Resources
SIAC COVID-19 FAQs
General Enquiries
Yes, SIAC remains fully operational. While our physical offices in Singapore are closed on certain days, all SIAC staff are telecommuting. Please refer to the “SIAC Notices” and the “SIAC Operating Hours” on the SIAC homepage for the office opening hours.
Until SIAC’s physical offices reopen, we kindly request that all communications with SIAC be via email.
• All general queries relating to case administration should be directed to casemanagement@siac-staging.cloudwps.net. Any queries relating to an existing case should be directed to the relevant SIAC Case Counsel. We request that you consider adopting the procedures set out in the attached SIAC Case Management Update to ensure minimal disruption to ongoing arbitration proceedings, and smooth access to our various services.
• All other queries should be directed to corpcomms@siac-staging.cloudwps.net.
• Please refrain from sending physical copies of documents or other material, or facsimiles, to our office during this period.
In the event that you have a time sensitive query which requires an urgent response, please call +65 6713 9777 or email casemanagement@siac-staging.cloudwps.net.
As SIAC’s physical offices are closed, we request that all payments to SIAC be made via electronic bank transfer only. Please contact us at casemanagement@siac-staging.cloudwps.net for our bank details.
In the event that you have a time sensitive query which requires an urgent response, please call us +65 6713 9777 or email casemanagement@siac-staging.cloudwps.net.
Yes, as SIAC is fully functional, there is no impediment in filing a Notice of Arbitration via email. In this regard, please note the email size should not exceed 5MB. If necessary, please send the documents in multiple emails.
Yes, SIAC arbitrations are continuing subject to the prevailing COVID-19 situation where the parties, counsels and tribunal are located.
SIAC’s offices will be reopened when the Singapore government announces that workplaces can be re-opened.
Users / Parties
Yes. Should you wish to commence a case with SIAC, we request that any Notice of Arbitration be filed via email at casemanagement@siac-staging.cloudwps.net. Please note email size should not exceed 5MB. If necessary, please send the documents in multiple emails.
We request that all payments to SIAC are to be made via electronic bank transfer only.
For new cases, please contact us at casemanagement@siac-staging.cloudwps.net for our bank details. You will also be provided with a reference number to facilitate future communications with SIAC.
For existing cases with SIAC, the relevant SIAC Case Counsel or Case Management Officer will be in touch as regards payment details.
No, SIAC’s overseas representative offices do not handle case management. They therefore cannot accept notices of arbitration, nor can they accept payments for SIAC cases.
Time limits and the amount of deposits payable towards the costs of the arbitration are fixed by the Registrar under Rule 34 of the SIAC Rules 2016. This rule remains in effect. If COVID-19 has resulted in circumstances that will delay your payment of the deposits, please make a formal request to SIAC for an extension of time for making payment, copying the other party and the Tribunal (if constituted).
No. There is no discount on the SIAC fees, which have remained unchanged since August 2016. Please refer to the SIAC Schedule of Fees.
As SIAC’s physical offices are currently closed, please refrain from sending physical copies of documents or other material, or facsimiles, to our office during this period.
For new cases, all documents should be sent via email to casemanagement@siac-staging.cloudwps.net. For existing cases, documents may be sent to the relevant SIAC Case Counsel and Case Management Officer.
Arrangements for delivery of hard copies (if necessary) can be made after SIAC’s physical offices reopen.
Under Rule 2.6 of the SIAC Rules 2016, the Registrar may extend any time limits prescribed under the Rules (except as otherwise provided by the Rules). If COVID-19 has resulted in circumstances that will prevent you from meeting any timelines set forth in the Rules, please make a formal application to SIAC for an extension of time, copying the other party and the Tribunal (if constituted).
Applications for emergency interim relief under the SIAC Rules should be filed via email at casemanagement@siac-staging.cloudwps.net. If practicable, please notify us in advance of any intended application so that we may make the necessary arrangements to ensure that the application is processed promptly.
Yes, the SIAC Court is fully functional. Any applications made to the SIAC Court, including the President and Vice-Presidents, will be considered in the usual course.
Yes. Parties should however consider whether in light of the potential disruptions caused by COVID-19, they will still be able to effectively prepare and present their case under expedited timelines.
