Arbitral Digest

Matter

Hulley Enterprises Limited & Ors v The Russian Federation (High Court of Justice (Commercial Court), [2026] EWHC 456 (Comm))

Seat
Netherlands
Applicable rules
UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules
  1. 30 November 2009Netherlands

    30 November 2009Netherlands

    Hulley Interim Award

    Decision summary
    The tribunal dismissed the Russian Federation's jurisdictional and admissibility objections addressed in the Interim Award, while deferring objections including unclean hands and corporate responsibility to the merits phase.

    Supporting details

    1 authority · 5 participants
    Hulley Enterprises Limited
    Russian Federation
    Institution
    Arbitrator
    Charles Poncet

    Authorities cited

    1
    • Energy Charter Treaty
      treaty
  2. 30 November 2009Netherlands

    30 November 2009Netherlands

    Veteran Interim Award

    Decision summary
    The tribunal issued a materially identical Interim Award addressing the Russian Federation's jurisdictional and admissibility objections, with specified objections deferred to the merits phase.

    Supporting details

    1 authority · 5 participants
    Veteran
    Russian Federation
    Institution
    Arbitrator
    Charles Poncet

    Authorities cited

    1
    • Energy Charter Treaty
      treaty
  3. 30 November 2009Netherlands

    30 November 2009Netherlands

    YUL Interim Award

    Decision summary
    The tribunal issued a materially identical Interim Award addressing the Russian Federation's jurisdictional and admissibility objections, with specified objections deferred to the merits phase.

    Supporting details

    1 authority · 5 participants
    YUL
    Russian Federation
    Institution
    Arbitrator
    Charles Poncet

    Authorities cited

    1
    • Energy Charter Treaty
      treaty

    4 years, 7 months and 18 days later · 1691 days

  4. 18 July 2014Netherlands

    18 July 2014Netherlands

    Hulley Final Award

    Decision summary
    The tribunal dismissed the remaining jurisdictional and admissibility objections, held the dispute admissible and within its jurisdiction, declared a breach of Article 13(1) of the Energy Charter Treaty, and ordered the Russian Federation to pay Hulley Enterprises Limited USD 39,971,834,360 plus interest and costs. Damages were reduced by 25% for contributory fault arising from certain tax frauds.

    Supporting details

    2 authorities · 5 participants
    Hulley Enterprises Limited
    Russian Federation
    Institution
    Arbitrator
    Charles Poncet

    Authorities cited

    2
    • Energy Charter Treaty
      treaty
    • UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules
      rules
  5. 18 July 2014Netherlands

    18 July 2014Netherlands

    Veteran Final Award

    Decision summary
    The tribunal issued a materially identical Final Award holding the dispute admissible and within its jurisdiction, declaring a breach of Article 13(1) of the Energy Charter Treaty, and ordering the Russian Federation to pay Veteran USD 8,203,032,751 plus interest and costs, with damages reduced by 25% for contributory fault.

    Supporting details

    1 authority · 5 participants
    Veteran
    Russian Federation
    Institution
    Arbitrator
    Charles Poncet

    Authorities cited

    1
    • Energy Charter Treaty
      treaty
  6. 18 July 2014Netherlands

    18 July 2014Netherlands

    YUL Final Award

    Decision summary
    The tribunal issued a materially identical Final Award holding the dispute admissible and within its jurisdiction, declaring a breach of Article 13(1) of the Energy Charter Treaty, and ordering the Russian Federation to pay YUL USD 1,846,000,687 plus interest and costs, with damages reduced by 25% for contributory fault.

    Supporting details

    1 authority · 5 participants
    YUL
    Russian Federation
    Institution
    Arbitrator
    Charles Poncet

    Authorities cited

    1
    • Energy Charter Treaty
      treaty
  7. Date not availableEngland and Wales

    Date not availableEngland and Wales

    Judgment of the High Court of Justice (Commercial Court) in Hulley Enterprises Limited & Ors v The Russian Federation [2026] EWHC 456 (Comm)

    High Court of Justice (Commercial Court)

    Citation
    [2026] EWHC 456 (Comm)
    Decision summary
    The court decided preliminary issues concerning English recognition and enforcement of the three Energy Charter Treaty awards. It held that historic illegality and most allegations of fraud in the arbitrations could not prevent enforcement, but that intentional concealment of documents could engage public policy as to the tribunal's costs awards. It ordered recognition and enforcement of the damages awards, with interest on damages, while excluding the awards of arbitration and legal costs and interest on those costs on the assumed facts before the court.

    Supporting details

    19 authorities · 10 participants
    Hulley Enterprises Limited
    Representative
    Jonathan Crow CVO KC (For: Hulley Enterprises Limited · YUL · Veteran)
    Representative
    David Peters KC (For: Hulley Enterprises Limited · YUL · Veteran)
    Representative
    Stephenson Harwood LLP (For: Hulley Enterprises Limited · YUL · Veteran)
    YUL
    Representative
    Jonathan Crow CVO KC (For: Hulley Enterprises Limited · YUL · Veteran)
    Representative
    David Peters KC (For: Hulley Enterprises Limited · YUL · Veteran)
    Representative
    Stephenson Harwood LLP (For: Hulley Enterprises Limited · YUL · Veteran)
    Veteran
    Representative
    Jonathan Crow CVO KC (For: Hulley Enterprises Limited · YUL · Veteran)
    Representative
    David Peters KC (For: Hulley Enterprises Limited · YUL · Veteran)
    Representative
    Stephenson Harwood LLP (For: Hulley Enterprises Limited · YUL · Veteran)
    Russian Federation
    Representative
    Vernon Flynn KC (For: Russian Federation)
    Representative
    Pinna Goldberg Ltd (For: Russian Federation)
    High Court of Justice (Commercial Court)

    Authorities cited

    19
    • Arbitration Act 1996
      statute
    • State Immunity Act 1978
      statute
    • Judgments Act 1838
      statute
    • Energy Charter Treaty
      treaty
    • Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention)
      treaty
    • UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules
      rules
    • Dutch Code of Civil Procedure
      statute
    • International Bar Association Guidelines on Party Representation (IBA Guidelines on Party Representation, Article 25)
      guideline
    • IPCO (Nigeria) Ltd v Nigerian National Petroleum Corp ([2008] EWCA Civ 115)
      case
    • Star Hydro Power Ltd v National Transmission And Despatch Co. Ltd ([2025] EWCA Civ 928)
      case
    • Gater Assets v Nak Naftogaz Ukrainiy (No. 2) ([2008] EWHC 237 (Comm))
      case
    • Stati v Republic of Kazakhstan ([2017] EWHC 1348 (Comm))
      case
    • Carpatsky Petroleum Corporation v PJSC Ukrnafta (No 2) ([2018] EWHC 2516 (Comm))
      case
    • RAV Bahamas Ltd v Therapy Beach Club Inc ([2021] UKPC 8)
      case
    • Federal Republic of Nigeria ([2023] EWHC 2638 (Comm))
      case
    • Barcelona Traction, Light and Power Co (Belgium v Spain) ([1970] ICJ Rep 3)
      case
    • Anderson v Costa Rica (ICSID Case No. ARB/07/24, Award 18 June 2010)
      case
    • Astrovlanis Cia Nav. SA v Linard (The Gold Sky) ([1972] 2 Lloyd's Rep 187)
      case
    • Piermay Shipping Co. SA v Chester (The Michael) ([1979] 1 Lloyd's Rep 55)
      case

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Hulley Enterprises Limited & Ors v The Russian Federation (High Court of Justice (Commercial Court), [2026] EWHC 456 (Comm)) · Matter