The Henri Capitant Association was founded in 1935 under the authority of Henry Capitant, professor at the Faculty of Law of Paris by a group of lawyers from various French-speaking countries: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Quebec, Switzerland, etc.
Subsequently it was opened to lawyers from non-French-speaking countries. Later, it became known as what is its current name: the Association Henri Capitant of the Friends of the French Legal Culture.
Its president is Denis Mazeaud, a law professor at the University Panthéon-Assas (France).
Both in France and abroad, the Association brings together many law professors, judges, lawyers, notaries and members of the various legal professions.
To date, it has forged friendships with intellectuals and groups or foreign correspondents in more than 55 countries: it is now the largest international network of civil law tradition.
Its website accounts of daily activities and also publishes some of its works in free access. Since 2010 it hosts the first bilingual science journal devoted to civil tradition law. More generally, it advises French, European or foreign legislators wishing to benefit from its expertise in legislative work. The Association consists of individuals who are lawyers as well as specific legal, public or private persons. The membership in the Association is free (Source:
www.henricapitant.org).
Historically the Henri Capitant Association has forged close links with the profession of notary. During the past decade, the links with the profession of lawyer have been strengthened. Wishing now to open to the profession of judicial officer, it contacted the UIHJ through Claude Brenner, a professor at the Université Panthéon-Assas, to see what could be the possibilities of collaboration which could benefit both organizations. The UIHJ immediately responded favourably to this request. A meeting was held on 16 January 2013 in Paris.
The Henri Capitant Association was represented by its president, Denis Mazeaud, its general secretary, Philip Dupichot and its secretary general, Cyril Grimaldi. Professor Brenner was also present. The UIHJ was represented by its president, Leo Netten, its general secretary, Francoise Andrieux, and its first secretary, Mathieu Chardon.
Professor Mazeaud spoke about the history of the Henri Capitant Association, its operation and its commitment to open to the profession of judicial officer. At international level, the Association Capitant wishes to integrate the profession of judicial officer in its work and its upcoming conferences. The partnership would be essentially at scientific level. The Capitant Association has relationships with universities in sixty countries, including South America and Asia, an area of current predilection for the UIHJ in its mission to promote the profession of judicial officer.
On his side, Leo Netten presented the UIHJ, its activities and relationships with major international institutions and organizations such as the UN, UNCITRAL, the Hague Conference on Private International Law, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the OHADA, the European Commission, the Consilium, the Council of Europe, the CEPEJ or the European Law Institute.
President Netten also emphasized on the experience of the UIHJ in the drafting of law reforms, especially as regards enforcement.
In an immediately friendly and promising meeting everyone could enjoy the natural bonds that existed between the Henri Capitant Association and the UIHJ, and the mutual interests in collaboration. Contacts are made. A partnership between the two organizations is already being set up for the benefit of the French legal culture and the profession of judicial officer, at global level...
