Transnational Forum Non Conveniens in the Digital Age: Comparative Judicial Approaches Across Civil Law and Common Law Systems
Egypt Egypt 
Canada 
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Civil Law, Common Law, Digital Litigation
Abstract
Background. Digital commerce and geographically dispersed electronic evidence increasingly challenge traditional approaches to selecting appropriate courts in transnational civil disputes.
Purpose. This study examines how common law and civil law jurisdictions address forum suitability when digital connectivity reshapes conventional territorial considerations.
Method. Employing qualitative doctrinal research and comparative legal analysis, it examines foundational judgments, jurisdictional legislation, and scholarly interpretations concerning the United States, England and Wales, Germany, and France.
Results. The findings reveal a persistent distinction between discretionary forum non conveniens analysis in American and English law and rule-based jurisdictional allocation under the applicable European framework. Electronic documents and remote participation may reduce practical litigation burdens, yet technological accessibility does not independently establish jurisdiction or resolve questions of procedural fairness, lawful evidence collection, and judgment enforcement.
Conclusion. Effective transnational adjudication requires adapting the evaluation of digital circumstances within existing legal frameworks rather than imposing a uniform discretionary doctrine across legal traditions. Further contemporary case analysis across diverse digital disputes is needed to assess practical judicial application.
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