Pascal Pichonnaz is currently Ordinary Professor (since 2000) at the Faculty of Law of the University of Fribourg, he specialises in Swiss contract law, Roman law, European consumer law and comparative contract law. Pichonnaz has been Dean of the Faculty of Law from 2014–2017 and published several books on various aspects of contract law (Swiss and comparative law), Roman law, as well as unfair competition law and family law. He is a former member of the board (2005–2009) of the European Law Faculties Association (ELFA), and Chair of ELFA (2008–2009). Pichonnaz was also general reporter at the IACL XXth International Congress in Fukoka in July 2018. He is currently vice-president of the European Law Institute (ELI) and an active international arbitrator in commercial and construction cases (ICC, Swiss Rules-SCAI, Uncitral and ad hoc cases). He has been visiting professor at Georgetown Law, Paris II, Rome II, Istanbul, RULE and many others.

-Franz Werro/Pascal Pichonnaz (édit.), La responsabilité à raison du risque, Colloque du droit de la responsabilité civile 2017 Université de Fribourg, Berne 2018

-Samantha Besson/Yves Mausen/Pascal Pichonnaz (édit.), Le consentement, Collection Programme doctoral romand de droit, Zurich 2018

-Vincent Martenet/Pascal Pichonnaz, Commentaire romand de la Loi contre la concurrence déloyale (LCD), Bâle 2017 (645p.)

-Pascal Pichonnaz/Benedict Foëx/Denis Piotet (édit.), Commentaire romand du Code civil II, Art. 457-977 CC, Art. 1-61 Tit. fin. CC, Bâle 2016 (XLII+3307p.) ISBN

-Pascal Pichonnaz / Franz Werro (edit.), La pratique contractuelle 5, Genève /Zurich 2016 (176 p.)

-Franz Werro/Pascal Pichonnaz (édit.), Les relations entre la responsabilité civile et les assurances privées, Colloque du droit de la responsabilité civile 2015 Université de Fribourg, Berne 2016 (250 p.).

-Pascal Pichonnaz/Louise Gullifer, Set-off in Arbitration and Commercial Transactions, Oxford 2014, 480 p.

Course: International Commercial Transactions

Course Modalities: 

–Hourly Volume: 15 hours;

–Scheduled: January;

–Programs: International Executive Master in International Business Law (ULB), Year 2. 

Course Overview: The aim of this course is to introduce students to the regulatory framework of international contracts as a pillar of international commercial transactions, taking on different aspects of this domain of international law, including the UN Convention on contracts for the sale of goods, the common law approach to international contracts, the international principles of commercial contracts, construction contracts and issues pertaining to language and the drafting of clauses. 

Course Structure: 

Module 1 – UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (1980) (CISG)

1) Text of the CISG (to have it at hand for consultation) 

2) Set of cases (read and prepare in advance case 1, 2, 3) 

3) CISG Advisory Council Opinion No 16 Exclusion of the CISG under Article 6 

4) CISG Advisory Council Opinion No 14 Interest Under Article 78 CISG 

5) Christiana FOUNTOULAKIS, Remedies for breach of contract under the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods, ERA Forum (2011) 12: 7–2

Module 2 – Comparison of systems – Common law perspectives

1) Dickinson v. Dodds (1876), Court of Appeal, Chancery Division 2 Ch. Div. 463 

2) Lumley v. Wagner, 1 DeG., M & G, 604, 42 Eng. Rep. 687 (Ch. 1852) 

3) Bodum USA, Inc. v. La Cafetiere, Inc., 621 F.3d 624 (2010)

Module 3 – International Principles of Commercial Contracts (PICC)

1) Text of the PICC – 2017 (to have it at hand for consultation) 

2) Court of Cassation of Belgium, Scaform International BV vs Lorraine Tubes s.a.s., 19 June 2009 (Belgium) 

3) Pascal PICHONNAZ, From Clausula rebus sic stantibus to Hardship: Aspects of the Evolution of the Juge’s Role, Fundamina 2011 (South-African Periodical), p. 125-143

Module 4 — Construction contracts – FIDIC – Case

  1. FIDIC – excerpts Red Book, 2nd ed. 2017 (Art. 1)

Module 5 – International Law and Language issues and drafting of clauses

1) PICC 4.1.7 

2) Standard Terms (to have it at hand for consultation) 

3) P. PICHONNAZ, Legal Interpretation in a multilingual States : An Opportunity, JCL 12:2, 121

Assessment: Final Examination