SINGAPORE — The Singapore High Court has ruled that Spain cannot invoke sovereign immunity to block enforcement of a major investor-state arbitration award, delivering a decision that reinforces the city-state’s reputation as a reliable forum for enforcing international arbitration rulings. In a judgment issued in NextEra Energy Global Holdings BV and another v Kingdom of Spain, the court dismissed Spain’s attempt to set aside a registration order for an arbitral award issued under the framework of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. The dispute arose from claims by investors linked to NextEra Energy, who alleged that Spain breached obligations under the Energy Charter Treaty after the country revised renewable-energy subsidy policies that had attracted foreign investment. Spain argued that it was protected by sovereign immunity and also raised what is known as the “intra-EU objection.” That argument maintains that arbitration between investors and EU member states under the

HELSINKI — Finland is considering sweeping reforms to its arbitration framework as part of an effort to modernize dispute resolution laws and strengthen the country’s position in international arbitration. The Finland Arbitration Institute announced that the Ministry of Justice (Finland) has released a report from a government-appointed working group recommending a new Arbitration Act to replace the country’s existing legislation. According to the report, the proposed law would align Finland’s arbitration regime with the widely used United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, a framework adopted in many jurisdictions to harmonize arbitration practices worldwide. Officials say the reform aims to ensure that Finland’s arbitration system keeps pace with global developments. The proposal also addresses the growing role of digital technology in dispute resolution and seeks to enhance the competitiveness of Finnish arbitration in the international legal market. The working group responsible for drafting the

HELSINKI — Finland is considering sweeping reforms to its arbitration framework as part of an effort to modernize dispute resolution laws and strengthen the country’s position in international arbitration. The Finland Arbitration Institute announced that the Ministry of Justice (Finland) has released a report from a government-appointed working group recommending a new Arbitration Act to replace the country’s existing legislation. According to the report, the proposed law would align Finland’s arbitration regime with the widely used United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, a framework adopted in many jurisdictions to harmonize arbitration practices worldwide. Officials say the reform aims to ensure that Finland’s arbitration system keeps pace with global developments. The proposal also addresses the growing role of digital technology in dispute resolution and seeks to enhance the competitiveness of Finnish arbitration in the international legal market. The working group responsible for drafting the

MADRID — The criminal chamber of the Supreme Court of Spain has upheld the conviction of a sole arbitrator who presided over a controversial multibillion-dollar arbitration against Malaysia, ruling that he acted in “serious disobedience” by continuing the proceedings after a Spanish court had annulled his appointment. The dispute stems from claims brought by descendants of the historical ruler known as the Sultan of Sulu, who sought compensation from Malaysia over territory in what is now the Malaysian state of Sabah. The arbitration gained global attention when the arbitrator eventually issued a final award ordering Malaysia to pay roughly $15 billion. According to the court, the arbitrator’s authority had already been invalidated earlier by a Spanish court after it determined that the appointment process suffered from defective service on a foreign sovereign. Once the proceedings appointing him were declared void, the court said, the arbitrator no longer had any lawful