On 27 January 2026, the Arbitrazh Court of the Republic of Buryatia ordered U.S.-based VTS Aviation LLC to refund USD 81,200 paid as an advance under a 2020 supply contract to JSC Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, a subsidiary of the sanctioned Russian Helicopters holding – despite the contract containing an ICC arbitration clause providing for dispute […]
Anna Kopylova
Germany’s New Arbitration Court for Nazi-Looted Cultural Property: Key Procedural Features
On 1 December 2025, Germany’s institutional arbitration body for Nazi-looted art commenced operations, replacing the former Advisory Commission. For the first time, victims of National Socialist persecution and their legal successors have access to a formalised and legally binding procedure. Below are some of the key procedural features of the arbitration body for Nazi-looted art. […]
Robbed of Their “Oomph”: Ronald Perelman’s $410M Insurance Claim Over allegedly Fire-Damaged Artworks
Years after the fire in 2018, a prominent art collector and businessman Perelman claims that 5 artworks lost their spark, luster and depth and demands $410m for them. The insurance companies have argued that the works had “not sustained any detectable damages”. Allegations of Damage: Oomph or no oomph? At the heart of the dispute […]
Russian courts’ new approach to reciprocity: Post-sanctions compliance
The Moscow District Arbitrazh Court refused to recognize decisions from US courts, stating a lack of evidence of reciprocity under international principles. Decisions made before February 28, 2022, were considered irrelevant in the ruling (case No. A40-242631/2022, dated 24 July 2023) The court cited Government Decree No. 430-r of March 5, 2022, which listed “unfriendly […]
Restitution of Nazi-looted art: New law aims to facilitate enforcement of claims
On April 17th, the German Federal Ministry of Justice proposed a bill to facilitate the enforcement of claims for the return of cultural property unjustly seized during the Nazi era. New provisions include information requests and rules regarding statutes of limitations. ©Rui Alves/Unsplah The proposed legislation seeks to streamline the process for reclaiming Nazi-confiscated cultural […]
Nearly 80 years after the end of National Germany to replace Nazi-loot advisory panel with binding arbitration
The Advisory Commission, formerly known as the Limbach Commission, dealing with the return of Nazi-looted art from Jewish owners, has been facing criticism for its inefficiency. Now, nearly 80 years after the end of National Socialism in Germany the federal government, states and local authorities agreed shaking things up by replacing it with an arbitration […]
The ongoing legal saga: Court bans Finland’s Wartsila from suing a Russian plant abroad
A court in St. Petersburg has forbidden the Finnish company, Wartsila, from pursuing or continuing arbitration proceedings abroad against a Russian plant. This decision follows the court’s earlier rejection of Baltic Plant’s €7.6 million claim against Wartsila for non-compliance with six independent guarantees. Background facts The guarantees were related to a contract with the Russian […]