Pieter Kuypers gained his doctorate from Leiden University

The thesis is entitled ‘Explicit and implicit selection of legal fora in Dutch international private law’.

Pieter Kuypers gained his doctorate from Leiden University on Thursday 14 February 2008 with a thesis entitled, 'Explicit and implicit selection of legal fora in Dutch international private law'.

By explicitly specifying a legal forum in an agreement, parties indicate in advance the court or courts which they agree will exercise jurisdiction in the event of a dispute. In the case of an implicit choice, the authority of a court is recognised provided that the defendant in a legal case appears without having previously, in good time, contested the authority of the court.

The dissertation examines and outlines current jurisprudence regarding forum selection and the conditions which need to be met. Rules governing the selection of legal forum are far from being clear, as international, European and domestic legal authorities have adopted differing decisions on this topic.

Pieter Kuypers (1964) heads AKD Prinsen Van Wijmen's practice group on European and Competition Law and has been a partner with the firm since 1998. Pieter studied law at Utrecht University and subsequently focused on European law including international private law. He also studied at King's College London and the International Faculty of Comparative Law, in Strasbourg.

Pieter is a specialist in European and competition law and in international private law, his main focus being on competition law and international private law.