Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic v. Baldwin (United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 25-2562)

Procedural record

1. 17 September 2026United States

   17 September 2026United States

   Opinion of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the case 25-2562 dated 17 September 2026

   United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

   Case no.

   25-2562

   Decision summary

   The court reversed and remanded the dismissal of Lao PDR's petition to enforce three foreign arbitral awards against Baldwin and Bridge Capital. It held that the district court had subject-matter jurisdiction under 9 U.S.C. § 203 and should consider Lao PDR's alter-ego theory in the New York Convention enforcement proceeding.

   Participants

   The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic

   Representative

   David J. Branson (For: The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)

   Representative

   Law Office of David Branson (For: The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)

   Representative

   Colin M. Thompson (For: The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)

   Representative

   Thompson Law Office LLC (For: The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)

   John K. Baldwin

   Representative

   Jeffrey T. Prudhomme (For: John K. Baldwin · Bridge Capital, LLC)

   Representative

   Deborah R. Deitsch-Perez (For: John K. Baldwin · Bridge Capital, LLC)

   Representative

   Stinson LLP (For: John K. Baldwin · Bridge Capital, LLC)

   Representative

   Michael W. Dotts (For: John K. Baldwin · Bridge Capital, LLC)

   Representative

   Dotts Law Office (For: John K. Baldwin · Bridge Capital, LLC)

   Shawn Scott

   Bridge Capital, LLC

   Representative

   Jeffrey T. Prudhomme (For: John K. Baldwin · Bridge Capital, LLC)

   Representative

   Deborah R. Deitsch-Perez (For: John K. Baldwin · Bridge Capital, LLC)

   Representative

   Stinson LLP (For: John K. Baldwin · Bridge Capital, LLC)

   Representative

   Michael W. Dotts (For: John K. Baldwin · Bridge Capital, LLC)

   Representative

   Dotts Law Office (For: John K. Baldwin · Bridge Capital, LLC)

   United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

   Judge

   Jay S. Bybee

   Judge

   Ryan D. Nelson

   Judge

   Danielle J. Forrest

   Authorities cited

   30

   • Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, June 10, 1958, 21 U.S.T. 2517
     treaty
   • Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 201)
     statute
   • Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 202)
     statute
   • Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 203)
     statute
   • Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 207)
     statute
   • Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 208)
     statute
   • Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 16(a)(1)(D))
     statute
   • Doe v. Regents of the University of California (23 F.4th 930 (9th Cir. 2022))
     case
   • Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic v. Baldwin (No. 2:20-cv-00195-CRK, Dkt. 169, at *3 (D. Idaho Aug. 29, 2022))
     case
   • HayDay Farms, Inc. v. FeeDx Holdings, Inc. (55 F.4th 1232 (9th Cir. 2022))
     case
   • Jones v. L.A. Central Plaza LLC (74 F.4th 1053 (9th Cir. 2023))
     case
   • GE Energy Power Conversion France SAS, Corp. v. Outokumpu Stainless USA, LLC (590 U.S. 432 (2020))
     case
   • Bergesen v. Joseph Muller Corp. (710 F.2d 928 (2d Cir. 1983))
     case
   • Scherk v. Alberto-Culver Co. (417 U.S. 506 (1974))
     case
   • Corporación AIC, SA v. Hidroeléctrica Santa Rita S.A. (66 F.4th 876 (11th Cir. 2023))
     case
   • Molecular Dynamics, Ltd. v. Spectrum Dynamics Med. Ltd. (143 F.4th 70 (2d Cir. 2025))
     case
   • CBF Indústria de Gusa S/A v. AMCI Holdings, Inc. (850 F.3d 58 (2d Cir. 2017))
     case
   • Karaha Bodas Co., L.L.C. v. Perusahaan Pertambangan Minyak Dan Gas Bumi Negara (335 F.3d 357 (5th Cir. 2003))
     case
   • Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons v. Toys 'R' Us, Inc. (126 F.3d 15 (2d Cir. 1997))
     case
   • Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Republic of Iran v. Gould Inc. (887 F.2d 1357 (9th Cir. 1989))
     case
   • Al-Qarqani v. Chevron Corp. (8 F.4th 1018 (9th Cir. 2021))
     case
   • Devas Multimedia Private Ltd. v. Antrix Corp. (Nos. 20-36024, 22-35085, 22-35103, 2026 WL 2330570 (9th Cir. Aug. 12, 2026))
     case
   • Garcia v. Salvation Army (918 F.3d 997 (9th Cir. 2019))
     case
   • Bell v. Hood (327 U.S. 678 (1946))
     case
   • Sarhank Group v. Oracle Corp. (404 F.3d 657 (2d Cir. 2005))
     case
   • Orion Shipping & Trading Co., Inc. v. E. States Petroleum Corp. of Panama, S.A. (312 F.2d 299 (2d Cir. 1963))
     case
   • In re Slimick (928 F.2d 304 (9th Cir. 1990))
     case
   • New York Convention, Article I (Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, art. I(1))
     treaty
   • New York Convention, Article V (Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, art. V)
     treaty
   • Restatement (Third) of the U.S. Law of International Commercial Arbitration (Restatement (Third) U.S. L. Int'l Com. Arb. §§ 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 4.32)
     other