塞登律师事务所在第四巡回上诉法院的一项裁决中胜诉，该裁决维持了国际仲裁裁决，并作出了一项400万美元的判决

Fourth Circuit Awards $4 Million Judgment and Affirms Arbitral Awards in Major Seiden Law Victory

On June 27, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a Maryland district court judgment that confirmed arbitral awards issued in favor of Seiden Law’s client, the Estate of Ke Zhengguang.

The underlying arbitration concerned a complex dispute related to real property in mainland China, which culminated in an arbitration before the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC). Between 2018 and 2020, the HKIAC issued a series of awards. The Estate filed a petition to confirm the awards in a Maryland district court against one of the arbitral respondents, Stephany Yu, who lives in Maryland. In January 2023, the district court confirmed the awards and issued a $4 million judgment in favor of the Estate.

The Fourth Circuit’s unanimous twenty-three-page decision addresses important questions related to the enforcement of international arbitral awards in the United States, including the availability of a forum non conveniens defense under the New York Convention, and whether arbitral awards that are denominated in a foreign currency can be converted into U.S. dollar judgments. The Fourth Circuit held that a forum non conveniens defense was inapplicable under the facts of this case, even if such a defense is available under the Convention. The Fourth Circuit also held that it was reasonable for the district court to enter judgment in U.S. dollars, notwithstanding that the arbitral panel’s merits award was denominated in Chinese Renminbi (RMB).

Seiden Law partner and litigation chair 艾米亚德·库什纳 argued the appeal. Senior counsel 詹妮弗·布莱彻 and Senior Associate Xintong Zhang were on the brief. Paralegal 莉莉·邓普西 provided invaluable assistance. The opinion was reported in Law360 by Caroline Simson.