Jurisdiction

German Federal Constitutional Court, Germany, Pechstein case, Sport arbitration

(King & Spalding LLP)/ /Leave a comment

The arbitration world’s most famous ice skater, Claudia Pechstein, has won a stage victory in her long-lasting and widely discussed struggle against the international sports arbitration system. On June 3, the German Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht (BVerfG), Beschluss vom 3.6.2022, 1 BvR 2103/16) sided with Pechstein in her constitutional complaint against a ruling of the…

BIT, Fair and Equitable Treatment, ICSID Arbitration, Intra-EU ISDS, Investment Arbitration, Spain

(University of Montreal) and (Ho Chi Minh City University of Law)/ /Leave a comment

The Spanish Cases Saga illustrates the arduous task of balancing the host state’s right to regulate and an investor’s economic interests. This post summarizes the tribunal’s reasoning in Novenergia v. Spain and Stadtwerke München v. Spain regarding FET breaches in the energy sector. The post argues that the latter case adopts a clearer analysis of…

ALARB, Due process, Latin America, Technology, Virtual hearings

(Bomchil) and (Pérez Bustamante & Ponce)/ /Leave a comment
Asociación Latinoamericana de Arbitraje (ALARB)

While prior to the COVID-19 pandemic it was usual for international arbitration practitioners to conduct videoconferencing or telecommunications remotely for certain procedural events (i.e., initial case management conferences or witness examinations), pandemic restrictions imposed in early 2020 led to a substantial change in the way international arbitration proceedings are conducted—forcing practitioners to hold any kind…

Achmea, Energy Charter Treaty, Enforcement, EU Law, Germany, Intra-EU BITs, Intra-EU ISDS

, (WAGNER Arbitration)/ /1 Comment

Germany found itself as the hotseat of the “battle” between EU law and investment arbitration in May 2016 when the Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) referred questions relating to the compatibility of EU law with the arbitration clause in the Slovakia-Netherlands BIT to the Court of Justice of the European Union (“ECJ”) in Slovakia v….

Chile, Enforcement, Investor-State arbitration, Pey Casado, Spain

, (Herbert Smith Freehills)/ /Leave a comment

The case involving Mr. Víctor Pey Casado, the President Allende Foundation, the 1960s Chilean newspaper “El Clarín” and the Republic of Chile – once the longest-running dispute in ICSID history – is certainly a complex one. The dispute has spanned more than twenty years, encompassing three different arbitration proceedings with three separate arbitral awards issued…

Adhesion Contracts, Brazil, Brazilian Superior Court of Justice, Competence-Competence, Enforcement of arbitration agreement, Pathological arbitration agreement

(Centro Brasileiro de Mediação e Arbitragem)/ /Leave a comment

This article addresses the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice (STJ) ‘s precedents on the exceptions to the Competence-Competence principle due to pathological arbitration agreements present in contracts of adhesion. In addition, it approaches the Court’s position on the enforcement of a pathological (empty) arbitration clause. The decisions below are landmark precedents and clarify crucial points…

ACICA, Australia, Expert evidence

(King & Wood Mallesons )/ /Leave a comment
ACICA, ACICA 45

Expert evidence is a feature of almost every arbitration. At the very least, parties will likely need to adduce expert evidence concerning the quantification of a claim for damages. However, depending on the subject matter of the dispute, a party may need to adduce expert evidence on any number of topics, ranging from aerodynamics to…

Group of Companies Doctrine, India

, (Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.)/ /Leave a comment

The group of companies doctrine in arbitration has always been contentious in India. The doctrine was first recognised by the Indian Supreme Court in Chloro Controls India Private Limited v. Severn Trent Water Purification Inc. (2013) 1 SCC 641 (hereinafter Chloro Controls). Since then, Indian courts have applied the doctrine to bind group companies of…

Canada, International arbitration, VanIAC

(Farris LLP, VanIAC), , (Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, VanIAC), and (Fasken LLP, VanIAC)/ /Leave a comment

Canada’s west coast has long welcomed arbitration as a means of dispute resolution and provided a venue for arbitrations of all kinds. The Vancouver International Arbitration Centre (VanIAC) – established in 1986 under the name British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre (BCICAC) – has recently made further strides in providing parties with workable and efficient…

Investment, Investment Arbitration, Investment Disputes, Investment protection, Russia, Ukraine

, (Binder Grösswang)/ /Leave a comment

Following the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, dozens of states imposed sanctions against Russia. In response, Russia imposed or threatened to impose severe countermeasures on foreign investments associated with such “unfriendly states”. In this regard, several news outlets reported that Russia is in the process of implementing legislation that will interfere with foreign investments in…

Arbitration clause, China, Climate change, Corruption, Emergency Arbitrator, Hong Kong, Impecuniosity, India, Interim measures, Philippines, Transparency

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At the recent hybrid 7th ICC Asia-Pacific Conference on International Arbitration (the “Conference”), a palpable sense of happiness and community resonated throughout the day.  Mr Justin D’Agostino (Global CEO, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hong Kong) moderated the first panel discussion in a quick fire manner on recent arbitration developments in the Asia-Pacific region with leading practitioners…

