Customary international law plays a significant role in investment arbitration disputes. Parties frequently rely on customary international law as a secondary source of law under a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) or a State contract. In some cases, arbitral tribunals have accepted a more prominent role of customary law, i.e., as a self-standing source of international […]
Public International Law
Ukraine’s ICJ Claim Against Russia Under the Genocide Convention
On February 26, 2022, Ukraine filed a claim against Russia before the International Court of Justice to institute proceedings in connection with the military operations commenced by the Russian Federation in Ukrainian territory on February 24.[1] The application is based on Article IX of the 1948 Genocide Convention,[2] according to which the International Court of […]
Sovereign Immunity from Jurisdiction in International Arbitration
Sovereign immunity is divided into immunity from jurisdiction and immunity from execution.[1] The conditions under which these immunities apply are of particular importance in the field of arbitration. According to the French Supreme Court, sovereignty and independence of States prevent one of them from pursuing another.[4] In other words, national judges must refrain from ruling […]
William Kirtley Discusses Enforcing Arbitral Awards against State Assets with Russian Newspaper
Arbitration lawyer William Kirtley has been interviewed by the Moscow-based newspaper Novaya Gazeta regarding the enforcement of arbitral awards against State assets. In the Russian-language article, concerning a USD 1.3 billion award to Ukraine’s Oschadbank for compensation for loss of assets in Crimea following annexation of the peninsula in 2014, William Kirtley explains that it is far […]
Legitimate Expectations in Investment Arbitration
In its judgment rendered on 1 October 2018 in the Bolivia v. Chile case, the International Court of Justice drew a distinction between public international law and investment arbitration with respect to the notion of legitimate expectations. The Court held that, contrary to bilateral investment treaties where the principle of legitimate expectations of foreign investors […]
Market Access of Foreign Investors under Bilateral Investment Treaties
Market access of foreign investors is the ultimate step for the entrance of foreign capital into a host country. Most countries today regulate the admission of the foreign direct investment through a special legal framework agreed with other countries and entities on a bilateral and sometimes multilateral level. By entering into such treaties, States agree […]
Arctic Sunrise Arbitration (PCA case 2014-02) – Russia to pay €5.4 million in damages
On 10 July 2017, a PCA Arbitral Tribunal seated in The Hague rendered its award on compensation in another politically sensitive arbitration between Russia and the Netherlands (also known as the “Arctic Sunrise Arbitration”). The PCA Tribunal ordered Russia to pay €5.4 million in damages to the Netherlands for the capture and detention of a […]
