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Consumer jurisdiction under Brussels I (recast): CJEU confirms non‑professional FOREX traders can sue at domicile notwithstanding jurisdiction clauses (Petruchová v FIBO)

Published on: 24 October 2019

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Jana Petruchová v FIBO Group Holdings Limited C-208/18

What are the practical implications of this case?

The First Chamber has affirmed that the notion of 'consumer' in Articles 17–19 of Regulation (EU) 1215/2012, Brussels I (recast), is broad enough to cover users of online trading platforms dealing with financial instruments. Such users, provided they are not acting in a professional role, may bring proceedings before their domestic courts, notwithstanding a contractual jurisdiction clause to the contrary. The Court of Justice’s decision not to narrow the concept of consumer means that even highly knowledgeable users or high-net-worth individuals are captured and may rely on the regime’s consumer safeguards, as long as they persuade the court they were not using the platform in the pursuit of their trade or profession. This applies regardless of wealth, trading expertise, or status.

What was the background?

The claimant was a Czech university student at the material time. She concluded an agreement with the defendant, a company incorporated in Cyprus, to trade on the international foreign exchange (FOREX) market via its online platform. The contract designated the courts of Cyprus as having jurisdiction between the parties. During her use of the platform, there was a...

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