AZHA Avocats is pleased to share the publication of a Note by Dr Mercedeh Azeredo da Silveira and Dr. Yulia Levashova MCIArb on investment claims against Russia and economic sanctions, in the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Review – Foreign Investment Law Journal.

Dr Mercedeh Azeredo da Silveira and Stephan den Hartog contribute to the 2023 edition of the Global Arbitration Review Guide on Commercial Arbitration. The authors answer 51 questions on the key features of commercial arbitration proceedings in Switzerland.

AZHA Avocats is pleased to share the recent publication of a Lexis Nexis Case Analysis on the question whether, pursuant to Article 1065 of the Dutch Code of Civil Procedure, a decision by which an arbitral tribunal considers itself incompetent on the basis of the absence of a valid arbitration agreement can be set aside. The Dutch Supreme Court, in its decision of 21 April 2023, answered this question negatively.

On 1 November 2022, the Kluwer Arbitration Blog published the latest post on sanctions authored by Mercédeh Azeredo da Silveira and Stephan den Hartog, in which they discuss the EU’s eighth package of sanctions against Russia and the potential implications of a blanket ban on legal advisory services.

Partner Stephan den Hartog joined a panel discussion that addressed the impact of sanctions on international arbitration during the International Arbitration Annual Conference, organised by the Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats (AIJA) and held on 7 and 8 October 2022 in Berlin.

Partner Dr Mercédeh Azeredo da Silveira speaks at the ASA Conference on Sanctions and their Impact on International Arbitration, held on 16 September 2022 in Bern.

In the latest Kluwer Arbitration Blog post on sanctions against Russia, Mercédeh Azeredo da Silveira and Stephan den Hartog discuss the implications of the EU’s important clarification, in its seventh package of sanctions, on the right of publicly-owned and -controlled entities to access to arbitration.

On 4 July 2022, Partner Mercedeh Azeredo da Silveira addressed the impact of sanctions against Russia on contracts at a conference hosted by the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance of the University of Luxembourg.

On 14 June 2022, Mercedeh Azeredo da Silveira addressed the effects of economic sanctions, and in particular the current sanctions against Russia, on commercial contracts during a webinar organized by the Ordre des avocats de Genève.

Mercédeh Azeredo da Silveira is now on the List of Arbitrators of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC). Earlier this year, she was also included in the Panels of Arbitrators of the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA) and of the South China International Arbitration Center (Hong Kong) (SCIAHK).

The Russian government has adopted a series of retaliatory measures in response to economic sanctions imposed against the Russian Federation since the invasion of Ukraine. Foreign investors that are affected by these retaliatory measures might be able to seek compensation through investor-state dispute settlement proceedings.

Together with Yulia Levashova, Mercédeh Azeredo da Silveira examines in the Kluwer Arbitration Blog the challenges that may be faced by foreign investors in this context, in particular as regards the enforcement of awards against the Russian Federation in today’s economic sanctions landscape.

Mercedeh Azeredo da Silveira comments on the Paris Court of Appeal decision in the "DNO Yemen AS and others v. The Ministry of Oil and Minerals of Yemen and others" case. This Jus Mundi case comment sheds light on the scope of review of the annulment judge, the notion and scope of French international public policy, and the post-award potential impact of economic sanctions.

With no clear end to the deplorable and tragic conflict in Ukraine in sight, it seems likely that wide-ranging sanctions against Russia remain in place for the foreseeable future. Stephan den Hartog explores in the Kluwer Arbitration Blog the legal and practical issues that arbitral institutions and parties may face as a result of recently imposed EU and Swiss sanctions against Russia.

Mercédeh Azeredo da Silveira and Stephan den Hartog have authored a series of posts regarding the potential impact of economic sanctions on arbitral and financial institutions, published in the Kluwer Arbitration Blog.

The series addresses critical issues faced by such institutions as a result of restrictions on transfers of funds under primary and secondary sanctions programmes, including programmes against Iran and Russia, and offers guidance to avoid the obstruction of arbitration proceedings if sanctioned parties are involved.

Mercédeh Azeredo da Silveira's growing practice as arbitrator is featured in the Arbitrator Research Tool of GAR.

On 15 April 2021, Stephan den Hartog joined a panel of experienced arbitration practitioners for a virtual debate on summary dispositions and document production, organized by ICDR Young & International. To view a recording of the debate, please follow the link below.

Mercédeh, who has extensive experience as counsel in investment treaty disputes, is one of eight individuals designated by the Swiss Government to serve on ICSID’s Panel of Arbitrators and Conciliators. The Panel gathers accomplished arbitrators and conciliators who may be considered by parties when making appointments in ICSID cases.

Katerina is a graduate from the Geneva LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS) and is admitted to the Greek Bar. She specializes in international arbitration.

Mercédeh joins Sciences Po Law School as a lecturer on Economic Sanctions and International Arbitration, in the Master in Economic Law program – Global Governance Studies.

AZHA hosts in Geneva, in partnership with the US firm Akrivis Law Group PLLC, a colloquium on economic sanctions and arbitration, in which leading experts Farhad Alavi, Maya Lester QC, Prof. Regis Bismuth and Dr Mercédeh Azeredo da Silveira express their views on current issues. The event attracts over 60 participants from Switzerland, France, the UK, Luxembourg, Belgium and Italy.

The Global Arbitration Review publishes an extensive report on the discussion, quoting Mercédeh.

The launch of AZHA is prominently featured in the Global Arbitration Review.