QB UK Case No. [2019] EWHC 64 Comm

General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd v State of Libya

Background

The claimant was a UK company. In January 2016, an award was made in the claimant's favour by an ICC arbitral tribunal in Geneva, relating to a contract between the parties for the supply of communications systems. The defendant state made no payment of the sums awarded, and appeared to be ignoring the award. The claimant sought to enforce the award in the UK. The court gave permission to enforce it and entered judgment in the terms of the award (the order). The claimant did not intend any kind of service on the defendant state of Libya, but ensured that it was aware of the award by sending documents to three of its addresses. The effect of the order was that the claimant would be entitled to enforce the judgment against any property of the defendant.