Insights

• As geopolitical tensions pressure sovereign debt, more investors are taking their disputes against sovereign states and entities to arbitration and judicial forums. There is a world of difference between demanding payment of a defaulted debt, judgment, or award from a sovereign and seeing the sovereign pay up.
• Meanwhile, Chinese private investors have become more prominent in sovereign-related investments through acquisitions, joint ventures, and infrastructure projects in Europe, Africa and Latin America.
• Investors and other claimants should not be afraid to stand up to sovereign debtors with aggressive non-traditional strategies.

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• Commercial parties worldwide have long struggled to enforce cross-border arbitration awards and judgments in the Middle East.
• However, recent decisions of the UAE courts have signaled that the tides may be turning more in creditors’ favor. which can inform how they may approach enforcement against a sovereign debtor.
• Our team explains recent updates advancing cross-border judgment enforcement efforts in the region.

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• Over the past several years, Kobre & Kim has successfully enforced cross-border judgments and arbitration awards collectively valued at more than US $40 billion.
• Many of the firm’s engagements have involved judgments and awards valued at upward of US $100 million, including several in the billions or even tens of billions of US dollars.
• Large monetary judgments or awards cannot be successfully enforced by a strategy that solely focuses on pursuing assets worldwide.

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• International investors and other claimants have long struggled to enforce cross-border claims in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the wider Middle East.
• Debtors frequently deploy tactics such as fraudulent conveyance to transfer their assets out of reach.
• A recent precedent-setting decision in Dubai’s High Court, secured by Kobre & Kim and local co-counsel, shows another avenue for global creditors to battle recalcitrant debtors and increase their chances of a swift and significant recovery on their cross-border claims.

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• More investors are taking their disputes against sovereign states and entities to arbitration and judicial forums.
• However, demanding payment of a defaulted debt, judgment or award does not always lead to the sovereign paying up.
• We explore aggressive non-traditional strategies investors should deploy to ensure a sovereign debtor agrees to a settlement.

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• Deals and partnerships between Latin American and Chinese companies are growing as economic ties between the two regions deepen.
• However, unique risks are involved if a dispute arises with the Chinese company – the Chinese legal system could create barriers to payment, even with an award or judgment in hand.
• Latin American companies and investors should consider cross-border strategies to increase their leverage.

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• For international investors and companies, winning an arbitration award against a sovereign state marks just the beginning of a lengthy, globe-spanning enforcement campaign.
• To make a greater impact on the enforcement process, award holders should not be afraid to use more creative approaches.
• A recent Kobre & Kim victory demonstrates how this approach can put legitimate pressure on sovereign debtors and bring them to the negotiating table.

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• International creditors are seeing more opportunities in the United Arab Emirates and wider Middle East as courts continue to signal openness to recognizing and enforcing overseas judgments.
• This includes overcoming a fraudulent conveyance, as a UAE court recently decided in what may be an unprecedented judgment in favor of a judgment holder represented by Kobre & Kim.
• The judgment demonstrates that there are a rapidly growing number of creditor tools available in the region to combat recalcitrant debtors.

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• It is commonly assumed that it is difficult and impractical to enforcement judgments in the United Arab Emirates.
• However, this is increasingly untrue – even when no bilateral enforcement treaty exists, creditors can obtain recognition of their common law judgments.
• A recent Kobre & Kim case shows how that can happen.

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• More investors are taking their disputes against sovereign states and entities to arbitration and judicial forums.
• However, demanding payment of a defaulted debt, judgment or award does not always lead to the sovereign paying up.
• We explore aggressive non-traditional strategies investors should deploy to ensure a sovereign debtor agrees to a settlement.

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• Winning an arbitral award often marks the beginning of a long and costly global enforcement campaign for international investors, especially against a sovereign state.
• To speed up a settlement, investors should take a bold stand against sovereigns, leveraging international treaty protections.
• A recent landmark win against the Kingdom of Spain shows one way for investors.

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• The Middle East is opening up to cross-border investors, creditors and claimants, as Saudi Arabia’s adoption of rules based on the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency demonstrates.
• The openness is not limited to that country – the United Arab Emirates has also made strides that gives more tools for creditors considering a global enforcement campaign.
• We explain what these developments mean for creditors.

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• As a key economic center in the region, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is increasingly the place where many international creditors go as they pursue their debtor’s assets.
• However, some recalcitrant debtors may try to transfer their assets away to avoid payment in a fraudulent transfer.
• Our team explores what strategies are available in the UAE to restore a creditor’s interests.

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• A coming global economic downturn will put sovereign debt under pressure.
• It may appear near impossible for creditors and investors to enforce this debt against sovereigns, but those who succeed can see extraordinary returns.
• We explain how deploying creative cross-border strategies can overcome the toughest sovereign debtors and unlock the key to success.

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• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is becoming increasingly friendly to global judgment creditors looking to enforce their judgments.
• Recent developments signal increased receptivity to fast-tracking recognition and enforcement through reciprocity.
• We survey the landscape and look at how the country can form a crucial part of a worldwide enforcement campaign.

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