Litigating or Arbitrating Oil and Gas, Natural Resources and Energy disputes, which is preferable in the current global energy law mix and why? Particularly in the UK and Nigeria / African jurisdictions. Case laws and data inclusive.
I think the answer would depend on who are the parties and what is the dispute about. In a case between two private energy companies with diversified assets in many countries, international commercial arbitration is almost always preferable.
If we are talking about a private company on the one side and a state on the other, the only viable option may be ICSID arbitration, if the convention is applicable. There is usually no point in suing a government in their own courts and they won't submit to litigation in the courts of any other country.
Finally, if we are looking at a dispute between two private companies and the defendant or both of them have their assets only in one country, we would have to look whether that country has a tradition of respecting the NY Convention and enforcing foreign arbitral awards. If not, litigation may be safer, although countries with problems in respecting the NY Convention usually also have problems in their courts.
Check out my paper on the Global Failure of Justice Systems for more information. Also, I will soon start uploading draft chapters from my new book on International Business Transactions, including a substantial chapter on international commercial litigation and international commercial arbitration.
Bonjour,
Votre question est très intéressante. Mais je pense qu'il n'est pas possible d'y répondre en peu mots. Je suis juriste et spécialiste des Alternative dispute resolution (ADR), et je vous dirais, qu'il est important d'élargir la question que vous posez, donc de ne pas la réduire à un choix entre plaider (tribunaux) et arbitrage. Mais il est important de rajouter au sens large les ADR notamment la médiation et tous les processus de règlement amiable. Ensuite, il faut étudier les textes juridiques en vigueur en droit de l'énergie dans les pays concernés et les éléments concrets du conflit qui oppose les parties... Finalement, il convient de prendre en compte les stratégies et les intentions des parties impliquées dans le conflit... Au plaisir de poursuivre cette discussion avec vous.
I received this interesting hint from Sèdjro Hountohotegbè. Thank Goodness Google Translate was there for me to try my hands on translation as it was originally in French, and I being very low in French.
Thank you Sèdjro, looking forward to your future contributions.
Sèdjro wrote:
"Your question is very interesting. But I think it is not possible to answer in few words. I am a lawyer and expert on alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and I would say that it is important to broaden the question you ask, so do not reduce it to a choice between plead (courts) and arbitration. But it is important to add wider ADR such as mediation and all settlement process. Then you have to study the legal texts in force in energy law in the countries concerned and the concrete elements of the dispute between the parties ... Finally, it should take into account the strategies and intentions of the parties involved in the conflict ... We look forward to continuing this discussion with you"
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