SIArb Newsletters

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

It has been a difficult period for Singapore these last few months as the need for heightened measures has pushed back the timeline to a full opening. There remains light at the end of the tunnel as the Prime Minister announced that we are on track to having two-third of the population vaccinated by National Day on 9 August. 

Minlaw’s move this month to extend third party funding (“TPF”) to domestic arbitrations and the Singapore International Commercial Court (“SICC”) is a welcome move. In such a time of global crisis when cash flow is no doubt challenged, businesses all the more need access to sophisticated options such as TPF to allocate and diversify the risks and costs of dispute resolution.  

I am also looking forward to Singapore Convention Week to be held from 6 – 10 September. I urge members based in and outside Singapore to attend as there will be a mix of in person and virtual options. As part of the Convention week, SIArb will be conducting a joint virtual conference with the Asia Pacific Institute of Experts (“APIEx”) on 6 September, which is the first time an event of this nature has been organised by both Arbitrators and Experts.  

It has also been wonderful to be part of events hosted by our friends at the Malaysia Institute of Arbitrators (MIArb) and the Philippine Institute of Arbitrators (PIArb).  MIArb recently organised an exciting virtual debate on the issue of whether AI will render arbitrators obsolete in 25 years. PIArb organised a virtual seminar comparing the Singapore and Philippine position on “The Arbitration Agreement”, where SIArb was represented by Janice Lee. 

Meanwhile, stay safe.  Take care of yourselves, your loved ones and your neighbours.