This article is available in Russian only.
This article is available in Ukrainian only.
This article is available in Russian and Ukrainian only.
Time limits operate as instrument preventing a person from instituting a claim after a substantially long period of time. If a cause of action were to be permitted to go ahead after substantial delay it could have a problematic effect on the collection of evidence and the administration of the arbitration proceedings as it relates to the availability of witnesses and documents. In that way limitation periods seek to balance the interests of all parties and the effective administration of the case.
When claimant deals with commencement of arbitration, he needs to ask himself these four questions:
• what is the length of the limitation period?
• when does it start to run?
• when the arbitration is commenced?
• what will happen after limitation period expires?
What is the length of the limitation period?
Every legal claim will be subject to a limitation period, imposed either by the governing law or by the applicable contract terms.
Although limitation periods are common to all legal systems, they differ in length from six months to up to 15, 20 or even 30 years.
There could be also limitation periods set by international conventions applicable in a specific matter. For instance, the 1974 United Nations Convention on the Limitation Period in the International Sale of Goods (as amended in 1980) (“UN Limitation Convention”) provides uniform rules but is restricted to the international sale of goods. Another example is the one-year time bar under Article III Rule 6 of the Hague-Visby Rules.
It is also necessary to bear in mind that different time frames apply to different types of claims. Usually claims concerning the defects in goods have shorter time
limits than the general ones.
Most of institutional rules do not specify the limitation period for the commencement of arbitration. Generally no time limits are specified under LCIA Rules, ICC Rules, LMAA Terms.
However, time limits are usually introduced in commodities arbitration
• GAFTA Arbitration Rules No. 125 (1 year)
• FOSFA Rules of Arbitration and Appeal (120 days; quality claim-90 days)
• RSA Rules and Regulations (quality claim -7 days)
Often, commodities arbitration rules will require the claims, if commenced, to be renewed after a period of one year by giving a written notice to the other party. It may also be the case that such renewal is permitted a limited number of times, for example, GAFTA allows the claim to be renewed for 6 years, while FOSFA now permits one annual renewal only.
Therefore, it is strikingly important to be aware of and to actively monitor applicable time limits.
When does the clock start running?
Knowing the length of the limitation period is, of course, of little value unless you also know when that period starts to run. For example, under the English law the six-year
limitation period for a claim for breach of contract begins to run when the breach of contract occurs regardless of whether any damage is suffered at that point and regardless of whether the innocent party knows there has been a breach of contract.
However, under the Ukrainian law the starting point is the date when claimant became or could have become aware of the breach.
Meanwhile, international conventions specify their rules on the starting date for the calculation of time limits. Similarly, GAFTA, FOSFA and RSA Rules elaborated starting dates suitable for the commodities contracts.
When arbitration is commenced?
National law of different countries and almost every set of institutional rules include a provision regarding the commencement of the arbitration.
Under the Ukrainian law “On the International Commercial Arbitration” the arbitration is considered commenced on the day of receipt of the request of arbitration by the respondent. Under the Arbitration Act 1996 the general rule is that arbitration is commenced upon the appointment of an arbitrator.
There are a lot of formalities inherent to the arbitral process, which are very important to remember to make the request for arbitration effectively served.
It would be wrong to underestimate the importance of getting the notice or request for arbitration right. If you don’t, claim may become time-barred because an ineffective arbitration notice will not stop time running for the purposes of statutory or contractual time limits.
Usually the following requirements are established for arbitration notice:
• The written form of the request for arbitration;
• Effective service according to the parties’ agreement or the governing law;
• The notice should identify the contract in relation to which your claim, or the dispute, arises;
• The notice should state the identity of the respondent;
• The best practice is also to state which claims you wish to refer to arbitration.
The notice of arbitration needs careful drafting, as it is likely to have a bearing on the scope of the tribunal’s jurisdiction. If you draft the notice too broadly, you may fail to satisfy the requirement that the disputes to be referred to arbitration must be specified. On the other hand, if you draft it too narrowly, you may lose the opportunity of introducing other claims at a later date because these will fall outside the scope of the jurisdiction of the tribunal.
