In its historic decision on Friday, 17 October 2025, the Dutch Supreme Court ended a legal battle that has drawn worldwide attention for over a decade. The court dismissed the Russian Federation's final challenge against the USD 50 billion arbitration awards in favour of Yukos Oil Company's former majority shareholders.

Back in 2014, an independent tribunal in The Hague found the Russian Federation responsible for the unlawful expropriation of Yukos, which was once Russia's largest oil producer. The arbitral awards, demanding that the Russian Federation compensate the shareholders with over USD 50 billion, were based on violations of the Energy Charter Treaty.

The Russian Federation filed a claim with the Dutch courts to set aside the awards. After rulings of the Court of Appeal of The Hague and the Dutch Supreme Court in 2020 and 2021, all but one setting-aside ground were rejected. Following continued proceedings, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal also rejected that last setting-aside ground in a detailed decision. The Supreme Court dismissed the Russian Federation's complaints against this decision, mainly on procedural grounds. This ruling now brings an end to one of the most significant legal disputes in the realm of international arbitration. It also underscores the inviolability of international law and treaties.

De Brauw has represented the former majority shareholders in all proceedings before the Dutch courts since 2014.

The team in the most recent Supreme Court proceedings consisted of Tobias Cohen Jehoram, Eelco Meerdink, Jan-Willem Meijer, Johan Valk, Maarten Jansen, Renate Keijser and Sientje Dam.