Case Details

Rand Investments Ltd. and others v. Republic of Serbia (ICSID Case No. ARB/18/8)

Subject of Dispute:

Agricultural enterprise
Economic Sector:

Agriculture, Fishing & Forestry
Instrument(s) Invoked:

BIT Canada - Serbia 2014, BIT Serbia - Cyprus 2005
Applicable Rules:

ICSID Convention - Arbitration Rules

(a) Original Proceeding

Claimant(s)/Nationality(ies):

Rand Investments Ltd. (Canadian), Sembi Investment Limited (Cypriot), William Archibald Rand (Canadian), Kathleen Elizabeth Rand (Canadian), Allison Ruth Rand (Canadian), Robert Harry Leander Rand (Canadian)
Respondent(s):

Republic of Serbia (Serbian)
Date Registered:

March 22, 2018
Date of Constitution of Tribunal:

October 2, 2018

Composition of Tribunal

President:

Gabrielle KAUFMANN-KOHLER (Swiss) - Appointed by the Secretary-General
Arbitrators:

Baiju S. VASANI (British, U.S.) - Appointed by the Claimant(s)
Marcelo G. KOHEN (Argentine) - Appointed by the Respondent(s)

Party Representatives

Claimant(s):

Squire Patton Boggs s.r.o., advokátní kancelár, Prague, Czech Republic
Stankovic & Partners, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
Respondent(s):

Office of the State Attorney, Belgrade, Serbia
Senka Mihaj, Belgrade, Serbia
Vladimir Djeric, Belgrade, Serbia
Petar Djundic, Belgrade, Serbia
Language(s) of Proceeding:

English
Status of Proceeding:

Concluded
Outcome of Proceeding:

June 29, 2023 - The Tribunal renders its award; attached to the award is a dissenting opinion by arbitrator Marcelo G. Kohen.

(b) Supplementary Decision Proceeding

Applicant(s)/Requesting Party(ies):

Claimant(s)
Date Registered:

August 18, 2023 (Claimant(s))

Party Representatives

Claimant(s):

Squire Patton Boggs, Prague, Czech Republic and New York, NY, U.S.A.
Stankovic & Partners, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
Respondent(s):

Office of the State Attorney, Belgrade, Serbia
Senka Mihaj, Belgrade, Serbia
Vladimir Djeric, Belgrade, Serbia
Petar Djundic, Belgrade, Serbia
Language(s) of Proceeding:

English
Status of Proceeding:

Pending
Latest Development:

September 14, 2023 - The Claimants file a reply to the Respondent’s observations of August 31, 2023.

(a) Original Proceeding

Published Decisions

Request for Arbitration

Procedural Order No. 1

Revised Annex A to Procedural Order No. 1

Claimants’ Memorial

Procedural Order No. 2

Respondent’s Counter-Memorial with Request for Bifurcation

Claimants’ Reply to Request for Bifurcation

Procedural Order No. 3

Procedural Order No. 4

Procedural Order No. 5

Claimants’ Reply

Procedural Order No. 6

Respondent’s Rejoinder

Claimants’ Rejoinder on Jurisdiction

Claimants’ Consolidated List of Documents

Respondent’s Submission on Quantum

Respondent’s Consolidated List of Documents

Procedural Order No. 7

Procedural Order No. 8

Hearing on Provisional Measures - Video (February 16, 2021)

Procedural Order No. 9

Procedural Order No. 10

Procedural Order No. 11

Amended Annex A to Procedural Order No. 11

Procedural Order No. 12

Hearing on Jurisdiction, Liability and Quantum - Day 1 (July 12, 2021)

Hearing on Jurisdiction, Liability and Quantum - Day 2 (July 13, 2021)

Hearing on Jurisdiction, Liability and Quantum - Day 3 (July 14, 2021)

Hearing on Jurisdiction, Liability and Quantum - Day 4 (July 15, 2021)

Hearing on Jurisdiction, Liability and Quantum - Day 5 (July 16, 2021)

Hearing on Jurisdiction, Liability and Quantum - Day 6 (July 17, 2021)

Hearing on Jurisdiction, Liability and Quantum - Day 7 (July 19, 2021)

Hearing on Jurisdiction, Liability and Quantum - Day 8 (July 20, 2021)

Hearing Transcripts

Claimants’ First Post-Hearing Brief

Claimants’ Consolidated List of Documents

Respondent’s First Post-Hearing Brief

Claimants’ Reply Post-Hearing Brief

Respondent’s Reply Post-Hearing Brief

REDACTED Respondent’s Statement of Costs

REDACTED Claimants’ Statement of Costs

REDACTED Award

Available on the ICSID Website

Request for Arbitration (February 9, 2018) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 1 (November 29, 2018) English (Original)

Revised Annex A to Procedural Order No. 1 (December 19, 2018) English (Original)

Claimants’ Memorial (January 16, 2019) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 2 (February 12, 2019) English (Original)

Respondent’s Counter-Memorial with Request for Bifurcation (April 19, 2019) English (Original)

Claimants’ Reply to Request for Bifurcation (May 19, 2019) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 3 (June 24, 2019) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 4 (August 7, 2019) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 5 (August 29, 2019) English (Original)

Claimants’ Reply (October 4, 2019) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 6 (January 13, 2020) English (Original)

