Myanmar Arbitration Update (Live Webinar Event)

Highlights

Myanmar’s landscape of commercial disputes was shook up in 2016 with the new Arbitration Law. But how has the practice on the ground evolved? Are courts generally referring to arbitration when required? Is the Supreme Court following the Arbitration Law? Are foreign awards or judgements recognized in Myanmar, in reality? This briefing available only on live webinar, analyses the arbitration developments of the ground from a practical perspective by means of a short series of case studies.

Program

How do Myanmar courts interpret and apply a foreign arbitration clause/agreement?

• Conditions under Myanmar law to invoke an arbitration clause or agreement: how do they match with the current procedure of the courts?
• Practical experiences: at which time does the party have to invoke the referral to arbitration in a Myanmar court proceeding? Interpretation and practical problems.
• Practical experiences seeking a stay before a Myanmar court and referral to foreign arbitration: how have courts reacted?
• How do Myanmar courts interpret arbitration clauses?
• Does an arbitration agreement also bind the parties if a third party is involved in the civil proceedings?
• What has been the position of the lower courts and of the Supreme Court on the arbitration cases so far?

Recognition and enforcement

• How to seek recognition of a foreign arbitration award by a Myanmar court: deadlines, translation, practical challenges
• Practical experiences: how to seek enforcement of a foreign court judgement in Myanmar

Injunctions and interim measures, other issues

• How is a Myanmar court allowed to interfere with a foreign arbitration under the guise of interim measures?
• Practical experiences: seeking an injunction from a Myanmar court despite the existence of foreign arbitration clause/agreement
• How do criminal proceedings in Myanmar interfere with foreign arbitration?

VDB LOI’S DISPUTE SETTLEMENT EXPERIENCE IN MYANMAR

VDB Loi is a leading law and advisory firm in Myanmar, known for its assistance to some of the largest projects and transactions in the country. Our recent assignments include the multibillion US$ Kyauk Pyo Deep Sea Port and SEZ, the Yangon Elevated Expressway, the ShweLi 3 hydropower dam, the Kanbauk 1,000 MW LNG to Power project, several oil and gas block transactions, the acquisition of a stake in Myanmar banks, insurance companies and telecom companies, the greenfield multibillion US$ investment by a mobile network operator, and the Thilawa SEZ.

Our firm offers a comprehensive service on commercial and criminal litigation, arbitration (as local counsel) and mediation through a team of foreign and local disputes lawyers working with litigation partners which are all exclusively dedicated to our firm.

In recent years our team has worked on a wide range of dispute matters, including:

• A multi-party shareholder dispute involving civil litigation and arbitration;
• Litigation involving an alleged IP infringement;
• The cross border insolvency of an enterprise in the logistics sector;
• The representation of a foreign embassy in a vehicular manslaughter case involving one of its officials;
• A civil case seeking damages in an aborted acquisition, involving litigation and arbitration;
• A high-profile arbitration between a local partner and a foreign investor in the power sector;
• The collection of various commercial debts;
• Enforcement of security on a bank debt;
• A dispute between a developer and a main contractor with commercial and criminal aspects;
• The enforcement of foreign arbitration awards by a Myanmar court;
• The representation of members of the foreign press in a criminal proceeding;
• Numerous employment disputes.