On 16 May 2026, the International Arbitration practice team of LCF Law Group, comprising Olga Kostyshyna, Polina Bitiuk, and Kateryna Lykhopeka, successfully represented the Client in proceedings under the ICC Rules before the Emergency Arbitrator.
The dispute concerned claims brought by a former contractor with whom the Client had terminated a contract for the implementation of an infrastructure project. The opposing party attempted, through the emergency arbitration mechanism, to effectively block any actions taken by the Client in connection with the termination of the contractual relationship.
The case presented a significant challenge from the outset. The ICC President initially refused the opposing party’s request to initiate proceedings, concluding that the legal grounds for doing so were absent. However, upon a renewed application by the opposing party, the President reconsidered his prior decision and appointed an Emergency Arbitrator. Such reconsideration is rare in ICC practice.
Immediately after the appointment of the Emergency Arbitrator, on the night of 1–2 May 2026, the opposing party filed a request for an immediate interim order, which was granted in less than two hours. Despite this, already on 2 May 2026, the LCF team submitted its objections and succeeded in having the interim order modified, thereby ensuring that the Client retained the right to defend its violated rights and legitimate interests in parallel arbitration proceedings, as
Following the oral hearings, on 16 May 2026, the Emergency Arbitrator issued an order fully rejecting the opposing party’s claims. As a result, the opposing party’s attempts to block the Client’s actions related to the termination of contractual relations were unsuccessful.
This case illustrates how coordinated teamwork across multiple jurisdictions and readiness to act under extremely tight deadlines determine outcomes in international arbitration. For us, protecting the Client’s interests is a 24/7 process, where responsiveness and coordination are of decisive importance.
