VTB Commodities Trading DAC v JSC Antipinsky Refinery – QBD (Comm Ct) (Teare J) [2019] EWHC 3292 (Comm) – 3 December 2019

Arbitration – Jurisdiction – Disputes arising under agreements for sale of gasoil – Whether court should determine questions of jurisdiction under Arbitration Act 1996, section 32 – Whether arbitration tribunal had jurisdiction

Disputes arose under agreements whereby the claimant (VTB) agreed to buy quantities of gasoil from the defendant, a Russian refinery (the Refinery). The Refinery was to deliver the products to VTB FOB Murmansk from a floating storage facility. The contracts were all subject to English law and provided for London arbitration.