# Private International Law

*Last updated: 2026-06-19*

> Private international law – sometimes called conflict of laws – is the branch of national law that governs cross-border private legal relationships.

Private international law – sometimes called conflict of laws – is the branch of national law that governs cross-border private legal relationships. It addresses three core questions: which country's law applies to a given dispute, which court has jurisdiction, and whether a foreign judgment can be recognised and enforced. For freight forwarders, carriers, and shippers, it forms the legal backbone of international contracts: where parties have not agreed on governing law or jurisdiction, private international law rules step in to fill the gap, drawing on instruments such as the Rome I Regulation, the CMR Convention, or the CIM Uniform Rules. It should not be confused with public international law, which regulates relations between states.

**Source:** [https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/private_international_law](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/private_international_law)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Private International Law |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 114 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-19 |
| Source | https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/private_international_law |

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*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/private-international-law](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/private-international-law)*

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