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Before you get behind the wheel of the law firm, you should think about whether you need to actually do it. After all, the status of head mamager and full independence are available through partnership, managerial position or individual practice. In addition, prior to becoming managing partner, it is preferable to acquire the relevant experience. This will provide an understanding of yourselve and your aspirations.

Aminat Suleymanova, Managing Partner at AGA Partners
(exclusively for Law Journal,
Ukrainian Women in Law 2017)

Before you get behind the wheel of the law firm, you should think about whether you need to actually do it. After all, you can obtain the status of the head manager and full independence through partnership, managerial position or individual practice. In addition, prior to becoming Managing Partner, it is preferably to acquire the relevant experience. This will provide an understanding of youself and your aspirations. This will help to feel your own style of management and building relationships. It won’t let you forget how the company and profession is perceived at the different stages of career.

I got behind the wheel of AGA Partners in 2005, having experience of a law firm Intern, Paralegal in classical law offices, Senior Associate at one of the best and most well-known law firms at the time, self-employed lawyer – free hunter, and Department Director of a large national company. In addition, I had a chance to work as in-house lawyer for about a month, but after realizing that this is not really my thing I left before the end of the probationary period. Overall, my professional experience comprised 9 years. In 28 years, I established my own company.

The first thing to understand is that the company is exactly what you need. You need to understand that you are ready. This should be your lifework, your mission. And from that moment the firm becomes a part of your life. Everything that happens here (your relations with the staff, partners and customers), defines you as well as behavior with family and friends determines you. The responsibility that you take of the firm, should satisfy and shouldn’t not cause any doubts. It's like having a child – no matter how difficult it can be, dropping it is not an option. Without this all the way forward is just impossible. By the way, I believe that there is no difference, whether you establish a company or accept it. It all depends on you when the wheel is in your hands. After all, you are the only person responsible for everything.

The second thing that I suppose Managing Partner should always remember is a formula of " first people, then business." This is my personal approach to work. For me it is important with whom I work, how we do this, for whom we work. And I cannot imagine our company without healthy, friendly, warm atmosphere in the office. Honesty and transparency in relationships are very important. We have developed horizontal communication where everyone can freely communicate with anyone, there is no military hierarchy. Another point is that we will never work with a client who misbehave with any of our people.

The third thing is – learn, Managing Partner, learn! There is plenty of information on business management, but not only this. You can use literature, consultants, trainings, any new knowledge, even art! You should be open to the world, feel it’s pulse. There will be no ideas, innovations, and breakthroughs without this. You should let these information flows pass through youself and rethink them. It is highly unlikely that someone will give you a magic recipe that will help immediately develop a company or just teach you everything and solve problems. However, if you reside in the information field, the brain becomes much faster and more inventive.

The fourth is that you should decide where and how you go. Choose the aims, strategy and tactics. Interestingly, it may all diametrically change over time. Life experience, Partners’ and lawyers’ willingness impose some imprint on the process. However, it should be fully controlled and extremely balanced. It is Managing Partner’s responsibility, because the wheel is in your hands and it’s you who turn it.

The fifth is that you should honestly answer the question of who you want to be (manager or leader). Who is a leader? That’s a good question. Leader is a jaded word that has become a banal cliche, but there is no more aptly word than that.

The leader’s philosophy differs from the philosophy of the head. The first difference is that the leadership must be proven. It is worth fighting for, and you can lose it by distancing yourself from those you work with, surrounding yourself with retinue, losing visual acuity. I can not tell which system is better – head or leader. But I can state that loss of movers and shakers is inevitable in “the head” system. However, such system is the part of our social and legal traditions. We know a lot of successful companies with this structure.

Overall, I can say by paraphrasing Lev Tolstoy that every happy company is happy in its own way. I saw completely different management models whereby legal business makes a profit, if we put profit a criterion of success, because another universal criterion is hard to reconcile. One thing that remains unchanged is the responsibility for everything.

If we have already used an analogy with the wheel, so it's like driving a car. You can both know the rules and don’t know. You can abide by the rules, and you can be easy-going about such a trifle. You can race and cut off everybody collecting sincere and not very good wishes or epithets from other drivers. At a certain distance such a driver can be ahead of others, but he risks both his license and vehicle. You can also ask godfather to give you flashers and loudspeaker, and demand to be given way. Most will do it, as all know who the godfather is. However, godfathers change. And the trouble is that they change suddenly. It is also possible to drive without regaining consciousness for years, and if the police catch you and take away the license you can just buy it again.

