The XIXth World Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law (IACL) was held in July 2014 at the University of Vienna. It began with an official address by its patron, the Austrian President Dr. H. Fischer, who was represented by Dr. L. Adamovich, former president of the Austrian Constitutional Court. The Congress looked at a number of highly interesting topics, most of which are included in this volume. Additionally, many special lectures and seminars were offered on specific issues: these included three contributions from the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law under the general heading of “Role of Language” (“Impact of Foreign Language on National Legal Orders: une perspective française”, “Le rôle des langues dans la connaissance et le développement des droits des pays arabes”, “Language as a Bridge Between Legal Culture and Universal Justice: Lingua Aliena Novit Curia?”); contributions by the Austrian Chamber of Notaries (“The Inner Regulation Optimum of the Notarial Profession”, “The Notary – A Guardian of Private Autonomy”); a special seminar about “The Influence of the Turn in Transition Countries on Jurisprudence and Science” at the Pan European University Bratislava; and three special seminars on “Jurisprudence of Finance”, “Emerging Forms of Finance” and "Finance Viewed from the Standpoint of Different Legal Traditions: The Example of Islamic Finance”, organised by the law firm Specht & Partner (then Specht & B?hm). Not least, the European Law Institute also took the opportunity to present itself (“The European Law Institute – Vision and Activities”). The Congress was sponsored by the University of Vienna, the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law, the Pan European University Bratislava, the Springer-Verlag, the City of Vienna, the law firm Specht & Partner (formerly Specht & B?hm Rechtsanw?lte), the Austrian Chamber of Notaries, the Czech Yearbook of International Law, the firm A. Belohl?vek, sdh Rechtsanw?lte and the law firm Müller & Partner (formerly Willheim Müller Rechtsanw?lte). Donations were received among others from the firms Sch?nherr, Kunz Schima Wallentin Rechtsanw?lte, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, the ?sterreichische Rechtsanwaltsverein (Austrian Society of Attorneys), the ?sterreichischer Rechtsanwaltskammertag (Austrian Bar), the Juristenverband (Lawyers’ Association) and diverse domestic and foreign publishers. The mayor of the City of Vienna, Dr. M. H?upl, hosted the gala dinner. Heartfelt thanks to all of the above!