Star Reefers Pool Inc v JFC Group Co Ltd - Court of Appeal (Rix, Sullivan and Lewison LJJ) - 20 January 2012

Practice - Anti-suit injunction - Defendant guaranteeing charterers' obligations - Owners bringing claims against defendant in England - Defendant bringing proceedings in Russia - Whether defendant's conduct vexatious -Whether anti-suit injunction should be continued

By two separate charterparties concluded in April and July 2008 Star Reefers chartered three of their vessels to Kalistad Ltd, a nominee of the defendant, JFC. Each charterparty provided that “due performance” was “guaranteed by JFC in everyway” and also provided for disputes to be referred to arbitration in London and for English law to apply. However, JFC did not sign the charterparties.