Originally from International Arbitration Court Decisions - 3rd Edition

DECISION BY THE PARIS COURT OF APPEAL

RENDERED ON 23 MARCH 2006 IN CASE NO 04/19673

“The French SNF Case”* **

Subject Matter:
Whether an arbitral award should be set-aside on the ground that the award violated public policy consisting of EC Competition Law (Art 81 of the EC Treaty [Article 101 TFEU]).

Finding:
In the absence of any demonstration by the appellant of a flagrant, real and concrete violation of international public policy, there is no reason to reject what was decided by the arbitral tribunal following its examination of the case, which was perfectly acceptable for international arbitration proceedings of this size, and to substitute for it the Court’s own appreciation.

Parties:
Claimant: SNF SAS (France)
Respondent: CYTEC INDUSTRIES BV (Holland)

Counsel:
For the claimant: SCP FISSELIER-CHILOUX-BOULAY (avoués à la Cour), Assisted by Me Emmanuel GAILLARD (SHEARMAN & STERLING LLP) and by Me André Buffard (of the St-Etienne Bar)
For the respondent: Me François TEYTAUD (avoué à la Cour), Assisted by Me Elie KLEIMAN (SCP FRESHFIELDS BRUCKHAUS DERINGER)

Applicable law:
French law and lex mercatoria
Seat of court proceedings:
Paris, France

Seat of arbitral proceedings:
Brussels, Belgium