SINGAPORE CONVENTION WEEK EVENTS

Singapore Arbitration Dialogue aims to highlight rising and distinguished Asian figures in the international arbitration community, through an engaging sharing session of experiences, perspectives and advice, as well as two-way discussion.

Topics include:

• The associate’s dilemma: how to build an arbitration practice in a billable-hour world

• Fireside chat – from assistant to arbitrator: reflections on the changing arbitration landscape

• Explore strong points of International mediation in ASEAN and Japan
• Share information on current international mediation practices
• Discuss how to promote international mediation and Singapore convention in ASEAN and Japan

As part of Singapore Convention Week, this symposium will bring together leading practitioners and thought leaders for a focused and forward-looking discussion on some of the most pressing and debated issues in international arbitration today.

From evolving approaches to arbitrator appointments and regional representation to the intersection of technology, enforcement, and cross-border strategy, the symposium promises practical insight and thought-provoking dialogue.

• Where are the Asia Pacific arbitrators? Breaking barriers in global appointments
• Smart arbitration: How AI is changing the game (like it or not)
• Paper tigers or powerful tools? Navigating award enforcement in the Asia Pacific

Building on past CIL-SCW sessions on ISDS mediation, this event focuses on turning awareness into action. A panel of counsel, mediators, government officials, and institutional representatives will discuss practical steps to prepare for successful mediation. Key topics include formulating positions, navigating privileges and immunities, ensuring confidentiality and transparency, and safeguarding parties’ positions if mediation does not succeed.

Recent developments across common law jurisdictions, including the UK Privy Council’s decision in Sian Participation Corp (In Liquidation) v Halimeda International Ltd [2024] UKPC 16, have brought renewed attention to the tension between arbitration agreements and insolvency. This event will explore recent judicial decisions and how Courts are navigating tensions between insolvency’s collective processes and contractual autonomy in determining the effect of arbitration agreements in insolvency. Panellists will discuss issues of enforceability, jurisdiction, and public policy, alongside practical implications for creditors and debtors. Current and potential initiatives that may shape the use of arbitration in insolvency will also be evaluated.

As cross-border trust and estate disputes become more frequent, arbitration is taking on a greater role in resolving these matters. The recently launched Swiss TEF Rules provide a specialized framework for addressing the complexities of private wealth disputes. The panel would offer participants an early look into these new rules and their practical implications for practitioners and families alike.

Programme

• Registration: 4:30 PM – 4:50 PM
• Panel Discussion: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Networking Reception: 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

The SIAC Symposium, is an annual flagship event that is held in conjunction with the Singapore Convention Week. It serves as a key platform for the global legal and dispute resolution community to convene to share insights, deepen intellectual discourse in the arbitration field and expand networks.

As crypto markets expand across borders and regulators race to keep up, arbitration has emerged as a preferred mechanism for resolving disputes in the decentralized economy. But how do traditional frameworks hold up against pseudonymous parties, smart contracts, on-chain evidence, and regulatory intervention? This powerhouse panel—presented by AAA-ICDR and SVAMC—brings together leading arbitration specialists and tech-savvy counsel from Asia and the U.S. to unpack the legal, procedural, and jurisdictional challenges of resolving crypto and Web3 disputes through ADR. Topics include arbitrability across key jurisdictions, enforcement of awards involving digital assets, smart contract clause design, DAO accountability, and institutional innovations for a decentralized world. Whether you're advising on tokenized deals, drafting dispute resolution clauses for DAOs, or navigating evidence and enforcement across borders, this session will leave you better equipped to handle conflict in the age of code and coin.

You are invited to join the LCIA Deputy Director General, Jamie Harrison, and leading practitioners in the field to explore the upcoming legislative changes in two leading arbitration jurisdictions. Through conversation among the panel and with the audience, this session will discuss the changes and what the future has in store.

Registration for this seminar will open soon. Please add your details to the website: https://www.lcia.org/lcia-events/events_schedule.aspx and we will contact you once registration opens.

In an era marked by global uncertainty, shifting geopolitical tensions, and accelerating digital transformation, the Global Trade Congress 2025 will explore how businesses, legal professionals, and policymakers can chart a path through complexity with clarity and confidence. "THRIVING THROUGH TURBULENCE: RESILIENCE, INNOVATION & COLLABORATION IN GLOBAL TRADE" highlights the growing need for resilient supply chains, innovative approaches to trade and regulation, and stronger international partnerships. As sustainability, digitalisation, and economic nationalism redefine the trade landscape, the Global Trade Congress offers a timely platform to exchange insights, anticipate risks, and seize emerging opportunities. Through dialogue and collaboration, participants will uncover strategies to stay ahead — turning today's challenges into tomorrow's competitive advantage.

