A lecture dedicated to the role of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)

On December 10, 2025, the Faculty of Law at the Higher School of Economics (HSE) hosted a lecture dedicated to the role of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) in resolving international disputes. During the event, participants were introduced to the recent amendments to the SIAC Rules and received valuable insights from SIAC representatives.

🔹 Mr Vivekananda Neelakantan, Registrar of the Court of Arbitration of SIAC, discussed the recently introduced changes to the SIAC Rules. Particular attention was given to the new expedited arbitration procedures, which significantly reduce the timelines for dispute resolution. Mr Neelakantan also highlighted the implementation of a new mechanism for urgent interim relief and important improvements in the process of referring cases for partial consideration — all of which make arbitration more responsive to the needs of businesses in an ever-changing global environment.

🔹 Ms Margarita Drobyshevskaia, Deputy Counsel of the SIAC Secretariat, shared her expertise on the scrutiny process of arbitral awards. This process allows for a deeper review of arbitral awards, thereby enhancing the quality of awards and strengthening trust in the international arbitration system.

Following the lecture, a Q&A session was held, where participants had the opportunity to learn more about the specifics of arbitration in Singapore. Among the questions raised were issues such as the legal framework governing arbitration procedures in Singapore, the future prospects for arbitration practice in the region, and trends shaping the future of international arbitration.

Thank you to everyone who joined the event! We hope that the insights shared will deepen your understanding of international arbitration and prove valuable in your future professional practice.