Joint Media Release: Singapore International Commercial Court Marks its 10th Anniversary with Conference on Transnational Commercial Justice and Dispute Resolution

6          The conference, themed “Transnational Commerce in a Shifting World”, will examine how international commercial courts like the SICC can complement other dispute resolution options such as international commercial arbitration and play a role as a neutral arbiter. The conference will tackle this theme in the geopolitical context of decoupling power blocs and changing patterns of trade and investment.

7          There will be several panel discussions with a distinguished line up of speakers exploring diverse topics, including evolving trends in managing complex cross-border disputes, innovative approaches to resolving private law issues in borderless disputes alongside emerging technological developments, a keynote address on Artificial Intelligence and the Law, and perspectives on cross-border corporate restructuring in the commercial dispute resolution space.

14 January Conference

8          The conference will commence with welcome remarks by Justice Philip Jeyaretnam, the President of the SICC. The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon will deliver the keynote address on the topic “The Emerging Architecture of Transnational Commercial Justice”. 

9          There will be three panel discussions – Justice Jeyaretnam will moderate the first panel session on “Seismic events: Surviving (and thriving)”. Justice Vivian Ramsey, International Judge (IJ) of the SICC will moderate the second panel session on “Fallout: Tooling up (and teaming up) to manage complex technical disputes”, with Justice Kannan Ramesh, Judge of the Appellate Division at the Supreme Court, moderating the third panel session on “Restructuring: Cross-border corporate insolvency”.

10         The Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, Minister K Shanmugam SC, will be sharing his views on Singapore’s role as a hub for global dispute resolution at a fireside chat. The conference will conclude with a dinner with the Guest-of-Honour, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

15 January Conference

11         Professor Dirk Hartung, founder of the Center for Legal Technology and Data Science and the Co-Academic Director for the Bucerius Summer Program in Legal Technology and Operations and Singapore Management University / Bucerius Legal Tech Essentials, will deliver a keynote address titled “Collision Course: AI and the Law”. Professor Hartung envisions a future where technological advancements enhance inclusivity and fairness in legal systems.

12         The conference will close with a panel session on, “Tsunami: New Technologies”, which will be moderated by Justice Anselmo Reyes, IJ of the SICC. This session will address the borderless nature of emerging technologies and the need for transnational legal frameworks. 

13         Justice Jeyaretnam said: "As we mark the SICC's 10th anniversary, we reflect on a decade of growth and innovation in the delivery of transnational commercial justice. The SICC has established itself as a trusted forum for resolving complex cross-border disputes, combining the best practices of international arbitration with the rigour of court litigation, as well as drawing on the richness of both civil and common law traditions. Our success is built openness, efficiency, and fairness in dispute resolution. This conference brings together global experts to explore how we meet the evolving needs of international business in an increasingly complex world."

14         Mr Yeong Zee Kin, the Chief Executive of SAL added: “In just 10 years, the Singapore International Commercial Court has established a strong global reputation in dispute resolution. Notable decisions, such as those from the B2C2 Ltd v Quoine Pte Ltd dispute concerning virtual currency transactions on an international cryptocurrency exchange, have solidified its international standing as a juridical thought leader. The Singapore International Commercial Court has also gained a reputation for innovation in procedural frameworks for complex disputes, such as its partnership with the Singapore Mediation Centre on INTEGRAF which integrates ADR within the judicial process for technology, infrastructure and construction disputes.”

Issued by: Singapore Academy of Law, Singapore International Commercial Court
10 January 2025

About Singapore Academy of Law

The SAL is a professional and industry development body for Singapore’s legal industry.  It is established by statute and is led by a Senate headed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, comprising the Attorney-General, the Supreme Court Bench and key leaders of the various branches of the legal profession.