Representatives of the Supreme Court Discussed Topical Issues at the Comparative Law Liaison Group Meeting in Paris

The working sessions were opened by the President of the Court of Cassation, Christophe Soulard. His introductory remarks were followed by a presentation from civil judge Edwige Gallet, who introduced the first topic of the meeting, focusing on short-term rentals facilitated through platforms such as Airbnb and the related legal issues. These forms of rental currently constitute a significant challenge, particularly with regard to housing affordability, not only in France but also in other European countries. The issue has also been reflected in European Union legislation.

The second topic concerned the lawyers´ professional privilege. The introductory presentation was delivered by criminal judge Nicolas Michon. During the ensuing discussion, representatives of the participating jurisdictions outlined the regulation of this institute in their respective countries and addressed issues relating to the scope of the professional privilege, its limitations, and the differences between the role of lawyers acting as defence counsels in criminal proceedings and that of legal representatives in civil proceedings.

The third discussion panel, following an introductory contribution by James Geist-Moghefi from the International Relations Department, was devoted to communication between judicial institutions and the public, which is a particularly topical issue. Alongside the need for effective public communication, courts must also safeguard their dignity and credibility. Participants presented various methods used by their courts to engage with the public, including activities specifically targeted at children and young people.

The Comparative Law Liaison Group brings together eight Supreme Courts from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. It serves as a specialised forum for sharing knowledge and experience in the fields of comparative law, foreign legal systems, approaches to resolving legal issues, and judicial decision-making. For the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic, the Group provides valuable resources for legal research and comparative analyses, which are subsequently used in the adjudicatory work of judges, particularly when dealing with issues of European and comparative law.

The Supreme Court of the Czech Republic was represented at this year’s meeting by Aleš Pavel, Director of the Office of the President of the Supreme Court; Anna Čermáková, Head of the Department of Analytics and Comparative Law; and Kristýna Bočková and Jana Zápotocká, advisers of the Department of Analytics and Comparative Law.