North America Archives

In USA

District court holds that the three-month deadline to file a motion to vacate under the FAA is triggered by an arbitrator’s “final award” despite subsequent motions for clarification

October 18, 2023 by David Zaslowsky and Thomas Tysowsky 4 Mins Read

First Kuwaiti Gen. Trading & Contracting W.L.L. v. Kellogg Brown & Root Int’l, Inc., No. 1:23-mc-1 (E.D. Va. May 12, 2023)[1] Factual Background Petitioner First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting W.L.L. (“FKTC”) and Respondent Kellogg Brown & Root International, Inc. (“KBR”) entered into various logistics contracts during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. FKTC experienced increased costs while performing some of the work, which was memorialized by two change orders, and KBR agreed to reimburse…

In USA

Tenth Circuit: failure to follow the procedural requirements of Article IV of the New York Convention raises a merits issue rather than a jurisdictional issue

October 11, 2023 by David Zaslowsky and Adrienne Harreveld 4 Mins Read

Baker Hughes Servs. Int’l, LLC v. Joshi Technologies Int’l, Inc., Nos. 21-5072 and 21-5081 (10th Cir. July 13,…

In USA

District court holds that Russian language choice of forum provision prevails over English translation in contract executed with side-by-side provisions where term employed was a term of art in Russia and did not compel the parties to arbitrate their disputes

September 25, 2023 by David Zaslowsky and Annasofia Roig 4 Mins Read

LaRubInt Corp. v. Joint Stock Company Studio Soyuzmultfilm, No. 22-cv-4461 (HG) (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 20, 2023)[1] In August and September…

In USA

District Court vacates arbitration award due to evident arbitrator partiality

August 14, 2023 by David Zaslowsky and Paul Chander 4 Mins Read

In Equicare Health Inc. v. Varian Med. Sys.,[1] the District Court for the Northern District of California vacated arbitration award due to evident partiality because one of the arbitrators failed to disclose that he was a former client of the attorneys for one of the parties to the arbitration. Factual Background Equicare Health Inc. (“Equicare”) and Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (“Varian”) entered into a contract under which Varian agreed to make a “reasonable commercial effort”…

In USA

Supreme Court of the United States rules lower court proceedings must be stayed pending the appeal of a denial of a motion to compel arbitration

August 9, 2023 by David Zaslowsky and Teresa Michaud 5 Mins Read

On June 23, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a very important decision concerning the procedure to be followed…

In USA

District court dismisses petition to enforce arbitration award against Spain for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, relying on the Achmea decision

May 31, 2023 by Heidi Smucker and David Zaslowsky 4 Mins Read

Blasket Renewable Investments v. Kingdom of Spain, No. 1:21-cv-3249-RJL (D.D.C. Mar. 29, 2023).[1] Factual Background In 2007, two…

In North America

District court finds claims of partiality baseless and confirms award requiring specific performance

April 26, 2023 by David Zaslowsky and Ariel Bryant 4 Mins Read

Telecom Bus. Sols., LLC v. Terra Towers Corp., No. 22-cv-1761 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 18, 2023)[1] Factual Background In 2015, Telecom Business Solutions, LLC, LATAM Towers, LLC and AMLQ Holdings (Cay) Ltd. (collectively, “Petitioners”) entered into a shareholders agreement (the “SHA”) with Terra Towers Corp. and TBS Management (collectively, “Terra”) to co-own and operate Continental Towers LATAM Holdings, Ltd. (the “Company”). Pursuant to the agreement, the Company developed and operated telecommunication towers in Central and South America.…

In Arbitrability

District court holds that courts may decide issues of arbitrability even where the contract incorporates arbitration rules that delegate such issue to arbitrators

April 13, 2023 by David Zaslowsky and Desirée Hunter-Reay 4 Mins Read

Veerji Exports v. Carlos St Mary, Inc., No. 22 Civ. 3661 (LGS) (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 5, 2022)[1] Factual Background Plaintiff…

In All time favorite

Now available: International Arbitration Yearbook 2022-2023

March 29, 2023 by Cathy Keegan 2 Mins Read

We are pleased to announce that the latest edition of the Baker McKenzie International Arbitration Yearbook is now…

In North America

District court holds that a tribunal in an ICSID arbitration is not “a foreign or international tribunal” under 28 U.S.C. § 1782 and therefore discovery may not be sought in aid of such an arbitration

February 2, 2023 by Alexander Burch and David Zaslowsky 2 Mins Read

In re Application of Alpene, Ltd., No. 21 MC 2547 (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 27, 2022)[1]Factual Background Alpene, Ltd., a Hong Kong corporation, was the claimant in an investor-state treaty arbitration against the Republic of Malta before the World Bank’s International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID”). Alpene initiated a proceeding in district court in New York requesting an order authorizing subpoenas for documents and testimony from an individual residing in New York in connection…