Caseload Report 1st Quarter 2021

The total number of cases filed before CRCICA until 31 March 2021 reached 1484 cases. In the first quarter of 2021, 32 new cases were filed compared to 16 new cases filed the first quarter of 2020.

Of the 32 cases filed this quarter, 5 related to ad hoc proceedings, while the remaining 27 cases related to CRCICA proceedings. The first quarter of 2021 also witnessed 11 new multiparty cases, representing 34% of the cases this quarter.

The Centre’s caseload in the first quarter of 2021 involved disputes relating to various sectors, including Construction, Transport, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate Development, Tourism & Hospitality, Oil & Gas, among others.

Seven cases related to the construction industry. Five of those cases involved consultancy agreements. Four cases concerned a number of contracts concluded between an Egyptian engineering consultancy company and a major Egyptian real estate development company. The first case involved an agreement for the provision of consultancy and supervision services at a project located in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The second case involved a consultancy agreement for the design of electromechanical works in a project located in Ain Sokhna, Egypt. The third case involved an agreement for the provision of consultancy and supervision services at a project in 6^th October, Egypt. The fourth case involved a consultancy agreement for a hotel construction project in New Cairo, Egypt. The fifth case involved a consultancy service agreement between two Egyptian companies related to a hospital construction project in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. One case related to an agreement between two Egyptian companies for the structural and electromechanical design for a touristic complex located on the Red Sea coast, Egypt. One case related to a cable supply agreement between an Egyptian supply company and an Egyptian contracting company concerning a new electricity network located in Damietta, Egypt.

Five cases related to the transport industry. All five cases involved management and operation partnership agreements between an Egyptian company and a number of other Egyptian companies specialized in transportation of goods.

Four cases related to the media & entertainment sector. Two cases involved production agreements. The first case involved a production and broadcast agreement for a television show between a Lebanese company and an Egyptian company. The second case involved a production and broadcast agreement for a television show between an Emirati company and an Egyptian company. The third and the fourth cases involved agreements for the production and waiver of rights over a number of television shows between an Egyptian media production company and a former Egyptian public official.

Three cases related to the real estate development sector. The first case involved a framework agreement for the purchase of a number of units in a medical building located in Cairo between an Egyptian real estate development company and an Egyptian individual. The second case involved two FIDIC construction agreements between two Egyptian companies for the construction of over 200 units in a residential project in New Cairo, Egypt. The third case involved a partnership agreement for the construction and development of a residential, touristic and commercial complex in Matrouh, Egypt, between an Egyptian real estate development company and an Egyptian touristic development company ultimately owned by Saudi shareholders.

Two cases related to corporate restructuring. The first case involved a shareholders’ agreement governing one shareholder’s exit from the company between a major Egyptian real estate company and one of its shareholders. The second case involved a settlement agreement resulting from a debt assignment agreement between a Saudi company, a Maltese company and an Egyptian company.

Two cases related to the oil and gas sector. The first case involved an agreement for the provision of drilling and workover services in a number of wells located in Egypt between an Emirati company and a Cypriot company. The second case involved an agreement for the provision of hydraulic fracturing services between an Egyptian company and a British company.

Two cases related to the sports industry. Both cases involved a sub-licensing (franchise) agreement between an American company and an Egyptian company.

One case related to the civil aviation sector and involved a concession agreement between a British company and the Egyptian government for the construction and operation of an airport on the Red Sea coast, Egypt.

One case related to the cement industry and involved an agreement between two Egyptian companies for the supply and maintenance of the equipment at a cement plant in Beni Suef, Egypt.

One case related to the tourism and hospitality industry and involved a lease agreement for a commercial space located in 6^th October, Egypt between two Egyptian companies.

One case involved public procurement and related to a wholesale purchase agreement by an Egyptian public company from an Egyptian private company.

One case involved a price payment claim arising out of an agreement for the sale and development of a plot of land located in 6^th October, Egypt, between two Egyptian companies.

One case involved a retainer agreement for legal representation between an Egyptian lawyer and an Egyptian construction company.

One case related to partnership agreement and two lease agreements between an Egyptian company and three Egyptian individuals.

Arbitration proceedings in the first quarter involved parties from Cyprus, Egypt, Lebanon, Malta, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

The first quarter of 2021 witnessed the appointment of 45 arbitrators from Cameroon, Egypt, France, Lebanon, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Of the 45 arbitrators appointed this quarter, 3 were female arbitrators and 5 were arbitrators under the age of 40.

The Centre acted as appointing authority for some cases, appointing 6 of the 45 arbitrators appointed this quarter (i.e. 13.33% of the appointments).

Amongst the 32 cases filed in this quarter, 26 cases, representing 81% of total number of cases, were conducted in Arabic while the remaining 6 cases, representing 19% of the total number of cases, were conducted in English.

HEARINGS:

Since 1 January 2021, CRCICA has hosted 28 hearings. Of these 28 hearings, 5 related to ad hoc proceedings and the rest related to CRCICA cases.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, users have been encouraged to privilege remote hearings. During the first quarter of 2021, the Centre witnessed 6 fully remote hearings, 4 hybrid hearings and 18 physical hearings (while complying with CRCICA’s safety and health measures).