There are plenty of options. The main thing is to realize that you are not alone in your car. If everybody agrees, then drive the way you want. That's what is a team of associates.

10.03.17
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Trade war between Ukraine and Russia has started not yesterday and it directly affects foreign trade relations. Major producers from both countries that have been accustomed to free access to market outlet for their goods, are now suffering multi-billion losses as a result of the dozens of official restrictions.

Should we consider official ban on import as force majeure? (Case study)

Ivan Kasynyuk, Partner at AGA Partners
Dmitry Koval, Associate at AGA Partners
(Exclusively for Kluwer Arbitration Blog)

Throughout the modern history of mankind, trade wars accompanied almost every military or political conflict between hostile states, ready to take the most radical actions for the sake of the victory. This is not surprising as trade directly affects the economy and, accordingly, the ability of the country to fight and resist successfully.

Unfortunately, in order to understand what “trade war” means, we do not have to look into the past, but we just need search in the latest news. As before, such actions nowadays constitute an integral part of any international conflict: trade blockades, sanctions, import duties, quotas and licenses, preferences and many other “weapons” are actively used by world players for their own purposes. Of course, the least “guilty” participants of the market – producers and trading companies of both countries – suffer the most from such conflicts. These players are blatantly forced to incur huge losses as a result of all sorts of restrictions and prohibitions, which often are fatal for their business.

The sphere of commodity trading is particularly at risk, as it is always likely that circumstances preventing contract execution will appear during a significant period of time between the moment of the conclusion of the contract and its execution. The probability of the ban can sometimes be foreseen, as in the cases with the adoption of mirroring sanctions. However, such events have the tendency to occur suddenly, especially given an ongoing armed conflict and the political situation. What can be done in this case?

Import duty

To illustrate, it might happen that goods are sold in April and are to be delivered in September, but official authorities of a buyer’s country introduce additional duties for the import of goods. Who should bear such losses? Is it possible to refuse to supply or to take the goods?

Let us take as example the recent case of the introduction of import duties on the import of Russian products to Turkey and, in particular, the duty on corn and wheat which was established at 130%, and considering that the sale of corn of Russian origin took place in February with subsequent delivery in May.

First of all, it is worth paying attention to the contract concluded between the parties. As a general rule, the parties explicitly determine the buyer to be the party responsible for the import of the goods and for all the formalities associated with the import, including the payment of taxes and duties in the country of import. If the contract is silent, majority of grain and oil commodities contracts incorporate standard contract forms developed by Grain and Feed Trade Association(“GAFTA”) and Federation of Oils, Seeds and Fats Associations (“FOSFA”), which expressly state that all import duties, taxes, levies, etc., present or future, in country of destination, shall be for buyers’ account. If the contract does not incorporate any standard contract form, the parties should refer to any specific rules regulating their obligations under the contract. Most of such transactions are carried out by sea on the basis of CIF or FOB in accordance with the international rules of Incoterms, according to which taxes, duties and other official fees, as well as customs formalities payable upon importation of goods, are paid by the buyer.

Moreover, such contracts tend to incorporate English Law by implication from a standard form or an express agreement. Under the general rule, English law consider such duties as business risks, which do not release the responsible party from performing contractual duties.

That is, under the conditions described above, payment of the import duty on Russian wheat introduced by Turkey will lie with the buyer and will not release it from the obligation to take and pay for the delivered goods.

Import ban

And, what is the case if the authorities of the buyer’s country prohibit the import of goods completely? Is the buyer’s refusal to take the goods due to force majeure circumstances reasonable in this case? The answer is not so clear and it depends on many factors.

Let us take as example a case under the Rules of Arbitration of FOSFA concerning a ban on import of agricultural products in the country of destination. A large agro-holding company (“Seller”) concluded a contract with agro-industrial company (“Buyer”) for the delivery of goods for import and further processing on the territory of the Buyer. According to the contract, the Seller should have delivered the goods on the DAF terms (Incoterms 2000). The place of delivery was the border between the states of the parties and the governing law of contract was English law.

