Mediation: The Next Frontier

About this event

In 2024, the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) celebrates its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of excellence in providing mediation services for international cross-border disputes, as well as promoting the use of mediation as an appropriate dispute resolution method. Over the past ten years, SIMC has become a leading institution in the field of international dispute resolution, known for its innovative approaches and commitment to fostering amicable settlements. This milestone reflects SIMC's dedication to promoting effective mediation practices, enhancing access to justice, and contributing to the global mediation landscape.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, a special by-invitation-only luncheon event will be held at the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, Tower Ballroom. This event is our way of expressing gratitude to our esteemed guests and partners who have been an integral part of our journey and have witnessed our achievements and tremendous growth over the past decade.

We are honoured to have Mr. K Shanmugam SC, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law as our Guest-of-Honour at this annual gathering of in-house counsel, legal practitioners and business leaders from Singapore and abroad.

Programme

August 28, 2024

Main Schedule

09:15 - 10:00

Registration with morning coffee/tea & networking

Event will start promptly at 10am, please arrive at least 15 minutes earlier to complete registration.

10:00 - 10:05

Welcome Speech

10:05 - 10:50

Fireside Chat with Minister K Shanmugam SC, moderated by Toby Landau KC

10:50 - 11:00

Phototaking

11:00 - 11:20

Update by SIMC

11:20 - 11:40

Presentation & Demo

11:40 - 11:45

Congratulatory speech by Director-General of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Japan's Ministry of Justice

11:45 - 13:00

Lunch

Speakers

Minister K Shanmugam SC

Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Toby Landau KC

Barrister at Duxton Hill Chambers (Singapore Group Practice) and Board Member of SIMC

George Lim SC

Chairman at Singapore International Mediation Centre

Tsutomu Takeuchi

Director-General of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Justice, Japan

Wee Meng Chuan

CEO, Singapore International Mediation Centre

Eric Chin

Director, NewLaw of PwC Singapore

Rodney Yap

Manager at NewLaw of PwC Singapore

Mr K Shanmugam SC is the Singapore Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law. He has been Minister for Law since May 2008, and concurrently:
Second Minister for Home Affairs, May 2008 – October 2010;
Minister for Home Affairs, November 2010 – May 2011, and since October 2015; and
Minister for Foreign Affairs, May 2011 – September 2015.

As Minister for Law, Mr Shanmugam has overseen major developments to Singapore’s legal industry and sector. The arbitration regime was reformed to transform Singapore into a leading arbitral seat; and international law practices were encouraged to collaborate with and anchor regional work in Singapore. During Mr Shanmugam’s tenure, the Singapore International Commercial Court and the Singapore International Mediation Centre were also established, and the Singapore Convention of Mediation – the first United Nations treaty named after Singapore – was adopted.

Prior to entering Cabinet, Mr Shanmugam was a Senior Partner and Head of Litigation & Dispute Resolution at Allen & Gledhill LLP, then the largest law firm in Singapore. He was in practice for over 20 years, and was appointed Senior Counsel in 1998.

Toby Landau KC is a barrister, advocate and arbitrator, and a member of the Bars of England & Wales, Singapore, New York, the BVI and Northern Ireland. He is also registered in the DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre). He practises in Singapore from Duxton Hill Chambers (Singapore Group Practice) and in London as a sole practitioner.

As Counsel, he has argued hundreds of major international commercial, investor-State and inter-state arbitrations, as well as ground-breaking cases in the highest courts of England, Singapore, Hong Kong, Pakistan and the Caribbean. He was the first QC/KC to have been permanently called to the Singapore Bar, and since April 2012 he has been a member of the Panel of Advisors to the Attorney-General of Singapore.

As Arbitrator, he has extensive experience as Chairman, Co-Arbitrator and Sole Arbitrator in commercial and investor-State disputes under most of the world’s leading ad hoc and institutional rules. He is a member of various panels, including ICSID.

In 2020 he was appointed as one of 25 persons to serve on the Arbitration Panel under the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community.

