22-23 September, 2005
Programme: Cross-examining Private Law [pdf]
2005 marked the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the Quebec Research Centre of Private and Comparative Law (now known as the Paul-André Crépeau Centre for Private and Comparative Law). On this occasion, the Centre held a conference on the topic with which it established its reputation: private law.
Teams pairing a Centre researcher with an invited senior scholar scrutinized one of the chosen topics: extra-patrimonial rights, patrimonies by appropriation, intimate relationships, rights in the property of others, and private international law.
The decision to organize research along teams bringing together two different generations of jurists was in keeping with the spirit of openness and collegiality that pemeates the Centre. This dialogical methodology not only provided a great setting for reflection upon private law, but it also enabled researchers to employ diverse analytical practices.
The emergence of a university community with multiple intellectual orientations is one of the most valuable achievements of the past thirty years. This new scholarship, if we may call it that, did not appear out of nowhere, as a break from past generations. On the contrary, while a distinct occurrence in its own right, it stems from a movement impelled by these senior legal scholars. It thus stands alongside reforms and recodifications of private law, as well as the harmonizing links forged between private law and federal law.
In his keynote address, Christian Atias, from Aix-en-Provence, closed the conference in reflection upon civilian scholarship and its evolution over the course of the past thirty years. Paul-André Crépeau, emeritus professor and founder of the Centre, also participated and shared his thoughts on the legislative definition of contract (art. 1378 par. 1 C.C.Q.). Nicholas Kasirer spoke about the terminology pertaining to the civilian notion of delict.
The Centre has recently published a book flowing from the conference, entitled Thirtieth Anniversary Conference 1975-2005 Cross-Examining Private Law / Colloque du Trentenaire 1975-2005 Regards croisés sur le droit privé (Cowansville: Les Éditions Yvon Blais Inc., 2008) to commemorate the conference.
