25 August 2026, Tuesday
START OF CONFERENCE
WELCOME ADDRESS
Speaker:
Edwin TONG SC, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs
OPENING REMARKS
Speaker:
Anna JOUBIN-BRET, Secretary of United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
PANEL DISCUSSION
TRUST AS THE NEW CURRENCY: VALUES IN A TECH-DRIVEN WORLD
As technology transforms dispute management and resolution, the legal profession faces a challenge: embracing innovation while preserving the trust that underpins justice and international commerce. At a time when AI and digital platforms promise greater efficiency and accessibility, their success ultimately depends on whether businesses, practitioners and institutions can trust the systems they rely upon.
This session will bring together leaders from law and technology, to examine how trust can be designed into legal technologies, and how governments, institutions and technology providers can work together to safeguard and sustain trust in an increasingly digital world.
Moderator:
Ilona LOGVINOVA, Chief AI Officer, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Speakers:
CHOO Wei-Pin, Chief Corporate Officer, Razer Inc.
Siraj OMAR SC, Founding Director, Siraj Omar LLC
Guy PENDELL, Chair of the Lawtech Start Up pinq, and Disputes Partner at CMS in London
SUN Huawei, Senior Counsel of Zhong Lun Law Firm, HKIAC’s Vice-Chair, HKIAC Proceedings Committee Member
COFFEE BREAK
UNCITRAL ACADEMY INDUSTRY CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP
THE AI-ENABLED MEDIATION: INNOVATION, ETHICS AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE, AND THE FUTURE OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Held as part of the UNCITRAL Academy Conference and in partnership with the SIMC, this workshop focuses on the practical application of AI in mediation and will complement and build on the broader discussions taking place at the Conference.
Through a presentation and panel discussion, participants will learn how AI tools can support mediators in managing complex, multi‑party and cross‑border disputes. The session will also explore key considerations relating to responsible use, access to justice and emerging governance frameworks - including the role of UNCITRAL and whether early standards may be needed to guide the development of such technologies.
*This workshop is a hybrid event with in-person attendance at Shangri-La Singapore.
Spotlight Presentation:
CHUAN Wee Meng, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore International Mediation Centre
Moderator:
George LIM SC, Chairman, Singapore International Mediation Centre
Speakers:
Jieyun LI, Head of Dispute Resolution and Regulatory Investigations, Alibaba Group
Honorary Professor of Practice Bill MARSH, Leading International Commercial and Investor-State Mediator, based in London and mediating internationally
Byung-Chol (B.C.) YOON, Partner, Kim & Chang
NETWORKING LUNCH
VIDEO PRESENTATION ON THE RATIFICATION PROGRESS OF THE SINGAPORE CONVENTION ON MEDIATION
PANEL DISCUSSION
BACK TO BASICS: THE HUMAN ELEMENT IN DISPUTE RESOLUTION
As AI reshapes how disputes are researched, filed, and managed, where does the value of AI end and where should human judgment prevail?
Technology will continue to improve at an exponential rate and shape the way dispute resolution is conducted. But as global rules and norms continue to shift, clients still look to their lawyers for more than data analysis.
This session will bring together an international panel of experts and practitioners, to explore the impact of AI on dispute resolution as a practice, the expectations of clients today, and the skills and expertise required to deliver a client-centred experience.
Moderator:
Elizabeth SILBERT, Partner, King & Spalding LLP
Speakers:
Ajay DUA, Vice President & Assistant General Counsel, IBM
Hervé EKUÉ, Global Managing Partner, A&O Shearman
Fatima GHAITH, In-House Counsel, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Professor Dr Mimi ZOU, Barrister, Tenth Floor Chambers (Sydney) & Head of School, UNSW School of Private & Commercial Law
COFFEE BREAK
FIRESIDE CHAT
DEBATE
TRUST ME, I’M A LAWYER: LAWYERS WHO USE AI ARE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THOSE WHO DON’T
The rapid advancement of AI tools such as large language models and legal research platforms has transformed the way legal professionals work. Two teams of debaters will consider the provocative question of whether lawyers who harness AI are better equipped to serve their clients than those who rely on traditional methods alone. At the end of the debate, conference attendees will get to cast their vote to decide the winning team.
Moderator:
Toby LANDAU KC, Barrister, Advocate & Arbitrator, Duxton Hill Chambers (Singapore & London)
Speakers:
Sheila AHUJA KC, Partner & Co-Head Asia Pacific Arbitration Group and Joint Chair, India Group, A&O Shearman
Daryl CHEW, Partner, Three Crowns LLP
NG Jern-Fei KC, Advocate & Arbitrator, JFN Chambers LLC
Jelita PANDJAITAN, Partner, Asia Head of Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations, Linklaters Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Lara QUIE, Senior Director, FTI Consulting
Jaikanth SHANKAR, Partner & Chief Executive Officer, Davinder Singh Chambers
END OF CONFERENCE
Number of Public CPD points: 5 (inclusive of 3.5 Public MEC Points)
Practice Area: Alternative Dispute Resolution
Training Level: General
SILE Attendance Policy
Participants who wish to obtain CPD Points are reminded that they must comply strictly with the Attendance Policy set out in the CPD Guidelines. For participants attending the face-to-face activity, this includes signing in on arrival and signing out at the conclusion of the activity in the manner required by the organiser, and not being absent from the activity for more than 15 minutes. For those participating via the webinar, this includes logging in at the start of the webinar and logging out at the conclusion of the webinar in the manner required by the organiser, and not being away from the activity for more than 15 minutes. Participants who do not comply with the Attendance Policy will not be able to obtain CPD Points for attending the activity. Please refer to https://www.sileCPDcentre.sg for more information.
