The Second Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed a decision confirming a decision by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) that applied the law of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Cessna Finance Corp. leased several private jets to startup Prestige Jet Rental. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Prestige’s chairman, who was also the deputy chairman of Al Ghaith Holding Co. PJSC (AGHC), guaranteed the lease agreements in his capacity as deputy chairman of AGHC. When Prestige defaulted, Cessna initiated arbitration in the ICC pursuant to the lease agreements against AGHC. AGHC argued that Al Ghaith’s guarantee was invalid because its articles of association required the signatures of “two out of three” of its chairman, deputy chairman, and managing director to bind the company, and only Al Ghaith had signed the guarantee. The ICC rejected that claim, finding that “AGHC was bound by ‘good faith’ under … the UAE Civil Code.” Cessna moved to confirm the ICC’s award and AGHC cross-moved to vacate the award.

The district court confirmed the award. The Second Circuit affirmed. The Second Circuit rejected AGHC’s argument that the ICC had “manifestly disregarded the law,” explaining that it had applied the law of the UAE in a way that “provided at least a barely colorable justification for its decision.” The court noted that a barely colorable justification was all that was needed for an award to be enforced against a challenge that an arbitrator manifestly disregarded the law.

Cesfin Ventures LLC v. Al Ghaith Holding Co. PJSC, No. 20-1106 (2d Cir. Apr. 22, 2021).