Offshore Litigation Blog

In a recent ruling at the intersection of cybersecurity, human rights, and sovereign immunity, the English Court of Appeal has determined that Bahrain cannot claim state immunity for remotely hacking the computers of pro-democracy activists in London, setting a precedent with implications far beyond espionage cases.

The title of this article might accurately describe the alien encounter and possibly out-of-body experience that some have faced when trying to understand digital assets, particularly cryptocurrency, and whether they are considered property.

In a recent matter our firm obtained Norwich Pharmacal relief against a centralised digital asset exchange, marking an important first step in the effort to recover misappropriated digital assets. While the Grand Court did not issue a formal judgment, it made several noteworthy observations that may influence the future handling of similar cases.

In the recent case of Re UKCloud Ltd (In Liquidation), the English High Court examined whether the effect of a debenture granted by the Company gave the benefit of a fixed or floating charge over its internet protocol (IP) addresses. The distinction was important, impacting recoveries for the Company’s unsecured creditors.

The Cyprus legal system has been subject to recent reforms which seek to streamline its processes and offer efficient recourse to the courts in dispute resolution.