International arbitration and Greek sovereign debt make uncomfortable bedfellows according to one Arbitral Tribunal in the case Poštová banka, a.s. and ISTROKAPITAL SE v. Hellenic Republic.[1] In 2015, an Arbitral Tribunal was tasked to decide on the legality of the Private Sector Involvement Agreement, which was challenged by foreign Greek Government Bond owners, in an […]
ICSID Arbitration
From International Investment Arbitration to an Investment Court System
Will an Investment Court System be better than the current arrangements for International Investment Arbitration? The EU and Canada appear to think so. In the recently-approved and signed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the European Union (EU) and Canada, a different approach to International Investment Arbitration is being put forward by the EU and […]
Indonesia ICSID Arbitration Found Inadmissible Due to Fraud
An Indonesia ICSID arbitration has been found to be inadmissible on the basis of fraud. By an award on 6 December 2016, the Arbitral Tribunal of the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) rejected Churchill Mining and Planet Mining Pty Ltd’s claim for compensation (USD 1.95 billion) against the Republic of Indonesia under […]
New Montenegro UNCITRAL Arbitration
A new Montegro UNCITRAL arbitration has begun. The small Balkan state has had a strong track record since joining ICSID in 2012. We have already reported on two recent ICSID cases against Montenegro, both decided in favour of the state. However, it seems like this is not the end of the road. Russian oligarch Oleg […]
Duration of ICSID Arbitration – The Neverending Arbitration
Many litigants complain of the duration of ICSID arbitration, which on average take three years or more to complete, but Victor Pey Casado and President Allende Foundation v. Republic of Chile is in a class of its own. Victor Pey Casado and President Allende Foundation v. Republic of Chile is the longest-running ICSID case in […]
Reconsideration in Investment Arbitration
Reconsideration in investment arbitration is an exception to the rule that awards are final and binding on the parties to a dispute. There are four explicit remedies available for awards rendered under article 48 of the ICSID Convention. Parties can only bring their challenge under the ICSID Convention. First, a party can request a supplementary […]
Judgment-Proof Claimants in ICSID Arbitration
The issue of judgment-proof claimants in ICSID arbitration has recently been a focus of attention. As a matter of fact, the Republic of Panama sent a memorandum to ICSID on 12 September 2016, available below, exposing the difficulties of sovereigns being unable to collect costs awards in their favour and requesting the ICSID to examine […]
Spain Energy Treaty Arbitrations
On 12 August 2016, another Spain energy treaty arbitration under the Energy Charter Treaty was registered at the ICSID. The claimants are two Dutch companies, Cordoba Beheer B.V. and Sevilla Beheer B.V., together with Cross Retail S.L and Spanish Project companies, both registered in Spain.[1] This case is just another in line with dozens of arbitrations […]
The Admissibility of Evidence in International Arbitration
The admissibility of evidence in international arbitration has long been a debated issue. A piece of evidence must be admitted in order to be considered by the arbitral tribunal, which will then evaluate its probative value in light of the facts of the dispute. Evidence is in principle admitted if it is relevant and material […]