We had the pleasure of hosting this roundtable during the Paris Arbitration Week, on 24 March, from 12:30 to 14:00 — a highlight of PAW 2026.

Civil law has long shaped the landscape of arbitration across the MENA region, but does it still hold sway today? This question lay at the heart of a rich, practice-oriented discussion bringing together prominent international arbitration practitioners with extensive experience in the region.

The session was moderated by Marie-Laure Bizeau and Caroline Duclercq, whose combined expertise as counsel and arbitrators in the MENA region set the tone for a dynamic and intellectually stimulating exchange.

We were honoured to welcome two outstanding speakers whose contributions greatly enriched the discussion:

• Bassam Mirza, who defended the continuing predominance of civil law in the region, notwithstanding increasing globalisation and the growing influence of common law in arbitration.
• Dania Fahs, PhD, who advocated for a more hybrid and pragmatic approach, highlighting the significant influence that common law has come to exert on MENA arbitration.

Both brought deep insight into cross-border practice and the evolving approaches to MENA-related disputes.

The session was conducted in both French and English, fostering an open and wide-ranging dialogue within the international arbitration community.

We extend our sincere thanks to all participants for their presence and the quality of their contributions, as well as to those who stayed on to enjoy the Lebanese buffet, which added a warm and convivial note to the occasion.

Loyalty & Jurisdiction: What does the Paris Ruling of 13 January 2026 tell us?

In this case, the Court sanctioned a party who, after invoking the arbitration clause before a foreign judge, later challenged that same clause to support its annulment application before the French courts. The Court held that the objection to arbitral jurisdiction was inadmissible on the basis of estoppel.

1. The framework

In France, the parties must act with loyalty and consistency before the exequatur or annulment judge. Concretely, they must both raise any irregularity they are aware of before the arbitral tribunal in due time and avoid shifting positions in a way that could mislead the opposing party.

These requirements are enforced through two complementary mechanisms:

• waiver by failure to object (Article 1466 of the French Code of Civil Procedure, applicable to international arbitration via Article 1506, 1°), which deprives a party of the right to rely on an irregularity not timely raised before the tribunal; and
• the estoppel-based inadmissibility, which bars a party from contradicting itself to the detriment of its opponent.

2. Estoppel in brief

Estoppel is a doctrine originating in Common law, imported by French courts on the basis of the general principle that "no one may contradict themselves to another’s detriment" (Cass. Com., 20 Sept. 2011, No. 10‑22.888). It allows courts to declare inadmissible any claim through which a party contradicts its earlier conduct in a way likely to mislead the other side (two cumulative conditions).

3. Concrete examples in matters of arbitral competence

French courts have applied this principle in arbitration in a variety of scenarios. In the context of arbitral jurisdiction specifically, a party that invokes the arbitration clause to secure an advantage cannot later deny its effect.

A party therefore cannot:

• cause the withdrawal of an arbitration request by failing to pay its share of the advance on costs, and later rely on the arbitration clause to oppose the jurisdiction of the state courts (Paris Court of Appeal, 10 Jan. 2019, No. 18/06344; Cass. 1st Civ., 9 Feb. 2022, No. 21‑11.253);
• initiate arbitration proceedings and later challenge the validity of the arbitration clause to contest the tribunal’s jurisdiction (Cass. 2nd Civ., 26 Jan. 1994, No. 92‑12.307; Cass. 1st Civ., 6 July 2005, No. 01‑15.912);
• invoke the arbitration clause before a state court to obtain a stay of proceedings, and then challenge the tribunal’s jurisdiction in the annulment proceedings, even if it reserved its right to dispute the existence of a contractual link – on 13 January 2026, the Court of Appeal held that this reservation had no effect on the possibility of challenging the existence of the arbitration clause (Paris Court of Appeal, 13 Jan. 2026, No. 23/07623).

👉 Your Go‑To Reflex

Before contesting arbitral jurisdiction (or relying on it), anticipate how every procedural position may later be used, challenged, or held against you. In arbitration, every position matters!

We are delighted that our firm has been ranked, for the third consecutive year, by Chambers and Partners in the "Chambers Global Guide 2026" and the "Chambers France Guide 2026" for international arbitration.

We are also proud that our partner Marie-Laure Bizeau has, for the second year in a row, been ranked Band 3 in the "International Arbitration: Arbitrators" category!

It is an honour to see the firm and its lawyers recognised alongside the leading players in international arbitration, only a few years after Medici was founded.

A huge thank you to the entire team for their outstanding efforts, dedication, and enthusiasm.

Links to the rankings:

·       Medici, Global 2026 | Chambers Profiles

·       Medici, France 2026 | Chambers Profiles

·       Marie-Laure Bizeau, France | Chambers Profiles

The International Campus of the Ivorian Bar Association, jointly organised by the Ivorian Bar Association and the Paris Bar, was held in Abidjan and brought together numerous legal professionals, fostering international legal dialogue between two leading legal hubs.