As Asia-Pacific economies accelerate their shift toward cleaner energy, legal disputes are emerging from the complex and evolving transition landscape. This session explores the new frontier of commercial conflicts—from regulatory upheaval and infrastructure decommissioning to decarbonization and low-carbon supply challenges. A panel of experts will unpack key risks and best practices for managing legal exposure in a region where uncertainty and opportunity go hand in hand.

As the global order shifts and geopolitical tensions intensify, mediation has emerged as a critical tool to foster stability and build trust. Join thought leaders and practitioners as they examine how mediation can bridge divides and offer constructive pathways forward in an increasingly fragmented global landscape.

SIArb invites you to join us for our 2025 Annual Commercial Arbitration Symposium that is held in a distinctive and interactive forum for participants to discuss current issues and developments in the field of commercial arbitration. Always popular, the Symposium features no set speakers or speeches. The success of the Symposium is based on the free-flowing discussion of current issues, suggested by delegates. Delegates whose topics are chosen will be invited to introduce their questions or topics, which will then be followed by an open discussion under the moderation of the experienced co-chairs from Singapore and abroad.

The Building Bridges in ADR: MENA meets Singapore SIDRA Forum at Singapore Convention Week will spotlight transformative efforts across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to modernize and strengthen alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms. With growing commercial ties between Singapore and the MENA region, the forum is timely and strategic. It builds on the momentum of recent ADR innovations in both regions.

This event will focus on two important themes:
(i) Has the Indian Legal Market Opened Up? Perspectives on the BCI Rules and
(ii) Cross-Border M&A Disputes Involving Indian Parties: Trends, Triggers & Tactics.

The first panel will explore the implications of the Bar Council of India’s new rules on the entry of foreign law firms. Indian and international practitioners, alongside general counsel, will discuss the opportunities, uncertainties, and practical impact of this regulatory shift on cross-border legal work.

The second panel will delve into the growing complexity of M&A disputes involving Indian parties. Key issues include foreign-seated arbitration clauses, post-closing risks, enforcement hurdles under Indian regulations, and the increasing use of emergency arbitration and expert evidence. The panel will also assess the evolving dispute strategies of India-focused funds and the potential role of mediation in this space.

As the world’s economic order and geopolitical dynamics fluctuate, businesses are increasingly compelled to change the way they operate and manage risks. Amid such disruptions and uncertainties, lawyers must also re-evaluate the way they work with businesses from dispute prevention and resolution standpoint. Join us as we explore ways for businesses and law stakeholders in Asia to adjust and ensure business continuity in times of current challenges.

In an era marked by global uncertainty, shifting geopolitical tensions, and accelerating digital transformation, the Global Trade Congress 2025 will explore how businesses, legal professionals, and policymakers can chart a path through complexity with clarity and confidence. "THRIVING THROUGH TURBULENCE: RESILIENCE, INNOVATION & COLLABORATION IN GLOBAL TRADE" highlights the growing need for resilient supply chains, innovative approaches to trade and regulation, and stronger international partnerships. As sustainability, digitalisation, and economic nationalism redefine the trade landscape, the Global Trade Congress offers a timely platform to exchange insights, anticipate risks, and seize emerging opportunities. Through dialogue and collaboration, participants will uncover strategies to stay ahead — turning today's challenges into tomorrow's competitive advantage.

To succeed in the field of arbitration, it is important for one to learn how to advocate for your case, as well as advocate for yourself to build your profile, seize opportunities, and seek promotion and support. At this breakfast event during the Singapore Convention Week, we will hear the candid views from the three inspiring leaders in arbitration (Ms Lucy Reed, the President of SIAC Court, and two leading advocates in Singapore, Ms Sheila Ahuja KC and Ms Blossom Hing SC) on how to be an effective advocate, both before the tribunal and before your stakeholders, to advance your career in this competitive yet rewarding field. 

The event is jointly organised by YSIAC (Young Singapore International Arbitration Centre) and YAWP (Young ArbitralWomen Practitioners). The discussion will start at 9am and breakfast will be served before and after the event to allow for networking. There will also be time for Q&A and the participants will be invited to submit questions in advance.

Silence in mediation can be disarming, strategic, respectful — or a sign of resistance. In international and cross-cultural mediations, it’s rarely just a pause in speech. It’s a message — sometimes subtle, sometimes loud. This panel brings together leading voices from across the world to explore how silence and cultural context shape mediation dynamics. From the boardroom to the breakout room, understanding what’s unsaid is becoming a defining skill for effective dispute resolution. This session will unpack how silence plays out in negotiation, how it’s shaped by cultural norms, and how mediators and counsel can bridge gaps that words alone can’t.

This full-day conference will bring together the leading arbitration practitioners to debate and discuss the future of ISDS, enforcement of arbitral awards, asset recovery and much more.

We will have plenty of networking opportunities throughout the day, so GAR Live: Singapore is the perfect opportunity to join your old friends, make new contacts and share your ideas with international arbitration thought leaders from around the world.

