mareva injunction: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Legal, Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “mareva injunction” mean?
A legal court order that freezes a defendant's assets, preventing their disposal or transfer out of a jurisdiction, typically before a trial.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A legal court order that freezes a defendant's assets, preventing their disposal or transfer out of a jurisdiction, typically before a trial.
A type of interim remedy in common law systems, primarily used in commercial disputes, to ensure a defendant cannot dissipate assets to frustrate a future judgment. Its purpose is to preserve the status quo. It is now more widely known as a 'freezing injunction' in many jurisdictions, though 'Mareva injunction' remains a common historic term.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, the term 'freezing injunction' is the official term under the Civil Procedure Rules, though 'Mareva injunction' is still widely understood. In the US, the functionally similar remedy is typically called a 'prejudgment attachment' or 'asset freeze order'; the term 'Mareva injunction' is rarely used and would be considered a British/Commonwealth legal term.
Connotations
In the UK/Commonwealth, it connotes a powerful, discretionary equitable remedy from the commercial court. In the US, the term itself has little to no connotation as it is not part of standard legal vocabulary.
Frequency
High frequency in UK/Commonwealth legal writing and speech; very low to zero frequency in general and legal American English.
Grammar
How to Use “mareva injunction” in a Sentence
The court granted a Mareva injunction against the defendant.The claimant applied for a Mareva injunction over the assets.A Mareva injunction was obtained to freeze the accounts.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mareva injunction” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The assets were effectively Mareva'd by the court's order. (informal legal slang)
- They succeeded in Mareva-ing the overseas accounts.
American English
- The court ordered the assets frozen. (No verb form of 'Mareva' is used.)
adverb
British English
- The judge ruled Mareva-style, focusing on asset preservation.
American English
- The assets were frozen preliminarily.
adjective
British English
- The Mareva relief was sought ex parte.
- He presented a strong Mareva-type argument.
American English
- The prejudgment attachment order was granted.
- They sought a freeze on the assets.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in high-value international trade or finance disputes when there is a risk a debtor will move funds offshore.
Academic
Discussed in law journals and textbooks on civil procedure, equity, and commercial law.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in litigation law, specifically in the field of interim remedies and enforcement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mareva injunction”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mareva injunction”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mareva injunction”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to mareva the assets' – non-standard).
- Using it to refer to any court injunction.
- Misspelling as 'Mareva injection' or 'Maria injunction'.
- Assuming it is understood in non-common law jurisdictions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its reach can vary. A 'domestic' Mareva freezes assets within the jurisdiction. A 'worldwide Mareva injunction' (WFO) can freeze assets globally but often has special restrictions and requires court permission to enforce outside the home jurisdiction.
Typically, a claimant (plaintiff) in a legal case who can demonstrate a good arguable case and provide solid evidence that there is a real risk the defendant will dissipate or remove their assets to avoid a future judgment.
It means the application for the injunction is made without giving prior notice to the defendant ('without notice'), to prevent them from moving assets upon hearing about the impending legal action. The defendant can later apply to have the injunction discharged.
It is named after the case 'Mareva Compania Naviera SA v International Bulkcarriers SA' (1975), where the English Court of Appeal first explicitly recognized and granted this type of freezing order as a standard form of interim relief.
A legal court order that freezes a defendant's assets, preventing their disposal or transfer out of a jurisdiction, typically before a trial.
Mareva injunction is usually legal, formal, technical in register.
Mareva injunction: in British English it is pronounced /məˈriːvə ɪnˈdʒʌŋkʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈriːvə ɪnˈdʒʌŋkʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated. Related legal idiom: 'to tie up someone's assets'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a ship named 'Mareva' being frozen in the harbour (its assets frozen) by a court order (injunction) before it can sail away with the money.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAW IS A CONTAINER (assets are contained/restrained); JUSTICE IS PRESERVATION (preserving the possibility of justice).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a Mareva injunction?