One of the issues besetting the practice of international commercial arbitration today is the tension between a rising clamour for more transparency of arbitral proceedings (which would have to include the publication of awards) and the well-entrenched practice of confidentiality.

The possibility of a mandatory process for the publication of awards (with attendant safeguards on confidentiality) and how such a process will affect Singapore’s arbitration hub status was most relevantly discussed by Mr Tan Chuan Thye, SC of Rajah & Tann LLP. Chaired by Mr Chia Ho Choon of KhattarWong LLP, Mr Tan’s presentation and the discussion with the participants that followed showed the implications and legal consequences of a progressively transparent arbitral regime as opposed to one that is restrictively confidential. 

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