Etihad Airways PJSC v Flöther

Subject Matter

CONFLICT OF LAWS — Jurisdiction under European Union Regulation — Exclusive jurisdiction — Facility agreement containing asymmetric jurisdiction clause entitling borrower to sue lender in England only but entitling lender to bring proceedings in courts of any competent jurisdiction — Lender also providing borrower with comfort letter containing no jurisdiction provision — Borrower starting proceedings against lender in Germany under comfort letter — Lender subsequently starting mirror proceedings against borrower in England — Whether English court to stay proceedings as court second seised — Whether jurisdiction clause applying to dispute arising in connection with comfort letter — Whether such dispute arising in connection with “particular legal relationship” between parties — Whether asymmetric jurisdiction clause capable of conferring “exclusive jurisdiction” on English courts — Parliament and Council Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012, arts 25, 31(2)

[2019] EWHC 3107 (Comm); [2020] QB 793; [2020] 2 WLR 333; [2019] WLR(D) 675, QBD

CONFLICT OF LAWS — Jurisdiction under European Union Regulation — Exclusive jurisdiction — Facility agreement containing asymmetric jurisdiction clause entitling borrower to sue lender in England only but entitling lender to bring proceedings in courts of any competent jurisdiction — Borrower starting proceedings against lender in Germany — Lender subsequently starting mirror proceedings against borrower in England — Whether English court to stay proceedings as court second seised — Whether asymmetric jurisdiction clause capable of conferring “exclusive jurisdiction” on English courts — Parliament and Council Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012, arts 25, 29, 31(2)

[2020] EWCA Civ 1707; [2022] QB 303; [2021] 2 WLR 939; [2021] 2 All ER (Comm) 1249; [2020] WLR(D) 690, CA

Appellate History

Commentary

Blackstones Civil Practice 2023
Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements 2005 80.13

Jurisdiction under the 2005 Hague Convention - Exclusive jurisdiction - Exclusive 16.26

Lis pendens - Identical proceedings 16.9