The next Consumer Law Scholars conference in the USA will take place on the 6th and 7th March 2025 – organised in Boston. The call for paper closes 06 September. Full information on the event is to be found by following this link:
https://consumerlaw.berkeley.edu/projects-and-programs/conferences-and-convenings/consumer-law-scholars-conference/consumer-law-7
Welcome to the First European Regional conference of the International Association of Consumer Law-L’Association Internationale de droit de la consommation (IACL-Europe)! Join us at Girton College, University of Cambridge for two days filled with insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and engaging presentations.
This in-person event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow academics, researchers, and professionals in the field of consumer law and policy to share new research on the 21st century challenges that consumers face. The conference will foster connections made at the IACL-AIDC biennial international conferences and contribute to the development of new communities of interest in consumer law, policy and regulation. Don’t miss out on this unique chance to engage with experts in consumer law and comparative studies on ways to advance legal and policy responses that will protect consumers across Europe. Register now to secure your spot at the IACL-Europe Conference!
The IACL-Europe Conference is organised around three main themes:
In addition the conference will honour and celebrate the work of Professor Iain Ramsay, whose dedication and passion for advancing consumer empowerment led to many ground-breaking and thought-provoking publications in consumer protection theory, policy and law.
Click here for the Registration link. You can also find all details on the conference website: https://iacl2024euro.org/
Tue, 17 Sep 2024 09:00 – Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:00 BST
Girton College, University of Cambridge
Huntingdon Road Girton CB3 0JG United Kingdom
Some news from the IGE at the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Group of Experts (IGE) on Consumer Protection.
The IACL has endorsed the outstanding work carried out by the 3 informal working groups. Special mention goes to Christine Riefa, who leads the E-commerce Working Group, and Ana Cipriano Muniz, who is heading the Gender and Consumption Working Group. As I said at the meeting ‘their valuable efforts have inspired us to organize panels at the Buenos Aires Congress from July 23 to 26, 2025. These panels will focus on the two ongoing Technical Notes prepared by the Working Group on E-commerce, namely ‘Children as special vulnerable consumers and digital consumption’ and ‘AI and consumer protection challenges.’ Additionally, is to be mentioned the ongoing Checklist on Gender-inclusive Consumption, which has been prepared by the WG on Gender and Consumption, covering areas such as Marketing, Financial Services, and Gender Pricing.”
The Keynote speaker of this IGE on consumer protection was my dear colleague Prof. Laura Best, from South Africa. We congratulate her for the excellent and insightful open speech.
On this first day at the IGE, we also had an excellent panel about the protection of tourists as consumers. It was presented the 2021 International Code of the Protection of Tourists from the UN World Tourism Organisation, a soft law with valuable principles and recommendations for consumer protection, especially in emergency situations, now with 32 Member States adherence.
We are grateful for the collaboration in Geneva of our entire IACL-ILA Delegation, including former President Professor Thierry Bourgoignie from Belgium, the co-organizer of the Buenos Aires Congress Professor Martina Rojo from USAL Argentina, the Board Member Professor Christine Riefa from Reading, along me and Dr. Yu Ying from Oxford, representing also the Committee on International Protection of Consumers from the ILA.
With thanks.
Claudia Lima Marques, President, IACL.
Event: International Association of Consumer Law (IACL) Regional Meeting, 6 Dec 2024, Deakin Law School, Melbourne, Australia
Date: Friday, 6 December 2024
Location: Deakin Downtown, Level 12, Tower 2727 Collins Street
Melbourne, VIC, 3008 Australia
Dear colleagues,
We are hosting the IACL Regional Meeting at Deakin Law School, Deakin Downtown campus, Melbourne, Australia on 6 December 2024. The event is co-badged with the Australasian Consumer Law Roundtable (5-6 Dec 2024). The Roundtable has been running since 2006. This annual event provides a collegiate platform for academics and other researchers to present contemporary consumer law scholarship, including works in progress, and collectively explore current issues in consumer law.