25 August 2026, Tuesday
UNCITRAL ACADEMY INDUSTRY CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP
THE AI-ENABLED MEDIATION: INNOVATION, ETHICS AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE, AND THE FUTURE OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Held as part of the UNCITRAL Academy Conference and in partnership with the SIMC, this workshop focuses on the practical application of AI in mediation and will complement and build on the broader discussions taking place at the Conference.
Through a presentation and panel discussion, participants will learn how AI tools can support mediators in managing complex, multi‑party and cross‑border disputes. The session will also explore key considerations relating to responsible use, access to justice and emerging governance frameworks - including the role of UNCITRAL and whether early standards may be needed to guide the development of such technologies.
*This workshop is a hybrid event with in-person attendance at Shangri-La Singapore.
Spotlight Presentation:
CHUAN Wee Meng, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore International Mediation Centre
Moderator:
George LIM SC, Chairman, Singapore International Mediation Centre
Speakers:
Jieyun LI, Head of Dispute Resolution and Regulatory Investigations, Alibaba Group
Honorary Professor of Practice Bill MARSH, Leading International Commercial and Investor-State Mediator, based in London and mediating internationally
Byung-Chol (B.C.) YOON, Partner, Kim & Chang
27 August 2026, Thursday
UNCITRAL ACADEMY GOVERNMENT CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP (SESSION 1)
(open to all Singapore Convention Week attendees)
In commemoration of UNCITRAL's 60th Anniversary, this year's Workshop will begin with a Special Session titled "The Singapore Convention on Mediation Around the World", where senior government leaders will share their countries’ progress towards adoption of the Convention.
Thereafter, participants will have the opportunity to hear from government representatives on the significance of the Singapore Convention in their diverse countries and their experiences with its practical implementation.
*This event is a hybrid event.
WELCOME REMARKS
Speakers:
Charlene CHANG, Deputy Secretary (Development), Ministry of Law, Singapore
Jae Sung LEE, Principal Legal Officer, United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
SPECIAL SESSION FOR UNCITRAL’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY: THE SINGAPORE CONVENTION ON MEDIATION AROUND THE WORLD
The Special Session, titled “The Singapore Convention on Mediation Around the World”, celebrates UNCITRAL’s 60th Anniversary. Leaders from jurisdictions that have taken concrete steps to become parties to the SCM soon will share the significance of the Singapore Convention to their respective countries as well as what they are doing to progress towards Convention adoption.
Speakers:
HE Delroy CHUCK KC, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of Jamaica
HE Akbar TASHKULOV, Minister of Justice of Uzbekistan
HE Azam Nazeer TARAR, Federal Minister for Law and Justice of Pakistan (recorded)
HE FUKUYAMA Mamoru, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Justice of Japan
HE Lee Jinsoo, Vice-Minister of Justice of the Republic of Korea
HE Dr Jo Farrar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
PANEL DISCUSSION: SCM IMPLEMENTATION INSIGHTS
This session aims to provide participants with insights from government representatives on the significance of the Singapore Convention in their diverse countries and their experiences with its practical implementation.
Moderator:
Professor Nadja ALEXANDER, Professor of Law & Director, Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy, Singapore Management University
Speakers:
Dr Judith KNIEPER, UNCITRAL Legal Officer, Secretary of Working Group II on Dispute Settlement
Delphia LIM, Director, International Legal Division, Ministry of Law, Singapore
Dato' Dr Punitha SILIVARAJOO, Deputy Director General (Policy and Development), Legal Affairs Division, Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia
Yuki YAMADA, Attorney, International Affairs Division, Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Justice, Japan
NETWORKING BREAK
UNCITRAL ACADEMY GOVERNMENT CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP (SESSION 2)
(by invitation only)
PANEL DISCUSSION: MEDIATION AND PRACTICAL DISPUTE SETTLEMENT
Invited government officials may then join a discussion on dispute mitigation and advanced mediation techniques anchored on a hypothetical investor-State scenario, led by a multi-stakeholder panel.
*This is a by-invitation-only hybrid event for government officials.
Moderator:
Professor Mark MCLAUGHLIN, Assistant Professor of Law (Research), Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy, Singapore Management University
Speakers:
Jeremy LACK, Attorney-at-Law, Dispute Resolution Professional & IP Specialist, LAWTECH.CH & InnovADR SA
Frauke NITSCHKE, Chief Counsel, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
Dr Jadranka OSREČAK, Deputy Municipal State Attorney at the State Attorney's Office of the Republic of Croatia
Joe TIRADO, International Arbitrator & Mediator, TiradoADR Limited
CLOSING REMARKS