The ULF in a Nutshell

Who are we?

A Dutch Foundation set up in 1996 to promote uniform law.

Why Law?

Law provides the framework within which we all live and work:

Private Law provides the rules that govern our business relations and our personal lives (marriage, inheritance, etc);

Private International Law, or Conflicts of Laws, provides the rules that determine which country's laws should apply in a given situation;

International Private Law, or Uniform Law, provides international rules that govern business relations or personal relations when those involved are in different countries;

Public International Law provides the rules that govern relations between States.

The Uniform Law Foundation is there to promote Uniform Law.

The organisation supported by the Uniform Law Foundation is UNIDROIT, the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law.

What is uniform law?

International conventions, protocols or model laws adopted at international level. Uniform law can also be in the form of "soft law", such as sets of Principles. In the case of uniform private law the activities of individuals and businesses are directly affected.

What is the purpose of uniform private law?

• to facilitate relations between individuals and businesses of different States by providing for the same, or a very similar, regulation; and
• to promote economic development by the adoption of uniform rules facilitating foreign investments and other relations such as the transfer of technology.

For what is uniform law adopted?

Those areas of law where relations are most frequent or where the difficulties are such that some form of agreement is imperative.