What will happen after limitation period expires?
Time limits to commence arbitration are strict and if a claim is brought outside the limitation period it will likely be dismissed, unless there is a reasonable excuse for the delay in bringing the claim. The Tribunal will consider the issue of time limits if it is raised by the respondent as the defence.
If you have this reasonable excuse, there could be still a chance that your claim would be admitted for consideration. For example, some institutional rules allow arbitrators to exercise their discretion in extending the time limits.
Another option available to claimants is to address the court with the application to extend the time limits for the commencement of an arbitration according to the law of the seat of arbitration. It is possible to seek an extension of time limits for commencement of arbitration in certain very limited circumstances.
For example, section 12 of the Arbitration Act 1996 deals with the court’s power to extend time for the commencement of arbitration proceedings. The court may order an extension only if satisfied:
(a) that the circumstances are such as were outside the reasonable contemplation of the parties when they agreed the provision in question, and that it would be just to extend the time, or
(b) that the conduct of one of the parties makes it unjust to hold the other party to the strict terms of the provision in question.
It is also necessary to bear in mind that courts cannot extend time limits stated in the Limitation Acts, but only the contractual time limits. The following factors may be of importance for the arbitrators when exercising their discretion to admit late claim:
The length of delay. Clearly, the longer the delay, the more reluctant the court will be to allow the application. This is relevant to the justice criterion. The amount at stake. Similarly, the value of your claim has also impact whether is it just to make the extension.
Whether the delay was due to the fault of the applicant or the circumstances beyond his control. Therefore, it is relevant if the claimants have due justifications for the delay.
If the delay was due to the fault of the applicant and the extent of that fault. It is noteworthy that mistake of claimants’ lawyers often will not be the ground for the extension.
The conduct of the other party. For example, it is unjust to hold the party to the strict time limits if the other party attempted to negotiate the dispute making an impression that the time limits do not apply. However, it is important to remember that under the general rule, the parties’ negotiations do not suspend the time limits for the commencement
of arbitration.
A lesson to be learned from A v B [2017]
In the case of A v B [2017] EWHC 3417 (Comm), the English High Court set aside the arbitral award rendered under LCIA Rules upholding its own jurisdiction on the basis of the ineffective request for the arbitration.
The dispute between A and B arose under two contracts for the sale of consignments of crude oil. The Contracts were governed by the English law and provided for arbitration under the LCIA Rules 2014, seated in London.
B commenced arbitration in September 2016 in a single Request for Arbitration under both contracts accompanied by payment of a single registration fee.
On 24 May 2017, A challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal contesting the validity of B’s Request for Arbitration on the grounds that it referred to single arbitration the claims under different Contracts. A served its Statement of Defence on 2 June 2017 without prejudice to its jurisdictional challenge.
On 7 July 2017, the LCIA tribunal made a partial award on jurisdiction and dismissed A’s jurisdictional challenge on the basis that it was brought too late. Subsequently A challenged the partial arbitration award on jurisdiction pursuant to section 67 of the Arbitration Act 1996 in an English court.
The English court had to consider two key questions:
Was the Request for Arbitration effective?
Answering the first question, the court concluded that LCIA Rules do not allow several arbitrations to be commenced under a single Request for Arbitration. The LCIA Rules allow consolidation of arbitration proceedings only upon the parties’ consent.
The Request for Arbitration concerned one single amount claimed, one registration fee was paid and it referred throughout to ‘the arbitration’. Accordingly, the judge concluded that in the context of the LCIA Rules, a reasonable person in the position of the recipient would have understood the request as starting a single arbitration.
The request for arbitration served under both contracts was ineffective as LCIA Rules do not permit a party to commence multiple arbitrations and consolidate the proceedings without the consent of all parties.
Did A raise its jurisdiction objection in time?