If you wish to present a paper at IACL Regional Meeting email me at zehra.kavame@deakin.edu.au by 30 August 2024 with an abstract and short bio. In-person participation is preferred; however, we may offer an online attendance option for presenters outside Australia/New Zealand. If you would like to present online, please mention it in your email.
Please feel free to forward this message to interested colleagues.
Best,
Dr. Zehra G Kavame Eroglu
The Board Members of the International Association of Consumer Law/Association Internationale de Droit de la Consommation (IACL-AIDC) are pleased to announce its first regional event dedicated to contemporary consumer protection across Europe. This event aims to encourage established and early career scholars to share their new research on 21st century challenges that consumers face and debates about legislative and regulatory responses to advance consumer protection in Europe. This regional conference will contribute to fostering connections made at biennial IACL-AIDC conferences, as well as help to build new communities of interest in consumer law, policy and regulation.
The first quarter of the 21st century is an era of huge change in consumer protection with 2024 alone witnessing significant European reform initiatives to improve consumer rights. In February, the Member States of the European Union extended the Digital Services Act to all online platforms, with hopes of curbing online misinformation practices and facilitating better consumer decision-making and the European Parliament and the European Council finally reached a political agreement on the new consumer repair rights, which should boost the movement for sustainable consumption. Throughout the year, credit providers in Europe are adapting their practices to the newly adopted Consumer Credit Directive (EU) 2023/2225, intending to decrease financial information asymmetry while the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has made implementation of the Consumer Duty by July 2024 a top priority. The UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill is also expected to become law by the end of this year updating consumer protection against unfair commercial practices to the digital economy, and potentially introducing a collective consumer law action regime (alongside the existing regime in competition law). With these and so many other important developments in the field of consumer law, now is the time to take stock of the themes, tendencies, and trends of consumer law in 21st century Europe and identify future directions and priorities.
Building our community at the Regional level also gives us the opportunity to recognise landmark contributions to consumer protection as a field of law. During this event, the Board of IACL-AIDC will honour and celebrate the work of Prof. Iain Ramsay. Throughout his career, Professor Ramsay’s dedication and passion for advancing consumer empowerment led to many ground-breaking and thought-provoking publications, especially in the areas of consumer finance and consumer protection theory and policy.
The conference will be divided into three sessions, each devoted to an evolving consumer protection field where we will reflect on advancements and remaining obstacles to consumer protection:
We invite researchers to submit proposals for papers in the above-mentioned key themes. We welcome submissions that reflect on EU consumer law in the themes and/or national experiences. Papers reflecting on or responding to the work of Prof. Iain Ramsay are also welcome for the financial services stream. If you would like to present your work at the conference, please submit a 350 words abstract to iacl.aidc.euro2024@gmail.com by 30th April 2024. Please do state the stream you wish to be included in. We aim to review all proposed submissions and inform authors whose submissions have been accepted by 15th May 2024.
The conference will take place at Girton College, University of Cambridge.
The full conference fee is £195, to include refreshments, lunch and dinner on the 17th September and refreshments and a sandwich/takeaway lunch on the 18th.
Modular rates for attendees wishing to participate in some of the event are:
Tuesday 17th only, full day with drinks and dinner 145.00
Tuesday 17th day session only, without drinks and dinner £90.00
Tuesday 17th afternoon session (from 2:00pm) with drinks and dinner £115.00
Wednesday 18th September only (including lunch) £60.00
Contact details
IACL-AIDC organising team (Toni Williams): iacl.aidc.euro2024@gmail.com
+44(0)1223764069
Girton College, Cambridge
Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0JG, UK
There are regular train services to/from Cambridge, further guidance can be found on the National Rail website.
The links below provide the most up to date train times, prices and ways to save money on a train ticket:
London-Stansted is the closest airport to Cambridge. Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton airports are within two hours drive.
Some on-site (single-room ensuite) accommodation is available and we are finalising preferential rates at hotel about 15 mins walk away. Details will be available by the end of April 2024.
Berk/ELI Transatlantic Conversation on Consumer Protection Law
Wednesday, April 3
8:00 a.m. PDT / 17:00 CEST
The UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice and the European Law Institute Digital Law SIG are pleased to invite you to the next conversation in a series of transatlantic conversations on pressing issues in the area of consumer protection law.
