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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78841</law_id><section_number>8.5A-116</section_number><catch_line>Choice of law and forum</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>8.1A-301</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="8.5A">Uniform Commercial Code &#x2014; Letters of Credit</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="a"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> The liability of an issuer, nominated person, or adviser for action or omission is governed by the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> chosen by an agreement in the form of a record signed by the affected parties or by a provision in the person&#x2019;s letter of credit, confirmation, or other undertaking. The <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> whose <span class="dictionary">law</span> is chosen need not bear any relation to the transaction. <a id="paragraph-282406" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-116/#a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> Unless subsection (a) applies, the liability of an issuer, nominated person, or adviser for action or omission is governed by the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> in which the person is located. The person is considered to be located at the address indicated in the person&#x2019;s undertaking. If more than one address is indicated, the person is considered to be located at the address from which the person&#x2019;s undertaking was issued. <a id="paragraph-282407" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-116/#b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="c"><p><span class="prefix-number">c.</span> For the purpose of <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, choice of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, and recognition of interbranch letters of credit, but not enforcement of a <span class="dictionary">judgment</span>, all branches of a bank are considered separate juridical entities and a bank is considered to be located at the place where its relevant branch is considered to be located under subsection (d). <a id="paragraph-282408" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-116/#c"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="d"><p><span class="prefix-number">d.</span> A branch of a bank is considered to be located at the address indicated in the branch&#x2019;s undertaking. If more than one address is indicated, the branch is considered to be located at the address from which the undertaking was issued. <a id="paragraph-282409" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-116/#d"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="e"><p><span class="prefix-number">e.</span> Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the liability of an issuer, nominated person, or adviser is governed by any rules of custom or practice, such as the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, to which the letter of credit, confirmation, or other undertaking is expressly made subject. If (i) this title would govern the liability of an issuer, nominated person, or adviser under subsection (a) or (b), (ii) the relevant undertaking incorporates rules of custom or practice, and (iii) there is conflict between this title and those rules as applied to that undertaking, those rules govern except to the extent of any conflict with the nonvariable provisions specified in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Scope" href="/8.5A-103/">8.5A-103</a>(c). <a id="paragraph-282410" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-116/#e"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="f"><p><span class="prefix-number">f.</span> If there is conflict between this title and Titles 8.3A, 8.4, 8.4A, or 8.9A, this title governs. <a id="paragraph-282411" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-116/#f"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="g"><p><span class="prefix-number">g.</span> The forum for settling disputes arising out of an undertaking within this title may be chosen in the manner and with the binding effect that governing <span class="dictionary">law</span> may be chosen in accordance with subsection (a). <a id="paragraph-282412" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.5A-116/#g"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1997, c. 343; 2024, c. 652.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
