Welcoming Climate Litigation: Advisory Opinion of the Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

Although not a judgement per se and lacking binding force, as explicitly pointed out by the Tribunal, yesterday’s Advisory Opinion by the #Tribunal for the Law of the Sea marks another corner stone in international climate litigation. Text of the Advisory Opinion can be found here. Introduction The International Tribunal, an independent judicial body established […]

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 […]

Is it still possible to serve documents in Russia under the Hague Convention or can the German court go straight to public service?

Overview In a legal dispute between a German claimant and a Russian respondent, the Berlin Higher Regional Court (Kammergericht) dealt with the question of the admissibility of arbitration proceedings based on a dispute over the fulfilment of contractual obligations. In its landmark decision (dated 1 June 2023, case no 12 SchH 5/22), the Berlin Higher […]

No means to overturn legal mistakes of an Arbitral Tribunal

On December 21, 2023, the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH) – in overturning a decision by the Cologne Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht, OLG Köln) – clarified the standards for the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in Germany, emphasizing the principle that limits the scope of review by German courts to the […]

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 […]

Navigating the Complexities of the EU Emissions Trading System: The Mandate

The maritime industry’s integration into the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) in 2024 remains a challenge for shipping companies concerned: With the prospect of the many more reporting obligations and submission deadlines to come, shipowners are increasingly considering delegation options to manage MRV and EU-ETS obligations effectively. Only last week the German Administering Authority (DEHSt) […]

Nearly 80 years after the end of National Socialism: 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 […]

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