Appropriate Dispute Resolution – The Singapore Way

An Event Jointly Presented by Singapore International Commercial Court, Singapore International Arbitration Centre and Singapore International Mediation Centre

Join us to hear about two new initiatives that will provide stronger integrated options for effective dispute resolution, and advance Singapore as a leading dispute resolution hub.

Singapore has done much to establish itself as a trusted neutral forum for international dispute resolution (IDR). The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) is one of the most preferred arbitration institutions globally. In 2021 alone, the value and number of disputes filed at the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) has risen substantially, equaling the US$3 billion total dispute value for the previous six years (2014-2020). Growing in tandem, in the latest of a series of legislative reforms, the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) introduced a standalone set of procedural rules, the SICC Rules 2021, which enhanced procedural flexibility and highlighted international best practices in the SICC such as protocols for highly complex disputes. This triumvirate of institutions have worked together to advance Singapore as a truly effective Asian hub for dispute resolution.

The interface between the three IDR centres is further strengthened by two initiatives. As part of the “ADR-friendly” nature of the SICC Rules 2021, SIMC and SICC jointly introduce the Litigation-Mediation-Litigation (LML) Protocol, whereby a party commences proceedings with the SICC, which are then stayed for mediation at the SIMC, and a settlement agreement may be recorded as an Order of Court.

The second initiative arises from the increasing matters heard by the SICC on international arbitrations seated in Singapore since jurisdiction was extended to it from November 2018 under the International Arbitration Act 1994 (IAA). SICC will be introducing a model clause for the SICC to be the supervisory court for IAA-related matters, and SIAC will be introducing an optional addition to the SIAC Model Clause for parties to incorporate the same.

For enquiries, please email [email protected]

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law

Mr Edwin Tong, SC is Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law. He is also Chairman of the Chinese Community Liaison Group, and Deputy Chairman of the People’s Association.

At the Ministry of Law, he focuses on the development and promotion of Singapore’s legal and dispute resolution sector, including the Singapore Convention on Mediation. He also handles wide-ranging aspects of law reform, such as intellectual property, corporate

restructuring and insolvency, and legal aid. Before taking office, Mr Tong spent his entire working life at Allen & Gledhill LLP. In that time, he was concurrently Head of the Restructuring and Corporate Insolvency Department, Co-Head of the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department, and a member of the Exco. He was widely acknowledged to be a leading lawyer of the Singapore Bar, and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2015.

Mr Tong was educated at St Joseph’s Institution, Raffles Junior College and later read law at the National University of Singapore

President, SICC and Judge, Supreme Court Singapore

Justice Philip Jeyaretnam was appointed Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court on 4 January 2021 and a and a High Court Judge on 1 November 2021 and appointed President of the SICC on 2 January 2023. His focus on the Bench has been in building and construction, shipbuilding, finance, securities, banking, complex commercial cases, company, insolvency, trusts, arbitration, medical negligence tort claims and criminal trials. He is also a member of the Judicial Service Commission, and the Presidential Council for Minority Rights.

Justice Jeyaretnam read Law at Cambridge and graduated with First Class Honours in 1986. He was called to the English Bar in 1987 and to the Singapore Bar in 1988 and was conferred the title of Senior Counsel in 2003 at the age of 38, one of the youngest lawyers to be appointed Senior Counsel. In 1988, he received the Airey Neave Award for research on the rule of law. In 1990, he was given a Fulbright Fellowship, which took him to the University of Iowa International Writers’ Program and to Harvard Law School.

While in practice, he was widely recognised as an expert in commercial litigation, arbitration and construction law in all major legal publications. In 2020, the Law Society conferred on him the CC Tan Award. He was managing partner of Rodyk & Davidson LLP from 2011, and, following its combination with Dentons, ASEAN CEO. He was the founding chairperson of the Society of Construction Law (Singapore), from 2002 to 2004, and served as the President of the Law Society during the years 2004 to 2007. From 2009 to 2020, he was a member of the Public Service Commission. A novelist and short story writer, he received the Young Artist of the Year Award for his literary work in 1993 and a SEA Write Award in 2003.

Director, Dispute Resolutions, Drew & Napier

Siraj has more than 25 years’ experience in complex, high-value commercial disputes. He has an active trial and appellate practice in the Singapore courts and has litigated many landmark disputes before the Courts in areas as diverse as banking, consumer protection, debt restructuring and insurance. He also has an active international arbitration practice, appearing as counsel as well as sitting as arbitrator. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and as a member of its Board Executive Committee and also holds Fellowships at the the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (SIArb) and the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL).

He is recognized in all the leading legal directories, including being globally ranked in Chambers and recognised as a leading individual in The Legal 500. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2019.

Outside of practice, he serves as a civilian panel member of the Military Court of Appeal and as Deputy Commissioner of the Government Procurement Adjudication Tribunal. He also volunteers on the Council of the Law Society, as an Assigned Solicitor with the Legal Aid Bureau and as Secretary of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA).

CEO, SIAC

As the Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), Gloria works closely with the Chairman and the Board in formulating and fulfilling the vision and strategies for SIAC, and is responsible for the institution’s overall management and operations.

Gloria was previously the Director of the Legal Industry Division in Singapore’s Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and concurrently held the statutory appointment of Director of Legal Services, heading its Legal Services Regulatory Authority. As Director of the Legal Industry Division, she oversaw the development of Singapore’s legal sector, including the development and promotion of Singapore’s international dispute resolution regime.

Gloria headed the Singapore delegation involved in UNCITRAL Working Group II (Dispute Settlement) discussions from 2019-2021 and continues to participate as a member of the delegation.

Gloria is called to the Singapore Bar. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in International Arbitration from NUS and an LL.M from Harvard University.

CEO, SIMC

Wee Meng is the CEO of Singapore International Mediation Centre. He is an experienced General Counsel of almost 30 years working in Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore. He has advised senior leadership of MNCs as lead counsel on legal and regulatory issues arising out of doing business in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Japan, Korea, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand.

As an active board member of US-China JVs, he has managed a wide range of emerging market risks with international best practices. He believes the high risk/high potential Asia Pacific markets require a robust management practice that balances creativity with integrity to ensure sustainable business growth.

Leveraging his deep regional experience, he is currently leading SIMC to promote mediation to resolve complex, commercial cross-border disputes in Asia Pacific.

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