MTECC's Singapore Launch
27/10/09 Dr D CharrettSix members of MTECC attended the Dispute Resolution in the Oil and Gas Sector conference in Singapore on 26 and 27 October, and provided delegates with information on MTECC and the skills of its members.
The conference was organised by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), a division of the American Arbitration Association.
The MTECC members who travelled to Singapore, John Digby QC, Richard Manly SC, Dr Donald Charrett, Nick Hopkins, Nick Pane and Toby Shnookal, agreed that sponsoring and attending the conference had been a worthwhile opportunity to "launch" MTECC in Singapore, and announce our presence and availability to undertake work in the area.
MTECC delegates to the conference expanded their normal horizons by attending sessions on the emergence of a "lex petrolia", and on the range of disputes and remedies in the oil and gas sector. An emerging an important trend is the expansion in the use of investment treaties to protect companies from illegitimate action by governments or courts. Other types of disputes peculiar to the oil and gas industry discussed included boundary disputes in which more than one country claim sovereignty over specific islands (a particularly complex issue in the South China Sea), and environmental and decommissioning disputes which can arise many years after the initial production contracts are entered into. MTECC's members gained valuable insights into the influence of oil and gas technology on the disputes arising in the industry, whilst recognising the commonality of issues with the more familiar construction disputes, such as expert evidence and ADR methods.
At the conclusion of the conference, delegates were given a guided tour of Maxwell Chambers, a newly refurbished and impressive building which provides modern facilities for the conduct of international arbitrations. These Chambers was set up by the Singapore Government to assist in promoting Singapore as a regional centre for international arbitration. There are 14 hearing rooms of different sizes and configurations, supported by the necessary infrastructure such as Internet, translation booths and transcription facilities. The Chambers also have an Arbitrator's lounge, a gym and two restaurants. These modern facilities are superior to anything available for arbitrations in Australia, and will clearly be instrumental in attracting international arbitration to Singapore.
On 28 October, Richard Manly SC, Donald Charrett, Nick Pane and Toby Shnookal gave a well-received seminar on fast track arbitration to the lawyers at Freehills in Singapore.