English law, courts and arbitral tribunals may become more relevant and popular after Brexit, not less. By Oliver Browne, Sophie J. Lamb QC, Sanjev D. Warna-kula-suriya, and Tom Watret Introduction English law, courts, and arbitral tribunals may become more relevant and popular after Brexit, not less, and parties should continue to feel confident about including … Continue Reading
Shijiazhuang Intermediate People’s Court declares arbitration agreement providing for ICC Rules arbitration seated in China invalid. By Ing Loong Yang, Oliver Browne, and Isuru Devendra In a dispute between Hebei Zhongxing Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (HZAM), a Chinese company, and Automotive Gate FZCO (FZCO), a UAE company, the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People’s Court declared invalid two … Continue Reading
Four recent developments highlight the benefit of arbitration clauses amidst uncertainty about choice of court clauses. By Oliver Browne and Tom Watret Introduction With the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020 fast approaching, four new important and interrelated developments have highlighted uncertainty about which courts will have jurisdiction in cross-border disputes … Continue Reading
Decision confirms parties’ statutory right to challenge awards under s.67 and s.68. By Oliver E. Browne The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which granted a stay of an application challenging an award pending the determination of related further arbitrations (the Second Arbitration Proceedings), pursuant to s.67 and s.68 of the Arbitration … Continue Reading
The Court’s ruling supports the general principle that costs follow the event. By Oliver E. Browne and Robert Price In Andrew Martin, Nicholas Greene, Coban 2017 LLP (formerly named Strutt & Parker LLP) v. Michael Harris [2019] EWHC 2735 (Ch), the English High Court held that any arbitration award as to costs stood or fell … Continue Reading
Sustainability, opportunity, and meeting the challenges of the future. By Sophie J. Lamb QC Each year, Hong Kong Arbitration Week celebrates the triumphs and challenges of international arbitration while actively promoting the development of the practice in Asia. This year’s prestigious Harbour Litigation Funding Lecture, now a highlight of Arbitration Week, was delivered by Sophie … Continue Reading
In a geopolitically significant case, the English High Court opined on important provisions of the EU sanctions regime. By Charles Claypoole, Robert Price, and Olivia Featherstone The judgment of the English High Court in Ministry of Defence & Support for Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran v. International Military Services Limited [2019] EWHC … Continue Reading
Parties should avoid uncertainties by stipulating the applicable law to the arbitration agreement. By Eleanor M. Scogings and Robert Price The decision in J (Lebanon) v. K (Kuwait)[i] provides a useful analysis of which law (i.e., the law of the arbitration agreement or the law of the seat) governs the issue of whether a non-party … Continue Reading
The English High Court held the tribunal lacked jurisdiction as the defendant ceased to exist. By Eleanor M. Scogings In Ga-Hyun Chung v. Silver Dry Bulk Co Ltd,[i] the English High Court upheld a challenge to an award under Section 67 of the Arbitration Act (the Act). The award was made in favour of Silver … Continue Reading
A rare example of the English High Court varying an arbitral award. By Oliver E. Browne and Eleanor M. Scogings In Dakshu Patel v. Kesha Patel [2019] EWHC 298 (Ch), the English High Court upheld an appeal under section 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (the Act) against an arbitral award. The court concluded that … Continue Reading
Non-parties are entitled to obtain documents related to an arbitration if the case falls within the “interests of justice” exception. By Eleanor M. Scogings In The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators v B, C and D,[1] the English High Court granted the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Institute) access to documents related to an arbitration for use … Continue Reading
Parties must draft arbitration agreements with Chinese parties clearly and precisely to ensure validity and avoid unwanted litigation. By Oliver E. Browne and Isuru Devendra A Beijing court recently adopted a pro-arbitration approach in upholding the validity of an arbitration agreement designating a non-existent arbitral institution. While the decision reflects the increasingly pro-arbitration attitude of … Continue Reading
Arbitral tribunal had jurisdiction despite the lack of an express arbitration clause. By Eleanor M. Scogings and Robert Price In Sonact Group Limited v Premuda Spa [2018] EWHC 3820, the English High Court confirmed that an arbitral tribunal had jurisdiction over a dispute arising from an informal settlement agreement — despite the fact that the … Continue Reading
An arbitration award cannot be enforced in England against a foreign State without serving the proceedings on that State through the diplomatic channels. By Robert Price In General Dynamics UK Ltd v Libya [2019] EWHC 64 (Comm), Males LJ, sitting in the Commercial Court, set aside parts of an order granting permission to enforce an … Continue Reading
The Court allows an application to extend time for bringing arbitration proceedings under section 12(3) of the Arbitration Act 1996. By Robert Price and Eleanor Scogings In the recent case of Haven Insurance Company Limited v EUI Limited (T/A Elephant Insurance)[i], the English Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal against a High Court decision granting … Continue Reading
Judgment clarifies the exceptional circumstances in which anti-arbitration injunctions against foreign-seated arbitrations might be granted. By Oliver E. Browne and Robert Price In Sabbagh v Khoury, Justice Knowles in the High Court issued an anti-arbitration injunction to restrain arbitration proceedings commenced in Lebanon on the basis that, contrary to the Lebanese arbitral tribunal’s findings, the … Continue Reading
Judgement clarifies that the Brussels Recast Regulation does not reverse the West Tankers decision. By Oliver E. Browne and Robert Price In Nori Holdings v Bank Otkritie, Justice Males in the High Court issued an anti-suit injunction to restrain court proceedings commenced in Russia in breach of an arbitration clause, but refused to issue an … Continue Reading
The decision confirms that UNCITRAL Rules do not impose a higher procedural fairness burden than the Arbitration Act and that the foreign act of state doctrine applies in arbitrations. By Oliver E. Browne The Commercial Court considered various challenges to an arbitral award under the Arbitration Act 1996 (the Act) in Reliance Industries Ltd and … Continue Reading
Decision encourages a deferential approach to enforcing foreign awards in England and confirms narrow interpretation of the public policy exception under the New York Convention. By Oliver E. Browne and Samuel Pape The English Court of Appeal has confirmed the enforcement of a China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) award rendered in Beijing, … Continue Reading
Arbitrators should disclose subsequent appointments to related arbitration proceedings, particularly if cases materially overlap. By Oliver E. Browne and Robert Price In the Halliburton v Chubb ruling, the Court of Appeal held that an arbitrator who did not disclose subsequent appointments to related arbitration proceedings should have disclosed those subsequent appointments both as a matter … Continue Reading
By Robert Price and Eleanor Scogings Two recent English court decisions provide useful reminders that parties to arbitration agreements must take care to properly serve arbitration proceedings on the other party. In doing so, parties will avoid the risk of the court setting aside an award on the grounds that service was defective and that the … Continue Reading
By Charles Rae In a revised practice note, the ICC Court of Arbitration has provided guidance on the procedure for determining applications for summary dismissal of unmeritorious claims and defences in arbitrations conducted under the ICC Rules. The revisions are important because the ICC Rules do not otherwise contain a process for dismissing claims or … Continue Reading
By Daniel Harrison The High Court recently held that a party was not free to disclose an arbitral award even though that award had already entered the public domain. Notably, the ruling may have significant implications for parties considering whether or not to resolve disputes through arbitration. Background: UMS Holdings Limited v Great Station Properties … Continue Reading
By Oliver Browne, Daniel Harrison, and Eleanor Scogings The English High Court recently dismissed a challenge to an arbitral award, holding that the tribunal’s alleged failure to take account of evidence did not amount to a serious irregularity under section 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (the Act).[i] The Challenge Under Section 68 (Serious Irregularity) … Continue Reading
