DYNASTY COMPANY FOR OIL AND GAS TRADING LTD V KURDISTAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ AND ANOTHER

[2021] EWHC 952 (Comm), Queen’s Bench Division, Commercial Court, Mr Justice Butcher, 23 April 2021

Sovereign immunity – Service of proceedings – Forum non conveniens – State Immunity Act 1978, sections 12 and 14

Dynasty Company for Oil and Gas Trading Ltd (DC), a joint venture Iraqi company, commenced proceedings against the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG) and also Dr Ashti Hawrami (H), who had been the KRG's Minister for Natural Resources. The claim was that the KRG, acting through H, wrongfully failed to provide consent to a change of control in favour of DC of two production sharing contracts previously entered into with other parties. H was served with a claim form at Heathrow Airport on 4 November 2019. H contested the jurisdiction of the English court.