Asia-Pacific Regional Conference 2019

CIArb Asia-Pacific Regional Conference 2019 was held on 23 April 2019 in Singapore. The conference was entitled “The Future of International Dispute Resolution: Innovation and Insights from the Asia-Pacific Region”.

Hosted by the Singapore CIArb branch in conjunction with the Australia, East Asia, Malaysia and Thailand CIArb branches, this conference brought together over 180 international arbitration practitioners from across the Asia-Pacific Region.

The conference started with a breakfast session featuring the thoughts of in-house counsel on how dispute resolution should develop. Subsequent panels examined Asia’s role in shaping the future of international alternative dispute resolution, from the development of the arbitral institutions to procedural innovations such as witness conferencing, and the use of the Prague Rules in civil and common law jurisdictions. The conference explored the use of alternative dispute resolution such as dispute boards in construction and infrastructure projects, including China’s One-Belt One Road initiative, and mediation in international disputes.

The conference also launched the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Guidelines on Witness Conferencing in International Arbitration. 

Camilla Godman (CIArb Director for the Far East and Australasia) commented:

“Feedback from the participants was that the conference content was highly relevant with a refreshing programme of topics. The New Voices session, giving young members an opportunity to present their ideas on the future of international disputes resolution, was a highlight. The launch of the new Witness Conference Guidelines was also well received by the audience.”

Chou Sean Yu (Chairman of the Board of CIArb Singapore Branch) added:

“The Singapore Branch was extremely pleased to have been able to organise the inaugural CIArb Asia Pacific Regional Conference in close collaboration with its sister Branches in the Asia Pacific, and which proved to be a resounding success with close to 180 delegates.”

Photos from the conference are available here.