The arbitration agreement

ILC publishes report on Compliance with Investment Treaty Arbitration Awards

The International Law Compliance (ILC) has published the report on Compliance with Investment Treaty Arbitration Awards 2024 3rd edition. The report includes the latest data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) which reveals a significant increase in investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) cases, with 1,332 known treaty-based arbitrations to date. Of the 958 concluded cases, 37.7% were decided in favour of respondent states. The report highlights Spain's position as the world leader in unpaid arbitration awards, with 24 outstanding, surpassing Venezuela and Russia. Spain also tops the list of Energy Charter Treaty disputes with 52 initiated cases.

Arbitration weekly highlights—19 December 2024

This week's edition of Arbitration weekly highlights includes: decisions from the English Court of Appeal and the Commercial Court, and updates from the LCIA, SIAC, SCC Arbitration Institute, Madrid Court of Arbitration, and Delos Dispute Resolution. All this, and more, in our weekly highlights.

Timing is everything—Commercial Court takes strict approach to construing contractual time limits (Eronat v CNPC International and another)

Arbitration analysis: In Eronat v CNPC International and another, the parties had agreed to a bespoke contractual provision entitling parties to appeal an award within 30 days from the date at which the arbitral decision was ‘rendered’. This was in contrast to the default position under the LCIA Rules where there is no right to appeal. In construing the word ‘rendered’ very strictly and dismissing an appeal under section 69 of the Arbitration Act, the court found that time started running the date that the award was made, rather than the date the award was notified to the parties. The judgment serves as an important reminder for parties to act promptly when faced with contractual time limits, particularly when they relate to the challenge of arbitral awards. Written by Kirtan Prasad, of counsel, and Jessica Davies, associate, at RPC.

SCC Arbitration Institute appoints four new board members

The Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC) Arbitration Institute has announced the appointment of four new board members for 2025, aiming to bolster its position in international dispute resolution. The new appointees are Samantha J. Rowe, a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP specialising in international arbitration; Christina Waering, Head of Legal Non-Life Insurance at LF with extensive dispute resolution experience; Shirin Saif, a partner at Roschier focusing on technology-related disputes; and Sandra Kaznova, a partner at Hammarskiöld with expertise in arbitration and litigation. These appointments are intended to support the SCC Arbitration Institute's case-related decisions under its rules and bring fresh perspectives to the organisation's work.