Overview
(November 19, 2024, Washington, DC) – On November 13, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court held that the US courts have jurisdiction to enforce an ICSID arbitration award obtained by our clients the von Pezold family against the Republic of Zimbabwe. The Court held that the von Pezolds' arbitration award was enforceable under the so-called "arbitration exception" in the U.S. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The Court rejected Zimbabwe's argument that its German and Swiss investment treaties prohibited enforcement outside Zimbabwe.
The Steptoe team that represented the von Pezolds on the appeal and District Court proceeding included Chris Paparella, Michael Baratz, Justin Ben-Asher, Jennie Askew, and Riley John. Matthew Coleman and Thomas Innes from Steptoe's London office represented the von Pezolds in the ICSID arbitration.
About Steptoe
In more than 110 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
