Cross-Border Litigation: Latest update published

26 February, 2020
We are pleased to release the latest issue of our periodic publication “Cross-Border Litigation”, designed to highlight legal and practical issues specific to litigation with an international aspect. Topics covered in this issue include: Spotlight on recent developments The new Hague Judgments Convention: A potential gamechanger (eventually) Obtaining evidence from US-connected entities: US court widens … Read more

Jurisdiction and enforcement after Brexit transition – latest developments re UK’s accession to Hague and Lugano Conventions

05 February, 2020
As noted in our previous blog post, where English legal proceedings are started before the Brexit transition period comes to an end, most likely on 31 December 2020, a judgment obtained pursuant to those proceedings will be readily enforceable in the EU under the recast Brussels Regulations. After that, the position depends, in part, on … Read more

Brexit under the Withdrawal Agreement: The implications for disputes

22 January, 2020
It now seems inevitable that the UK will leave the EU on 31 January 2020 at 11pm GMT under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement concluded between the UK and the EU on 19 October 2019. In this post, we consider the implications for commercial litigation involving the English courts, both during the transition period … Read more

Reference to CJEU as to whether EU-domiciled defendant has right to be sued in its state of domicile and to restrain non-EU proceedings by anti-suit injunction

06 January, 2020
The Court of Appeal has made a reference to the CJEU, asking for a preliminary ruling as to whether a defendant domiciled in an EU member state has the right, under the recast Brussels Regulation, to be sued in that state and to obtain an anti-suit injunction restraining proceedings in a non-EU jurisdiction. It further … Read more

Commercial Court finds asymmetric jurisdiction clause is exclusive jurisdiction clause for purposes of recast Brussels Regulation

09 December, 2019
The Commercial Court has held that an asymmetric or unilateral jurisdiction clause is an exclusive jurisdiction clause within article 31(2) of the recast Brussels Regulation. The English court was therefore entitled to continue with its proceedings where it was the chosen court but proceedings had been commenced earlier in Germany: Etihad Airways PJSC v Prof … Read more

Court of Appeal holds that UK anchor defendants can be sued for the sole purpose of establishing jurisdiction against foreign co-defendants

04 November, 2019
The Court of Appeal has held, by a majority, that the jurisdiction rules in the Brussels regime allow a defendant to be sued in a co-defendant’s domicile (rather than their  own domicile) even if the sole object of bringing the proceedings against the “anchor” defendant was to bring the foreign-domiciled defendant within the jurisdiction: JSC … Read more

Germany: breach of jurisdiction clause may give rise to damages claim

25 October, 2019
Non-compliance with a contract’s jurisdiction clause may expose a claimant to a claim for damages in Germany. This has been decided by Germany’s highest civil court, the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof), in what can be considered a landmark decision. Where the parties agree on German law and opt for the exclusive jurisdiction of … Read more

Obtaining evidence from US-connected entities – US court widens the scope

22 October, 2019
The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has handed down a decision that potentially increases the scope for parties in non-US legal proceedings to use the US courts to access evidence held by US-connected entities, even if that evidence is not located in the US: Re Application of Antonio Del Valle Ruiz 18-3226 … Read more