Introduction In a decision dated 6 February 2020 (“Decision”), the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, “BGH”) confirmed the long-standing pro-arbitration friendly case law of German courts that the threshold of a valid arbitration agreement is low (BGH, 6.2.2020, I ZB 44/19). In this case it was held that the parties’ intentions to arbitrate could … Read more
In Bridgehouse (Bradford No. 2) Ltd v BAE [2020] EWCA Civ 759, the English Court of Appeal upheld a stay of court proceedings in favour of arbitration under s9 of the English Arbitration Act 1996 (the “Arbitration Act”). The issue in dispute related to a company’s claim for relief under section 1028(3) of the Companies … Read more
On 10 June 2020, the Court of Appeal in Yeo Eng Lam v Infinity Vantage Sdn Bhd (Civil Appeal No. N-02(IM)(NCvC)-507-03/2018, Court of Appeal considered whether an express reservation of a right to refer a dispute to arbitration in a defence and counterclaim pleading was effective to preserve a right to elect to arbitrate a … Read more
On 1 June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held in GE Energy Power Conversion France SAS, Corp. v. Outokumpu Stainless USA, LLC[1] that the New York Convention does not preclude non-signatories from enforcing arbitration agreements based on the application of domestic equitable estoppel doctrines. Read more
Recently, the Constitutional Chamber of the Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice (the “Court”) issued an interlocutory judgment ordering the Business Center for Conciliation and Arbitration (CEDCA) to stay an arbitration and to forward the arbitration file in order to decide on a request for “avocamiento” filed by one of the parties before the Court. Read more
In a recently surfaced judgment, the Malaysian High Court in Government of Malaysia v Nurhima Kiram Fornan & Ors (Originating Summons No. BKI-24NCvC-190/12-2019 (HC2)) for the first time granted an anti-arbitration injunction to restrain foreign arbitration proceedings on the basis of sovereign immunity. Read more
In Enka Insaat ve Sanayi AS v OOO Insurance Co Chubb [2020] EWCA Civ 574, the English Court of Appeal restrained Chubb Russia Investment Limited (“Chubb Russia”) from pursuing Russian court proceedings brought in breach of an arbitration agreement. In this important decision, the Court of Appeal set out how the court of the seat … Read more
Herbert Smith Freehills has issued the latest edition of its India arbitration e-bulletin. In this issue we consider various court decisions, which cover issues such as the constitutional validity of s87 of the Arbitration Act, setting aside an award on the grounds of bias, and the time limits surrounding enforcement of awards. In other news, … Read more
In AnAn Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd v VTB Bank (Public Joint Stock Company) [2020] SGCA 33, Justice Steven Chong, delivering the judgment of the Court, (1) overturned the decision of the High Court which allowed a creditor (VTB Bank) to proceed with its winding up petition against a debtor (AnAn), and (2) upheld the arbitration … Read more