The initiative was marked by the presence of Madame Minister Éléonore Caroit, as well as Mr Ngolo Klofanhan Dagnago, representing the Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Côte d’Ivoire, reflecting the strong institutional support for this cooperation initiative.

As part of the programme, Valence Borgia, Partner at Medici, moderated a roundtable dedicated to “ESG challenges in an international context: compliance, risk management and arbitration.” The discussions, with contributions from Joachim Bile-Aka, Louis Degos, Antoine Juaristi and Abbé Yao, highlighted the central role of lawyers and arbitration in addressing cross-border ESG challenges, as well as the need to pursue a shared reflection on these issues in an international setting.

Through this participation, Medici reaffirms its commitment to contemporary discussions on international arbitration, compliance and corporate social responsibility at the global level.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 Call for Projects by the Medici Equality Endowment Fund.
Our mission: to support innovative initiatives promoting gender equality and combating all forms of discrimination.

This year, the call for projects focuses on four categories:

1️⃣ Women in precarious situations in countries at war or in crisis
2️⃣ Acting through law

3️⃣ Youth and education
4️⃣ Professional sphere

📅  Opening Date: Monday 12 january 

📌   Eligibility and guidelines:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfr2eWA8rL_dF0jU0adOsw7awojC6MwM5HVEE48SOuL-KXvhA/viewform?usp=dialog

Associations and project leaders: this is your opportunity to share your ideas and help advance equality.

Medici is proud to announce that its partners have been recognised in the Lexology Index 2026 – Arbitration.

This recognition highlights the expertise and dedication of our team in international arbitration and reinforces our commitment to excellence and fairness in dispute resolution.

We are sincerely grateful to our loyal clients and peers for their constant support.

A big thank you to the entire team for its remarkable efforts, dedication, and enthusiasm.

The 45th ICC Institute of World Business Law Conference, held in Paris on 14 November 2025, has just concluded after a highly engaging edition that brought together leading practitioners, academics, and experts from across the international arbitration community. This year’s theme, “Monetary Remedies in International Arbitration,” offered a rich platform for substantive and forward-looking exchanges.

As part of this program, Caroline Duclercq, partner of Medici, contributed to one of the conference’s key sessions: Panel: “The Devil in the Detail”: she participated in this in-depth discussion alongside Sirshar Qureshi, focusing on two frequently underestimated components of arbitral awards: the arbitration costs and interest, and the evolving approaches adopted across different jurisdictions.

The session was co-chaired by Chié Nakahara and Michael Polkinghorne, who steered the debate with their recognised expertise and added valuable perspective to the conversation.

This year’s conference once again demonstrated the ICC Institute’s central role in shaping contemporary arbitral thought and fostering high-level dialogue among practitioners worldwide.

Medici is proud to contribute to these important discussions and to support ongoing reflection on key issues in international dispute resolution.

Medici Law Firm is pleased to share its recent contribution, published by the Centre de Médiation et d'Arbitrage de Paris (CMAP), focusing on one of the most crucial phases of the arbitral process: the enforcement of arbitral awards.

In this article, From Award to Enforcement: Mastering the Endgame, Caroline Duclercq, Partner and CMAP-accredited arbitrator, and Valérie Kasparian, Associate, outline the five key reflexes that help anticipate obstacles and maximise the chances of successful recovery.

The 5 Essential Reflexes

• Assessing the debtor’s solvency before initiating the arbitration
• Formulating precise and “enforceable” claims
• Reviewing the content of the award
• Seeking enforcement without delay
• Securing the service of the award and promptly initiating enforcement measures

This concise guide aims to assist practitioners facing this decisive stage for the first time.

Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/e7k6gzqi

Dubai Arbitration Week 2025 has come to an end after a particularly successful edition that gathered several thousand participants and reaffirmed Dubai’s position as a leading global center for international arbitration.

As part of this week-long program, Caroline Duclercq, partner at Medici, contributed to two flagship events:

• GAR Live Great Debate

• Caroline Duclercq took part in an Oxford Union-style debate on the motion: “This House believes that standardized PO1s and other procedural documents constitute bad case management techniques.”
• Together with Paul Blakeway (FCIArb), she presented arguments in support of the motion, engaging with Soraya Corm-Bakhos (FCIArb) and Tariq Baloch (KC) before a distinguished panel: Karim Nassif, Fatima Balfaqeeh (FCIArb C.Arb, MRICS, FCIPS), and Seung Wha Chang.

• Battle of the Seats of Arbitration

• In this interactive session, organized by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Paris Place d'Arbitrage, and Delos Dispute Resolution, and gathering practitioners from Abu Dhabi, Delhi, Dubai, London, Paris, and Riyadh, Caroline Duclercq had the opportunity to advocate for Paris as the leading international arbitration seat.
• Her position gained strong support from both the audience and the panel, during an engaging exchange with experts including Sara Koleilat-Aranjo, Hafez Virjee, Alexander G. Leventhal, Saeed Al-Qahtani, Marion Smith KC, and Gourab Banerji.
• These contributions illustrate Medici’s continued involvement in high-level international arbitration events and the firm’s commitment to promoting excellence in dispute resolution.