1st Conference on International Investment Arbitration 2010

The Centre for International Law (CIL) organised a global conference on International Investment Arbitration on 20 January 2010 at the Supreme Court of Singapore. The conference brought together more than 160 international law experts and practitioners from Asia, Europe and the Americas to Singapore to discuss emerging issues in international investment arbitration.

Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong was the Guest-of-Honour. In his speech, the Chief Justice stated that he was “extremely pleased that so many leading lights in this area of legal practice – have joined us in taking this first step in a journey of a thousand miles”.

Meg Kinnear, Secretary-General of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), was CIL’s distinguished lunch speaker. Ms Kinnear revealed that “economic growth has been matched by an increase in the use of arbitration in the Asia-Pacific region”.

Topics discussed at the conference included:

1. Are Tribunals Setting New Limits On Access To International Jurisdiction?
2. Corruption: How Should Tribunals Deal With Evidence Of Corruption In The Making Of An Investment Or The Securing Of Government Permits?
3. Is There A Special Role For Precedent In Investment Arbitration?
4. The Articles On State Responsibility: How Have Tribunals Dealt With Them?

The conference on 20 January 2010 was preceded by a reception in the evening of 19 January 2010 at the Viewing Gallery of the Supreme Court of Singapore, which was graced by the Attorney-General of Singapore, Professor Walter Woon.

Conference presentations published as articles in ICSID Review

Articles based on presentations at that conference have been published in the 25th volume of the ICSID Review which is published by the World Bank. The topics discussed during the Conference and examined in this issue include: access to international jurisdiction; corruption in the making of an investment; the role of precedent in international arbitration; and the role played by the Articles on State Responsibility in international arbitration. Details of how the volume may be ordered can be found here.

Speech

Welcome remarks by Guest-of-Honour Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong

Conference eFlyer

To download the conference eFlyer in PDF format, please click here.