OVERVIEW OF CASES

Everton FC v. Sail Group Ltd [2011] EWHC 126 (QB)

Authority of director of a sports event management company to bind a football promoter;

Berg v. Blackburn Rovers FC [2013] EWHC 1070 (Ch) 

Effect of fixed term club manager's contract

Bony v. Kacou [2017] EWHC 2146 (Ch) 

Whether former players agent had incorporated FA Rules into contract with player so as to require dispute to be settled by arbitration under those Rules

Winlink Marketing Ltd v. Liverpool FC [2020] EWHC 2271 (Comm)

Proper interpretation of contract between club and marketing intermediary

Newcastle united FC v. FA Premier League [2021] EWHC 349 (Comm); [2022] 1 Lloyds Rep 183 

Case relating to whether an arbitrator had been guilty of displaying apparent bias and should be disqualified from sitting for that reason.  The subsequent case of the same name at [2021] EWHC 450 I(Comm) was concerned with whether the judgment should be anonymized.

Barclays Bank Plc v VEB.RF [2024] EWHC 225 (Comm) (and subsequent decisions)

Case relating to anti-suit injunction to restrain proceedings in Russia relating to a London-seated LCIA arbitration under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Master Agreement. 

Operafund Eco-Invest SICAV Plc and another v. Kingdom of Spain [2025] EWHC 2874 (Comm) (and related cases)

Case involved the enforcement and assignability of an investment treaty arbitration award (under the Energy Charter Treaty) against Spain. The case touched on complex issues of international law, state immunity, and the mechanisms for enforcing such awards through the English courts.

UK P&I Club NV v Republic of Venezuela [2022] EWHC 1655 (Comm)

Anti-suit injunction against Venezuela to stop local claims that were initiated in breach of an insurance contract's London arbitration clause. 

Shapoorji Pallonji & Company Private Ltd v Yumn Ltd & Anor [2020] EWHC 862 (Comm) (and subsequent decisions)

Case involved an emergency arbitrator's decision made in parallel with court proceedings. 

Eletson Gas LLC v A Limited & Ors [2025] EWHC 1855 (Comm)

Case addressed a dispute over which two rival groups could validly appoint an arbitrator on behalf of a company. Pelling J clarified important points of principle regarding the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in England and Wales, specifically concerning parties who had not participated in the arbitration (under section 72 of the Arbitration Act 1996).

Hongfa Shipping Co. Ltd v MS Amlin Marine N.V. and another [2021] EWHC 999 (Comm)

Case relating to interpretation of an exclusion clause in a marine liability insurance policy. 

Spire Healthcare Ltd v Royal & Sun Alliance Ltd [2021] EWHC 1207 (Comm)

At first instance, Pelling J ruled on an aggregation clause in a medical negligence insurance policy, the judgment dealt with complex issues of how causes and losses are defined under insurance policies.

Shapoorji Pallonji & Company Private Ltd v Yumn Ltd & Anor [2021] EWHC 862 (Comm)

This case is a significant authority on performance bonds in construction projects. Pelling J addressed whether a court should grant an injunction to prevent a call on a bond when an Emergency Arbitrator had already been involved. 

General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd v State of Libya [2024] EWHC 472 (Comm)

Case relating to communications system contract and primary authority on the enforcement of arbitration awards against states. 

Operafund Eco-Invest SICAV Plc v Kingdom of Spain [2024] EWHC 2874 (Comm)

Case relating to registration and enforcement of an ICSID arbitration award arising from renewable energy investments. The judgment explored complex issues of state immunity and the finality of international arbitration awards under the 1966 Act.

Tecnimont SPA v LLC EuroChem North-West-2 [2022] (continued by Pelling J)

Case relating to anti-suit injunction (ASI) to protect bond-related payments from being delayed by foreign proceedings. 

Providence Building Services Ltd v Hexagon Housing Association Ltd [2024]

At first-instance, Pelling J ruled on interpretation of JCT Design and Build termination clauses and the validity of adjudication awards following contract termination.

 AZ v BY ** [2024] EWHC 1855 (Comm)** (hearing July 2024)

Case relating to Master Sales Agreement for liquefied natural gas (LNG) engineering and transport. Pelling J addressed the construction of arbitral awards and the "revival of jurisdiction," focusing on the clarity of tribunal decisions in energy-sector arbitrations. 

Eletson Gas LLC v A Limited & Ors ** [2025] EWHC 1855 (Comm)**

Sector: Shipping (Oil Tankers)

This case involved a dispute over the bareboat charter of three oil tankers. Pelling J ruled on a challenge under section 32 of the Arbitration Act 1996 regarding which of two rival boards had the authority to appoint an arbitrator for the company. 

FW Aviation (Holdings) 1 Ltd v VietJet Aviation Joint Stock Company ** (First Instance Stage)**

Sector: Aviation

Pelling J handled earlier stages in the Commercial Court. The dispute related to aircraft leasing and the enforcement of related financial or arbitral obligations.

General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd v State of Libya ** [2024] EWHC 472 (Comm)**

Sector: Defence/Transport Engineering

Relating to a communications contract, this landmark judgment is frequently cited in transport cases involving state immunity. 

Noble Chartering Inc v Priminds Shipping Hong Kong Co Ltd (The Tai Prize) ** [2021] EWHC 392 (Comm)**

Sector: Shipping

Sat at first-instance in this significant shipping case involving cargo descriptions in a bill of lading addressing the implied obligations of shippers and masters, leading to an appeal that clarified the extent of a master's assessment of cargo condition.

Hone v Abbey Forwarding Ltd ** [2021]**

Sector: Logistics/Haulage

Pelling J conducted an inquiry into the recoverability of excise duty under the CMR Convention (road transport). His findings on whether such duties were recoverable under Article 23.4 of the CMR were later certified for appeal directly to the Supreme Court due to their impact on transport law precedents.

The Republic of Kazakhstan v World Wide Minerals Limited ** [2020] EWHC 3068 (Comm)**

Sector: Mining/International Investment

Case relating to serious irregularity under section 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996 and awarded damages on a basis not argued by the parties, resulting in the remission of the case back to the international tribunal.

Renaissance Securities (Cyprus) Ltd v ILLC Chlodwig Enterprises ** [2024] EWHC 2843 (Comm)**

Sector: Investment Services

Case relating to the reach of anti-suit injunctions when foreign proceedings are brought against third parties who are not directly bound by the underlying arbitration agreement but are part of the same complex cross-border commercial dispute.