In Brief: New arbitrator nominated in NAFTA dispute over thwarted Canadian garbage site
By Eliabeth Whitsitt
February 14, 2010
Canada has nominated Mr. Laurent Lévy to act as arbitrator in its Chapter 11 NAFTA dispute against US investor Vito G. Gallo.
Canada’s original nominee, Mr. J. Christopher Thomas Q.C., resigned from his appointment as an arbitrator in October, 2009 after ICSID Deputy Secretary-General, Nassib G. Ziade, determined that Mr. Thomas could not continue to provide legal advice to Mexico and serving as an arbitrator in the case.
Mr. Lévy is a lawyer and arbitrator with Lévy Kaufmann-Kohler, a Swiss firm specializing in international commercial, investment and sports arbitration.
For previous ITN reporting on the dispute between Vito Gallo and Canada, including the challenge to Mr. Thomas’ appointment as arbitrator in the case see:
“Arbitrator forced to choose in NAFTA dispute over thwarted Canadian garbage site,” By Elizabeth Whitsitt, Investment Treaty News, 6 December 2009, available here:
“US investor notifies Canada of potential arbitration over thwarted waste site,” By Luke Eric Peterson, Investment Treaty News, 15 November 2006, available here:
http://www.IISD.org/pdf/2006/itn_nov15_2006.pdf
“US investor files formal arbitration against Canada over thwarted garbage disposal site,” Luke Eric Peterson, Investment Treaty News, 27 May 2007, available here:
http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2007/itn_may27_2007.pdf
“Tribunal appointed to hear NAFTA claim over thwarted garbage site in Canada,”
By Luke Eric Peterson, Investment Treaty News, 21 February 2008, available here:
http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2008/itn_feb21_2008.pdf
Sources:
“Replacement arbitrator selected by Canada in NAFTA garbage site dispute,” By Luke Eric Peterson, Investment Arbitration Reporter Vol. 3, No. 1, 17 January 2010.