Category: Articles

Data as Protected Investment in the Background of Einarsson v. Canada

by Ioana Bratu and Arijit Sanyal[1] As explored in our article “Data as Protected Investment in the Background of Einarsson v. Canada” (IJAL 12:2 2024), on which this post is based: data is increasingly recognised as a significant asset in international investment arbitration. The pending Einarsson v. Canada case[2] addresses the question of whether seismic… Read More Data as Protected Investment in the Background of Einarsson v. Canada

efila blog

The Swiss Supreme Court weighs in on Achmea and Komstroy

By Guofang Xue[1] Introduction While the EU and its Member States have decided to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty (“ECT”), citing the ECT’s incompatibility with green energy goals, Switzerland remains mindful of such a decision’s potential impact on Swiss energy companies and investment funds. In a landmark judgment dated 3 April 2024 (Case No.… Read More The Swiss Supreme Court weighs in on Achmea and Komstroy

efila blog

Saving the Modernized Energy Charter Treaty Helps Save the Climate

by Prof. Nikos Lavranos[1] In June 2022, an agreement “in principle” was achieved among all Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) contracting parties (including the European Union (EU) and all of its Member States) on the modernized ECT text. Withdrawal of the EU and EU Member States from the ECT Despite this agreement “in principle” several EU… Read More Saving the Modernized Energy Charter Treaty Helps Save the Climate

efila blog

ISDS Reform: Consensus on the Advisory Centre and First Roadblocks on Establishing a Standing Mechanism

By Cristian Gallorini[1] The 48th session of the UNCITRAL Working Group III (Investor State Arbitration) took place in New York from 1 to 5 April 2024. The discussion focused on the draft statute of an advisory centre on international investment dispute resolution (A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.238), and the draft statute of a standing mechanism for the resolution of… Read More ISDS Reform: Consensus on the Advisory Centre and First Roadblocks on Establishing a Standing Mechanism

efila blog

Climate Change Cases Before the European Court of Human Rights: Where Are We Now and Where Might We Be Heading?

By Stephanie Collins[1] and Alexa Romanelli[2] Climate change litigation has a new frontier: proceedings before international courts that are grounded in human rights violations. This blog post focuses on three cases pending before the European Court of Human Rights (“ECtHR” or “the Court”), the rulings of which are expected on 9 April 2024: (i) KlimaSeniorinnen… Read More Climate Change Cases Before the European Court of Human Rights: Where Are We Now and Where Might We Be Heading?

efila blog

The European Commission’s Model Clauses: Highlighting Human Resource Sustainability for EU Investment Treaties

by Jiawen Wang[1] In September 2023, the European Commission (“Commission”) published a non-paper on model clauses for the future negotiation or re-negotiation of bilateral investment treaties (“BITs”) between EU Member States and third countries. This non-paper, presenting the model clauses, may reflect the Commission’s broader approach to investment protection and the best practice for EU Member States, although it… Read More The European Commission’s Model Clauses: Highlighting Human Resource Sustainability for EU Investment Treaties

efila blog

The Future of Enforcement in the UK: English Court provides a novel attitude to State immunity in Border Timbers v Republic of Zimbabwe

by Ioana Maria Bratu[1] On 19 January 2024 the High Court of Justice of England and Wales (EWHC or the English court) dismissed Zimbabwe’s state immunity argument to set aside the 2015 $125m ICSID arbitration award in Border Timbers Limited & Anor v Republic of Zimbabwe ([2024] EWHC 58 (Comm)). While the Court ultimately sided… Read More The Future of Enforcement in the UK: English Court provides a novel attitude to State immunity in Border Timbers v Republic of Zimbabwe

efila blog

Germany’s Highest Civil Court Reinforces the Distinction Between Intra-EU and Extra-EU Arbitration

by Agata Daszko[1] In a recently surfaced judgment (I ZB 12/23), the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH) has affirmed the partial enforcement of the Deutsche Telekom v. India UNCITRAL award, clarifying the boundaries of European Union law in relation to extra-EU investment treaty arbitrations. This ruling, dated 12 October 2023, addresses the interplay… Read More Germany’s Highest Civil Court Reinforces the Distinction Between Intra-EU and Extra-EU Arbitration

efila blog

A Metamorphosis of Mindset: How International Investment Arbitration Has Evolved Without Major Institutional Reform

By Paul Uranga[1] Introduction “As [the investment arbitration] awoke one morning from uneasy dreams [it] found itself transformed”. Drawing from the opening line of Franz Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis’, this echoes the transformation undergone in investment arbitration. But, unlike Gregor Samsa, the novella’s protagonist, this shift didn’t occur overnight and remains far from complete. After more… Read More A Metamorphosis of Mindset: How International Investment Arbitration Has Evolved Without Major Institutional Reform

efila blog

Intra-EU Objections and Enforcement of ICSID Awards: English High Court Takes a Pro-arbitration Stance

by Aleksander Kalisz[1] In the recent Infrastructure Services Luxembourg v Spain [2023] EWHC 1226 (Comm), the English High Court dismissed an application by Spain to set aside an order to register an ICSID arbitral award in favour of Infrastructure Services Luxembourg. In doing so, the High Court rejected Spain’s objection to the enforcement of intra-EU… Read More Intra-EU Objections and Enforcement of ICSID Awards: English High Court Takes a Pro-arbitration Stance

efila blog