Swiss Federal Supreme Court holds Swiss Russia sanctions are overriding mandatory law and can bar enforcement of arbitral awards
Swiss Federal Supreme Court holds Swiss Russia sanctions are overriding…
<p>In decision 4A_305/2025 of 13 March 2026, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court held that Swiss sanctions against Russia are overriding mandatory law and apply irrespective of the otherwise applicable law. The Court reasoned that the Swiss Ukraine Ordinance serves Switzerland’s core foreign-policy objectives and therefore applies as overriding mandatory law. In this case, the Court held that the sanctions barred enforcement of the award in Switzerland and treated the claim as unenforceable while the sanctions remain in force.</p>