APPG fact-finding trip to Singapore

As Secretariat to the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for Alternative Dispute Resolution, CIArb have coordinated a Parliamentary delegation to Singapore to explore how the city-state has established itself as such a global leader for dispute resolution. From Monday 19 August 2019, Director-General Anthony Abrahams, Regional Director Camilla Godman and Head of Policy Lewis Johnston will accompany John Howell MP and John Spellar MP for a packed week of meetings, briefings and events designed to offer deep insights into the dispute resolution landscape in Singapore.

As Chair of the APPG for ADR for 5 years, John Howell has a keen interest in promoting ADR and arbitration in the UK, and earlier this year he joined CIArb as an Associate Member. John Spellar is a former Government Minister with a particular interest in international trade and investment, and as Chair of the APPG for Singapore he has extensive links with the country. Both MPs are excited by the opportunity to engage with the ADR community in Singapore and draw lessons for policymakers in the UK.

The programme for the trip includes meetings with the Attorney-General, Chief Justice, Senior Minister for Law, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, chief executives of the key arbitration and mediation institutions and leading lights from the Singapore business community. They want to gain a first-hand understanding of how ADR has been integrated in the Singapore dispute resolution framework, how the country has established itself as a leading global disputes hub, and how the business community engages with dispute resolution. They intend to use their findings to formulate policy proposals for the UK Government on how ADR and arbitration can be more effectively promoted and developed.

Lewis Johnston, CIArb Head of Policy:

“We are delighted to have been able to organize this fact-finding trip for the APPG. The CIArb Policy team work with Governments and policy-makers around the world to help foster a more vibrant and effective culture of dispute avoidance and resolution, and this trip is an excellent opportunity for the MPs to share best practice and deepen their understanding of how Singapore has achieved such success in promoting its own ADR and arbitration sectors”.