Media Release: New Publication Charts the Singapore International Commercial Court's Decade of Innovation in International Commercial Justice

5     At the book launch, The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon highlighted the key role of the SICC within the transnational system of commercial justice. He noted that the SICC has promoted the development of a coherent and sophisticated body of transnational commercial law, as well as pioneered innovative systems, processes and practices to address the growing complexity and cost of transnational commercial disputes. Additionally, the SICC has strengthened the place of international arbitration by facilitating the enforcement of awards and preventing re-litigation while upholding standards of natural justice to safeguard its legitimacy. The court has also supported a stable rules-based international legal order through its jurisprudence and partnerships with foreign judiciaries. This commitment is exemplified by the SICC’s partnership with the Kingdom of Bahrain to establish the Bahrain International Commercial Court (BICC), which is set to launch later this year. This collaboration is a topic discussed in the book by President of the BICC Professor Jan Paulsson.

6     To serve as a trusted and reliable forum, the SICC is designed and developed with bespoke features aligned with the expectations and needs of commercial parties. Chief Justice Menon highlighted in the foreword to the book that its most distinctive and defining feature is its diverse panel of eminent and experienced commercial jurists, hailing from both civil law and common law jurisdictions. To further support its work, the SICC will welcome two new international judges from New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with appointments effective January 2026.

7     Reflecting on the publication's significance, Justice Jeyaretnam observed that "the chapters distil the essence of the SICC's body of work” and that they consider “how the ideals of efficiency, fairness and impartiality are achieved through flexible procedures responsive to the needs and realities of international commerce”.

The Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) is a division of the General Division of the Singapore High Court. Established in 2015, it has gained a reputation as a leading and trusted neutral forum for effective transnational dispute resolution. The SICC bench comprises a diverse panel of eminent international and local Judges experienced in specialist commercial disputes. Described as “arbitration in litigation”, the SICC combines the best practices of international arbitration with the substantive principles of international commercial law. Procedures are flexible and may be tailored to suit parties’ preferences in many aspects, and foreign lawyers may represent parties in certain circumstances. Yet the SICC retains the key advantages of litigation such as the right of appeal and published judgments, as well as issuing orders for the joinder of third and related parties - vital in multi-party/multi-contract scenarios. Parties around the world choose to resolve their disputes before the SICC because it offers a truly unique and cost-effective dispute resolution option.

For more information, please visit www.sicc.gov.sg. 

Mr Francis Xavier SC

Regional Head of Dispute Resolution, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP

Justice Sir Vivian Ramsey

International Judge, SICC

Mr Thio Shen Yi SC

Joint Managing Partner, TSMP Law Corporation

Ms Charis Tan 

Partner, Peter & Kim

This landmark publication by Academy Publishing under the Singapore Court Series offers a definitive account of the evolution, development and impact of the Singapore International Commercial Court (“SICC”) since its inception and in commemoration of its tenth anniversary. Charting New Waters: The Singapore International Commercial Court After Ten Years brings together distinguished jurists, judges and practitioners to examine the innovations of the SICC, its practice in the commercial dispute resolution space and contribution to the development of transnational commercial jurisprudence.

This book explores the SICC’s distinctive features – from its flexible and innovative procedures, its approach to foreign law and representation by foreign counsel, to its role in building bridges between legal traditions. Through a series of essays, case commentaries and analyses, it charts a decade of the SICC’s pioneering work which demonstrate the hallmarks of litigation which it has been synonymous with, containing deep reflections on the emerging architecture of transnational commercial justice and the international commercial dispute resolution as a system, as well as a deep dive into specialist areas such as arbitration, restructuring and insolvency, technology, infrastructure and construction.

Containing reflections on notable decisions, finer points of practice and procedure and key aspects in commercial litigation, this seminal publication cements the SICC’s reputation as a respected commercial court within the global legal order. Charting New Waters: The Singapore International Commercial Court After Ten Years is essential reading for anyone who is interested in the future of international dispute resolution and is both an excellent resource and a practical guide offering new insights and forward-looking perspectives. The book marks a significant moment in the story of Singapore as a global legal services hub and demonstrates how the SICC has contributed to the international rule of law, by providing a trusted forum for resolving complex transnational disputes in response to the needs of a dynamic, globalised economy.