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This thesis analyses the existing legal framework that applies to franchising in South Africa today. The study begins with an examination of the history and nature of the franchise contract, focusing particularly on the nature of the franchise relationship. This study is undertaken in order to substantiate the argument that franchising is a unique method of doing business. There is a need therefore to recognise that the franchise contract is a special contract in its own right, just like contracts of sale, lease, insurance and suretyship. The study then goes on to examine the problems which are experienced in the sector, as well as the law which must provide solutions to these problems. The research will show that in a modern commercial world the existing legal framework, especially the common law, cannot adequately deal with many of these problems. The complex relationship between franchising and competition law is also explored. A common thread that emerges from franchise disputes is the lack of protection afforded to the interests of franchisees. Franchisees tend to be at the mercy of economically stronger franchisors, hence the belief that there is a need for a stronger regulatory framework. The study then shifts to proposals for reform. In 2000 the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) established the Franchise Steering Committee in conjunction with the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) to review the regulatory environment. This Committee drafted franchise legislation which aimed to bring the regulation of the sector under the control of the DTI. This legislation has not been implemented and the DTI has changed its strategy. Instead of dealing with franchising independently, franchising will fall within the scope of consumer protection legislation. Both the consumer protection legislation and the legislation proposed by the Franchise Steering Committee are thoroughly examined and explained. Shortcomings in the proposals are highlighted and an alternative approach is recommended. It is proposed that franchise-specific legislation should be introduced but that this legislation should establish a system of co-regulation between the government and the franchise sector.

This thesis examines the law on international commercial arbitration in England, Japan and Russia with a view to identify those areas for which harmonisation is of the greatest practical importance. This study is a timely one, since the Arbitration Act 1996 came into effect on 1st January 1997 in England. In Japan, the Committee of Arbitration formed by Japanese experts on arbitration prepared the Draft Text of the Law of Arbitration in 1989, and preparation for amendment based on the UNCITRAL Model Law is under way. In Russia, the Law on International Commercial Arbitration was established based on the UNCITRAL Model Law on 7th July 1993. A comparative study is made of the rules of international private law relating to arbitration, especially issues on international jurisdiction. Despite of recent development of unification of law on arbitration such as the 1958 New York Convention and the UNCITRAL Model Law, there are few rules in this area. This study goes some way towards filling this gap in the legal framework. The classification of an arbitration agreement and its influences upon international private law and law on arbitration are also considered. The issue of classification has been argued by many commentators usually to attempt to clarify the general characteristics of arbitration. However, it is the classification of an arbitration agreement that has practical significance. The classification of an arbitration agreement affects, directly or indirectly, not only the international private law but also law on arbitration. Its effects extend to the law applicable to an arbitration agreement, the law applicable to the capacity of a person to enter into an arbitration agreement, the principle of separability of an arbitration agreement, assignment of an arbitration agreement, the principle of Kompetentz-Kompetentz, and the stay of court proceedings on the basis of the existence of an arbitration agreement. Finally, this comparative study is used as a basis to put forward models for harmonisation in the interpretation of law on arbitration.

This dissertation examines the tension inherent in the relationship between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as Member States Parties of the GATT/WTO and the GATT/WTO regime. It focuses specifically on the tension triggered off by the requirements of Article I – the Most-Favoured-Nation principle (MFN) and Article III – the National Treatment principle (NT) GATT 1994. It shows that while the non-discrimination principles are meant to promote trade liberalisation and economic growth, they produce the opposite effect in developing and least developed countries like ECOWAS and aggravate the tension between those countries and the WTO. It argues that the MFN is used to deny market access to the developing countries by exposing them to stiff but unequal competitive conditions and the NT to deny national governments the policy space to protect and promote national industries, employment and economic growth. It challenges the general assumption that the MFN and the NT are good and in the interest of all the WTO Members and rather identifies them as lynch-pins of economic development in the ECOWAS region. It also shows, contrary to the assumption of non-participation, how the ECOWAS High Contracting Parties are adapting their trading systems and harmonising their laws to the key provisions of Articles I and III of the GATT. It shows that the principles of non-discrimination are the outcome of the standard-setting procedures legally formulated as the SPS and TBT Agreements which favour the developed countries and how the Dispute Settlement Body has rejected the ‘aims-and-effect’ approach, taken a literal approach, overly emphasising trade liberalisation to the neglect of market access and economic development. This dissertation concludes that it is pre-mature for ECOWAS to assume Articles I and III obligations and recommends using the provisions of Article XXIV to build up effective influence through regional organisations and incrementally uniting to transform the GATT.

