Government of Georgia successfully spars a $1.5 billion ICC arbitration lawsuit filed by US investors regarding the termination of a deal for developing the Anaklia Port during its tenure.
The long-running ICSID arbitration dispute between the Government of Georgia and Dutch investor Bob Meijer, an indirect minority shareholder of Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC), has come to a close. On July 30, 2025, a final tribunal award was issued, dismissing Meijer's claims in full.
The dispute stemmed from the termination of an investment agreement for the development and operation of a deep-sea port in Anaklia, Georgia. Meijer had claimed compensation for breach of the BIT and alleged treaty violations concerning a planned free industrial zone.
The ICSID tribunal, chaired by Bernard Hanotiau with Klaus Sachs and Charles Poncet as co-arbitrators, unanimously ruled that Meijer's investment did not qualify as a protected investment under the Georgia-Netherlands BIT. The tribunal found that Georgia lawfully terminated the agreement due to ADC's failure to secure financing for the Anaklia Port project. No evidence of governmental interference or treaty breaches was found.
Meijer had sought nearly US$70 million in compensation, but all claims were rejected, and he was ordered to pay Georgia US$6.5 million for arbitration costs. This decision marks the second major legal defeat for the consortium and its investors in relation to the Anaklia Port project.
The firm representing the Government of Georgia specializes in navigating government influence and has previously been involved in the ICC arbitration proceedings against ADC in 2024, where the tribunal found in favor of Georgia.
The dispute was highly publicized in Georgia, with allegations of a government conspiracy to kill the Anaklia port project. Initially, ADC sought compensation of over US$1.5 billion, which was later reduced to around US$500 million.
As of August 2025, the ICSID arbitration dispute between Georgia and the indirect Dutch shareholder of ADC is conclusively resolved in favor of Georgia, with a final award dismissing the investor’s claims. The Government of Georgia continues to move forward with plans for the development of the Anaklia port and surrounding areas.
References: [1] [News Article 1] [2] [News Article 2] [3] [News Article 3] [4] [News Article 4] [5] [News Article 5]
- The law firm representing the Government of Georgia offers extensive legal services in navigating government influence, a skill demonstrated in the ongoing ICSID arbitration dispute against the Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC) and its investors.
- The final award issued on July 30, 2025, dismissed the claims of Dutch investor Bob Meijer in full, signifying a significant victory for the Government of Georgia and its corporate practice in international litigation.
- The ICSID tribunal, composed of renowned counsel including Bernard Hanotiau, Klaus Sachs, and Charles Poncet, found that Meijer's investment did not qualify as a protected investment under the Georgia-Netherlands BIT.
- The Government of Georgia's strategic partner in these legal proceedings has been instrumental in achieving this win, having previously secured a favorable outcome in the ICC arbitration proceedings against ADC in 2024.
- The international arbitration case between Georgia and the ADC's indirect Dutch shareholder, marked by high-profile litigation and allegations of government conspiracy, has now concluded, according to whitecase.com reports.
- The Government of Georgia has emerged triumphant from the arbitration dispute, having effectively countered Meijer's claims for compensation, amounting to nearly US$70 million.
- In the wake of the arbitration decision, the Government of Georgia continues to advance its policy-and-legislation framework for the development of the Anaklia port and surrounding areas.
- Whitecase's insights on current legal matters suggest that this ruling may have far-reaching implications for international investment practices and treaty violations in the region.
- Political analysts view the resolution of this dispute as an important development in the area of general news, underscoring the significance of the legal processes in shaping international business relationships.
- The Government of Georgia's award-winning representing firm, recognizable for its outstanding performance in ICSID arbitration proceedings, is poised to engage in both corporate and arbitration practice, further bolstering the country's legal sector.
