Complex sentence: Conflict of laws, often called "private international law" in civil law jurisdictions is distinguished from public international law because it governs conflicts between private persons, rather than states (or other international bodies with standing).
Split into simpler sentences: Conflict of laws, often called "private international law" in civil law jurisdictions, is less international than public international law. It is distinguished from public international law because it governs conflicts between private persons, rather than states (or other international bodies with standing).