President enacts law to secure foreign investments

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday accorded assent to a law aimed at reassuring foreign investors about security of their investments in Pakistan. The Arbitration (International Investment Disputes) Bill, 2011 was passed by National Assembly on November 5 last year while the Senate passed it on April 1. The President made the bill into a law, with his signatures…

'Is The Principle of Finality "Losing Its Appeal"?', by Alejandro I. Garcia:

Four Tribunals Apply ICSID Rule for Early Ouster of Unmeritorious Claims", by John R. Crook (ASIL Insights, Vol. 15, Issue 10)

Introduction Four tribunals composed of leading arbitrators have brought to life an unusual rule adopted by the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID”) in 2006 that allows respondent states to seek early dismissal of unmeritorious claims.[1] The first two cases clarified key parts of the rule, although the disputed claims were not dismissed.  More recently, two tribunals for the…

What will the recent entry into force of the UNASUR Treaty mean for investment arbitration in South America? By Christian Leathley

On 11 March 2011, the UNASUR treaty entered into force. UNASUR (the Union of South American Nations) is a regional organisation that comprises all twelve South American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. The entry into force of the treaty is an important development for the international arbitration community given some of…

'Mauritius Brings UNCLOS Arbitration Against The United Kingdom Over the Chagos Archipelago', by Peter Prowns (ASIL Insights, Vol. 15, Issue 8 - April 5, 2011)

Mauritius Brings UNCLOS Arbitration Against The United Kingdom Over The Chagos ArchipelagoBy Peter Prows Introduction The Chagos Archipelago, which dots the heart of the Indian Ocean, is in the middle of a very 21st century international dispute.  In April 2010, the United Kingdom, with the backing of ocean science and environmental groups, declared most of the exclusive economic zone (“EEZ”)…