Three Part Series: UK Freezing Orders Against A Foreign State

First Tuesday Update is our monthly take on current issues in commercial disputes, international arbitration, and judgment enforcement. Today's update is the first in a three-part series that examines whether English courts can issue a worldwide freezing order against a foreign state in support of efforts to enforce an arbitral award or foreign judgment.

We focus today on the procedure in England to enforce arbitral awards and foreign judgments against foreign states. Future updates will consider whether the rules on state immunity from execution bar the grant of a worldwide freezing order against a state, and then the principles that otherwise govern the grant of such orders. Most of the first and last updates will also be relevant to those interested in enforcement against non-state entities.