ANTONIO GRAMSCI SHIPPING CORPORATION AND OTHERS v STEPANOVS

[2011] Lloyd's Rep Plus 44

QUEEN’S BENCH DIVISION (COMMERCIAL COURT)

Before Mr Justice Burton

Conflict of laws - Jurisdiction - Claimant shipowners alleging fraud on part of charterers - Claimants alleging that defendant was alter ego of chartering companies and perpetrated the fraud - Claimants seeking to pierce corporate veil to hold defendant liable - Claimants relying on English jurisdiction clause in charterparties to establish jurisdiction against defendant - Dispute as to which law governed issue of identity of parties to relevant contracts - Whether claimants and defendant consented to English jurisdiction - Regulation (EC) No 44/2001, article 23.