Article 23.3 LCIA Rules provides that jurisdictional objections must be made as soon as possible but not later than the time for serving Statement of Defence.
The judge concluded that A had not lost the right to challenge the tribunal’s jurisdiction, as it objected not later than the time for its statement of defence.
At the end of the day, B’s claim was dismissed based on the drawbacks of the Request for Arbitration.
Conclusions
Imagine the balloons, the champagne, the party hats, when the defendant finds out that you tossed away your claim by being late or submitted with fatal errors. The claimant in the arbitration must make sure that it uses the proper document and procedure to start the arbitration. If it does not, then arbitration will be commenced incorrectly and the limitation period may expire in the meantime.
Iryna Moroz, Partner at AGA Partners
Partner Iryna Moroz expresses her vision on the child's custody upon parents' divorce in BBC News article.
This article is available in Ukrainian only.
This article is available in Ukrainian only.
This article is available in Ukrainian only.
This article is available in Ukrainian only.
This article is availible in Russian only.
Without any modesty, we may confirm that Ukraine is one of the major exporters of agrarian commodities in the world. In particular, sunflower oil and seeds, grain and barley are Ukrainian distinctive competence. Thus, the share of disputes at arbitrations of GAFTA (The Grain and Feed Trade Association) and FOSFA (Federation of Oils, Seeds and Fats Associations) related to Ukraine is quite substantial.
We are going to analyze in what way the international arbitral awards may be enforced in Ukraine.
Tendencies.
- Ukrainian courts adhere to the New York Convention
There were 11 cases submitted for recognition and enforcement of GAFTA/FOSFA awards.
Given that beauty optimism will save the world, we will start from the good news. All cases were resolved without any violations of the New York Convention. In other words, awards that had to be enforced were enforced.
It takes time…
It means that statistically one award is passed through 7 court hearings at different instances (including procedural orders) to be recognized in Ukraine. Formally, it may be recognized after one court hearing. Mainly, in some cases it takes long time to find the only right solution. Let`s resort to the State Registry of Court decisions of Ukraine.
E-mail communication is acceptable.
It is widely thought that Ukrainian court and legislation is rather formal and does not take into account new means of communication. However, cases on recognition and enforcement of the GAFTA/FOSFA awards prove that it is not so.
Ukrainian courts deliver justified decisions in this regard. For instance, if the arbitral agreement as well as the main contract was concluded via e-mail or some arbitration notice was sent by e-mail, the Court recognized and enforced the arbitral award. Notably, in the case MILLWILL Ltd (Broker) vs Ukrainian Agrarian Investments LLC (Seller) on recognition and enforcement of GAFTA Award dated 19.11.2012 the defendant tried to prove that the award must not be recognized, because the parties did not sign and stamp the contract. The court rightfully held that it was not necessary due to the rules of the governing (English) law.
- Capacity of the party claiming enforcement
Almost 20% of the claims for recognition and enforcement of the awards were rejected because they were filed by the improper claimant – the person that did not have a right to file such a claim.
In particular, in the case Budtechimport LLC vs Prodexim LLC on recognition and enforcement of GAFTA Award № 14-476 between Feed Factors LTD and Prodexim LLC (debtor) the court logically rejected the claim since it was filed by the guarantor, not by the creditor. Obviously, the person that was not the party to the arbitral proceedings or did not obtain the right to file a claim on the recognition of the award is not entitled to file a claim with a Ukrainian court (Article 393 of the Civil Procedure Code of Ukraine and Article 4 of the New York Convention).
In the other case, Euler Hermes Services Schweiz AG filed a claim against Odessa oil-fat combine PJSC on recognition and enforcement of FOSFA Award № 4219 as of 07.09.2011 in the matter between Pontus Trade LLC and Odessa oil-fat combine PJSC, Euler Hermes Services AG obtained the right to claim for enforcement due to assignment agreement.
The company Euler Hermes Services Schweiz AG that filed a claim on recognition and enforcement of FOSFA award did not have a right for such a claim, because the party to the assignment agreement was the other company – Euler Hermes Services AG.