The conversation will focus on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI). Specifically, it will address current efforts to regulate AI in the US and EU, such as the recently-approved EU AI Act, and their implications for consumer protection. The discussion will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, April 3 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time / 17:00 Central European Summer Time.
The conversation will be led by Philipp Hacker (Professor for Law and Ethics of the Digital Society at the European New School of Digital Studies) Pamela Samuelson (Richard M. Sherman Distinguished Professor of Law and Information at the University of California, Berkeley), and Colleen Chien (Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley).
After remarks from each speaker the floor will open for questions from the Zoom audience.
Please RSVP here by April 2 to receive the Zoom link.
The IACL is launching a set of regional conferences. The first to be announced is to take place 17-18 September in the UK, in Cambridge. Full details and the call for paper is here.IACL First call for papers
“Teaching Consumer Law in a Changing Environment”
Santa Fe, New Mexico
May 17-18, 2024
Preceded by the Law School Consumer Clinic Conference on May 16
The Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice at the UC Berkeley School of Law and The Center for Consumer Law at the University of Houston Law Center are proud to present the thirteenth biennial international Teaching Consumer Law Conference. The conference is presented in cooperation with the University of New Mexico School of Law and the National Association of Consumer Advocates.
As in the past, the Teaching Conference has combined forces with the Law School Consumer Clinic Conference – so the program will begin with a full day devoted exclusively to consumer clinical education. There is a separate registration form for the Clinic Conference. If you are interested in or have questions about the Clinic Conference on May 16, please email Ted Mermin
(tmermin@law.berkeley.edu) and/or Ben Hiebert (ben.hiebert@law.berkeley.edu).
This year’s subject is “Teaching Consumer Law in a Changing Environment.” The Conference will be held at the Drury Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the “City Different,” one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the United States.
Please review the information below carefully, and let us know if you have any questions.
We look forward to seeing you in Santa Fe in May.
Richard Alderman
Nathalie Martin
Ted Mermin
Conference Chairs
Details
Date: May 17-18, 2024
Location: Drury Plaza Hotel, Santa Fe, NM (see “Hotel Accommodations” section below)
Schedule: The conference will commence at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 17, followed by a full day of sessions and an evening reception. The conference will continue with sessions the following morning on Saturday, May 18 and conclude at 12:00 p.m.
Meals: On Friday, May 17 we will provide lunch and a rooftop reception with libations and Hors d’Oeuvres. If you plan on having dinner after the reception on May 17, please make reservations. If you are staying in our room block at the Drury Hotel, breakfast is included in your room rate.
Program
The current list of speakers can be viewed here. Please note that this list is being updated, and the full conference agenda will be shared once ready.
Registration
Please REGISTER HERE by Friday, April 19, 2024.
When you register, you will be prompted to select the appropriate category from the below:
If you need assistance in order to attend or have any questions regarding registration, please contact us.
Hotel Accommodations
We have a block of rooms set up at the hotel conference venue (Drury Plaza Hotel, Santa Fe) from May 15-19.
If you prefer to make your reservation over the phone, or if you want to add additional nights to your reservation (NOTE: the group rate is available 3 days pre/post the block dates, subject to availability), you may call 1-800-325-0720 and refer to the group number (10073368) in order to make your reservation.
For more information on the hotel room block and the included amenities, please see here.
Keynote Address
We are pleased to announce that Christine Riefa of the University of Reading will be providing the keynote address, entitled “The Transformative Power of Enforcement Technology in Consumer Law.”
Accessibility
If you require an accommodation for effective communication or information about mobility access features in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Ben Hiebert (ben.hiebert@law.berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)) with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event.
Questions?
Feel free to contact conference logistics coordinator Ben Hiebert (ben.hiebert@law.berkeley.edu).
Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice | UC Berkeley School of Law, 308 Law Building, Berkeley, CA 94720 510-643-3519
“Teaching Consumer Law in a Changing Environment”
Santa Fe, New Mexico
May 17 & 18, 2024
Special supplemental session for clinical faculty, May 16.
The Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice at the UC Berkeley School of Law and The Center for Consumer Law at the University of Houston Law Center are proud to present the thirteenth biennial international Teaching Consumer Law Conference. The conference is presented in cooperation with the University of New Mexico School of Law and the National Association of Consumer Advocates.
As in the past, the Teaching Conference has combined forces with the Law School Consumer Clinics Conference – so the program will begin with a full day devoted exclusively to consumer clinical education. If you are interested in or have questions about the Clinics Conference on May 16, please email Ted Mermin (tmermin@law.berkeley.edu) and/or Ben Hiebert (ben.hiebert@law.berkeley.edu).
This year’s subject is “Teaching Consumer Law in a Changing Environment.” The Conference will be held at the Drury Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the “City Different,” one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the United States.
Please review the information below carefully, and let us know if you have any questions.
We look forward to seeing you in Santa Fe in May.
Richard Alderman
Nathalie Martin
Ted Mermin
Conference Chairs
Please review the Call for Presentations page closely for information on the substantive focus of the conference, the nature of the sessions, and expectations for proposals. Proposals are due February 15, 2024.
Submitting a proposal is not required for conference attendance. (See “Registration” section below.)
Date: May 17-18, 2024
Location: Drury Plaza Hotel, Santa Fe, NM (see “Hotel Accommodations” section below)
Schedule: The conference will commence at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 17, followed by a full day of sessions and an evening dinner reception. The conference will conclude Saturday, May 18 at 12:00 p.m.
Meals: We will provide lunch and dinner on Friday, May 17. If you are staying in our room block at the Drury Hotel, breakfast is included in your room rate.
Please REGISTER HERE by Friday, April 19, 2024.
When you register, you will be prompted to select the appropriate category from the below:
NOTE: if you have submitted a presentation proposal, please refrain from registering until we have responded to your proposal so you know which category applies.
If you need assistance in order to attend or have any questions regarding registration, please contact us.
If your presentation proposal was accepted and you will be speaking at the conference, please complete the Speaker Form. (Note: please also register via link above.)
We have a block of rooms set up at the hotel conference venue (Drury Plaza Hotel, Santa Fe) from May 15-19.
You may also make your reservation over the phone by calling 1-800-325-0720 and referring to the group number (10073368).
For more information on the hotel room block and the included amenities, please see here.
We are pleased to announce that Christine Riefa of the University of Reading will be providing the keynote address.
Feel free to contact conference logistics coordinator Ben Hiebert (ben.hiebert@law.berkeley.edu).
The 2024 Teaching Consumer Law Conference will focus on traditional substantive and pedagogical issues of teaching consumer law, as well as new issues presented by generative AI, fintech, crypto, social media, Covid, Artificial Intelligence, and current societal issues. It is directed primarily toward those currently teaching or interested in teaching consumer law—full-time or as an adjunct.
We invite papers and presentations that will inspire attendees at the conference to think differently about the way we teach and the way we think about consumer law and the marketplace. Possible topics for the 2024 conference include:
Presentations will be relatively short, leaving more time for discussion. Papers and presentations, which do not require a formal paper, are invited on any of the above themes, or any other topic of interest to those teaching of consumer law. Presenters may discuss the law of any jurisdiction; however, the emphasis is on topics of interest to law school instructors and those with an interest in entering academia.
Those who wish to submit a paper or presentation topic are invited to forward a proposal including a brief abstract of no longer than 400 words, and contact information for the author. The proposals should be sent to Professor Richard M. Alderman at alderman@uh.edu. Proposals may be submitted anytime, but no later than February 15, 2024. You will be promptly notified of acceptance. Final drafts of papers or materials that are to be distributed prior to the Conference should be received not later than the 1st of May 2024. Slides to accompany a presentation are welcome, particularly if they aid the presentation by providing useful graphs, images, videos, and other non-textual material.
The language of the conference is English. Conference registration fees will be reduced for all presenters. With consent, selected papers may be published in the Journal of Consumer and Commercial Law. For more information, contact Richard Alderman, alderman@uh.edu.