The Singapore Mediation Lecture is presented by the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC). The Lecture is held annually with the aim to enhance the understanding and use of mediation in resolving commercial disputes.

The lecture is suited for mediators, adjudicators and dispute resolution advocates who want a better understanding of the workings of a conflict avoidance board and how it helps in diffusing large scale disputes.

The lecture will also be combined with an Appreciation Lunch for the SMC's mediators, adjudicators and dispute resolution advocates. We are pleased to welcome those who wish to meet with like-minded participants and widen individual networks.

Kindly note that attendance is by confirmation only.

CPD points: TBC

This session will explore how arbitration practitioners can play a pivotal role in fostering multilateralism, open dialogue, and effective dispute resolution amid increasing global uncertainty and fragmentation. In an era marked by geopolitical tensions, rapid technological change, and shifting societal dynamics, the next generation of dispute resolution professionals are uniquely positioned to bridge divides, promote inclusive communication, and champion innovative approaches to conflict management. The panel discussion will highlight practical strategies for young leaders to build cross-border partnerships, encourage intercultural understanding, and reinforce the values of cooperation within the international arbitration and ADR community.

Complimentary lunch reception to follow.

While institutional rules and arbitral legislation are regularly updated to respond to user demands, clear and authoritative ethical guidelines that are uniformly applicable to all international arbitration stakeholders continue to be lacking. Are arbitration users faced with no choice but to resolve their disputes in an ethical no man’s land, where ethical rules simply do not apply? Are there otherwise potential solutions on the horizon? This session explores ethics in international arbitration in two parts. In the first panel discussion, arbitrators and practitioners share their experiences with the ethical dilemmas they have faced in the course of arbitrations. An open invitation will also be made for practitioners to share their stories from the floor. Representatives of major arbitral institutions then form part of the second panel discussion to explore solutions that may offer some hope (and guidance) to users, including arbitrators, counsel, experts and funders.

The panel discussion will explore current and emerging trends, including possible reforms, across various forms of international dispute resolution in inter-State, investor-State, and commercial domains.

Experts will reflect on developments with respect to the existing mechanisms, such as the growing role of advisory opinions of international courts and tribunals, greater State control and the potential introduction of appellate review in investor-State dispute settlement, third-party funding in commercial and investment arbitration, and common digitalization and the expanding use of artificial intelligence. The discussion will also touch on the increasing role of alternative dispute resolution tools and cross-cutting procedural challenges.

By bringing together perspectives from different domains, the panel discussion aims to identify shared trends and distinct trajectories in international dispute settlement frameworks, best practices and possible lessons to be learned along with expected ways forward on matters of concern.

Now in its third edition, Evolution and Revolution: International Disputes in the Age of Tariffs and Treaty Shifts looks at recent developments in public international law and investment disputes. This year’s panel will consider how shifting treaty frameworks and trade measures are influencing international disputes. The panel will cover recent cases and broader trends, and discuss what they mean for states, investors, and dispute resolution institutions.

As global order shifts and geopolitical spheres reshape traditional paradigms, what trends and challenges have emerged that affect the role that arbitration plays as a key choice of dispute resolution mechanism for international commercial disputes? This seminar will explore how shifting economic and political dynamics between the US and China influence international commercial dispute resolution in Asia, identify emerging trends in arbitration and institutional practices, legal issues, and discuss challenges presented by divergent legal and regulatory landscapes.

Get ready to walk the talk of sustainability! This walk & talk event brings you a unique experience that blends sustainability with inspiring discussions.

As mediation gains traction across commercial, family, and cross-border disputes, ethical dilemmas are bound to arise, and challenge the core tenets of mediation practice. 

Take for example impartiality and neutrality: What are the risks when advocates blur the line between persuasion and pressure? How far should mediators intervene before neutrality is compromised?  Can a balance be struck between impartiality and the underlying desire to settle a matter for economic and reputational reasons?

On party autonomy, to what extent does a mediator have to delve into the fairness of certain parties' decisions?  Then, on confidentiality, what is a mediator or advocate to do if a breach of civil or criminal law is revealed during a caucus, but which will weaken one's bargaining power during the mediation? 

This seminar explores the ethical tensions at the heart of mediation practice—especially in multicultural and high-stakes contexts. Bringing together leading voices from Asia and Europe, we examine what fairness, integrity, and ultimately professionalism truly look like in the mediation room today. The panel will then explore what and how global standards might emerge for tomorrow, in order to build international trust in the mediation profession.

Onshore and offshore windfarms are large and notoriously complex projects that involve heavy financial investment and include numerous players at different levels from planning over construction to operation and maintenance. Often contractual parties are committed long-term and require close cooperation to make things work. Renewable energy projects are built around the world.

Please join us when we discuss with experienced international panelists some factual and legal challenges of these projects, typical dispute resolution mechanisms used – Dispute Adjudication Boards and arbitration – and what the experiences are. Are we all set right on the disputes side?

For further information please refer to the programme.