CIL is pleased to announce that one of its Researchers, Ms. Harpreet Kaur Dhillon, is the recipient of the first prize in an essay competition jointly organised by the Singapore branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and Thirty Nine Essex Street Chambers. The competition targets young practitioners working or resident in Singapore, giving them an opportunity to air their views on a critical issue which has arisen in the developing field of international arbitration. The topic for 2013 was inspired by Singapore’s Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon’s speech at the International Council for Commercial Arbitration Congress in June 2012: “A regulatory regime for arbitrators and increased arbitral accountability: ideas to reinvigorate arbitration or stifle it?” The results of the competition were announced at a CIArb event on 30 May 2013 at the Ritz Carlton, Singapore, by Minister of State Ms. Indranee Rajah, who was the Guest of Honour and presented the prizes to the recipients. The competition offered 3 prizes, in first, second and third positions. Harpreet has been awarded a monetary prize of S$2,000 and the chance to have her essay published in CIArb’s International Arbitration Journal. The keynote speaker of the evening was Mr. Neil Block QC of Thirty Nine Essex Street Chambers, who commended participants on the quality of their submissions, and encouraged their further participation in such initiatives. Harpreet works with Senior Principal Research Fellow Mr. Christopher Thomas, Q.C., in investment treaty law and arbitration at CIL, and assists in CIL’s Singapore International Arbitration Academy.

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