United Kingdom: International Law

A PCA tribunal examined whether diplomatic notes exchanged between Rwanda and the UK amended their asylum partnership's financial obligations, and whether the UK breached its duty to negotiate refugee resettlement arrangements.

Enforcing arbitral awards against sovereign States presents complex strategic and practical challenges, particularly when navigating sovereign immunity arguments, cross-border asset identification, and multi-jurisdictional enforcement proceedings. A recent London International Disputes Week discussion examined these issues through the lens of the landmark Zhongshan v. Nigeria case, where a Chinese investor successfully secured and enforced a USD 70 million investment arbitration award against an African Sta

On 22 May 2026, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) published its updated Arbitration Rules (2026 ICC Rules), which will apply to all ICC arbitrations commenced on or after 1 June 2026.

A PCA tribunal examined whether diplomatic notes exchanged between Rwanda and the UK amended their asylum partnership's financial obligations, and whether the UK breached its duty to negotiate refugee resettlement arrangements.

Geopolitical disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is exposing critical vulnerabilities in the semiconductor supply chain through an emerging helium shortage. This analysis examines how maritime chokepoint risks transmit into sectors far removed from shipping, creating hidden dependencies across global manufacturing, capital markets...

The UK government has introduced significant changes to sanctions law and enforcement, including expanded measures targeting Russia, Iran, and global sanctions-evasion networks. Recent developments include new designations, licensing reforms, and enhanced compliance guidance affecting businesses operating in sanctioned jurisdictions.

The Financial Conduct Authority has published findings from its review of over 150 firms' sanctions systems and controls, revealing persistent weaknesses in due diligence, alert management, and trade sanctions compliance. While systems have strengthened since 2023, the average time to report breaches remains over 100 days, and firms continue to struggle with detecting sanctions evasion, particularly in payments, retail banking, and wholesale financial markets sectors.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority's May 2026 review of 150 authorized firms reveals that while sanctions compliance has improved since 2022, significant gaps persist in customer due diligence...

The UK government has introduced new sanctions targeting cryptocurrency networks and digital asset services that facilitate sanctions evasion, marking a significant expansion of its Russia sanctions regime. These measures aim to close loopholes exploited by designated persons and entities seeking to circumvent financial restrictions through crypto channels.