In a recent decision with implications for arbitration, the Court of Appeal in London clarified the construction of section 31 of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 in the context of sovereign immunity claims under the State Immunity Act 1978 Matthew Page, an associate at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, reports on an important judgment for those acting for or against sovereign states in proceedings in a foreign court and clarifies the law on enforcement of foreign judgments in this context