There was no evidence that the Euler Hermes Services Schweiz AG is a legal successor of Euler Hermes Services AG.
Thus, Ukrainian court acted in accordance with the international and Ukrainian law. As a result, both arbitral awards had no chances to be enforced.
- The court enforces the award if the debtor is registered or has a property within the territory of Ukraine.
It is important, that such property or registration must belong only and strictly to the debtor as opposed to related companies, beneficiaries of the debtor etc.
Notably, in the case Nibulon S.A. vs BSC CmbH on recognition and enforcement of GAFTA award № 4301 dated 05.02.2013, the defendant was not registered in Ukraine, being the Austrian company. Moreover, it did not have property in Ukraine that disabled Ukrainian court to handle the case (Article 394 of the Civil Procedure Code of Ukraine). Interestingly, that Nibulon S.A. provided the court with supposed address of the debtor that appeared to be the office of Nova Capital LLC. It arose that debtor had never been registered there and did not have any connections with the Nova Capital LLC. At least formally …
The second case was F.F. ENGELS INVESTMENTS LTD vs PACIFIC INTER-LINK SDN BHD on recognition and enforcement of numerous FOSFA Awards.
Debtor was not registered in Ukraine, however it was supposed to have property in Ukraine – goods at the warehouse. The property was arrested by the means of interim relief, while awards were recognized. However, the higher Court cancelled the decision and concluded: the owner of the goods is not a debtor under the contract and the party to arbitral proceedings. In fact, the awards were enforced against the company with the name alike, but not similar to the debtor`s one. Markedly, Pacific Oils & Fats Industry SDN was mentioned as a debtor, while the real debtor was PACIFIC INTER-LINK SDN BHD
Therefore, since claimant did not prove that the property belongs to the debtor, awards were not recognized.
- The claimant may ask for interim relief in the cases for recognition and enforcement of arbitral award.
Securing a claim is allowed at any stage of proceedings (even before filing a claim), if the failure to secure such a claim may complicate or prevent the enforcement of the award.
The creditor may seek for enforcement in Ukraine, provided that the debtor is registered and has assets or cargo allocated in Ukraine.
If at least one prerequisite is met, creditor may file a claim with Ukrainian court for arrest of such cargo or any other property as an interim relief. Afterwards it is necessary to file a claim on recognition and enforcement of the award within 3 days from the date of the court order on arrest of the property.
However, there are two points to take into account in this regard:
- If the claim is considered by the third instance (Higher Court/Supreme Court), the court is not empowered to grant an interim relief.
- It should be a good arguable case to ask the court for interim relief. Should the court find the debtor`s property arrest was unlawful, the defendant is entitled for compensation of all damages incurred. For instance, in the case of property arrest: storage costs, demurrage of containers or the vessel, handling costs, losses associated with damage or delayed delivery of cargo and other additional costs.
Thus, the claimant should be very cautious in such cases in order to avoid increase in his losses.
- The practice on compound interest enforcement is not univocal.
There is no univocal practice on whether the compound interest prescribed by the award must be compensated. The question is what to do if the arbitral award contains the formula on its calculation, but not the sum presented by the figures.
GAFTA and FOSFA arbitration awards on compensation of damages usually contain the debtor`s obligation to compensate the creditor for damages along with compound interest in the amount 4-5% from the date prescribed by the award till the date of payment. In most cases, the starting point is the date of default (i.e. a serious breach of a contract that resulted in termination thereof). The tribunal prescribes the basis sum from which the interest should be calculated and the relevant period for it.
Ukrainian courts used to enforce such awards for years. However, the recent decision of the Supreme Court dated 26 October 2017 in case No. 6-1197цс16 may change the approach. It paid attention that under Ukrainian law neither the court, nor the enforcement service empowered to calculate interest even if the arbitral decision contains the clear formula.
