USA Archives

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 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 Veerji Exports (“Veerji”) contracted with BVC Brink’s Diamond and Jewellery Services LLP (“BVC”), the designated agent of Defendant Brink’s Global Services, Inc. (“Brink’s”), to ship diamonds from Surat, India to Defendants Carlos St. Mary and Carlos St. Mary, Inc. (collectively, “St. Mary”) in Houston, Texas. Pursuant to the contract, BVC issued a house airway bill (“HAWB”), which…

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…

In Arbitration Agreements

Third Circuit holds that a correspondence between the parties could be understood as an arbitration agreement under the New York Convention

January 31, 2023 by Gonzalo J. Monge and David Zaslowsky 5 Mins Read

Jiangsu Beier Decoration Materials Co. v. Angle World LLC, No. 21-3143 (3d Cir. Nov. 3, 2022)[1] Factual Background…

In International Arbitration Yearbook

Baker McKenzie International Arbitration Yearbook 2022-2023 – United States

January 1, 2023 by David Zaslowsky, Thomas Tysowsky and Richard Yang 25 Mins Read

A. LEGISLATION AND RULES A.1 Legislation The United States is a federal jurisdiction that has arbitration-related legislation at both the federal (national) and state levels. The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) of 1925 continues to be the controlling federal arbitration statute and reflects a well-established national policy that strongly favors arbitration as an alternate means of dispute resolution. In its almost 100-year history, the FAA had not seen any major amendments.[1] However, such an amendment…

In North America

Second Circuit affirms order denying motion to compel arbitration

December 19, 2022 by David Zaslowsky 3 Mins Read

In Lavvan, Inc. v. Amyris, Inc., No. 21-1819 (2d Cir. Sept. 15, 2022),[1] the Second Circuit affirmed order denying…

In North America

District court confirms arbitral award despite arbitrator decision to deny discovery and evidentiary hearing

November 16, 2022 by Shiyu (Jenny) Liang and David Zaslowsky 3 Mins Read

245 Park Member LLC v. HNA Grp. (Int’l) Co., 1:22-cv-5136-JGK (S.D.N.Y. July 25, 2022)[1] Factual Background In 2017, Petitioner…

In North America

Eleventh Circuit affirms district court decision that non-signatory parties may enforce arbitration clauses under the New York Convention

October 19, 2022 by Marisa Dieken and David Zaslowsky 4 Mins Read

Outokumpu Stainless USA, LLC, v. Coverteam SAS (aka GE Energy Power Conversion France SAS, Corp.,), No. 17-10944 (11th Cir. July 8, 2022)[1] Factual Background In 2007, the predecessor of Plaintiff Outokumpu Stainless USA, LLC (“Outokumpu”) entered into a series of agreements with F.L. Industries Inc. (“Fives”) for the provision of three cold rolling mills used for manufacturing and processing steel products. The parties agreed that disputes arising from the agreements would be subject to arbitration under German…

In North America

District court confirms a foreign arbitral award and declines to stay enforcement despite a pending annulment action in the country with primary jurisdiction over the award

August 23, 2022 by Erin Shields and David Zaslowsky 4 Mins Read

Iraq Telecom Ltd. v. IBL Bank S.A.L., No. 21cv10940 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 8, 2022)[1] Factual Background In 2011, Iraq Telecom…

In North America

Michigan Court of Appeals affirms that, where an arbitrators’ decision is challenged on brevity, the proper procedure is to remand the decision back to the arbitrators rather than vacate the award

July 12, 2022 by 3 Mins Read

In In Re Romanzi; Kenneth A. Nathan v. Fieger & Fieger, P.C., Nos. 20-2278/21-1004 (Mich. Ct. App. Apr.…

In North America

U.S. District court denies Pakistan request to stay proceedings, and recognizes and enforces ICSID arbitral award based on the arbitration exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act

July 5, 2022 by 4 Mins Read

Tethyan Copper Co. Pty Ltd. v. Islamic Republic of Pakistan, No. 1:19-cv-02424 (D.D.C. Mar. 10, 2022)[1] In 2006, Tethyan Copper Co. Pty Ltd. (“Tethyan”), an Australian company, entered into a joint venture with a Pakistani province, Balochistan, which provided that Tethyan could “explore potential copper and gold mining” in the province. In 2011, Tethyan applied to Balochistan for a lease to mine the Reko Diq deposit, one of the world’s largest copper-gold deposits, located in…