Singapore to Host Singapore Convention Week 2023

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 23 August 2023 - The Singapore Convention Week (SC Week) 2023 will return on 28 August to 1 September this year. This follows a successful SC Week 2022, which saw over 4,000 participants from more than 100 countries. The event will bring together thought leaders, experts, practitioners and policy makers from the legal, business, and government sectors to share the latest developments, discuss emerging trends, and exchange insights in cross-border dispute resolution amidst an ever-changing global landscape.

Organised by the Singapore Ministry of Law (MinLaw), in collaboration with supporting partner organisations, SC Week 2023 features an extensive line-up of events on dispute resolution, including panel discussions, workshops, debates, lectures, networking events, and visits. It consists of:

a. The UNCITRAL Academy: The UNCITRAL Academy, which comprises a Conference and Capacity-Building Workshops, is the headline event of the SC Week. It will be jointly organised by MinLaw and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) on 29 to 31 August 2023 (see Annex A for the programme on 29 August 2023).

Centred around the theme 'Tomorrow's World Today: Leading the Future of Dispute Resolution', the UNCITRAL Academy provides a platform for international and local experts to discuss current and emerging global issues. These include the ever-evolving digital economy, inter-cultural needs in mediation and arbitration, in the rise of mediation in investor-State dispute settlement, dispute resolution for carbon markets, the effects of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, and more.

Singapore's Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law Mr Edwin Tong SC will open the UNCITRAL Academy Conference and Industry Capacity-Building Workshop with a welcome address. This will be followed by opening remarks by Ms Anna Joubin-Bret, Secretary of UNCITRAL. About 30 global experts in various fields will share their insights and analysis in the subsequent panel discussions, fireside chat and workshop.

The three UNCITRAL Academy Capacity-Building Workshops will comprise presentations by and panel discussions with international dispute resolution experts, practitioners, and Government officials. Of these, two Workshops are closed-door sessions catered for Government officials only, while the Industry Capacity-Building Workshop is open to all attendees. With a demonstration and real-life case studies, the Industry Capacity-Building Workshop will provide a deep-dive into mediation advocacy, with practical tips on maximising mediation to resolve disputes.

b. Partner events by supporting organisations: A series of legal and dispute resolution-related events will also be jointly organised by partner organisations (see Annex B), including:

· SIAC Symposium by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. SIAC's flagship conference will bring together various stakeholders of the international arbitration community, to provide a platform for dialogue, the co-creation and cross-pollination of ideas and networking opportunities.

· SIMC Signature Event: MNCs for Mediation by the Singapore International Mediation Centre. Leading multinational corporations will gather during this by-invitation luncheon to sign a declaration of intent to support the use of mediation, followed by a panel discussion with corporate executives who will shed light on their companies' mediation journeys and how they overcame challenges along the way to forge a new approach for their companies.

· Complexification and Contextuality by the Singapore International Commercial Court. This panel on resolving multi-party/multi-contract disputes with SICC's Technology, Infrastructure and Construction List (TIC List) will discuss the challenges of managing complex disputes, and how the TIC List is structured to address complexification and provide contextuality to achieve outcomes that may be fair, effective, and preserve business relations.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law, Mr Edwin Tong SC, said: "We are honoured that the SC Week has received overwhelming support from partner organisations and individuals from around the world. The number of events and registrations has increased year after year. We hope that the SC Week will serve as a useful platform for users, practitioners and policymakers to come together, to discuss how the dispute resolution system can be improved to resolve cross-border disputes more efficiently and effectively. This will provide greater confidence to businesses and investors, and facilitate global trade and commerce."

Ms Anna Joubin-Bret, Secretary of UNCITRAL, said: "We are proud to once again co-organise with MinLaw the UNCITRAL Academy during the SC Week. In today's rapidly evolving global landscape, we must continue to keep abreast with the latest as well as emerging issues in dispute resolution. We must continue to harmonise and fine tune our dispute resolution frameworks so that they remain efficient, relevant and fit-for-purpose. We are confident that the UNCITRAL Academy and other activities held throughout SC Week will help us to achieve this – by exchanging our experiences and ideas, by fostering deeper understanding, and by anticipating and equipping ourselves to respond to tomorrow's challenges today."

Visit https://www.singaporeconventionweek.sg to register for SC Week 2023 and get the latest updates.