The contract had a force majeure clause that ambiguously interpreted the consequences of imposing import restrictions and the Buyer’s responsibility for not obtaining an import license and other official permits necessary for the import of goods into the territory of his country. Soon after the contract was concluded, the Buyer reported on the governmental restrictions on imports of goods from the Sellers’ country and referred to the force majeure circumstances, making the execution of the contract impossible. Despite the official prohibition, the Seller refused to accept the Buyer’s notification of force majeure and proceeded to fulfill its obligations. During the next several months, the Seller repeatedly notified the Buyer about its readiness to deliver the goods and asked the latter to provide documentary instructions, without which further execution of the contract by rail was impossible. The Buyer confirmed that it could not take the goods, justifying its position by the onset of force majeure circumstances. In the meantime, the price of goods had significantly decreased, making the contract extremely unfavorable for the Buyer. By the end of the delivery period stipulated in the contract, the Buyer had terminated the contract, under the force majeure clause. In response, the Seller considered the Buyer to be in default. As the price for the goods decreased, the Seller demanded compensation for the difference between the contract price and the market price, to which the Buyer objected, arguing the force majeure circumstances and referring to the frustration doctrine under the English law which provides for an exemption from liability. Eventually, the case was submitted to the FOSFA arbitration at the request of the Buyer.

The Seller’s position consisted of two key arguments. Firstly, according to DAF terms, the obligation to obtain a license to import goods in the territory of the Buyer’s country rested on the Buyer, while the Seller’s duty was limited to the delivery of the goods to the borders between the states and did not imply importation into the territory of the Buyer’s country. Secondly, any restrictions on the import of goods into the territory of the Buyer’s country are not force majeure circumstances either within the framework of the contract concluded, including under the DAF terms, or in accordance with English law. In particular, restrictions on import of goods do not fall under the frustration doctrine referred to by the Buyer, as this circumstance did not prevent the Buyer from lawfully performing its contractual obligations, namely, accepting the goods at the contracted place of delivery.

The Tribunal observed that the ban on import had no effect on the fulfillment of the contractual obligations by either the Seller or the Buyer: the Seller could deliver the goods and the Buyer could accept them at the border between the states. At the same time, the import of goods to the Buyer’s country was not the responsibility of the Seller, who was responsible only for export while the Buyer had the obligation to import the goods. Consequently, the ban on imports was not a force majeure circumstance either under the contract, or under English law. Finally, the Tribunal decided that the Buyer could not refer to the ban on the import of goods and refuse to fulfill its contractual obligations. Having terminated the contract, the Buyer itself infringed the contract and therefore must compensate the Seller for the losses incurred as a result of the Buyer’s non-fulfillment of the contract.

The position of the arbitral tribunal under the FOSFA rules shows that impossibility to import will not discharge the contract under the doctrine of frustration. The intention for the goods to be processed in Buyer’s state was indeed the reason why the Buyer concluded the contract; however, the impossibility for such purpose to be achieved was not a sufficient ground to discharge the Buyer from its contractual obligations. The decision generally follows the line adopted by English courts in cases with similar circumstances. (See Congimex Companhia Geral de Commercio Importadora & Exportadora S.A.R.L. v. Tradax Export S.A [1983] 1Lloyd’s Rep. 250 and Bangladesh Export Import Co Ltd v. Sucden Kerry S.A. [1995] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 1) The parties clearly outlined the scope of their duties in the contract and did it in such a way that the import ban would not make the performance illegal. First, the parties agreed on the DAF Incoterms which specifically provides that the Seller’s obligation is to place the goods at the border between the parties’ states, cleared for export but not cleared for import. Second, the parties agreed to English law as the governing law, which provided adequate level of protection against import prohibitions, preventing the parties to use such circumstances in bad faith and escape from their respective contractual obligations.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, trade conflicts are part of the current trade and economic policy of many countries and they are an inherent risk factor, which must be taken into account when doing business with these countries. Mostly driven by political reasons, the states are always ready to introduce trade restrictions in order to harm the opponent as much as possible. Like any war, a trade conflict entails losses on both sides. In most cases, this practice becomes detrimental to both states, not only to the one introducing the ban, as the case presented above shows.

Link to the source

03.03.17
Alimony are binding, but not everyone wants to fulfill obligations on their payment. And in such cases, the recipient can take the thorny way of enforcement.

This article tells about the types of recovery of alimony, and how to efficiently address this issue.

Alexander Gubin, Associate at AGA Partners
(exclusively for Yurydychna Gazeta (Law Journal))

The article is available in Ukrainian only.

14.02.17
Marriage contract or agreement on division of property?

The article tells how to choose the most efficient way to share spouses’ property and prevent long-lasting property disputes.

Irina Moroz, Partner at AGA Partners,
Olga Kuchmiienko, Associate at AGA Partners
(exclusively for International Bar Association)

Ukraine seems to be quite friendly jurisdiction for entering and exercising marriage contracts. However, there are plenty of issues to be taken into account before you can be assured that after entering marriage contract with your spouse all pecuniary interests are protected.

