Law360: The High Court has ruled that a financier defrauded the Swedish government by setting up an illegitimate investment fund that took €60.7m from Swedish savers' pension funds. The case was heard in the jurisdiction of England and Wales because several of the defendants and corporate entities involved in the fraud had significant connections to the UK.

Law360, London: Headline proposals by a government body to examine whether registered designs are novel and can potentially set aside protection for computer-generated designs could run counter to the intended goal of simplifying the design system, lawyers say.

This refers to the managers’/management’s holding of ordinary share capital in a company. The expression is used and the scenario is often found in situations where a company is subject to private equity investment pursuant to a management buyout. Its name reflects the fact that the shares allocated to management are meant to act as an incentive to them, are often subscribed for at a lower price than the private equity fund investor’s shares, ie with a higher upside and are normally designed to divert more of the total equity proceeds on exit to management.

A swift witness is an expert witness who is instructed to give a focused, usually limited opinion on a discrete technical or professional issue, often to streamline or shorten proceedings. The term is descriptive rather than statutory, and is used most commonly in civil litigation and arbitration across England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland with broadly similar meaning.A swift witness is typically appointed where a full expert report under formal expert evidence rules (for example CPR Part 35 in England and Wales, or equivalent rules in the other jurisdictions) would be disproportionate, or where the court or tribunal directs tightly confined expert evidence on a particular point. Their role is usually narrower than that of a main expert, for example clarifying a single valuation assumption, a technical standard, or a short point of professional practice.Swift witnesses remain subject to the usual duties of independence and impartiality to the court or tribunal. In practice, they are used to reduce costs, avoid evidential overload and assist with focused case management, especially in commercial, construction and professional negligence disputes.

A swingline facility is where a lender makes a short-term (operating not more than five days) loan, in smaller amounts, on shorter notice and with a higher interest rate than is otherwise available for revolving credit loans.

The Swiss Arbitration Ambassador Programme will host an online event on 25 September 2025, in partnership with Canal Arbitragem (Arbitration Channel), examining the relationship between Brazilian and Swiss sports arbitration practices and their influence on international sports arbitration strategies and outcomes. The webinar will feature speakers from MLL Legal, Baker McKenzie, Bichara e Motta and Favre Arbitration, and will be moderated by Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) representative, Lia Yokomizo.

The Swiss Arbitration Association has unveiled plans for its 2025 Summit, scheduled for 29-31 January 2025 in Zurich, with an additional weekend extension in Davos. The event promises to delve into cutting-edge developments in arbitration, featuring sessions on extending arbitration clauses and awards, the impact of AI on arbitration practice and a masterclass on advocacy. The summit will bring together global experts and practitioners for insightful discussions, networking opportunities and sponsor-led sessions covering various arbitration topics. With a focus on shaping the future of dispute resolution, the event aims to provide a comprehensive platform for legal professionals to engage with the latest trends and innovations in international arbitration.

The Swiss Arbitration Centre has announced plans to launch an electronic case management platform in Q4 2026 for proceedings under the Swiss Rules. Powered by Thomson Reuters HighQ, the platform will provide a centralised workspace for parties, arbitrators, mediators and counsel to access case materials, file submissions and follow case developments. It aims to simplify case management by consolidating documents, communications and procedural information. Use will be voluntary unless otherwise directed by the tribunal in a specific case. Further details, including user guidance and access information, will be provided closer to launch.

The Swiss Arbitration Centre has announced new supplemental Swiss Rules for Trust, Estate and Foundation Disputes (TEF Rules), which will come into force on 1 July 2025. The rules comprise a succinct set of provisions that are designed to tailor arbitration proceedings under the Swiss Rules specifically to private-wealth disputes related to trusts, estates, or foundations. The rules, including an explanatory note, will be available in English, German, French and Italian.

The Swiss Arbitration Centre (SAC) has provided an update on its activity in 2024. Firstly, the SAC continues to grow and strengthen its numbers, the first six months of 2024 saw an 8% increase as opposed to the same semester last year. Additionally, in the first semester of 2024 parties to its proceedings comprised of 32 different nationalities. The SAC further confirmed that, in 2024, women arbitrators have been appointed in 46% of cases where the court was called on to appoint an arbitrator. Then, the SAC highlights the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) as well as a cooperation agreement with the Chinese International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC).

The Swiss Arbitration Centre's 2024 annual report reveals a strong international presence, with 82% of cases involving at least one non-Swiss party, a 4% increase from the previous year. The Centre administered disputes from 37 countries, with 41% of new cases utilising the expedited procedure under the Swiss Rules. Notably, 42% of arbitrator appointments by the Court were women, underscoring the Centre's commitment to gender parity. The report also highlights new cooperation agreements with prominent arbitration institutions in Dubai and China, as well as the launch of an initiative for informal discussions with other institutions on best practices. Additionally, the Swiss Arbitration family welcomed the Swiss Chamber of Commercial Mediation, bolstering its alternative dispute resolution offerings.

The Swiss Arbitration Centre reported a record 125 new cases in 2025, marking a 25% increase from the previous year. Notably, 77% of these cases involved international parties from 67 different countries. On 1 July 2025, the Centre introduced the Supplemental Swiss Rules for Trust, Estate and Foundation Disputes, a set specifically tailored for private-client disputes. Additionally, emergency relief proceedings doubled compared to 2024, with emergency arbitrators being appointed within 24 hours and decisions reached within 15 days.