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

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC). First established on 5 January 2015 as a division of the Singapore High Court, the SICC provides a neutral forum for handling cross-border commercial disputes, including those governed by foreign law. The SICC combines the best practices of international arbitration with the substantive principles of international commercial law, with cases heard by eminent international and local judges who are experienced specialist commercial judges. 

To commemorate this jubilee year, more than 420 local and international delegates from across 15 jurisdictions will be meeting at the SICC Conference 2025. 

The conference, organised by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) in collaboration with SICC from 14 to 15 January at the ParkRoyal Collection Marina Bay Singapore, serves as a useful platform to foster discussions about the role of commercial courts in managing complex cross-border disputes. 

The conference features a stellar list of about 30 speakers and panellists from Singapore and overseas. Please refer to Annex A for more information on the programme, speakers and panellists. 

In additional commemoration of this significant milestone, Academy Publishing will be collaborating with SICC on a book, titled ‘Charting New Waters: The Singapore International Commercial Court after 10 years’. Slated for publication in September 2025, the book will delve into the SICC's procedures, rules and best practices, offering insights into case management, jurisdictional issues, evidence, trial preparation and the enforcement of SICC judgments, amongst other relevant topics. The book aims to equip legal practitioners with a thorough understanding of the ins and outs of the SICC from practitioners closely associated with the SICC, including International Judges and Senior Counsel. 

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. 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. 

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”. 

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”. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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." 

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.”