Outline Chambers Briefings | International Legal News

08 June 2026 Each week, Outline Chambers provides a concise overview of key developments across international law, arbitration and global governance.

This week’s briefing explores developments in state intervention and public ownership, corporate accountability in global supply chains, climate change and international law, maritime dispute resolution, and EU migration policy.

5 June 2026

Research Briefings: “Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill 2026-27”

The House of Commons Library has published a research briefing by Ilze Jozepa, Matthew Ward, and Dominic Webb on a bill announced in the King’s Speech earlier in May 2026 that would seek to nationalise the UK’s ailing steel industry.

The Bill itself would empower the government to transfer the shares or property of a steel company into public ownership where in the public interest.

Domestic legislation that seeks to return major industry to public ownership can be a source of difficulty for a government, as they try to act in the public interest, but also counter possible investment claims made by foreign investors.

To read the research briefing, see here.

4 June 2026

Blog Corner: “Akhmad, et.al v Bumble Bee Foods: Corporate Accountability for Forced Labour in High Seas Fisheries – Preliminary Observations”

In a post for Opinio Juris, Dita Liliansa provides a commentary over a fascinating legal case that engages corporate liability for breaches of labour law in international seas.

In 2020, Akhmad accepted a role on a fishing vessel, that developed into what is described as a “cycle of abuse”. He allegedly worked 18-hour shifts and was refused return to land after sustaining a possibly life-threatening injury. On 12 March 2025, he filed what Liliansa describes as “the first lawsuit brought against a US company for forced labour inn high seas fisheries”.

The alleged abuse transpired on a Chinese-flagged vessel, owned by Chinese companies and commanded by Chinese nationals. Because the alleged harm occurred on the high seas, China should have exclusive enforcement jurisdiction over the vessels under UNCLOS, and primary jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute. Because the claimants are from Indonesia, Indonesia could make a report to China who would bear the obligation under UNCLOS to investigate and remedy. No report is known to have been made.

However, a US company, known as Bumble Bee Foods, is a downstream buyer sourcing tuna from the Chinese company operating the vessel. Hence, the Claimants have brought a claim in the US against Bumble Bee Foods. Notably, the US District Court for the Southern District of California allowed the case to proceed on 12 November 2025.

To read this article, see here.

 3 June 2026

ICJ Climate Change Advisory Opinion: Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts Island States Ocean Summit Session

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan reportedly held a session on “Sea Level Rise and International Law” at a recent summit for Island Ocean States that saw 50 participants from relevant countries.

This summit is one of many different conversations taking place in respect to the role that states have to act in relation to climate change, following the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice last year.

Outline Chambers hold specialist expertise in relation to the Advisory Opinion. Members Arman Sarvarian, Lauren Lederle, and Melina Antoniadis all acted in relation to different states/entities in relation to the advisory opinion.

To see relevant profiles, see here.

For more on this story, see here.

2 June 2026

International Conciliation: Cambodia initiates UN mediation over maritime boundary

It has been reported that the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has announced that the State of Cambodia will initiate “compulsory conciliation” with Thailand.

The dispute concerns the so-called Overlapping Claims Area (“OCA”) in the Gulf of Thailand. It is further reported that the area in question is believed to be rich in natural gas.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (“UNCLOS”) includes an internal dispute resolution mechanism in Annex V of the treaty. The issue appears to stem from the application of a rule under UNCLOS which provides that states are permitted to hold exclusive jurisdiction over exploitable resources beyond the low-tide mark of a state. However, in certain geographies, this limit can cause an overlap between two jurisdictions.

Once the conciliation committee has been instituted, they have 12 months to issue a report. The decision however will not be legally binding on the parties.

For more on this story, see here.

1 June 2026

EU: The Council and Parliament of the European Union reach deal on returns of third-country nationals

The Council of the European Union reports that a provisional deal on an EU law has been agreed with the European Parliament to enable faster EU-wide procedures for the return of so-called “illegally staying” persons in member states.

The agreement includes several provisions, including, new obligations on those breaching residency rules, return hubs in third countries, and the introduction of European Return Orders (“EROs”) that will facilitate mutual recognition of member state immigration decisions, amongst other provisions.

For more on this story, see here.