George Bermann
Encyclopedia
George Bermann is an American lawyer and scholar of international law
. He is the Walter Gelhorn Professor of Law, the Jean Monnet Professor of European Union Law, and the Director of the European Legal Studies Center at Columbia Law School
, as well as a permanent faculty member of the Institut d'Études Politiques
(Sciences Po) in Paris, France, and the Collège d'Europe in Bruges
, Belgium.
(1967) and his J.D. from Yale Law School
(1971), where he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal
. In between, he studied at the University of Sussex
on a Marshall Scholarship
. After working at Davis Polk & Wardwell
for four years, he joined Columbia Law School's faculty in 1975. He is married to Princeton University
literature professor Sandra Bermann.
and private international law. His writing has been cited by foreign courts, as well as domestic state and federal courts, including by the U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Morrison
. He is the past President of the American Society of Comparative Law
, the past editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Comparative Law, and the current President of the International Academy of Comparative Law.
Bermann has testified before Congress on several occasions, including before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the OPEC
countries and sovereign immunity (2004), the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Colombian practice in international arbitration and Andean legislation benefits (2002), and the House Committee on Government Operations on tort liability of federal public officials (1983). He has also advised the National People's Congress of China on government liability and the UK Select Committee of the House of Lords
on the ratification of the draft European Union Constitution.
In 2010, he was commissioned by the Iraqi Ministry of Oil and the U.S. Department of Commerce to train Iraqi jurists as part of efforts to rebuild Iraq's legal system and economy.
's Restatement of the Law
of International Commercial Arbitration and director of the American Arbitration Association
. In the 1990s and 2000s, he represented Argentinian oil company Bridas in its successful $1.23 billion claim against Turkmenistan
.
CASES AND MATERIALS ON WTO LAW (with R. Howse & P. Mavroidis) (West Pub., 2008).
CASES AND MATERIALS ON EUROPEAN UNION LAW (with R. Goebel, W. Davey & E. Fox) (West Pub., 2008).
Taking Subsidiarity Seriously: Federalism in the European Community and the United States, 94 Colum. L. Rev. 331 (1994).
Integrating Governmental and Officer Tort Liability, 77 Colum. L. Rev. 1175 (1977).
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
. He is the Walter Gelhorn Professor of Law, the Jean Monnet Professor of European Union Law, and the Director of the European Legal Studies Center at Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
, as well as a permanent faculty member of the Institut d'Études Politiques
Institut d'études politiques
Instituts d'études politiques , or IEPs, are nine publicly owned institutions of higher learning in France. They are located in Aix-en-Provence, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Paris, Rennes, Strasbourg and Toulouse , and their vocation is the study and research of contemporary political science...
(Sciences Po) in Paris, France, and the Collège d'Europe in Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
, Belgium.
Education & Family
George Bermann earned his B.A. summa cum laude from Yale CollegeYale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
(1967) and his J.D. from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
(1971), where he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal
Yale Law Journal
The Yale Law Journal is a student-run law review affiliated with the Yale Law School. Published continuously since 1891, it is the most widely known of the eight law reviews published by students at Yale Law School...
. In between, he studied at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
on a Marshall Scholarship
Marshall Scholarship
The Marshall Scholarship, a postgraduate scholarships available to Americans, was created by the Parliament of the United Kingdom when the Marshall Aid Commemoration Act was passed in 1953. The scholarships serve as a living gift to the United States of America in recognition of the post-World War...
. After working at Davis Polk & Wardwell
Davis Polk & Wardwell
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is an international law firm. The firm employs more than 800 attorneys worldwide and is headquartered in New York City. The firm represents many of the world's largest companies and leading financial institutions, and is best known for its corporate and litigation...
for four years, he joined Columbia Law School's faculty in 1975. He is married to Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
literature professor Sandra Bermann.
Academic Career
Bermann is an expert in comparative lawComparative law
Comparative law is the study of differences and similarities between the law of different countries. More specifically, it involves study of the different legal systems in existence in the world, including the common law, the civil law, socialist law, Islamic law, Hindu law, and Chinese law...
and private international law. His writing has been cited by foreign courts, as well as domestic state and federal courts, including by the U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Morrison
United States v. Morrison
United States v. Morrison, is a United States Supreme Court decision which held that parts of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 were unconstitutional because they exceeded congressional power under the Commerce Clause and under section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.-...
. He is the past President of the American Society of Comparative Law
American Society of Comparative Law
The American Society of Comparative Law , formerly the American Association for the Comparative Study of Law, is a society dedicated to the study of comparative law, foreign law, and private international law. It was founded in 1951, and was admitted to American Council of Learned Societies in...
, the past editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Comparative Law, and the current President of the International Academy of Comparative Law.
Bermann has testified before Congress on several occasions, including before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the OPEC
OPEC
OPEC is an intergovernmental organization of twelve developing countries made up of Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. OPEC has maintained its headquarters in Vienna since 1965, and hosts regular meetings...
countries and sovereign immunity (2004), the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Colombian practice in international arbitration and Andean legislation benefits (2002), and the House Committee on Government Operations on tort liability of federal public officials (1983). He has also advised the National People's Congress of China on government liability and the UK Select Committee of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
on the ratification of the draft European Union Constitution.
In 2010, he was commissioned by the Iraqi Ministry of Oil and the U.S. Department of Commerce to train Iraqi jurists as part of efforts to rebuild Iraq's legal system and economy.
Arbitration Career
Bermann is the Chief Reporter of the ALIALI
ALI may refer to:* Aligning Learning Incentives: Monetary Incentives pilot project for principals, teachers and students to improve school attainment, see Ana Santiago* Acer Laboratories Incorporated* Adult Learning Inspectorate...
's Restatement of the Law
Restatement of the Law
In American jurisprudence, the Restatements of the Law are a set of treatises on legal subjects that seek to inform judges and lawyers about general principles of common law...
of International Commercial Arbitration and director of the American Arbitration Association
American Arbitration Association
The American Arbitration Association is a private enterprise in the business of arbitration, and one of several arbitration organizations that administers arbitration proceedings. The AAA also administers mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. It is headquartered in New York...
. In the 1990s and 2000s, he represented Argentinian oil company Bridas in its successful $1.23 billion claim against Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
.
Notable Publications
Restatement Third, The U.S. Law of International Commercial Arbitration (Chief Reporter).CASES AND MATERIALS ON WTO LAW (with R. Howse & P. Mavroidis) (West Pub., 2008).
CASES AND MATERIALS ON EUROPEAN UNION LAW (with R. Goebel, W. Davey & E. Fox) (West Pub., 2008).
Taking Subsidiarity Seriously: Federalism in the European Community and the United States, 94 Colum. L. Rev. 331 (1994).
Integrating Governmental and Officer Tort Liability, 77 Colum. L. Rev. 1175 (1977).