Page 16 - SINGAPORE: Gateway to Dispute Resolution

INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
With a world-class judiciary well-known for its efficiency, competence and integrity, the Singapore Courts are a prime option for parties wanting a trusted neutral venue for resolution of cross-border disputes. The Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) is the first of its kind in Asia, and was established specifically to cater to the litigation needs of international parties, whatever the law governing the dispute.
What is the SICC?
As a division of the Singapore High Court, the SICC offers the option of a court-based dispute resolution mechanism for international and commercial disputes, even where the dispute has no connection with Singapore and is not governed by Singapore law.
The SICC can hear international and commercial cases in which the original parties submit to its jurisdiction under a written jurisdiction agreement. Recommended model clauses for submitting to the SICC’s jurisdiction are available at: http://www.sicc.gov.sg/Guide.aspx?id=87.
Why choose the SICC?
The SICC has a number of innovative features which cater to the needs of international parties and differentiate it from other Courts. These include:
• A diverse panel of eminent international and local jurists: Disputes before the SICC and
any resulting appeals will be heard by judges drawn from a distinguished and diverse panel. The panel includes eminent international jurists and legal experts, many of whom are current or former judges from various jurisdictions, as well as Singapore judges. A list of the International and Singapore judges is available at: http://www.sicc.gov.sg/Judges.aspx?id=30.
• Choice of counsel: Parties are not limited to appointing Singapore lawyers and are free to choose foreign counsel to represent them in cases with no substantial connection with Singapore. Foreign counsel may also appear to address the Court on matters of foreign law. To appear before the SICC, foreign counsel must register with the Court (see http://www.sicc.gov.sg/ForeignLawyer.aspx?id=101) and comply with the SICC Code of Ethics (see http://www.sicc.gov.sg/Guide.aspx?id=85).
• More flexible Court procedures: Court procedures in the SICC follow international best practices for commercial disputes. At the same time, having regard to the international and commercial nature of the disputes and the parties, the SICC’s Court procedures provide for more flexibility than typically found in national Court processes:
• Confidentiality: Parties may apply for their case to be heard confidentially. Where a case has no substantial connection with Singapore, the Court will generally take a more liberal approach in granting confidentiality orders.
• Rules of evidence: If all parties agree, parties have flexibility to apply to the Court to adopt rules of evidence they are familiar with, instead of Singapore rules of evidence. For example, parties may ask that the proceedings employ the International Bar Association Rules on the Taking of Evidence in International Arbitration.
AN OVERVIEW OF SINGAPORE SICC MAXWELL MEDIATION SCMA SIAC ARBITRATION SINGAPORE SINGAPORE LAW LAW CHAMBERS