November 2021

War Series: Recent Submarine Cable Attacks

UAE Supreme Court acquits warehouse operator in tobacco tax evasion case

  Brief The Public Prosecution took action against two entities; a tobacco trader (first accused) and a warehouse operator (second accused) on tax evasion charges for possessing cigarette goods that lack the requisite distinctive marks (tax stamps). On 27 May 2020, the warehouse operated by the second accused was inspected by the Public Prosecution where […]

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Landmark Ruling by Federal Court of Australia on Crypto Margin Extensions

Dubai Cassation Court accepts arbitration jurisdictional challenge even when not filed at Primary and Appeals Courts

  Novelty  It has generally been the case that a jurisdictional challenge against the courts to hear a dispute where an arbitration agreement exists must be made at the first hearing that takes place, at the first level of the overseeing trial court. (To clarify – the ‘first hearing’ is in reality usually the first

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Ontario Appeals Court on Arbitration Act Restricting Appeals of Arbitrator Appointment

Abu Dhabi Cassation Court acknowledges verbal, implied, or apparent authority to bind principal to an arbitration agreement

  Novelty In a landmark judgment by the Abu Dhabi Cassation Court in October 2021, the Court confirmed that an agent/representative may bind a principal to an arbitration agreement if they have: Explicit written authority. Explicit verbal authority. Implied authority. Apparent authority. It was recently the case that the Dubai Courts acknowledged apparent or implied

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War Series: Investment Protection Treaties in War for Investors in the Middle East (G�R?? v. Syria)

Lebanon Pushes for Activation of Medical Cannabis Law

  On 20 April 2020, the Lebanese Parliament passed a law permitting the cultivation, trade, research, and use of medical cannabis. As a result of multiple factors, including the socioeconomic health of the nation, progress on the legalization of the cultivation of cannabis has been stagnant in Lebanon. The law establishes an authority named the

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Flying Fish 1

UAE overhauls tax dispute procedures (re-litigation, penalty refunds, fewer payments, longer time-bars)

  As of first November 2021, the tax dispute procedures have been amended pursuant to Federal Decree-Law No. 28/2021 creating a new opportunity to re-litigate disputes, permitting payments by installments or bank guarantees, providing longer time-bars for objection actions, reducing the payments required to proceed with a tax dispute, and other notable changes. Re-litigation Article

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