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 […]
Denial of Justice in International Investment Law
The principle of denial of justice embodies the maladministration of justice by local courts.[6] Prohibited acts of the local judiciary mainly revolve around access to justice, discrimination and the slow or non-existent execution of court decisions which are favorable to a foreign investor.[7] One of the oldest and most oft-cited definitions of denial of justice […]
The National Treatment Standard – Investment Arbitration
Violations of the National Treatment standard are often alleged by claimants involved in investment arbitrations. The National Treatment standard has a simple theoretical purpose: to ensure that foreign investors or their investments will be treated no less favourably than domestic investors or their investments. The application of the National Treatment standard can vary significantly depending […]
The Standard of Full Protection and Security for Foreign Investors
The standard of full protection and security is one of the basic principles of investment protection applicable to investor-State arbitrations. Its content, scope of application and the sanctioned behaviors of host States of investment can be diverse. Doctrinal Definition of the Standard of Full Protection and Security According to doctrine, the standard of full protection […]
Appellate Mechanisms for ISDS: Inconsistency & Unpredictability of Arbitration Awards
Investor-State Dispute Settlement (“ISDS”) has been criticized for the lack of an appellate mechanism and the inconsistency and unpredictability of certain arbitration awards that are rendered. Opponents of ISDS claim that, as decisions that may ultimately affect public interests are at stake, it is undesirable that wrong decisions taken by arbitral tribunals cannot be appealed. […]