Dicey, Morris & Collins on the Conflict of Laws (often simply Dicey, Morris & Collins, or even just Dicey & Morris) is the leading English lawtextbook on the conflict of laws (ISBN978-0-414-02453-3). It has been described as the "gold standard" in terms of academic writing on the subject,[1] and the "foremost authority on private international law".[2]
Editors
The textbook has had three principal general editors during its life:
Between 1922 and 1949 A. Berriedale Keith was also a general editor of the text, but has not been honoured with a permanent place in the book's title.
In the most recent edition, the team of editors includes Professor C G J Morse, Professor David McClean, Professor Adrian Briggs, Professor Jonathan Harris, Professor Campbell McLachlan QC, Professor Andrew Dickinson and Professor Peter McEleavy.[2]
Editions
The first edition was published in 1896 under the title A Digest of the Law of England with reference to the Conflict of Laws. The 16th and most recent edition was published in 2022.
Dicey, Morris & Collins
Year
Edition
General Editors
1896
First Edition
A.V. Dicey
1908
Second Edition
A.V. Dicey
1922
Third Edition
A.V. Dicey and A. Berriedale Keith
1927
Fourth Edition
A. Berriedale Keith
1932
Fifth Edition
A. Berriedale Keith
1949
Sixth Edition
J.H.C. Morris
1958
Seventh Edition
J.H.C. Morris
1967
Eighth Edition
J.H.C. Morris
1973
Ninth Edition
J.H.C. Morris
1980
Tenth Edition
J.H.C. Morris
1987
Eleventh Edition
Lawrence Collins
1992
(Second Impression)
Lawrence Collins
1993
Twelfth Edition
Lawrence Collins
1994
(Second Impression)
Lawrence Collins
2000
Thirteenth Edition
Lawrence Collins
2006
Fourteenth Edition
Sir Lawrence Collins
2012
Fifteenth Edition
Lord Collins of Mapesbury
2022
Sixteenth Edition
Lord Collins of Mapesbury and Professor Jonathan Harris
Format
Unusually for an academic textbook, Dicey, Morris & Collins is set out in a series of "Rules". The format dates from the time when there was relatively little case law or statute law on the subject, and A.V. Dicey tried to formulate the text from first principles. The format became something of a self-fulfilling prophecy as during the evolution of the subject judges would often cite rules in the textbook as authoritative propositions for their rulings (see for example, Singularis Holdings Limited v PricewaterhouseCoopers [2014] UKPC 36 at paragraph 12[4]).
^"Moreover, while the same rule did not apply to immovable property, the court would ordinarily appoint the foreign office-holder a receiver of the rents and profits: see Dicey, Morris & Collins, The Conflict of Laws, 15th ed, rules 216 and 217." perLord Sumption.