Crimea, Russia, Sanctions, Ukraine

(Wöss & Partners SC) and (HHP Chambers)/ /Leave a comment

On May 2, 2021, the ICC Austria organized a seminar on investment protection in Russia in light of its limited-scope investment agreements and the ongoing military crisis. The key speakers were Dr. Herfried Wöss, a partner of Woess & Partners LLC and founder of the Investment Arbitration Forum, and Prof. Dr. Nikos Lavranos, Of Counsel at…

Achmea, Lithuania

(MILAŠAUSKAS MARTINKUTĖ SMALIUKAS)/ /Leave a comment

A recent decision of the Lithuanian Supreme Court (Civil case No. e3K-3-121-916/2022, 18 January 2022, hereinafter the “LSC judgement”) adds another episode to the long saga of implementing the Achmea  decision. The Lithuanian decision once again confirms the end of the BITs era in Europe and turns to national courts as well as to the…

ICSID, International arbitration, Investment, Investment Arbitration, Jurisdiction

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The debate surrounding the meaning and scope of the term ‘investment’ under the ICSID Convention is a product of the larger tussle between capital exporting and capital importing states, which convened at Washington in the search for a mutually beneficial agreement on foreign investments. It has been argued by Prof. Julian Davis Mortenson that ‘investment’…

Family disputes, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

(Charles Russell Speechlys LLP)/ /1 Comment

Family businesses – commercial entities in which multiple generations of a family wield influence over decision-making – are one of the oldest and most prevalent forms of association across the world, ranging from convenience stores to multinational corporations like Walmart, Samsung and Porsche. In 2020, Boston Consulting Group described family businesses as “contributing between 25%…

Arbitral Appointments, Arbitration Institutions and Rules, Asia-Pacific, Interviews with Our Editors, New Zealand, Statistics, UNCITRAL Model Law

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Nicole Smith is the Vice-President of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ), the leading membership organisation for dispute resolution specialists in New Zealand. In addition to her work with AMINZ, Nicole is also a barrister at Mauao Legal Chambers specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration. Dual qualified in New Zealand and England…

Australia, Oil & Gas

(Herbert Smith Freehills LLP)/ /Leave a comment
Herbert Smith Freehills

As the oil and gas industry continues to mature, the number of mid-to-late life assets grows. A key challenge for the energy sector is how to effectively manage the decommissioning of these assets, especially those situated offshore. In Australia: decommissioning work is expected to be required for up to 65 offshore platforms by 2026, and…

Enforcement, Korea, New York Convention, Public Policy

, (Yonsei Law School)/ /Leave a comment

Under Article V(2)(b) of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (1958) (the New York Convention, “NYC”), a court may refuse to recognize or enforce a foreign award if “recognition or enforcement of the award is contrary to the public policy of that country.” The NYC does not define the term…

Russia, Sanctions

(Nyenrode University) and (AZHA Avocats)/ /Leave a comment

The commencement of the war in Ukraine triggered the imposition of unprecedented sanctions affecting almost all sectors of the Russian economy. Many foreign companies operating in Russia ceased or temporarily put on hold their business activities. In response, the Russian government adopted several retaliatory measures. This post offers an overview of these measures and their…

Arbitration, Bankruptcy, Turkey, Turkish Court of Cassation

, (Başgül Avukatlık Bürosu)/ /Leave a comment

The General Assembly of the Civil Chambers of Turkish Court of Cassation (“Court”) rendered a controversial decision on 21 December 2021 with No. K.2021/1710 (“Decision”). The Decision provides that, notwithstanding a valid arbitration agreement, Turkish courts, not arbitrators, shall have jurisdiction to determine whether an alleged debtor, against whom a bankruptcy proceeding has been initiated,…

Gas Supply Agreements, Russia, Sanctions

, , , , (Zeiler Floyd Zadkovich)/ /Leave a comment

The Russian aggression in Ukraine has not only brought immense human tragedy, but also unprecedented uncertainty upon the European energy markets. Gas supply has emerged as a particularly weak spot of the entire European economy, being massively overdependent on Russian supplies. When Russian President Vladimir Putin issued the infamous Presidential Decree No. 172 of 31…

Arbitration, Brazil, Conference, Georgetown, Latin America, Uncategorized

(Herbert Smith Frehills) and (MAMG Advogados)/ /Leave a comment

Organized by the Georgetown International Arbitration Society and the Georgetown Brazilian Law Association, in cooperation with the Arbitration Channel, the I Georgetown Brazilian Arbitration Day took place on April 8, 2022. The first edition of the conference discussed some of the main topics of interest in international arbitration as well as the latest developments in…

Arbitral seat, Germany

(Busse Disputes)/ /Leave a comment

Frankfurt am Main (“Frankfurt“) – Germany’s No. 1 city for international arbitration – could serve as a cost-effective and safe seat for international disputes. A “safe seat” of arbitration offers a fair, just and cost-efficient dispute resolution mechanism by offering effective arbitral law and practice (see here). The criteria for distinguishing a safe seat of arbitration…

China, Court Assistance, Institutional Arbitration, Interim measures, Macau, PRC

(PLMJ Law Firm)/ /Leave a comment

On 25 February 2022, the Supreme People’s Court (“SPC”) and the Secretary for Administration and Justice of the Macau Special Administrative Region (“Macau”) signed an Agreement for mutual assistance regarding interim measures issued in arbitration proceedings in Mainland China and Macau (“Agreement”), which entered into force on 25 March 2022. The Agreement permits parties to…