This article addresses the main tips that will help you to choose the most efficient way to share the spouses’ property and prevent long-lasting property disputes.

What is marriage contract under the Ukrainian law?

Ukrainian legislation and practice supports intention of spouses to govern their own relations. At the same time this right is not absolute.

Pre-nuptial agreement under foreign law vs marriage contract under Ukrainian law?

Ukrainian law provides the option for the couples who are already married or are going to marry in the nearest future to govern their property relations during the marriage at their own discretion. However, Ukrainian law recognizes the notion of marriage contracts, unlike pre-nuptial agreements (“prenups”).

In contrast to prenups, establishing the property and financial rights of each spouse in case of divorce [1], marriage contracts regulate property relations of the couple from the date of marriage. In particular, pre-nuptial agreement governs relations only if the couple divorces. If the marriage is not terminated, prenup does not come into effect. On the other hand, marriage contract is one of the sources for governing spouses property relations in both cases: during their marriage or in the case of divorce.

It is worth saying that Ukrainian legislation recognizes marriage contracts concluded abroad. Such contracts are enforceable in Ukraine unless they do not contravene the mandatory rules of Ukrainian legislation.

In addition to it, marriage contracts in Ukraine have other peculiarities.

Who and when may enter into marriage contract?

Only married couples or couples that have applied to the Civil Registry Office for registration of marriage may conclude a marriage contract. In other words, it is possible to enter such agreement at any time after you have officially become a bride and a groom. However, under Ukrainian law the contract will become valid only after the official registration of marriage.

The Parties may choose Ukrainian law as the law governing their marriage contract if Ukraine is:

  • lex personalis of one of the spouses;
  • the state where one of the spouses has a place of habitual residence;
  • the state where the immovable property is situated (the contract may cover respective immovable property).

What is the procedure of entering marriage contracts in Ukraine?

It is not too complicated to enter marriage contract in Ukraine. Both parties have to appear before a Ukrainian notary public official and sign the contract in front of him.

What issues may be and may not be addressed in the marriage contract?

  1. The couple may govern only property relations.

Marriage contract deals only with property relationships and specifies the property rights and duties of the couple as the spouses or the parents. It is possible to prescribe arrangements for:

  • the legal status of joint property;
  • the order of property division in case of marriage dissolution;
  • the legal status of separate personal property;
  • the use of personal or joint residential property etc.;
  • determination of the date of beginning of the co-residence period without marriage registration [2].

It is prohibited to govern nonpecuniary relations of the parties and each provision that intends to govern such relation is deemed to be invalid.

  1. There is no exhaustive list of issues that may be addressed in the marriage contract.

There is a general rule for governing private legal relations, including family relations: the person may do everything that is not prohibited by the law. Enforcing this principle, the Supreme Court of Ukraine held that the parties do not have the right to govern their relations at their own discretion only in limited cases when:

  • there is an expressed prohibition in civil legislative act;
  • the prohibition is implied by a legislative act;
  • such agreement contradicts the substance of the parties’ relations.

For instance, the marriage contract may not narrow the scope of the child’s rights established by the Family Code and it may not put one of the spouses in extremely unfavorable material situation.

In other words, the marriage contract is valid if it does not contradict the mandatory rules of the law and basic moral rules of the society [3].

  1. Any property may be subject to marriage contract.

Existing or future property

The couple may agree on the fortune of the property that is already possessed by the couple or will be acquired in the future. It is not prohibited to prescribe the fortune of the house that had not been built yet.

Personal or joint property

The couple may prescribe rules for joint or personal property as well as the regime of ownership: parties may change the ownership for particular item from joint to personal and vice versa. At the same time, it is prohibited to pass ownership rights for property that must be registered, in particular immovable property. This rule leads us to the next important peculiarity.

  1. The couple does not have the right to change title for registered property, but may determine legal regime of such property.

It is crucial that marriage contract under the Ukrainian law may not include provisions on changing the title for the property that is to be registered, inter alia immovable property.

For instance, you may not prescribe that “after entering this contract the car owned by John becomes the property of Maria”. On the other hand, provision “The car registered to John`s name is his personal property, but may be used by Maria” will be enforceable.

The general formula of Ukrainian legislation looks like “each spouse has equal rights for all matrimonial property without determination of precise rights for each item”. However, it is possible to agree that precise item is subject to personal ownership of one of the spouses or the spouses joint property and define the shares of each spouse in such item.  Even if in the future such person changes his mind and claims such agreement as invalid, Ukrainian courts tend to dismiss such a claim since “other decision will be in contravention to the contract”[4].

