Preface

In September 2009 a group of scholars, invited from around the globe, assembled in Prato, Italy to discuss how legal transfers are reinterpreted in recipient countries. This volume emerged from the Prato conference. Contributing authors were asked to consider how stakeholders in diverse locations (particularly within Asia) adapt, reject or adopt legal transfers. Contributors were asked to reflect on the methodology they took to their studies and explore how an interpretive framework advanced their understanding of the broader field of law and development. We wish to thank the Australia Research Council (particularly Grants DP0985927 and DPO880036) and our ‘home’ institutions. Monash University provided the convivial and collegial Prato facility for the original conference and the Asian Law Centre at the Melbourne Law School, led by its manager Kathryn Taylor, afforded logistical and organisational support. We also wish to thank our editor, Sascha Lawler, and our research assistants, Rebecca Apostolopoulos and Mollie Tregillis, for their attention to detail, good humour and responsiveness to deadlines. Finally, we very much enjoyed working with Cambridge University Press. Sincere thanks to all involved.