diff --git a/src/pact/v3/util.py b/src/pact/v3/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..64a1783135
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pact/v3/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+"""
+Utility functions for Pact.
+
+This module defines a number of utility functions that are used in specific
+contexts within the Pact library. These functions are not intended to be
+used directly by consumers of the library, but are still made available for
+reference.
+"""
+
+import warnings
+
+_PYTHON_FORMAT_TO_JAVA_DATETIME = {
+    "a": "EEE",
+    "A": "EEEE",
+    "b": "MMM",
+    "B": "MMMM",
+    # c is locale dependent, so we can't convert it directly.
+    "d": "dd",
+    "f": "SSSSSS",
+    "G": "YYYY",
+    "H": "HH",
+    "I": "hh",
+    "j": "DDD",
+    "m": "MM",
+    "M": "mm",
+    "p": "a",
+    "S": "ss",
+    "u": "u",
+    "U": "ww",
+    "V": "ww",
+    # w is 0-indexed in Python, but 1-indexed in Java.
+    "W": "ww",
+    # x is locale dependent, so we can't convert it directly.
+    # X is locale dependent, so we can't convert it directly.
+    "y": "yy",
+    "Y": "yyyy",
+    "z": "Z",
+    "Z": "z",
+    "%": "%",
+    ":z": "XXX",
+}
+
+
+def strftime_to_simple_date_format(python_format: str) -> str:
+    """
+    Convert a Python datetime format string to Java SimpleDateFormat format.
+
+    Python uses [`strftime`
+    codes](https://docs.python.org/3/library/datetime.html#strftime-and-strptime-format-codes)
+    which are ultimately based on the C `strftime` function. Java uses
+    [`SimpleDateFormat`
+    codes](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/text/SimpleDateFormat.html)
+    which generally have corresponding codes, but with some differences.
+
+    Note that this function strictly supports codes explicitly defined in the
+    Python documentation. Locale-dependent codes are not supported, and codes
+    supported by the underlying C library but not Python are not supported. For
+    examples, `%c`, `%x`, and `%X` are not supported as they are locale
+    dependent, and `%D` is not supported as it is not part of the Python
+    documentation (even though it may be supported by the underlying C and
+    therefore work in some Python implementations).
+
+    Args:
+        python_format:
+            The Python datetime format string to convert.
+
+    Returns:
+        The equivalent Java SimpleDateFormat format string.
+    """
+    # Each Python format code is exactly two characters long, so we can
+    # safely iterate through the string.
+    idx = 0
+    result: str = ""
+    escaped = False
+
+    while idx < len(python_format):
+        c = python_format[idx]
+        idx += 1
+
+        if c == "%":
+            c = python_format[idx]
+            if escaped:
+                result += "'"
+                escaped = False
+            result += _format_code_to_java_format(c)
+            # Increment another time to skip the second character of the
+            # Python format code.
+            idx += 1
+            continue
+
+        if c == "'":
+            # In Java, single quotes are used to escape characters.
+            # To insert a single quote, we need to insert two single quotes.
+            # It doesn't matter if we're in an escape sequence or not, as
+            # Java treats them the same.
+            result += "''"
+            continue
+
+        if not escaped and c.isalpha():
+            result += "'"
+            escaped = True
+        result += c
+
+    if escaped:
+        result += "'"
+    return result
+
+
+def _format_code_to_java_format(code: str) -> str:
+    """
+    Convert a single Python format code to a Java SimpleDateFormat format.
+
+    Args:
+        code:
+            The Python format code to convert, without the leading `%`. This
+            will typically be a single character, but may be two characters
+            for some codes.
+
+    Returns:
+        The equivalent Java SimpleDateFormat format string.
+    """
+    if code in ["U", "V", "W"]:
+        warnings.warn(
+            f"The Java equivalent for `%{code}` is locale dependent.",
+            stacklevel=3,
+        )
+
+    # The following are locale-dependent, and aren't directly convertible.
+    if code in ["c", "x", "X"]:
+        msg = f"Cannot convert locale-dependent Python format code `%{code}` to Java"
+        raise ValueError(msg)
+
+    # The following codes simply do not have a direct equivalent in Java.
+    if code in ["w"]:
+        msg = f"Python format code `%{code}` is not supported in Java"
+        raise ValueError(msg)
+
+    if code in _PYTHON_FORMAT_TO_JAVA_DATETIME:
+        return _PYTHON_FORMAT_TO_JAVA_DATETIME[code]
+
+    msg = f"Unsupported Python format code `%{code}`"
+    raise ValueError(msg)
diff --git a/tests/v3/test_util.py b/tests/v3/test_util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1ef0393976
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/v3/test_util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+"""
+Tests of pact.v3.util functions.
+"""
+
+import pytest
+
+from pact.v3.util import strftime_to_simple_date_format
+
+
+def test_convert_python_to_java_datetime_format_basic() -> None:
+    assert strftime_to_simple_date_format("%Y-%m-%d") == "yyyy-MM-dd"
+    assert strftime_to_simple_date_format("%H:%M:%S") == "HH:mm:ss"
+
+
+def test_convert_python_to_java_datetime_format_with_unsupported_code() -> None:
+    with pytest.raises(
+        ValueError,
+        match="Cannot convert locale-dependent Python format code `%c` to Java",
+    ):
+        strftime_to_simple_date_format("%c")
+
+
+def test_convert_python_to_java_datetime_format_with_warning() -> None:
+    with pytest.warns(
+        UserWarning, match="The Java equivalent for `%U` is locale dependent."
+    ):
+        assert strftime_to_simple_date_format("%U") == "ww"
+
+
+def test_convert_python_to_java_datetime_format_with_escape_characters() -> None:
+    assert strftime_to_simple_date_format("'%Y-%m-%d'") == "''yyyy-MM-dd''"
+    assert strftime_to_simple_date_format("%%Y") == "%'Y'"
+
+
+def test_convert_python_to_java_datetime_format_with_single_quote() -> None:
+    assert strftime_to_simple_date_format("%Y'%m'%d") == "yyyy''MM''dd"