1 - Introduction

Summary

This chapter discusses the purpose of freezing injunctions and their potential for exploitation by unscrupulous claimants for tactical and strategtic aims. Emphasis is placed on the use of freezing injunction for unmeritorious purposes due to the potential of the injunction to ruin a thriving business. An overview of the key requirements for obtaining freezing injunctions is provided with a view to identifying potential problems with each requirement in domestic and international cases. A number of hypothetical scenarios is used to illustrate concerns about the current scope of freezing injunctions. It is demonstrated that these concerns are not limited to the protection of defendants but also the interests of foreign states.