the “chilling effect”, by which States no longer dare to legislate, because of the fear of subsequent litigation. More and more States refuse to have their rights challenged by private judges. Several questions arise. Is it always conceivable to protect a foreign investor more than a national investor ? Is it legitimate to favor private judges, rather than national judges, to settle investment disputes ? The usefulness of arbitration can be understood in countries where state justice is said to be “corrupt” or “biased”. In such a situation, a foreign investor is legitimate in wanting to seize a neutral and independent arbitrator. But the legitimacy of having recourse to arbitration in developed countries benefiting from independent state justice arouses more difficulties. Therefore, should investment arbitration be limited to countries suffering from a lack of independence of state justice ? And therefore to exclude this method of settling disputes in this area in the European Union ? The “politicization” of the debate is in full revival. Investment arbitration is a relatively young field and it is worth asking whether it is an adequate mode of dispute resolution and a mode suitable for international trade in general ? Will we soon witness or are we already witnessing what some authors describe as the “end of the cycle” ? These are issues rooted in the news, whether in France or elsewhere in the world.

The author of Third Party Funding in International Arbitration challenges the structural inconsistencies of the current practices of arbitration funding by arguing that third party funding should be a forum of justice, rather than a forum of profit. The author introduces a new methodology with an alternative way of structuring third party funding to solve a set of practical problems generated by the risk of claim control by the funder.