Annex A: Programme of UNCITRAL Academy

More details can be found at: https://www.singaporeconventionweek.sg/sc-weeks-events.html

UNCITRAL Academy Conference and Industry Capacity-Building Workshop – 29 August 2023

Shangri-La Singapore

22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350

9.30am – 5.30pm

Time	Activity
8.30am	Registration
9.30am	Conference Opening
9.35am	Welcome Address, Mr Edwin Tong SC, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law
9.45am	Opening Remarks, Ms Anna Joubin-Bret, Secretary of UNCITRAL
9.50am	Panel Discussion: Dispute Resolution in the Digital Economy (DRDE)
10.30am	Fireside Chat: The Future of International Dispute Settlement Involving States
11.00am	Panel Discussion: Investor-State Mediation
12.00pm	Panel Discussion: Navigating Inter-Cultural Needs in Mediation and Arbitration
12.45pm	Networking Lunch
2.00pm	Industry Capacity-Building Workshop - Mediation Advocacy: From Breakdown to Breakthrough
3.30pm	Panel Discussion: Dispute Resolution in Carbon Markets
4.15pm	Debate: Robots are Better Arbitrators and Mediators than Humans
5.30pm	End of Conference

UNCITRAL Academy Government and Investor-State Dispute Settlement Capacity-Building Workshops – 30 and 31 August 2023

*Closed-door and by invitation only for government officials

Date	Time	Activity
30 August 2023, Wednesday	7pm – 9.15pm	UNCITRAL Academy Government Capacity-Building Workshop
31 August 2023, Thursday	7pm – 9.30pm	UNCITRAL Academy Investor-State Dispute Settlement Capacity-Building Workshop

Annex B: SC Week 2023 Supporting Partner Organisations and Events

More details can be found at: https://www.singaporeconventionweek.sg/sc-weeks-events.html

