Work Area: State-to-state

Former International Court of Justice judge Bruno Simma has welcomed a move by the court to prevent judges moonlighting as arbitrators in investor-state cases, saying “there was a danger to the reputation of the court which was countered at the right time, the right moment”; while new judge Georg Nolte said the work of the court is “so intense” that taking on more is not a good idea.

09 April 2021

The European Commission has launched infringement proceedings against the UK over its plan to delay the implementation of Brexit legislation on trade in Northern Ireland, beginning a process that could see the dispute referred to arbitration. 

15 March 2021

The International Court of Justice has thrown out Qatar’s claim against the United Arab Emirates over alleged human rights violations arising from the “discriminatory” embargo in the Gulf.

11 February 2021

A UN court in Hamburg has ruled that it can hear a claim by Mauritius against the Maldives regarding their maritime boundary in the Indian Ocean – finding that Mauritius’ sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago could be “inferred” despite the UK’s refusal to hand back the territory.

29 January 2021

In the wake of the UK-EU trade deal, practitioners say questions remain over the investment protections in the agreement and the fate of the UK’s bilateral investments treaties with EU member states.

14 January 2021

UPDATED. With Brexit taking effect tonight, the panel of 25 arbitrators appointed to hear disputes arising from the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement has been published.

31 December 2020

The International Court of Justice has affirmed that diplomatic immunity does not extend to a Paris mansion seized by French authorities in aid of a corruption case against the son of Equatorial Guinea’s president.

14 December 2020

A tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration has agreed to split proceedings filed over Russia’s detention of Ukrainian naval vessels in waters adjacent to Crimea so it can first determine whether it has jurisdiction to rule on a dispute involving “military activities”.

12 November 2020

Four tribunals are in place at the Permanent Court of Arbitration to hear claims by Qatar against its Middle Eastern neighbours over the suspension of postal services as part of their continuing blockade of the country.

15 September 2020

Palestine has asked the Permanent Court of Arbitration for help in appointing a five-person tribunal to hear a claim concerning more than US$6 billion in taxes it says Israel is withholding in violation of the Oslo Accords.

14 July 2020