No, ongoing SIAC arbitrations are not affected by the closure of SIAC’s physical offices. SIAC remains fully operational with all staff telecommuting.
Where in-person hearings are impossible or impracticable, parties should discuss with the tribunal other options to an in-person hearing, such as proceeding with the hearing virtually or via teleconferencing. Maxwell Chambers offers hybrid and virtual hearing services, which may be suitable for parties. More information is available here.
For less complex cases, the parties may consider adopting a documents-only procedure in lieu of a hearing. Parties should discuss such alternative procedures with the tribunal.
No. The SIAC Rules 2016 do not prohibit virtual hearings or the conduct of hearings by any means other than in-person. Rule 19.1 of the SIAC Rules 2016 provides that the tribunal shall conduct the arbitration in such manner as it considers appropriate, after consulting with the parties, to ensure the fair, expeditious, economical and final resolution of the dispute. Parties may therefore wish to discuss with tribunals the use of virtual hearings solutions, if appropriate for the case at hand.
A virtual hearing may be conducted in a manner considered appropriate by the tribunal, in consultation with the parties.
We encourage parties to refer to the SIAC Guide: Taking Your Arbitration Remote, which sets out checklists created by the SIAC Secretariat to assist users to effectively navigate the use of audio conference, videoconference, and other non-physical means of communications in their arbitration cases.
We encourage the parties to discuss the conduct of the virtual hearing with the tribunal, including but not limited to, the procedure for witness testimony and measures to ensure the security and confidentiality of the hearing.
Yes, in-person hearings are currently possible at Maxwell Chambers, subject to compliance with the relevant COVID-19 measures implemented by the Singapore government. In addition, virtual hearings and hybrid hearings are also conducted at Maxwell Chambers. Information on Maxwell Chambers' hybrid and virtual hearing services is available here.
Applications for authentication and certification should be submitted via email at casemanagement@siac-staging.cloudwps.net.
Please let us have a completed Request Form for Authentication/ Certification Services. The relevant charges can be found here.
Awards registered in the SIAC Registry of Awards will first be transmitted to parties via email, with original hard copies to follow by courier. SIAC will endeavor to deliver the original awards as soon as practicable. However, parties should be prepared for the possibility of longer delivery times due to reduced courier service in certain areas.
Yes. Both SIAC and SIMC remain fully operational with all staff telecommuting. Please refer to the SIMC website for more details.
Arbitrators
Tribunals should discuss with the parties whether any in-person hearings should be rescheduled or cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and measures implemented by individual countries. To mitigate any delays due to travel difficulties or “lockdowns”, tribunals may wish to consider holding hearings using virtual hearing facilities, videoconferencing and teleconferencing. Information on Maxwell Chambers' virtual ADR services is available here.
Tribunals may wish to pay heed to, inter alia:
- any restrictions currently in place at the venue where the hearing is scheduled to take place;
- any movement or travel restrictions in place in the jurisdiction where parties, witnesses and counsel are based;
- whether any time limits applicable to the arbitration proceedings should be varied or extended;
- any inconvenience posed to the parties, witnesses or counsel;
- measures to be implemented for hearing participants having regard to their recent travel history, daily health checks, need for physical distancing and registration of participants to ensure accountability.
In deciding on the appropriate procedures for the conduct of SIAC arbitrations, including any hearings, tribunals should make every reasonable effort to ensure the fair, expeditious and economical conclusion of the arbitration and the enforceability of any award.
SIAC currently does not offer any video conferencing facilities which can be used for hearings. As an alternative, you may wish to consider the virtual ADR hearing solutions offered by Maxwell Chambers, the details of which are available here.
Yes. SIAC and its Secretariat remain fully operational and are working remotely in accordance with implemented measures.
We encourage the tribunal in existing SIAC cases to discuss this question with the relevant SIAC Case Counsel.
As jurisdictional requirements may vary, we encourage tribunals in existing SIAC cases to discuss this question with the relevant SIAC Case Counsel.
Tribunals are requested to send the signed awards via email to the relevant SIAC Case Counsel. SIAC will register and transmit the signed award via email first, with original hard copies to follow by courier once available. SIAC will endeavour to deliver the original awards as soon as practicable. However, parties should be prepared for the possibility of longer delivery times due to reduced courier service in certain areas.
