Comparative & Int'l Perspectives

The Value(s) of Foreclosure Law Reform?

12/21/11

As Alan White reported recently, the Uniform Law Commission in the U.S. has named a committee to consider the need for and feasibility of proposing a uniform foreclosure act and to report back to the ULC by early 2012.

[more]

Financial Stability Board Calls for Effective Consumer Finance Protection

10/28/11
The Financial Stability Board, an international organization operating under the auspices of the G20 countries, this week issued its Report on Consumer Finance Protection. http://www.financialstabilityboard.org/publications/r_111026a.pdf FSB emphasizes the link between international financial stability and consumer protection, particularly in the mortgage markets.
[more]

First to File--Patent Thoughts

09/11/11

Congress just passed a bill overhauling the US patent system.  The most significant change appears to be shift from a first-to-invent to a first-to-file system.

[more]

Saab in New York?

09/08/11

So the Swedish court's decision to deny Saab's reorganization petition gets me wondering if the company might not decide to file a US chapter 11 case. The only problem is that, best I can tell, Sweden has no provision for recognizing a foreign insolvency proceeding domestically.

[more]

Foreclosure Crisis in Europe vs US

08/24/11

While European markets have seen increases in mortgage foreclosures, more robust regulatory intervention seems to have kept defaults and foreclosures to much lower levels than we are experiencing in the United States.  At the peak of the crisis a year ago,

[more]

Culture, Attitudes, and Debt

08/11/11

Rather than a post with a lot of (supposed) answers, today I have a post with a lot of questions. My goal is to start a discussion that I hope our insightful readership will take up in the comments.

[more]

Responsible Lending as an Emerging International Norm

06/30/11

The International Association of Consumer Law, with participants present from six continents, has been meeting at Brunel University in West London the last few days, hearing presentations from regulators, industry representatives, consumer advocates, and academics.

[more]