United Kingdom: International Courts & Tribunals

The Supreme Court has ruled that an unrecognised Russian judgment debt can form the basis of a bankruptcy petition under section 267 of the Insolvency Act 1986, establishing that foreign judgment debts need not be registered or recognised domestically to constitute valid debts. This landmark decision clarifies the legal treatment of foreign judgments at common law and has significant implications for both personal and potentially corporate insolvency proceedings.

Recent Russian Supreme Court rulings have created significant obstacles for enforcing international arbitration awards against Russian parties, particularly when arbitrators originate from politically "unfriendly" jurisdictions. English courts continue to assert jurisdiction and enforce arbitral orders, but the practical challenge of ultimate enforcement in Russian courts persists. Understanding these jurisdictional complexities and implementing strategic safeguards has become essential for parties engaged

Two British men will be sentenced in the US next year after admitting their role in a $99 million wine fraud.