Een buitenlands vonnis ten uitvoer leggen in Engeland en Wales: Checklist voor tenuitvoerlegging volgens het gewoonterechtstelsel

Globalisation and cross-border transactions have led to an increase in litigation involving parties from different jurisdictions. When a party obtains a judgment in a foreign court, enforcing that judgment in England and Wales can be crucial for obtaining the desired relief. This article discusses the legal mechanisms and procedural steps for enforcing foreign judgments in England and Wales, focusing on the Common Law Regime. 

Wettelijk kader voor handhaving 

De enforcement of a foreign judgment in England and Wales is largely governed by a combination of statutory provisions, international treaties, and common law principles. 

Depending on where the judgment originates from and the date the proceedings were initiated, it zal be necessary to determine which framework governs the enforcement of the foreign judgment. Specifically, there are five general regimes which govern the enforcement of the foreign judgment: – 

• Het Britse regime 

• Het Europese regime 

• De wettelijke regeling 

• Het gewoonterechtstelsel 

• The Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements 

Gewoonterechtstelsel 

In the absence of any applicable statutory regimes or treaties, the common law regime is the default for judgments obtained in countries such as the USA, Russia, or Hong Kong (SAR). 

Unlike other regimes, which provide for the recognition and enforcement of a foreign judgment, the common law regime requires that a fresh action be brought in England and Wales. As long as certain conditions are met, a foreign judgment will be treated as creating a debt due from the judgment debtor to the judgment creditor, with the English Court giving an English judgment on that debt. 

Om afdwingbaar te zijn onder het gewoonterechtstelsel, moet aan de volgende voorwaarden worden voldaan: 

• The foreign court must have had jurisdiction to give the judgment. 

• De uitspraak moet onherroepelijk zijn. 

• De uitspraak moet een bepaald geldbedrag betreffen. 

• Het vonnis moet ten gronde zijn gewezen. 

Enforcing a foreign judgment in England and Wales is often the final step in securing the relief or remedy granted by the foreign court. Understanding the procedural steps, potential defences, and practical considerations is essential for the successful enforcement of a foreign judgment in England and Wales. 

Tenuitvoerlegging van een buitenlands vonnis: Contact

If you need advice or assistance in navigating the enforcement of a foreign judgment in England and Wales, contact Partner Jonathan Chan op J.Chan@rfblegal.co.uk.