HCCH a|Bridged – Edition 2025: Enhancing the Global Circulation of Judgments with the HCCH 2019 Judgments Convention
On 20 November 2025, the Permanent Bureau (PB) of the HCCH hosted HCCH a|Bridged – Edition 2025, dedicated to the 2019 Judgments Convention. The online event had over 190 registered participants from 57 States, representing HCCH Members, non-Member States, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, and independent experts.
International experts convened to discuss the Convention’s potential impact and champion its wider adoption.
Following welcome remarks by Dr. Christophe Bernasconi, the Secretary General of the HCCH, the Hon. David Goddard KC, Chair of the Diplomatic Session that adopted the 2019 Judgments Convention, delivered a keynote address. Justice Goddard (ret’d) described the Convention as a “foundation stone for transnational justice”, noting he was confident that the 2005 Choice of Court Convention and the 2019 Judgments Convention would prove to be significant building blocks in the architecture of transnational justice.
The first panel explored the policy reasons for States to join the 2019 Judgments Convention, highlighting its role in providing certainty and predictability in cross-border litigation, supporting international trade and business, and enhancing access to justice. The second panel examined the practical operation and the impact of the Convention on judiciaries, businesses and practitioners.
Representatives from the World Bank Group, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the International Union of Judicial Officers, and the Center for International Legal Cooperation also shared their perspectives on the Convention’s significance.
The discussions underscored the potential of the 2019 Judgments Convention to be a true game-changer in transnational litigation, promoting access to justice and supporting international trade, investment and mobility.
The HCCH a|Bridged series convenes experts and stakeholders from around the world to explore the work of the HCCH in the broader context of innovation in transnational civil or commercial litigation. Previous editions focused on the 1965 Service Convention (Edition 2019), the 1970 Evidence Convention (Edition 2020), and the 2005 Choice of Court Convention (Edition 2021).
More information about HCCH a|Bridged – Edition 2025 is available on the event’s webpage.