The liability of the carrier in international carriage of goods is a classical issue, which is well known, but still actual. The increasing intensity of international trade has impact on the demand for the transport services. Different rules in different legal systems constitute a hindrance for a proper functioning of international transport services. Nowadays, this problem is well solved by the international conventions containing certain rules, regarding contract of carriage in international transport of goods. However, these conventions govern the contract of carriage only in particular mode of transport which is the reason why it is necessary to describe the liability of the carrier in all these particular modes of transport. The starting point of this thesis is to describe the applicable sets of rules, which can govern the contract of carriage in international transport. Today, the relation among these sets of rules can appear be genuinely complicated. The most crucial point seems to solve the problem of relation between the conventions containing certain rules regarding contract of carriage and the legislation of the EU. In the EU, the most important sets of rules are Regulation (EC) No. 593/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 on the law applicable to...

Economic globalization, the liberalization of markets, and the opening of once closed societies have all heralded the remarkable emergence of the current system of investment treaty arbitration. The current system, however, has attracted significant criticism and calls for reform. This thesis reviews the historical employment of arbitration in international society and the circumstances that lead to the emergence of the current system of investor-state dispute settlement. Following this, two recent proposals for reform of the current system are outlined: the creation of an international court of investment and the implementation of appellate mechanisms for investment treaty arbitration. The thesis concludes by offering an assessment of these proposals and argues for the rejection of the proposal to replace the current system with an international investment court, but offers a cautious endorsement of appellate mechanisms. / Graduate

Bill C-55 proposes amendments to the Canadian Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act tailored on the procedural framework contemplated by the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency. This thesis demonstrates that implementation of these amendments will bring Canadian insolvency law into closer---but by no means complete---alignment with the doctrine of modified universalism reflected in the Model Law. To this end, the thesis undertakes an analysis of the different theoretical approaches to cross-border insolvency, shows the importance of instrument choice in determining the level of global harmonization attained, and reviews recent projects of harmonization. This is followed by a close comparative analysis of the extent of compliance of the provisions of Bill C-55 with the Model Law, an analysis that demonstrates the shortcomings of model laws and, somewhat paradoxically, their important role and function in eventually bringing about global legal harmonization.

In the last decade, parties to arbitration agreements have attempted to broaden the scope of judicial review of arbitral awards by contract, beyond the boundaries established in international and domestic arbitration statutes. This thesis analyzes this contractual expansion of judicial review from an international perspective. To this end, the standard of judicial review under the most important international instruments pertaining to commercial arbitration is examined: the New York Convention and the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration. The study then addresses the question as to whether provisions for heightened judicial review of arbitral awards would be enforceable under the legislation of three major players in commercial arbitration: England, France and the United States. An analysis of the legitimacy of agreements that provide for expanded judicial review under the New York Convention and UNCITRAL Model Law follows. The thesis concludes with an assessment of the impact the mentioned clauses would represent for the institution of arbitration and its advantages.

Magister Legum - LLM / This paper argues that there is a need for an improved cross-border insolvency regime as the common law principles applied in Namibia are outdated and thus ill-equipped to deal with present-day complex issues of cross-border insolvency. The lack of literature on issues of crossborder insolvency belies the importance of cross-border insolvency in African developing countries like Namibia who seek to encourage trade and investment in the hope of achieving economic development. In the final section of chapter one, the paper will consider the Model Law as the basis needed to develop clear, fair and predictable rules to effectively deal with the various aspects of cross-border insolvencies in Namibia.