Success in International Arbitration: Defending a Foreign Food Supplier Against a Czech Distributor
Our litigation team, led by partner Markéta Kučerová Pechová, achieved a significant victory in an international commercial dispute resolved through arbitration. We represented a foreign food supplier from an African country who sought payment of the purchase price from a Czech buyer — one of the leading food distributors in the Czech Republic.
The value of the dispute reached tens of millions of CZK.
The core of the dispute: a hacker attack on email communication
The central issue in the case was an intrusion by unknown attackers who hacked into the email correspondence between the parties, manipulated the contents of the messages, and altered the payment instructions. As a result, payments were diverted to accounts controlled by third parties who then disappeared. The Czech buyer subsequently refused to pay the purchase price again.
The case required extensive digital investigation, technical forensic analysis of emails, gathering evidence across multiple jurisdictions, and demonstrating that our client had fulfilled all obligations and had no involvement in the fraudulent redirection of funds and that it was the Defendant who neglected the duty of professional care when fulfilling its obligation to pay the purchase price.
Our role: combining legal strategy and technical expertise
The arbitration was led by partner Markéta Kučerová Pechová, who has long specialized in complex disputes, including those involving international and technological elements.
“In cases where business reality, technology, and international aspects intersect, it is crucial not only to understand the law, but also to handle technical evidence correctly. This dispute showed that when the strategy is firmly built on both, we can successfully confront even highly sophisticated forms of online fraud,” says Markéta Kučerová Pechová.
Thanks to a combination of precise legal argumentation, coordination of foreign experts, and detailed evidentiary work, the tribunal upheld our client’s claim and ordered the buyer to pay the outstanding purchase price.
What this case demonstrates
This matter highlights:
- our expertise in international commercial disputes,
- our ability to effectively investigate online fraud, including email hacking,
- our experience with digital forensics and cross-border evidence,
- and our capacity to translate complex technical issues into clear and persuasive legal arguments.
We are proud to have helped our client obtain justice in a case that was exceptionally complex from both a legal and technical standpoint.
If your company faces similar challenges — cyberattacks, fraudulent payments, or international commercial disputes — our team is ready to provide immediate and effective support.