The court rejected the entire claim for recognition and enforcement of the award. Notably, Kyiv Court of Appeal held in the Order dated 23.02.2017 in the case number 759/16206/14-Ц, that:
“… when the foreign arbitration award containing an obligation of the debtor to compensate compound interest, the precise amount of which is not defined, then there are no legal grounds to enforce the decision. Given that claimant demands to compensate such interest and the absence of the court`s or other authority power to change the claimant`s demand, there is no possibility for partial enforcement of the decision. Otherwise, it would contradict subpara. b of para 2, Art. V of the New York Convention and paragraph. 6 of Article 396 of Civil Procedure Code of Ukraine”
At this point of time, the decision is waiting for another revision at the higher court.
Therefore, the issue of enforcement of GAFTA/FOSFA awards in part of compound interest is now open. If previously it was clear, now the tendency is that the award is to contain precise sum depicted in figures (not the formula) that should be paid by the debtor. Otherwise, there is a risk that the court will reject enforcement of entire award.
We will keep our readers informed on further developments of the practice in this regard. However, it would be the matter of separate post.
In what way claimants may enhance chances of enforcement of GAFTA/FOSFA awards?
Knowledge of the outlined tendencies lead us to the conclusions on how to avoid mistakes and receive enforced decision. We have prepared 7 tips in this regard.
- The claim must be filed by the company that is pointed out in the award or the company that obtained this right under assignment agreement. Preferably, that assignment agreement is concluded after the date of the arbitral award.
- Special attention should be paid to the evidence that the arbitral award came into force. It may be the extract from GAFTA/FOSFA arbitration rules or List of defaulters, or a letter from arbitration that this particular award came into force.
- The debtor must be registered or have a property within the jurisdiction of the court to which the claim is filed.
- If the creditor is sure that the case is a good arguable one and there is a risk of dissipating of the assets, it makes sense to ask the court for interim measures. Ukrainian courts are not reluctant to grant such measures. However, it should be noted that if the interim measure would be considered as illegal later, the claimant must compensate for all damages.
- Claimant should be prepared for long-lasting procedures since there is a risk that the case will pass through all instances several times. The whole process may take 1,5 – 2 years.
- It is better to send arbitral agreement and notices via the same e-mail as the previous correspondence. It would be a plus, if the debtor answered from this e-mail to any letter.
- The claim and the award is to be in compliance with the New York Convention. We can make the case that after all procedures, its requirements will be adhered by Ukrainian courts.
Conclusion
Overall, Ukrainian practice on recognition and enforcement of GAFTA/FOSFA awards complies with the New York Convention. The approach of Ukrainian Courts may be characterized as pro-arbitration one.
At the same time, there are not so many cases for recognition and enforcement of such awards in Ukrainian courts. The reasons for noted results may be different: GAFTA/FOSFA awards against Ukrainian companies are enforced voluntarily; the debtors with Ukrainian roots are registered in other jurisdictions; creditors do not start the proceedings because they do not believe that it may bring fruits due to prior dissipation of debtor`s assets or corruption in Ukrainian courts.
Then again, statistics are quite optimistic: 50% of awards were enforced by means of court procedures against 50% that were not enforced. One more case is still in progress (Nibulon vs Rise). That particular case concerns the obligation to pay for compound interest. At this point of time, it is hard to predict the outcome of the proceedings. The mentioned statistics relates only to the compulsory enforcement (by means of court procedures) and do not take into account the awards that were enforced voluntarily. Should we count them too, the statistics would much more optimistic.
However, if the court upholds the decision of the previous instance, the practice on recognition and enforcement of the GAFTA/FOSFA awards will change dramatically. After the final decision on the case will be delivered, we will analyze it for our readers.
Thus, practice of enforcing of GAFTA and FOSFA awards in Ukraine is dynamic, but still optimistic.
Ivan Kasynyuk, Partner at AGA Partners
Olga Kuchmiienko, Associate at AGA Partners
The article is available in Ukrainian only.
The article is available in Ukrainian only.