Case Details

Rami Levy and others v. Republic of Bulgaria (ICSID Case No. ARB/18/47)

Subject of Dispute:

Real estate project
Economic Sector:

Construction
Instrument(s) Invoked:

BIT Israel - Bulgaria 1993
Applicable Rules:

ICSID Convention - Arbitration Rules

(a) Original Proceeding

Claimant(s)/Nationality(ies):

Rami Levy (Israeli), Gilad Ramot (Israeli), Ilan Ramot (Israeli), David Ramot (Israeli), Liat Armoza (Israeli), Liliana Ramot (Israeli), Matan Ramot (Israeli), Zeev Ramot (Israeli)
Respondent(s):

Republic of Bulgaria (Bulgarian)
Date Registered:

December 27, 2018
Date of Constitution of Tribunal:

August 13, 2019

Composition of Tribunal

President:

Bernardo M. CREMADES (Spanish) - Appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council
Arbitrators:

Stephan SCHILL (German) - Appointed by the Claimant(s)
Loretta MALINTOPPI (Italian) - Appointed by the Respondent(s)

Party Representatives

Claimant(s):

Parvan P. Parvanov, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Berk Demirkol, London, U.K.
Respondent(s):

Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Bulgaria, Sofia, Bulgaria
White & Case, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
Tomov & Tomov, Sofia, Bulgaria
Language(s) of Proceeding:

English
Status of Proceeding:

Concluded
Outcome of Proceeding:

December 23, 2025 - The Tribunal renders its award; attached to the award is a dissenting opinion by arbitrator Stephan Schill.

(b) Annulment Proceeding

Applicant(s)/Requesting Party(ies):

Claimant(s)
Date Registered:

April 27, 2026
Date of Constitution of ad hoc Committee:

June 10, 2026

Composition of ad hoc Committee (Appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council)

President:

Veijo HEISKANEN (Finnish)
Members:

Claudia ANNACKER (Austrian)
Mahnaz MALIK (British, Pakistani)

Party Representatives

Status of Proceeding:

Pending
Latest Development:

July 9, 2026 - The ad hoc Committee holds a first session by video conference.

No References Available.

(a) Original Proceeding

Date	Development
December 27, 2018	The Acting Secretary-General registers a request for the institution of arbitration proceedings.
March 11, 2019	Following appointment by the Claimants, Stephan Schill (German) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
April 1, 2019	Following appointment by the Respondent, Loretta Malintoppi (Italian) accepts her appointment as arbitrator.
June 12, 2019	The Claimants file a request for the Chairman of the Administrative Council to appoint the arbitrator not yet appointed pursuant to Article 38 of the ICSID Convention.
August 13, 2019	Following appointment by the Chairman of the Administrative Council in accordance with Article 38 of the ICSID Convention, Bernardo M. Cremades (Spanish) accepts his appointment as presiding arbitrator.
August 13, 2019	The Tribunal is constituted in accordance with Article 37(2)(b) the ICSID Convention. Its members are: Bernardo M. Cremades (Spanish), President, appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council in accordance with Article 38 of the ICSID Convention; Stephan Schill (German), appointed by the Claimants; and Loretta Malintoppi (Italian), appointed by the Respondent.
October 2, 2019	The Tribunal holds a first session by telephone conference.
October 16, 2019	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 1 concerning procedural matters.
March 6, 2020	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 2 concerning procedural matters.
March 16, 2020	The Claimants file a memorial on the merits.
May 4, 2020	The Respondent files a request to address the objections to jurisdiction as a preliminary question.
May 18, 2020	The Claimants file observations on the request to address the objections to jurisdiction as a preliminary question.
June 1, 2020	The Respondent files further observations on the request to address the objections to jurisdiction as a preliminary question.
June 8, 2020	The Claimants file further observations on the request to address the objections to jurisdiction as a preliminary question.
June 29, 2020	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 3 concerning the Respondent’s request to address the objections to jurisdiction as a preliminary question.
April 5, 2021	The Respondent files a counter-memorial on the merits and a memorial on jurisdiction and admissibility.
June 25, 2021	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 4 concerning the production of documents.
November 13, 2021	The Claimants file a reply on the merits and a counter-memorial on jurisdiction.
March 28, 2022	The Respondent files a rejoinder on the merits and a reply on jurisdiction and admissibility.
April 18, 2022	The Claimants file a rejoinder on jurisdiction.
June 3, 2022	The Tribunal holds a pre-hearing organizational meeting with the parties by video conference.
June 20, 2022	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 5 concerning the organization of the hearing.
June 20, 2022	The Claimants file a request for the Tribunal to decide on the admissibility of new evidence.
June 22, 2022	The Respondent files observations on the Claimants’ request of June 20, 2022.
June 24, 2022	The Tribunal decides on the Claimants’ request of June 20, 2022.
July 4, 2022 - July 8, 2022	The Tribunal holds a hearing on jurisdiction and the merits by video conference.
July 11, 2022	The Tribunal holds the continuation of the hearing on jurisdiction and the merits by video conference.
July 12, 2022	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 6 concerning procedural matters.
September 27, 2022	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 7 concerning the request for disqualification of the Respondent’s expert.
May 31, 2024	Each party files a statement of costs.
November 25, 2025	The Tribunal declares the proceeding closed in accordance with ICSID Arbitration Rule 38(1).
December 23, 2025	The Tribunal renders its award; attached to the award is a dissenting opinion by arbitrator Stephan Schill.

(b) Annulment Proceeding

Date	Development
April 27, 2026	The Acting Secretary-General registers an application for annulment of the award filed by Rami Levy and Others and notifies the parties of the provisional stay of enforcement of the award.
June 10, 2026	The ad hoc Committee is constituted in accordance with Article 52(3) of the ICSID Convention.  Its members are: Veijo Heiskanen (Finnish), President; Claudia Annacker (Austrian); and Mahnaz Malik (British, Pakistani); all members appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council.
July 9, 2026	The ad hoc Committee holds a first session by video conference.