Thus, the parties may agree that precise property is the personal property of one of them despite it was bought during marriage. But it is crucial that such property must be registered at the name of the person that owns the property.

  1. The marriage contract may cover the fortune of the property acquired during co-residence period prior to the marriage, if the couple has been married later.

This conclusion appears from the Ruling of the Supreme Court of Ukraine [5]. In that case the Plaintiff tried among other issues to challenge the provisions of the marriage contract about the fortune of the flat purchased during co-residence period before official marriage registration. The Supreme Court of Ukraine held that “the parties have a right to determine legal regime of property acquired during their co-residence prior to registration of marriage”.

  1. The marriage contract may state the date of the beginning of co-residence period before the marriage.

The parties have the right to agree on the date that is to be considered as the start point of the co-residence. From this point all property is a joint property of the parties unless otherwise is prescribed by the marriage contract.

The Supreme Court of Ukraine held, that there are no reasons to prohibit parties to agree on the date of the beginning of their co-residence period in the contract since it does not contravene the mandatory rules of law [6].

  1. The marriage contract may not place one spouse in an «extremely unfavorable material position».

«Extremely unfavorable material position» means that the question for the court is whether the spouse has been placed by a marriage contract in a position significantly less favorable than the position he or she would have enjoyed under the general rules of Ukrainian legislation. According to these rules all property obtained during the marriage is going to be divided between the spouses in equal shares 50/50.

Therefore, it is vital that provisions of a marriage contract comply with the principle that «each party eats what he/she kills», meaning that each spouse owns property acquired himself or herself during the marriage. For instance, everybody gets consideration individually from the contract which he or she is party to; assets acquired during the marriage that are subject to mandatory registration (houses, land plots, cars) are owned by the spouse on whose name these assets (movable or immovable) have been registered.

The burden of proving the extremely unfavorable material position rests on the party that claims to be in the mentioned position. The Supreme Court of Ukraine stated that this term is evaluative and must be proved by the Party that invokes it [7].

Is the marriage contract an ideal solution for governing matrimonial relations?

We outlined the main issues related to entering marriage contracts in Ukraine. This information may help you in drafting enforceable contract in the course of recent court practice. However, it is worth saying that marriage contracts are still not too widespread in Ukraine. Despite significant professional focus on marriage contracts, the last are not the best option for governing property relations between spouses. There are many reasons for it:

  • moral ill-preparedness of couples to regulate pecuniary relations since it may string up relations;
  • there is always a risk that the other party will file a claim with the court demanding to held marriage contract as invalid as it places this party in extremely unfavorable material position. Even if the claimant fails to prove his allegations the court proceedings may last for years.
  • The notary or other authority may get information on the existence of marriage contract only after voluntary disclosure by one party.
  • The marriage contract is not a document that evidences title for goods, unlike certificate of ownership or agreement on division of spouses` property;
  • The marriage contract may determine spouses shares in joint property. However, for real division of property the couple needs to get court decision or enter agreement on transfer of the property from one spouse to another, that is called the agreement on property division.

We would like to consider the agreement on property division as one of the optimal solutions to govern legal relations of the spouses.

The agreement on division of spouses` property.

In the contrast to marriage contract, the agreement on division of spouses` property is a document on transferring of title. This means, that if somebody contests or disclaims your property right to some estate you may present the abovementioned agreement as the proof of your ownership. Moreover, unlike marriage contracts, it is possible to transfer the property rights for immovables under the agreement on division of spouses` property.

Why is it so? With the best will in the world notary does not have any possibility to check whether a particular person has been a party to marriage contract. The reason is that marriage contract is not registered, as well as any information from such agreement is not included into any official State Registries.

Thus, the notary may take into account the terms of the marriage contract only if the parties voluntarily inform about it. Meanwhile, the agreement on division of spouses` property as well as other agreements on transferring property title do not have any chances to be hidden from the notary and the public. All transfers of property under such agreements are reflected in the State Registries, while the agreement itself is the property title document. However, the agreement on property division could deal only with existing, but not the future property.

Thus, if you want to divide the property formally and univocally, to be sure that the property cannot be claimed by the other spouse or his successors, it is better to choose the agreement on division of spouses` property rather than marriage contract. The spouses may also opt for entering marriage contract and after that conclude the agreement on division of property.

