Public International Law Notes

Diplomatic immunity denied by UK Supreme Court in relation to alleged breaches of modern slavery laws

London is home to one of the largest diplomatic communities in the world, with over 160 embassies. In a significant judgment by a majority of three, the …

NEVSUN RESOURCES LTD. V. ARAYA – SUPREME COURT OF CANADA ALLOWS ERITREAN MINERS’ CLAIM FOR VIOLATIONS OF CUSTOMARY INTERNATIONAL LAW TO PROCEED

3rd EFILA annual conference 2018: parallel states’ obligations in investor-state arbitration - 5 February 2018, London

The European Federation for Investment Law and Arbitration (EFILA) will be holding its third Annual Conference on 5 February 2018 at the Senate House in …

UK Supreme Court confirms the limited scope of state and diplomatic immunity from employment claims: Benkharbouche and Reyes

In two judgments handed down on 18 October 2017, the Supreme Court (the "Court") has allowed certain employment claims made by foreign nationals employed …

Negotiations for an international business and human rights treaty continue in Geneva

An intergovernmental working group mandated to draft a new international legal instrument to regulate the activities of transnational corporations in …

International Criminal Court to prioritise prosecution of crimes involving destruction of the environment, illegal exploitation of natural resources and land-grabbing

Introduction The International Criminal Court ("ICC") intends to prioritise the prosecution of cases involving the destruction of the environment, …

Doing business in Africa: human rights and crisis management

Stéphane Brabant, Partner, and Yann Alix, Senior Associate, have published an article on doing business in Africa, focussing on the need …

Alien Tort litigation comes to Singapore: international enforcement of judgments based on corporate human rights abuse

In Alberto Justo Rodriguez Licea and others v Curacao Drydock Co, Inc, the Singapore High Court dismissed an appeal against the enforcement of a …

The human right to water: defences to investment treaty violations

At times, and for a variety of reasons, states will regulate the market in the furtherance of public-policy objectives—including to implement specific …

UK Government plan to replace the English Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights

After winning an outright majority at the general election, the new UK Government is pressing ahead with its manifesto promise to "scrap the Human Rights …

The erosion of state and diplomatic immunity by European law? Two recent English Court of Appeal cases

In the case of (1) Benkharbouche and (2) Janah v (1) Embassy of the Republic of Sudan and (2) Libya, the English Court of Appeal (the Court) considered …

The importance of human rights due diligence for businesses: International Criminal Court asked to investigate allegations of land grabbing in Cambodia

On 7 October 2014 a communication was filed with the International Criminal Court (“ICC") asking the Prosecutor to investigate the alleged commission of …