Executive Summary

UK case law applying section 14 of the State Immunity Act of 1978 has essentially refused to extend protection to sub-central governmental units, unless the disputes in which those units are embroiled have involved the exercise of the sovereign authority of the central government. This has meant the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) has been refused immunity in UK courts in the past, and in the current Dynasty Oil v. Kurdistan Regional Government and Ashti Hawrami case may be refused once again. This commentary argues that position would seem most appropriate given the text of ...