Conclusion

Marriage contracts are recognized and enforceable under Ukrainian law. Recent court practice supports spouse’s decision for governing their relations in the way, different from the common rules. This article addressed some tips for making decision to enter marriage contract more acknowledged. On the other hand, we suggest that agreement on division of spouses` property is one of the most effective alternative ways to determine spouse’s pecuniary relations if the parties are looking for some ultimate decision.

Notes:

  1. Prenuptial Agreements, available at: http://family.findlaw.com/marriage/prenuptial-agreements.html
  2. The Supreme Court of Ukraine, the Ruling dated 28 January 2015, No. 6-230цс14за, Verdictum database
  3. The Ruling, supra note 2.
  4. The Appeal Court of Kyiv, the Order dated 04 March 2015, No. 22-ц/796/3320/2015, Verdictum database (upheld by the Ruling of High Court for Civil and Criminal issues dated 18 May 2015)
  5. The Ruling, supra note 2.
  6. The Ruling, supra note 2.
  7. The Ruling, supra note 2.

Irina Moroz, Partner at AGA Partners,
Olga Kuchmiienko, Associate at AGA Partners

21.12.16
Family law services in Ukraine haven’t been separated into an independent branch for a long time. But now the situation has changed: the practices are redistributed between the players of the legal market, and highly specialized law firms become more and more popular.

This article is about recent trends and future development of the Family law practice in Ukraine.

Irina Moroz, Partner at AGA Partners,
(exclusively for Yurydychna Gazeta (Law Journal) "Market Leaders 2016")

The article is available in Ukrainian only.

22.11.16
We have become accustomed to see Ukraine among the world leaders in the production of agricultural goods. But with the growth of exports the need for understanding the principles of trade under English law also increases.

In this article we talk about agribusiness "in the English way", and conclusion of international contracts.

Ivan Kasynyuk, Partner at AGA Partners,
(exclusively for Yurydychna Gazeta (Law Journal) "Market Leaders 2016")

The article is available in Ukrainian only.

Related articles in Enlish:

Phantom Arbitral Institution: Lessons from Iran

Ukrainian Themis: Looking up to the West or the Wild, Wild East?

 

 

17.11.16
Statistics shows that one in two women in Ukraine suffers from domestic violence. The victim often cannot complain or start looking for help on the side, because a husband is literally controls every movement.

In this comment we told what can be done in such situation.

Irina Moroz, Partner at AGA Partners,
(exclusively for Tvoy Malysh (Your Baby))

The article is available in Russian only.

Link to the source.

09.11.16
When we are young and happy, we don’t want to think about the bad, especially about division of our property after death. But sometimes it is better to take long view and leave the children not only memories about parents, but also something tangible.

In this comment we tell about the orders of inheritance distribution and how to ensure the best interests of the child.

Irina Moroz, Partner at AGA Partners,
Olga Kuchmiienko, Associate at AGA Partners
(exclusively for Tvoy Malysh (Your Baby))

The article is available in Russian only.

Link to the source.

07.11.16
Grain export is gaining momentum. Traders contract goods, evaluate each other on the basis of various ratings. And they also carefully watch each other, competing, and at times, conflicting on a particular issue.

Ivan Kasynyuk, Partner at AGA Partners, in his interview with Agro Perspectiva magazine, talks about correlation between exports volumes and number of disputes between market participants, the conflict between Rise and NIBULON, and how disputes affect the sales volume and Ukraine’s image of the country- global seller of grain.

Ivan Kasynyuk, Partner at AGA Partners,
(Exclusively for Agro Perspectiva magazine)

The article is available in Russian only.

 

03.11.16
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Iran is a country with enormous trade potential and a juicy market for many foreign companies. Following partial lifting of sanctions in Iran more and more businesses will enter the Iranian market. Needless to say, along with the development of international trade in Iran more disputes and arbitrations involving Iranian companies will emerge.

But what should you do when the arbitration clause with Iran-based company provided for arbitration at the non-existent Iranian arbitral institution. In the following article we provide a good illustration of what problems and dilemmas arise when the parties agree on such a pathological clause.

Iurii Gulevatyi, Associate at AGA Partners
(exclusively for Kluwer Arbitration Blog)

Iran. The country with enormous trade potential and a juicy market for many foreign companies around the globe. Following partial lifting of sanctions in Iran, it is expected that more and more businesses from different industries will enter the Iranian market. Needless to say, along with the development of international trade in Iran more disputes and arbitrations involving Iranian companies will emerge.

