The controversial move is already being considered by one German state and it is thought more courts want to follow suit in a bid to swipe custom from the UK.
Germany’s Minister of Justice Peter Biesenbach – who hails from the most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia – launched the unusual plan to stop the increasing relocation of important and lucrative businesses abroad.
Mr Biesenbach said: “International companies do not want to negotiate in a language which they don’t speak themselves.”
Mr Biesenbach has already received widespread support for his plan to swap to English from the states of Bavaria and Lower Saxony, with Hamburg set to join the introduction of English in its courts.
At present, the German Judicature Act states that “the court language is German”, which according to Mr Biesenbach makes the country less competitive.
According to Mr Biesenbach, the limitation of the court language in German therefore contributes to significant commercial disputes being handled abroad or in private arbitration tribunals “to the detriment of the jurisdiction of Germany and German companies”.
He said that even German companies founded in his state were until now relocating abroad as their foreign partners had problems with the German language.
Mr Biesenbach added: “By introducing chambers for international commercial matters, we do not only want to make our courts more attractive, but the entire state of North Rhine-Westphalia as a business location.”
In addition to English being used in courts post-Brexit, North Rhine-Westphalia has taken some other unusual steps to make the state more business friendly and to convince companies currently based in the UK to move toGermany.
Last November, veteran politician Dr. Friedrich Merz was appointed as a special Brexit envoy by the state to prepare local businesses for the impact of Brexit.
In addition to English being used in courts post-Brexit, North Rhine-Westphalia has taken some other unusual steps to make the state more business friendly and to convince companies currently based in the UK to move toGermany.
Last November, veteran politician Dr. Friedrich Merz was appointed as a special Brexit envoy by the state to prepare local businesses for the impact of Brexit.