On 24 February 2014 the Privy Council dismissed Cukurova Holding’s appeal from the decision of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal permitting Sonera BV to enforce a $ 1 billion dollar arbitration award in its favour issued by an ICC tribunal in Geneva.  This is the latest stage in a legal battle between the Scandinavian and Turkish telecoms giants which commenced in 2005.  Bankim Thanki QC and Ben Valentin, representing Sonera, were instructed by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP  (John Hardiman in New York and Louise Delahunty in London).  Cukurova was represented by One Essex Court’s Ken MacLean QC, James Nadin and David Caplan and Maples & Calder’s Arabella Di Iorio (instructed by White & Case’s John Reynolds and Charles Balmain).

The Board has reserved the terms of its advice to Her Majesty in Council.

Ben Valentin formally joins Fountain Court Chambers on 3 March 2014.