Respondent’s Rejoinder (January 24, 2020) English (Original)

Claimants’ Rejoinder on Jurisdiction (March 6, 2020) English (Original)

Claimants’ Consolidated List of Documents (March 6, 2020) English (Original)

Respondent’s Submission on Quantum (March 16, 2020) English (Original)

Respondent’s Consolidated List of Documents (March 16, 2020) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 7 (April 20, 2020) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 8 (November 3, 2020) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 9 (March 12, 2021) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 10 (May 21, 2021) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 11 (July 1, 2021) English (Original)

Amended Annex A to Procedural Order No. 11 (July 1, 2021) English (Original)

Procedural Order No. 12 (July 30, 2021) English (Original)

Hearing Transcripts (July 12, 2021) English (Original)

Claimants’ First Post-Hearing Brief (September 27, 2021) English (Original)

Claimants’ Consolidated List of Documents (September 27, 2021) English (Original)

Respondent’s First Post-Hearing Brief (September 27, 2021) English (Original)

Claimants’ Reply Post-Hearing Brief (October 22, 2021) English (Original)

Respondent’s Reply Post-Hearing Brief (October 22, 2021) English (Original)

REDACTED Respondent’s Statement of Costs (November 12, 2021) English (Original)

REDACTED Claimants’ Statement of Costs (November 15, 2021) English (Original)

REDACTED Award (June 29, 2023) English (Original)

(a) Original Proceeding

Date	Development
March 22, 2018	The Acting Secretary-General registers a request for the institution of arbitration proceedings.
May 16, 2018	Following appointment by the Claimants, Baiju S. Vasani (British/U.S.) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
May 17, 2018	Following appointment by the Respondent, Marcelo Kohen (Argentine) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
October 2, 2018	Following appointment by the Secretary-General pursuant to the parties’ agreement, Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler (Swiss) accepts her appointment as presiding arbitrator.
October 2, 2018	The Tribunal is constituted in accordance with Article 37(2)(a) of the ICSID Convention. Its members are: Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler (Swiss), President, appointed by the Secretary-General pursuant to the parties’ agreement; Baiju Vasani (British/American), appointed by the Claimants; and Marcelo Kohen (Argentine), appointed by the Respondent.
November 23, 2018	The Tribunal holds a first session by telephone conference.
November 29, 2018	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 1 concerning procedural matters.
January 17, 2019	The Claimants file a memorial on the merits.
February 12, 2019	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 2 concerning procedural matters.
April 19, 2019	The Respondent files a counter-memorial on the merits and memorial on jurisdiction, including a request to address the objections to jurisdiction as a preliminary question.
May 17, 2019	The Claimants file a reply on the request to address the objections to jurisdiction as a preliminary question.
June 24, 2019	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 3 concerning the Respondent’s request to address an objection to jurisdiction as a preliminary question; as a result, the objection to jurisdiction is joined to the merits of the dispute.
July 26, 2019	Following exchanges between the parties, each party files a request for the Tribunal to decide on production of documents.
August 7, 2019	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 4 concerning production of documents.
August 29, 2019	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 5 concerning procedural matters.
October 4, 2019	The Claimants file a reply on the merits and a counter-memorial on jurisdiction.
January 13, 2020	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 6 concerning procedural matters.
January 24, 2020	The Respondent files a rejoinder on the merits and a reply on jurisdiction.
March 6, 2020	The Claimants file a rejoinder on jurisdiction.
March 16, 2020	The Respondent files an additional submission on quantum.
April 20, 2020	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 7 concerning procedural matters.
November 3, 2020	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 8 concerning procedural matters.
January 15, 2021	The Claimants file a request for the Tribunal to decide on the admissibility of new evidence.
January 15, 2021	The Claimants file a request for provisional measures.
February 5, 2021	The Respondent files observations on the Claimants’ request of January 15, 2021.
February 5, 2021	The Respondent files observations on the Claimants’ request for provisional measures.
February 16, 2021	The Tribunal holds a hearing on provisional measures by video conference.
March 12, 2021	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 9 concerning provisional measures and the admissibility of new evidence.
May 21, 2021	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 10 concerning procedural matters.
June 22, 2021	The Tribunal holds a pre-hearing organizational meeting with the parties by video conference.
July 1, 2021	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 11 concerning the organization of the hearing.
July 12, 2021 - July 20, 2021	The Tribunal holds a hearing on jurisdiction, liability and quantum in The Hague.
July 30, 2021	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 12 concerning procedural matters.
September 27, 2021	Each party files a post-hearing brief.
October 22, 2021	Each party files a reply post-hearing brief.
November 12, 2021	Each party files a statement of costs.
June 2, 2023	The Tribunal declares the proceeding closed in accordance with ICSID Arbitration Rule 38(1).
June 29, 2023	The Tribunal renders its award; attached to the award is a dissenting opinion by arbitrator Marcelo G. Kohen.

(b) Supplementary Decision Proceeding

Date	Development
August 18, 2023	The Acting Secretary-General registers a request for supplementary decision on the award filed by the Claimants.
August 31, 2023	The Respondent files observations on the Claimants’ request for supplementary decision.
September 14, 2023	The Claimants file a reply to the Respondent’s observations of August 31, 2023.