He is Visiting Professor at Kings College London; Vice President of the SIAC Court of Arbitration; Member of the Governing Board of ICCA; Fellow of the CIArb and Chartered Arbitrator; Vice-Chairman of the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration; UK delegate to the UNCITRAL Working Group on Arbitration (1994-2013); past Director and Court member of the LCIA; past member of the SCC Board; a draftsman of the English Arbitration Act 1996; the Pakistan Arbitration (International Investment Disputes) Ordinance, 2006; the Mauritius International Arbitration Act 2008, as well as many institutional rules.

He holds a first-class law degree and a first class BCL from Oxford University (Eldon Scholar), and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School (Kennedy Scholar).

George Lim was called to the Bar in Singapore in 1981, and has practised law for more than 40 years. He was appointed Senior Counsel by the Chief Justice in 2010, and was President of the Law Society of Singapore between 1998-1999. In January 2017, George was appointed Chairman of the SIMC.

George has mediated more than 700 disputes, and has extensive experience in mediating cross-cultural, cross-border disputes in Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Maldives, South Korea, Australia and Fiji. George has also conducted mediation training for judges and lawyers in Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Dubai, Bahrain, Maldives, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and Fiji.

George is on the panel of arbitrators of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). He is the Dispute Resolution Counsellor of the National Electricity Market of Singapore, and manages the dispute management process of the energy market. Between 2009 – 2010, George served as the first chairman of the Asian Mediation Association. In 2013, he co-chaired a working group, appointed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and the Ministry of Law, to make recommendations on developing Singapore into a centre for international commercial mediation.

George was Singapore’s mediation consultant to UNCITRAL Working Group II, which led to the adoption of the Singapore Convention on Mediation in 2019. In October 2019, he was appointed to the Roster of Panel Chairs of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on Dispute Settlement. In 2020, George was awarded the Public Service Star by the President of Singapore for his contributions to mediation.

In 2022, George was named by The International Who’s Who of Commercial Mediation as a global thought leader in mediation. He is the co-editor of Mediation in Singapore: A Practical Guide.

Chuan Wee Meng is the Chief Executive Officer of Singapore International Mediation Centre.

Wee Meng is an experienced lawyer of more than 30 years, working out of Beijing, Hong Kong, Sydney and Singapore. Prior to joining SIMC, he served as General Counsel of IBM Greater China and Nortel Networks Asia Pacific for about 20 years.

He has advised senior leadership of MNCs as lead counsel on legal and regulatory issues arising out of doing business in Greater China, 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 leading international best practices.

Leveraging his deep regional experience, he is currently leading SIMC to promote mediation to resolve complex, commercial cross-border disputes in the Asia Pacific region. He has trained Judges, Senior Lawyers and Businesses across Asia, South America and Caribbean in international mediation trainings and workshops.

Wee Meng was the key note speaker in the XV Edición Congreso de Arbtraje Internacional 2024 organised by ICC Costa Rica.

Wee Meng is an accredited mediator of the Singapore International Mediation Institute. He graduated with a law degree from the National University of Singapore and holds a Master of Laws from the University of Hong Kong. He is called to the Singapore Bar and Hong Kong’s Roll of Solicitors.

Organiser

SIMC's 10th Anniversary Celebration — Mediation: The Next Frontier is part of Singapore Convention Week 2024 (26 August to 30 August) organised by Singapore's Ministry of Law in collaboration with various local and international partner organisations.

Singapore Convention Week 2024 serves as a key platform for ADR thought leaders, experts, practitioners and policy makers to discuss emerging trends, address common issues and drive change. The week-long series of events will feature a rich and exciting line-up of keynotes, discussions, debates, workshops, lectures, networking opportunities and visits.

SIMC is also proud to support the UNCITRAL Academy Conference and Industry Capacity-Building Workshop. Find out more and register for the conference, workshop and other partner events on the Singapore Convention Week website.

Singapore International Mediation Centre

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