More than four decades after the Tehran hostage crisis, arbitration may offer Iran a legal pathway to challenge the United States’ latest military campaign. On 28 February 2026, the United States, together with Israel, launched a large-scale military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran under the name “Operation Epic Fury”.[1] The United States has […]
Context in Treaty Interpretation
When addressing context in treaty interpretation, the primary point of reference is the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (the “Vienna Convention”). The Vienna Convention was adopted on 23 May 1969 by the United Nations.[1] It entered into force for the original parties on 27 January 1980.[2] The Vienna Convention constitutes one of the most […]
The COVID-19 Pandemic and Investment Arbitration
As the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has already impacted over 150 countries worldwide, it is hard to imagine that investment arbitration will not be impacted. While the future remains uncertain, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to violate various protections provided in bilateral investment treaties (“BITs”) and may bring rise to claims […]
S SpA v. T GmbH, Oberster Gerichtshof, Case No. 180Cg1/15v, 23 June 2015
This case, resulting from a partial award rendered in a VIAC commercial arbitration, concerns the formal requirements of the validity of an arbitration agreement under Austrian law. The facts are as follows: a German consultant signed a contract for service with S SpA, an Italian company, for the sale of heat exchangers. This contract was […]
SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS EUROPE V. THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA (ICSID CASE NO. ARB/12/13) – DECISION ON PROPOSAL TO DISQUALIFY ARBITRATOR of 27 February 2013
On 25 May 2012, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Europe filed a request for arbitration against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for breaches to the Agreement on Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between France and Venezuela of 15 April 2004. After appointment of the arbitrators by each party, Claimant filed for the disqualification of the arbitrator […]