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Insurance law
Art Insurance and Lloyd’s of London: Looking Beyond the Syndicate’s Name
Introduction “From its earliest days, the café’s clientele frequented Lloyd’s for more than just a warm drink.”: In Halbower v. Hiscox Syndicate 33 of Lloyd’s of London (6th Cir., 29 May 2026), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit considered a dispute arising from the destruction of several high-value artworks in a fire […]
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AI
“Disrespect Toward the Court”: Russian Court Imposes Fine Over AI-Generated Case Law Nearly Equal to the Amount in Dispute
The Arbitrazh Court of the West Siberian District imposed a judicial fine of RUB 50,000 on a litigant after discovering that several court decisions cited in a cassation appeal did not in fact exist, treating the conduct as a serious “act of disrespect toward the court”, with the fine amount being nearly equal to the […]
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Uncategorized
Panama Papers Reveal True Owner: Court Orders Return of $25M Modigliani
On 3 April 2026, a New York court ordered the return of a $25 million Modigliani painting looted during the Nazi era, bringing to an end an 11-year legal battle between the heirs of a Jewish art dealer and the prominent Nahmad art dealing family. In Greason v. Nahmad (2026 NY Slip Op 50461), the […]
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Uncategorized
US Congress passes revised HEAR Act removing barriers to Nazi-looted art claims
For decades, restitution claims for Nazi-looted art have often failed not on substance, but on procedural defenses—laches, statutes of limitations, or even acquisitive prescription.The HEAR Act 2025 changes this fundamentally: these defenses are largely set aside, and claims are to be decided on their merits. The U.S. Congress has passed the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery […]
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Arbitration Recognition of foreign decisions
When enforcement threatens “Russian industry”: Russian court denies enforcement of USD 6 million Luxembourg awards
The Arbitrazh Court of the Ural District refused recognition and enforcement of Luxembourg arbitration awards, reasoning, inter alia, that enforcement could “cause damage to Russian industry.” Background of the dispute The dispute arose between Giuseppe Bruzzone and Luigi Stoppani (both Italian citizens) and Koaland Investment Ltd (BVI), on the one side (collectively, the claimants), and […]
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Arbitration
Russian Court Disregards ICC Arbitration Clause under Art. 248.1 APC RF and Orders U.S. Company to Refund Advance Payment to Russian Helicopters Subsidiary
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 […]
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Arbitration
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. […]