In the meantime, the author of this post has already faced the case where the arbitration clause with Iran-based company provided for arbitration at the non-existent Iranian arbitral institution. This case is a good illustration of what problems and dilemmas arise when the parties agree on such a pathological clause.

Arbitrating or litigating?

Imagine you are instructed to bring a claim. You look at the relevant arbitration clause in the contract, but you realize that it refers to a non-existent Iranian arbitral institution. What are your first thoughts? – One of the first questions that crosses the lawyer’s mind is whether this clause is enforceable. In simpler terms, the question is whether to arbitrate or litigate.

The positions of Iranian lawyers in this respect differ significantly. Some lawyers think that such an arbitration clause is unenforceable in Iran. According to them, provided the parties do not agree on another arbitral institution, they are left with no other choice than to litigate. On the other extreme, there are practitioners who believe that the parties should arbitrate in existent Iranian arbitral institutions. There are also Iranian lawyers who do not conclude whether the clause is valid or not, but who, nevertheless, advice to resort to litigation.

It can be said that the practice in many countries points towards arbitration since there are plenty of cases where arbitration clauses that refer to non-existent arbitral institutions were enforced. For instance, in the case HKL Group Co Ltd v Rizq International Holdings Pte Ltd [2013] SGHCR 5 the arbitration clause referred to the non-existent “Arbitration Committee at Singapore under the rules of The International Chamber of Commerce” (paras. 1-2). Despite the absence of this arbitral institution, Singapore High Court stayed court proceedings in favour of arbitration on

“[…] the condition that parties obtain the agreement of the SIAC or any other arbitral institution in Singapore to conduct a hybrid arbitration applying the ICC rules, with liberty to apply should they fail to secure any such agreement.” (para. 37).

Judge Jordan Tan AR has explained the enforceability of the arbitration clause by referring to the following reasons (para. 27):

“[f]irst, it clearly evinces the intention of the parties to resolve any dispute by arbitration. Second, it provides for mandatory consequences in that if a dispute arises, the matter has to be referred to arbitration. Third, it states the place of the arbitration, namely, Singapore. Fourth, it provides that the arbitration is to be governed by a particular set of rules, namely, the ICC rules.”

In contrast with the Singapore case, the arbitration clause in the case at hand does not specify seat of arbitration. The fact that the parties agreed on a non-existent Iranian arbitral institution does not mean that they have selected Iran as the place of arbitration. This is because the choice of the arbitral institution cannot be regarded as the choice of the seat. However, the arbitration clause is enforceable because it clearly records parties’ intention to arbitrate. This intention is not prejudiced by the mere fact that the selected arbitral institution does not actually exist. This is the main argument in favour of commencing arbitral rather than court proceedings. Undoubtedly, enforceability of such arbitration clauses is in full conformity with the pro-arbitration spirit of the New York Convention.

Even though the pro-arbitration practice with regard to such arbitration clause is far more evident, you are still exposed to the certain risks. On the one hand, if you choose arbitrating, there is always a risk that you will fail in your attempt to commence arbitral proceedings. On the other hand, you definitely run a risk that the court will stay proceedings in case you decide to litigate. This situation plainly causes much uncertainty. Is that a threat to the claimant’s right to a fair trial? – It is not the question of who to blame for such an uncertainty, but rather the issue (along with the main question of the enforceability of the arbitration clause) for the arbitrator’s or for the judge’s (as the case may be) attention.

Which arbitral institution?

Reference to a non-existent arbitral institution creates not only a dilemma whether to initiate court or arbitral proceedings. The next important issue is the arbitral institution which shall substitute the non-existent one. Of course, there will be no problem if the parties select the existent arbitral institution by mutual agreement. But obviously, that is highly unlikely scenario after the dispute has arisen.

One may suggest that the parties’ intentions were to arbitrate at the Iranian arbitral institution. Therefore, it should be the existent Iranian arbitral institution: either the Arbitration Center of the Iran Chamber of Commerce or the Tehran Regional Arbitration Centre. However, given the absence of the choice of the seat of arbitration, it may also be argued that possible options are not restricted only to Iranian arbitral institutions. But what shall the claimant do in such a situation? File a claim in any arbitral institution in any country of the world hoping that it will hear the case?

Ideally, the claimant should select the arbitral institution which will most likely accept its jurisdiction. The problem is how to identify this arbitral institution. First of all, the potential claimant should look for the arbitral institution(s) that is the most closely connected with the case or the arbitration agreement. Once the claimant has identified such an arbitral institution, he should then conduct a proper investigation in order to find out (through relevant practice and the case law) whether it has previously accepted jurisdiction to hear the dispute under similar circumstances and whether it has pro-arbitration approach. Indeed, in Iran the advice should be sought from local lawyers who should assess the prospects of commencement of arbitration there.

