Singapore becomes the leading hub in commercial justice
As global trade and investment flows evolve in a multipolar world, Singapore has positioned itself as a global hub for resolving international business disputes. The Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC), established in 2015, has become the basis of this transformation, offering innovative solutions to address the complexities of cross-border commerce.
The SICC operates as part of the Singapore High Court, handling international commercial disputes, arbitration proceedings and cross-border insolvencies. Its jurisdiction even extends to cases with no direct connection to Singapore, showing the trust international businesses place in the country’s legal expertise.
A key factor in the SICC’s success is its ability to bridge diverse legal traditions. It accommodates both civil and common law systems, offering procedural tracks tailored to each approach. This ensures that businesses from various jurisdictions can engage with a system that suits their needs. The court also employs hybrid methods, such as judge-led case management from civil law traditions and oral evidence-testing common in common law systems.
The court’s bench comprises judges from jurisdictions around the world, including the United States, China, France and India, ensuring extensive and diverse expertise. In one case, the SICC allowed arguments from legal counsel representing multiple national laws, demonstrating its adaptability in handling disputes involving complex legal frameworks.
Singapore is also fostering international collaboration through its legal initiatives. In 2025, the SICC will launch an International Committee to handle appeals from international commercial courts outside Singapore. This move comes from a partnership with Bahrain, where the SICC’s new committee will hear appeals from the Bahrain International Commercial Court (BICC).
Beyond its courts, Singapore actively engages with international legal frameworks, including the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the Hague Conference on Private International Law. These organizations provide model laws and conventions that underpin many aspects of cross-border commerce, such as arbitration, insolvency and electronic transactions. Singapore’s own contributions include the 2018 Singapore Convention on Mediation, a key tool for streamlining cross-border dispute resolution.
