Corporations seeking to avoid enforcement of foreign judgments they contend are based on corrupt proceedings may have a new weapon now, thanks to a ruling by a federal appeals court over Chevron’s long-running Ecuadorian pollution litigation, reports BloombergBusinessWeek.

The court affirmed that a lawyer for victims engaged in wrongdoing to secure a $9.5 billion verdict in the South American country.

“The decision hands well-heeled corporations a template for avoiding legal accountability anywhere in the world,” says Deepak Gupta, the lawyer representing Steven Donziger, the controversial New York attorney who has been battling Chevron over pollution liability in Ecuador for decades.

Paul Barrett explains that “the case began with pollution in oil fields operated by Texaco Inc. in the rain forests of Ecuador in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1993, Donziger and other U.S. lawyers sued Texaco in New York on behalf of villagers and indigenous tribe members. Chevron acquired Texaco and its potential liabilities in 2001. The pollution case was dismissed by U.S. courts and restarted in Ecuador in 2003.”

Read the article.

The Foundation of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has announced publication of its first “Survey of International Litigation Procedures: A Reference Guide” that offers an extensive overview of civil justice systems relevant to defendants throughout the world.

Developed through input from IADC members from around the globe, the reference guide provides overviews on the civil justice systems of 49 countries, including information about key aspects of litigation in each jurisdiction, including:

–Local methods of adjudication‎
–Alternative dispute resolution
–Discovery
–Trial procedure
–Experts
–Privilege
–Limitations
–Costs rules
–Jurisdiction
–Other topics of interest to potential litigants

“The IADC Foundation Survey of International Litigation Procedures Reference Guide is a useful tool for general counsel who want to know the key differences between U.S. and other civil justice systems and what to expect when managing litigation in a foreign jurisdiction,” said Gordon McKee, IADC Board member and a former member of the IADC Foundation Board, who was instrumental in creating the reference guide.

McKee, who also is a partner with Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, added that the reference guide is particularly noteworthy for its high-level overview and brevity in summarizing each country’s litigation procedures, processes and rules.

Publication of the Survey of International Litigation Procedures Reference Guide is an outcome of the IADC Foundation’s mission to educate the public and global legal community on issues impacting the civil justice system, provide a forum for discussion of topics critical to corporate and defense counsel, promote projects for the advancement of the legal system, and support scholarship for the continued education of defense attorneys and corporate counsel.

Download the reference guide.

About the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
In a news release, the association said, “The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) is the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests. Founded in 1920, the IADC’s members hail from five continents, 45 countries, and all 50 U.S. states. The core purposes of the IADC are to enhance the development of skills, promote professionalism, and facilitate camaraderie among its members, their clients, as well as the broader civil justice community.”

Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s Global Gaming Group co-chairs Martha A. Sabol and Mark A. Clayton will participate in this year’s International Gaming Summit. The conference will take place May 31-June 2 at the Westin Dragonara Resort in St. Julian’s, Malta. The summit brings together leaders from all global gaming sectors to meet and discuss the top issues and challenges facing gaming today.

The International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) is hosting the summit with the Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF), marking the first time IAGA and GREF have hosted a joint conference together.

Sabol is the current president of IAGA, and will make opening remarks and preside over the President’s dinner.

“The summit’s focus will be on the international gaming industry as a whole,” Sabol said. “Among other topics, we will discuss the convergence of land-based casinos, lotteries, and online gaming.”

Sabol added, “The joint conference provides members of IAGA and GREF with the unique opportunity to network and discuss important matters affecting the international gaming industry.”

Clayton will moderate a panel on social gaming, e-sports, and fantasy sports. He will also participate in the GLI University Regulations Seminar.

Additionally, Howard Stutz, strategic development manager of the Las Vegas office, will moderate a panel on gaming development in the Americas.

About Greenberg Traurig Las Vegas

In Nevada, Greenberg Traurig counsels clients in appellate, construction, corporate and securities, entertainment, gaming, government law & policy, intellectual property, litigation, and real estate matters.

About Greenberg Traurig’s Global Gaming Group

Greenberg Traurig’s Global Gaming Group focuses on not only casino operations, but also addresses lotteries, pari-mutuel wagering, charitable gaming, tribal gaming, and Internet gaming, where permitted by law. Members of the group have varied backgrounds and are located throughout the firm’s offices, allowing them to assist gaming clients in this highly regulated industry across multiple U.S. jurisdictions and internationally. The group’s focus includes the representation of casino owners, operators and executives, gaming manufacturers and suppliers, private equity firms and investment banks on gaming related matters.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, multi-practice law firm with approximately 1,900 attorneys serving clients from 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm is No. 1 on the 2015 Law360 Most Charitable Firms list, third largest in the U.S. on the 2015 Law360 400, Top 20 on the 2015 Am Law Global 100, and among the 2015 BTI Brand Elite. More information at: www.gtlaw.com.