Aercap Ireland Capital Designated Activity Company & Ors v PJSC Insurance Company Universalna & Ors
| Judge | Mr Justice Henshaw |
| Neutral Citation | [2024] EWHC 1365 (Comm) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Court | Queen's Bench Division (Commercial Court) |
| Counsel | Tony Singla Kc,Charlotte Tan,Derrick Dale Kc,Christopher Langley,Tiffany Tang,Matthew Reeve Kc,Joseph England,James Brocklebank Kc,Niamh Cleary,Akhil Shah Kc,Nick Daly,Max Kasriel,James Hatt,Daniel Schwennicke,Christopher Hancock Kc,Robert Ward |
| Date | 06 June 2024 |
Neutral Citation Number: [2024] EWHC 1365 (Comm)
Case No: CL-2023-000547
and the cases listed in Annex A
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES
KING'S BENCH DIVISION
COMMERCIAL COURT
Royal Courts of Justice
Rolls Building, Fetter Lane,
London, EC4A 1NL
Date: 06/06/2024
Before :
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE HENSHAW
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
IN THE MATTER OF THE UKRAINIAN AIRCRAFT OPERATOR POLICY CLAIMS
(JURISDICTION APPLICATIONS)
Between:
AERCAP IRELAND CAPITAL DESIGNATED
ACTIVITY COMPANY and others
Claimants
- and -
PJSC INSURANCE COMPANY UNIVERSALNA
and others
Defendants
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tony Singla KC and Charlotte Tan (instructed by Herbert Smith Freehills LLP) for the
AerCap Claimants
Derrick Dale KC, Christopher Langley and Tiffany Tang (instructed by Hausfeld & Co
LLP) for the Hausfeld Claimants
Matthew Reeve KC and Joseph England (instructed by McGuireWoods London LLP) for
Genesis Ireland Aviation Trading 3 Limited
Christopher Hancock KC and Robert Ward (instructed by Weightmans LLP) for the
Weightmans All Risk Defendants
Andrew Neish KC, Kate Livesey and Rangan Chatterjee (instructed by Holman Fenwick
Willan LLP) for the HFW War Risks Defendants
James Brocklebank KC and Niamh Cleary (instructed by DLA Piper UK LLP) for the DLA
Piper War Risks Defendants
Akhil Shah KC, Nick Daly and Max Kasriel (instructed by CMS Cameron McKenna
Nabarro Olswang LLP) for the CMS War Risks Defendants
James Hatt (instructed by DAC Beachcroft LLP) for the DACB All Risks Defendants
Daniel Schwennicke (instructed by Dechert LLP) for the Chubb European Group SE
Hearing dates: 19, 20 and 21 March 2024
Further written submissions: 25 March 2024
Draft judgment circulated to parties: 23 May 2024
Approved Judgment
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Approved Judgment
Mr Justice Henshaw
Ukrainian Aircraft Operator Policy Claims (Jurisdiction)
3
Mr Justice Henshaw:
(A) INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 4
(B) BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. 5
(1) The claims ........................................................................................................................ 5
(a) AerCap .......................................................................................................................... 5
(b) Genesis ......................................................................................................................... 6
(c) Hausfeld Claimants ...................................................................................................... 7
(d) Fortress ......................................................................................................................... 8
(2) The aircraft leases............................................................................................................. 8
(a) AerCap .......................................................................................................................... 8
(b) Genesis ......................................................................................................................... 9
(c) Hausfeld Claimants ...................................................................................................... 9
(d) Generally .................................................................................................................... 10
(3) The insurances and reinsurances .................................................................................... 11
(a) AerCap ........................................................................................................................ 11
(b) Genesis ....................................................................................................................... 12
(c) Hausfeld Claimants .................................................................................................... 17
(d) The Defendants’ position ........................................................................................... 19
(4) Alleged loss of the aircraft ............................................................................................. 21
(a) AerCap ........................................................................................................................ 21
(b) Genesis ....................................................................................................................... 21
(c) Hausfeld Claimants .................................................................................................... 22
(C) THE EXPERT EVIDENCE .............................................................................................. 22
(D) EFFECT OF THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION CLAUSES........................................ 23
(1) Principles ........................................................................................................................ 23
(2) Applicable Ukrainian private international law provisions ............................................ 25
(3) Ukrainian requirements for jurisdiction clauses............................................................. 29
(a) Formal requirements ................................................................................................... 29
(b) Substantive requirements ........................................................................................... 31
(4) Whether the jurisdiction clauses prima facie bind the Claimants .................................. 36
(a) Types of interest in insurance and reinsurance contracts ........................................... 37
(b) Claims as parties to insurance contracts ..................................................................... 40
(c) Claims as assignees .................................................................................................... 40
(d) Claims as third-party insureds .................................................................................... 44
(e) Claims as third-party beneficiaries ............................................................................. 47
(f) Collateral contract claims ........................................................................................... 63
(5) Construction of the jurisdiction clauses ......................................................................... 72
(6) Lack of express reference to Ukraine in certain jurisdiction clauses ............................. 74
(7) Failure to name a specific court in Ukraine ................................................................... 75
(a) The Claimants’ evidence and submissions ................................................................. 75
(b) Analysis: PIL Article 76(1)(1) applied alone ............................................................. 80
(c) Analysis: PIL Article 76(1)(1) applied with ComPC Article 29(2) ........................... 85
(d) Analysis: PIL Article 76(1)(1) applied with Article 76(1)(7) .................................... 86
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