First step: court or the arbitral tribunal?

Even if you decide to go to arbitration in Iran and determine the particular arbitral institution, you still have the issue of whether to go to the Iranian court for the appointment of the tribunal or directly submit the dispute to arbitration. In practical terms going to the national court would be an unreasonable waste of time with unpredictable result. For this reason, it is better to have recourse to arbitration directly. Especially, given that arbitral tribunal has a power to rule on its own jurisdiction. But this issue is something that Iranian lawyers also do not have a common opinion on.

Conclusion

Arbitration agreement that refers to a non-existent arbitral institution is always a headache for potential claimants and a room for maneuvers for potential respondent. It creates a number of dilemmas that need to be resolved prior to bringing the case. Iran – is not an exceptional jurisdiction when it comes to solving those dilemmas there, especially given controversial views regarding such arbitration agreements among local lawyers. However, you cannot have a 100% correct recipe for dealing with the issues such arbitration clauses cause. It is very much a matter of the strength of your arguments that the parties’ intention to arbitrate is maintained despite the absence of contractually agreed forum and the pro-arbitration views of the court seized or of the arbitral tribunal (as the case may be). The story in Iran is not over yet. It remains to be seen how it will develop…

Link to the source

31.10.16
Ukraine demands from the world erasing of borders for tourists. But whether all Ukrainian courts are willing to show off their readiness to apply foreign law in Ukraine at any time? Let's try to puzzle out this situation.

In this article we will explain how to avoid problems in the application of foreign law by Ukrainian court.

Irina Moroz, Partner at AGA Partners,
Olga Kuchmiienko, Associate at AGA Partners
(exclusively for Yurydychna Gazeta (Legal Newspaper)

The article is available in Ukrainian only.

18.10.16
Since childhood, we know that the attempt to sit between two stools is not a good strategy in any situation.

However, international investment arbitration is an exception to the rule. Thus, simultaneous consideration of two similar cases in two different arbitral institutions, but based on different causes of action, is quite common. So what are the formal causes of action (Contract claim and BIT claim) and approaches to the way out when investor or state decided to use both options?

Irina Moroz, Partner at AGA Partners,
Olga Kuchmiienko, Associate at AGA Partners
(exclusively for Yurist i Zakon (Lawyer and Law))

The article is available in Russian only.

12.10.16
Cargo shipping is not an easy area for a corporate lawyer who had to deal with it, because it has many peculiarities. Historically, England has become the main place for dispute resolution for the majority of traders, ship owners and other participants in maritime business.

Let’s puzzle out why counterparties indicate English law as applicable and how to work with it? Who considers disputes between the parties, if they occur?

Irina Moroz, Partner at AGA Partners,
Dmitry Koval, Associate at AGA Partners
(exclusively for trade publication "Economics and life")

The article is available in Russian only. 

04.10.16
Legal relations in the sphere of sport, certainly, have some peculiarities. Considering specific character of sport disputes, many countries have created sport arbitration institutions for consideration of such cases.

How sport arbitration is conducted at the international level and what can be learned and used to create sport arbitration institution in Ukraine?

Iurii Gulevatyi , Associate at AGA Partners,
Dmitry Koval, Associate at AGA Partners
(exclusively for Yurydychna Gazeta (Legal Newspaper)

The article is available in Ukrainian only.

23.09.16
How to receive maternity allowance and how much you can expect?

Both non-employed woman, and those who are registered with the employment service as unemployed have the right to obtain maternity allowance. However, there are differences in the amount of aid and the procedure of submitting documents for such categories.

Irina Moroz, Partner at AGA Partners,
Olga Kuchmiienko, Junior Associate at AGA Partners
(exclusively for Tvoy Malysh (Your Baby))

The article is available in Russian only. 

Link to the source.

22.09.16
Expansion of international trade in agrarian products and search for new markets are very promising areas for traders’ activities. One of these new markets is Sub-Saharan Africa.

However, at the same time, the region carries a large amount of risks that should be considered prior to starting delivery of goods.
In this article we will tell to what legal technicalities of the region traders should pay special attention.

Iurii Gulevatyi, Associate at AGA Partners
(exclusively for APK-Inform)

The article is available in Russian only.

Link to the source

16.09.16