No.	Title of Event	Organising Partner(s)	Time	Venue
28 August 2023, Monday
1	SIAC Symposium	Singapore International Arbitration Centre	8.30am – 6.00pm	Shangri-La Singapore 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350
29 August 2023, Tuesday
2	Launch of the 2023 SIDRA International Dispute Resolution Survey Preliminary Findings	Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy	8.00am – 9.15am	*By Invitation Only
30 August 2023, Wednesday
3	Commodities Arbitration: A Concise Survey of the Latest Procedural and Substantive Developments	The LCIA Asia Pacific Users' Council and The LCIA Director General	8.30am – 9.15am	Maxwell Chambers 32 Maxwell Rd, #03-01, Singapore 069115
4	Careers in Arbitration Edition: Would You Rather?	AAA-ICDR Young and International (Y&I)	8.30am – 9.30am	White & Case Pte Ltd 88 Market St, #41-01, CapitaSpring 048948
5	IPBA Arbitration Day: Tackling Current Grey Areas in Arbitration – Towards Certainty and Finality	Inter-Pacific Bar Association	9.30am – 5.00pm	Maxwell Chambers 32 Maxwell Rd, #03-01, Singapore 069115
6	SIMC Signature Event: MNCs for Mediation	Singapore International Mediation Centre	10.00am - 1.00pm	Shangri-La Singapore 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350 *By Invitation Only
7	The Singapore Mediation Convention on Trial: A Live Enactment of An Application to Set Aside a Mediated Settlement Agreement under the Singapore Convention	The Law Society of Singapore, Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, Society of Mediation Professionals (Singapore)	3.00pm – 5.30pm	Maxwell Chambers 32 Maxwell Rd, #03-01, Singapore 069115
8	Emergency Arbitration 101: Latest Trends and Developments	Young ICCA	4.00pm – 5.40pm	Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP 9 Straits View #06-07 Marina One West Tower, 018937 *Hybrid Event
9	Complexification and Contextuality – Resolving Multi-Party/Multi-Contract Disputes with SICC's TIC List	Singapore International Commercial Court	5.00pm – 6.30pm	Maxwell Chambers 32 Maxwell Rd, #03-01, Singapore 069115
10	100 Years of ICC International Court of Arbitration: A Mission of Purpose and a Vision of Continuity	International Chamber of Commerce	5.00pm – 7.30pm	Grand Ballroom, JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach 30 Beach Road Singapore 189763
11	The Composite Approach on Arbitrability and the Anupam Mittal Singapore Judgement – Path Forward or Paradox?	Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration	6:30pm – 8:45pm	Drew & Napier LLC 10 Collyer Quay, #10th Floor Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore 049315
12	Restructuring by the Bay: Will Singapore Become the New Restructuring Destination For APAC (and Beyond)?	INSOL International	7.00pm – 8.30pm	Shangri-La Singapore 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350 *Hybrid Event
31 August 2023, Thursday
13	GAR Live: Singapore	Global Arbitration Review	8.30am – 5.00pm	M Hotel Singapore 81 Anson Rd, Singapore 079908
14	Facilitative and Evaluative Models of Mediation: Is the Distinction Still Meaningful, or Simply Arcane Semantics? Is it Time to Bring Evaluative Mediation out of the Shadows?	Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Singapore) with Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy and Singapore International Mediation Centre	11.30pm – 2.00pm	Maxwell Chambers 32 Maxwell Rd, #03-01, Singapore 069115 *Hybrid Event
15	Singapore Mediation Lecture 2023 - The Next Wave of Effective Dispute Resolution: Developing Emotional and Social Intelligence	Singapore Mediation Centre	3.00pm – 5.00pm	Conrad Centennial Singapore 2 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038982 *Hybrid Event
16	Unfolding Conversations: To Arbitrate or to Mediate? Deciding on the Most Appropriate ADR to Resolve Maritime and International Trade Disputes	Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration	5.00pm – 7.00pm	Stephenson Harwood (Singapore) Alliance 8 Marina Boulevard 29-01, Tower 1 Marina Bay Financial Centre, 018981 *Hybrid Event
17	Legal Counsel Summit 2023	Singapore Corporate Counsel Association	5.00pm - 8.00pm	Supreme Court
18	From Algorithm to Awards: The Role of AI in Arbitration and Mediation	AAA-ICDR Asia Case Management Centre	5.30pm – 7.00pm	Maxwell Chambers 32 Maxwell Rd, #03-01, Singapore 069115 *Hybrid Event
19	150 Years of Swiss Arbitration: Quo Vadis in Asia?	Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA)	6:00pm-8:00pm	Maxwell Chambers 32 Maxwell Rd, #03-01, Singapore 069115
20	Much Ado About Pre-Conditions: A Mock Arbitration Hearing	SG VYAP (Singapore Very Young Arbitration Practitioners)	6.30pm – 9:00pm	*Hybrid Event Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee 50 Collyer Quay #10-01 OUE Bayfront, Singapore 049321
21	Charting Course of Dispute Resolution in Singapore: A Round Table Dinner Discussion with ICDR President, Bridget Mary McCormack	AAA-ICDR Asia Case Management Centre	7.15pm – 8.30pm	*By Invitation Only
1 September 2023, Friday
22	A Fireside Chat with Leaders in Mediation: Navigating the Industry as Young Mediators and Mediation Counsel	The Law Society of Singapore	9.00am – 12.00pm	Drew & Napier LLC 10 Collyer Quay, #10th Floor Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore 049315
23	A Review of Emerging Themes in ADR (2023 version)	International Bar Association	9.00am – 2.30pm	Maxwell Chambers 32 Maxwell Rd, #03-01, Singapore 069115
24	Applied Arbitration for Fellows	Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Singapore)	9.00am – 7.00pm	Allen & Gledhill LLP 1 Marina Blvd, #28-00, Singapore 018989
25	Maxwell Chambers Open House	Maxwell Chambers	10.00am – 10.30am 2.30pm – 3.00pm	Maxwell Chambers 32 Maxwell Rd, #03-01, Singapore 069115
26	ROAP Asia 2023 Finals	Delos Dispute Resolution	1.20pm – 6.20pm	Wong Partnership 12 Marina Blvd, Tower 3 Marina Bay Financial Centre, Singapore 018982 *Hybrid event
27	Getting the Most Out of the Singapore Convention in Investor-State Disputes	NUS Centre for International Law	2.30pm – 3.45pm	*Virtual Event
28	ADR and Arbitration Forward – Regional Updates and Perspectives	Beihai Asia International Arbitration Centre	3.00pm – 5.00pm	Harry Elias Partnership LLP SGX Centre 2, #17-01, 4 Shenton Way, Singapore 068807
29	Generative AI and Implications for ADR: A Watershed Moment?	Maxwell Chambers	3.15pm – 4.30pm	Maxwell Chambers 32 Maxwell Rd, #03-01, Singapore 069115
30	Ensuring Quality in Cross-Border Mediation: The Place of Standards	Singapore International Mediation Institute	4.30pm – 6.00pm	*Virtual Event
2 September 2023, Saturday
31	Applied Arbitration for Fellows	Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Singapore)	9.00am – 7.00pm	Allen & Gledhill LLP 1 Marina Blvd, #28-00, Singapore 018989

Supporting Partner Organisations

United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
American Arbitration Association – International Centre for Dispute Resolution Asia Case Management Centre (AAA-ICDR Asia Case Management Centre)
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Singapore) (CIArb)
Delos Dispute Resolution
Global Arbitration Review (GAR)
INSOL International
International Centre for Dispute Resolution Asia Case Management Centre Young and International (AAA-ICDR Young and International (Y&I))
International Bar Association (IBA)
International Court of Arbitration (ICC)
Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA)
Maxwell Chambers
MCIA (tbc)
NUS Centre for International Law (NUS CIL)
Singapore Corporate Counsel Association (SCCA)
Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA)
Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (SIArb)
Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)
Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC)
Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy (SIDRA)
Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC)
Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI)
Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC)
Singapore Very Young Arbitration Practitioners (SG VYAP)
Society of Mediation Professionals (Singapore) (SMP)
Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA)
The Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc)
The London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
Young ICCA