International

Latvian request for the extradition of an ex-KGB agent is refused

Latvia v Karpickovs

Mr Boris Karpickovs was the subject of an extradition request from the Republic of Latvia. In refusing extradition under s.13 of the Extradition Act 2003, the judge concluded that the extradition request was brought for the purpose of silencing Mr Karpickovs as a result of his work for both the Russian and Latvian intelligence services and he might accordingly be prejudiced at his trial. The Court further concluded that there was a real risk of Mr Karpickovs suffering a flagrant denial of justice contrary to article 6 ECHR, due to the incentive of individuals to interfere with the usual course of justice in his case and the long-standing and deep-rooted problems with corruption within the Latvian judicial system.

Latvian request for the extradition of an ex-KGB agent is refused

Mark Summers QC and James Stansfeld represented Mr Boris Karpickovs, who was the subject of an extradition request from the Republic of Latvia. In refusing extradition under s.13 of the Extradition Act 2003, DJ Baraitser concluded that the extradition request was brought for the purpose of silencing Mr Karpickovs as a result of his work […]

Widow has real prospect of success in claim for negligence against company based in Bangladesh

Begum v Maran [2020] EWHC 1846 (QB)

This case involves the death of an employee whilst working on the demolition of a defunct oil tanker (“the vessel”) in the Zuma Enterprise Shipyard (“the yard”) in Chittagong (now Chattogram), Bangladesh. The deceased’s widow issued proceedings claiming damages for negligence under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934 and the Fatal Accidents Act 1976; alternatively, under Bangladeshi law. The scope of the proceedings has subsequently been broadened inasmuch as draft Amended Particulars of Claim advance a cause of action in restitution: more precisely, unjust enrichment.

Held: The claimant has a real prospect of succeeding in relation to her claim in negligence, however her claim in unjust enrichment is unsustainable. The the claimant has a real prospect of establishing that her claim is governed by English law and that if Bangladeshi law were to apply to the claim in tort, it would be statute-barred.

Prof Christian Tams speaking at Paris’ first virtual arbitration week

Professor Christian Tams will be speaking at Paris Arbitration Week as part of a panel brought together by Eversheds Sutherland on the topic of ‘Finding the State: Foreign Investment and Disputed Territories, State Succession and Military Conflicts’. Speaking alongside Professor Nicolas Angelet and Professor Alina Miron, the panel will be looking at the way in […]

ICJ holds public hearing in case between Guyana and Venezuela

The International Court of Justice is today holding a public hearing on the question of the Court’s jurisdiction in a case brought to confirm the international boundary between Guyana and Venezuela as determined by an 1899 arbitral award whose validity Venezuela has challenged. Professor Philippe Sands QC and Edward Craven are representing Guyana. In light […]