Cross-Border Contracts: Governing Law and Jurisdiction (CON-036) Training Course

Cross-Border Contracts: Governing Law and Jurisdiction

When parties from different countries contract with each other, questions arise that do not exist in domestic deals. Which country's law governs the contract? Where will…

5 daysClassroom or online

49Upcoming dates

12Cities

£2,750Fees from

Course overview

Introduction

When parties from different countries contract with each other, questions arise that do not exist in domestic deals. Which country's law governs the contract? Where will disputes be heard? Will a judgment or award be enforceable where the other party's assets are? How do currency, tax, sanctions, import rules and cultural differences affect performance?

This Cross-Border Contracts training course explains the key legal and practical issues in international commercial contracts. Participants learn how to choose governing law, compare litigation and arbitration, draft dispute resolution and jurisdiction clauses, consider enforcement, use international conventions and trade terms, and manage currency, tax, regulatory and cultural risks.

The course is designed for professionals who negotiate or manage contracts with foreign counterparties and need to understand when and how to involve specialist advisers.

Course Objectives

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

Identify the distinctive risks of cross-border contracts
Explain how governing law is chosen and why it matters
Compare litigation and international arbitration for dispute resolution
Draft effective governing law and dispute resolution clauses
Understand enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards
Apply international conventions and trade terms appropriately
Manage currency, tax, sanctions and regulatory risks
Negotiate effectively across legal and business cultures

Target Audience

This training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals, including:

Contract and commercial managers in international business
Export and import managers
Procurement professionals sourcing internationally
In-house legal advisers
Business development managers
Project managers on international projects

Training Methodology

The course uses international contract scenarios, sample clauses and case studies of cross-border disputes. Participants choose governing law and forums for different deals, draft dispute resolution clauses, assess enforcement risks and negotiate key terms with a foreign counterparty in a simulated exercise.

Target Competencies

Cross-border risk awareness
Governing law selection
Dispute resolution clause drafting
Enforcement risk assessment
International trade term use
Cross-cultural negotiation

Course outline

1Day One: International Contracting Landscape

Distinctive features of cross-border contracts
Common law and civil law systems compared
Mandatory local laws and public policy limits
Choosing a contract structure for international deals
Lessons from international contract disputes
When to involve specialist legal advisers
Exercise: identifying risks in an international deal

2Day Two: Governing Law

Why the choice of governing law matters
Freedom of choice and its limits
What happens when no law is chosen
Neutral law choices and their advantages
International sale of goods conventions in overview
Drafting governing law clauses
Workshop: selecting governing law for sample deals

3Day Three: Jurisdiction and Dispute Resolution

Litigation in national courts compared with arbitration
Exclusive and non-exclusive jurisdiction clauses
International arbitration institutions and rules
Seat of arbitration, language and number of arbitrators
Multi-tier clauses with negotiation and mediation
Drafting effective dispute resolution clauses
Exercise: drafting a dispute resolution clause

4Day Four: Enforcement and Practical Risks

Enforcing foreign judgments and arbitral awards
International conventions on enforcement of awards
Assessing counterparty assets and enforceability
Currency risk and payment security
Tax, customs and regulatory considerations
Sanctions and export controls in international contracts
Case study: enforcing an award against a foreign party

5Day Five: Trade Terms, Culture and Negotiation

Using international trade terms in contracts
Language of the contract and translations
Cultural differences in contracting and negotiation
Building trust with foreign counterparties
Managing international contracts after signature
Simulation: negotiating with a foreign counterparty
Personal action plan for cross-border contracts

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Cross-Border Contracts: Governing Law and Jurisdiction course?

The course runs over 5 days of classroom training, usually Monday to Friday.

When is the next Cross-Border Contracts: Governing Law and Jurisdiction course?

The next public date is 7 - 11 Dec 2026 in London. There are 49 upcoming dates in total.

Where is this course held?

Upcoming sessions run in London, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Amsterdam, Cape Town, Geneva, Istanbul, Madrid, Munich.

Can I take Cross-Border Contracts: Governing Law and Jurisdiction online?

Yes. Every date can also be joined live online in a virtual classroom with the trainer, for £1,280 per participant. Choose "Live online" in the dates table when you register.

How much does the course cost?

Fees start from £2,750 per delegate, depending on the city. Fees include tuition and course materials.

Do participants receive a certificate?

Yes. Delegates who complete the course receive a London Leadership Management Innovation certificate of completion.

Can this course be delivered in-house for our team?

Yes. LLMI can tailor and deliver this course privately for your organisation at your premises or in one of our training cities.

Course information last updated 14 November 2026.

Cross-Border Contracts: Governing Law and Jurisdiction

Course overview

Introduction

Course Objectives

Target Audience

Training Methodology

Target Competencies

Course outline

Dates and fees

Frequently asked questions

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