• California appellate court overturns arbitration award that violated Plaintiff’s statutory right to work

The arbitrator determined that Brown violated the confidentiality provisions of his employment agreement when he attached and filed confidential information regarding his employer with his petition to compel arbitration

• Supreme Court of Canada finds Uber arbitration clause is unconscionable

In Uber Technologies Inc. v. Heller, 2020 SCC 16 (“Uber v. Heller“) the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision that Uber’s arbitration agreement is invalid and unenforceable, leaving disputes under the clause to be litigated in the courts. The Court re-affirmed the competence-competence principle and the deference generally afforded to arbitrators by the courts, while creating an exception to the general rule of arbitral referral.

• ‘Maritime militia’: 220 Chinese ships swarm reef in West Philippine Sea

The Duterte government voiced concern after it spotted around 220 Chinese vessels, believed to be Chinese maritime militia, swarming a reef west of Palawan in the West Philippine Sea.

• Gov’t vows to protect sovereign rights over West PH Sea

The Philippine government on Saturday vowed to remain steadfast in its duty to protect Philippine sovereignty and its sovereign rights in the country’s maritime domain amid reports on the presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels at Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

• Philippines files diplomatic protest vs China over 220 vessels in West PH Sea

The Philippines on Sunday, March 21, filed a diplomatic protest against China over the presence of 220 Chinese vessels near the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

• PH air patrol confirms Chinese ‘militia boats’ presence in WPS

Philippine air patrol on Monday has spotted Chinese militia boats off Julian Felipe Reef (Union Reefs) in the West Philippine Sea that is well within the country’s exclusive economic zone EEZ.

• Duterte gov’t urged to summon China envoy over ships in West PH Sea

Former Philippine foreign secretary Albert del Rosario called on the Duterte government to consider summoning Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, after some 220 ships believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia were spotted near a reef in the West Philippine Sea.

• Manila to Beijing: Withdraw fishing vessels from WPS territory

The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), also asked China “to direct its fishing vessels to desist from environmentally destructive activities.”

• China denies militia in West PH Sea, slams ‘unnecessary irritation’

China denied allegations that maritime militia manned over 200 Chinese fishing vessels spotted near a reef in the West Philippine Sea, as it denounced the claim as an “unnecessary irritation.”

• US shares concern over Chinese ships: ‘We stand with the Philippines’

The United States backed the Philippines as it voiced concern over the presence of over 220 ships believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia spotted near a reef in the West Philippine Sea.

• No default rule that indemnity costs should be granted where an arbitral award is unsuccessfully challenged in court

In Singapore court proceedings, the usual course is to award a successful litigant party-and-party costs on a standard basis. Exceptional circumstances are required to justify a departure from the usual course.

• Japan: SCS issues ‘directly related’ to regional peace, stability

The Japanese Embassy in Manila on Tuesday chimed in on the current situation in the South China Sea (SCS), hours after the United States expressed its concern over the swarming of some 200 Chinese vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

• Huang allays PRRD’s worry over spotted Chinese vessels in WPS

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian has assured President Rodrigo Duterte that the Philippines needs not worry over the reported presence of Chinese vessels in Julian Felipe Reef (Union Reefs), Malacañang said on Thursday.

• EU adds voice vs China incursion in West PH Sea

The European Union (EU) on Thursday joined other nations in expressing concern over the reported incursion of Chinese maritime militia personnel in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

• DFA execs reaffirm PH stand on reef

Philippine foreign affairs officials attending the 28th Asean-New Zealand Dialogue reiterated the Philippines’ objection to the continued presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels in Philippine waters.

• Swiss Federal Supreme Court confirms that not the tribunal’s legal reasoning, but only the outcome of the award can be reason for annulment for violation of public policy

In its decision published 6 January 2021, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court (“SFSC”) dismissed a challenge because in its view, the arbitrator had not violated public policy by finding in favour of a company that refused to pay commissions under an agency contract obtained through fraudulent behaviour

• Submarines to give AFP credible maritime defense capabilities

Having diesel-electric submarines in its inventory will allow the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to achieve a credible defense posture, aside from enhancing the Philippine Navy’s (PN) maritime defense capabilities, the country’s Navy chief said Tuesday night.