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| If you've ever despaired at the pernicketiness of {{tag|Governing law}} clauses such as this:
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| {{box|This agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.}}
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| Then you have the [[Rome II]] Regulation to blame. It was published on 31 July 2007 and applies to all {{tag|EU}} Member States (except {{tag|Denmark}}) . It aims to harmonise the conflict of laws rules applied by Member States when dealing with disputes involving non-contractual obligations and means that one rule for choice of law in such disputes applies across all Member States.
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| ===[[Non-contractual obligations]]===
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| In this context “[[non-contractual obligations]]” includes claims based on [[tort]] such as [[negligence]], breach of [[competition law]] and breach of [[statutory duty]]. But, brilliantly, it does not apply to non-contractual obligations arising under [[bills of exchange]], [[cheque]]s and [[promissory note]]s and other [[negotiable instrument]]s which arise out of their negotiable character.
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| Rome II doesn't apply to company law defamation either. Though it's kind of hard to see how you could have a contractual obligation to defame someone.
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| but point to note here: the main thing is to ensure any [[concurrent liability|claims]] in [[contract]] and [[tort]] are governed by the same forum. Of most interest in cross border cases where parties are in different jurisdictions and that wouldn't follow as a matter of course.
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| Of course, the sensible thing would be to expressly exclude tortious claims under the contract. But for those not prescient enough to do that, there's always this magic incantation.
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| ===Jurisdiction: you choose!===
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| Parties can agree to submit non-contractual obligations to the law of their choice. Previously English courts haven't been sure as to whether this is cricket. Rome II confirms that it is:
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| *Where the agreement was made after the event giving rise to the damage; or
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| *Where all parties are pursuing a commercial activity, if freely negotiated ''before'' the event giving rise to the damage occurred.
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| ===See also===
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| *[[Contractual negligence]]
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| *[[Concurrent liability]]
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| *[[Negligence, fraud or wilful default]]
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