header-logo header-logo

An uncertain future?

02 October 2008
Issue: 7339 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice
printer mail-detail

Should the English anti-suit injunction expect another blow from the ECJ? Steven Friel reports

Imagine the following scenario. An English company (UK Co) has entered into a contract with a company (Euro Co) from a far-flung European country (eg Estonia, Bulgaria, Italy, Finland, Poland, or indeed any other of the 26 other member states). Wary of potentially having to litigate in an unfamiliar jurisdiction, UK Co insists upon an English arbitration clause in the contract. Euro Co agrees to this, and their contract duly provides for all disputes to be settled in arbitration before a sole arbitrator in London, applying English law and proceeding in the English language. So far, all fine.

Six months down the line, however, and the parties are in dispute. Euro Co considers that UK Co has breached the contract. Rather than commencing London arbitration, however, Euro Co commences an action in courts in Euro Co’s home jurisdiction.

In these circumstances, can an English court issue an anti-suit injunction restraining Euro Co from proceeding in its home jurisdiction in breach of the

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Chronic delays, duplication of work, cancelled hearings and inefficiencies in the family law courts are letting children and victims of domestic abuse down, a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry has found
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
back-to-top-scroll