Singapore International Mediation Centre

{{Distinguish|Singapore Mediation Centre}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = Singapore International Mediation Centre

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| image = 1 singapore international mediation centre maxwell chambers 2015.jpg

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| caption = A room used for mediation in Maxwell Chambers, where SIMC is housed

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| abbreviation = SIMC

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| formation = 2014

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| location = Maxwell Chambers

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| services = Mediation

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| leader_title = Chief Executive Officer

| leader_name = Chuan Wee Meng

| leader_title2 = Deputy Chief Executive Officer

| leader_name2 = Joon-Nie Lau

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| board_of_directors = Lawrence Boo
Jeff Bullwinkel
Chow Kok Fong
Davinder Singh SC
Kevin Kim
George Lim SC
Gloria Lim
Lim Seok Hui
Lok Vi Ming SC
Ng Chai Ngee
Calvin Phua
Gregory Vijayendran SC

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| website = www.simc.com.sg

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Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) is an independent not-for-profit organisation in Singapore providing mediation services, through its panel of international mediators, to parties wishing to resolve their cross-border commercial disputes amicably. The centre is housed at Maxwell Chambers.

A working group, co-chaired by Edwin Glasgow CBE QC and George Lim SC, was set up in April 2013 by the Chief Justice of Singapore Sundaresh Menon and the Ministry of Law to assess and make recommendations on how to develop Singapore as a centre for international commercial mediation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlaw.gov.sg/news/press-releases/icmwg-recommendations.html|title = Commercial Dispute Resolution Services in Singapore Set to Grow}} In its report, the working group recognised the need for enhanced and sophisticated dispute resolution services for cross-border disputes to support the rise in trade and investment in Asia. The working group made various recommendations, including the establishment of an international mediation service provider offering a panel of international mediators and experts as well as user-centric products and services. This resulted in the establishment of SIMC, which was officially launched in November 2014 by the Chief Justice of Singapore and the Minister of Law, K Shanmugam.

SIMC complements the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC); these three entities are designed to provide a full suite of dispute resolution options for parties involved in cross-border disputes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.todayonline.com/new-singapore-international-mediation-centre-launched|title = New Singapore International Mediation Centre launched}} For instance, SIMC and SIAC administer the "Arb-Med-Arb" protocol, which allows a party to begin arbitration under SIAC before proceeding to mediation under SIMC.{{Cite web|url=http://kluwerarbitrationblog.com/blog/2014/12/29/a-new-dawn-for-mediation-the-launch-of-the-singapore-international-mediation-centre-simc-and-introduction-of-the-siac-simc-arb-med-arb-protocol/|title = A New Dawn for Mediation? The Launch of the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and Introduction of the SIAC-SIMC Arb-Med-Arb Protocol|date = 28 December 2014}} The aim is to allow settlements reached at mediation to be recorded as enforceable consent awards.{{Cite web|title=Speech by Minister for Law, K Shanmugam, during the Committee of Supply Debate 2015|url=https://www.mlaw.gov.sg/news/parliamentary-speeches/speech-by-minister-cos-2015|access-date=2022-02-23|website=www.mlaw.gov.sg|language=en}} Parties can avail themselves of the protocol by incorporating a model clause into their contracts.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=4595bdf6-4bf0-4c0f-a292-a4a0c5583d6d|title = Launch of the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and introduction of the SIAC-SIMC Arb-Med-Arb protocol|date = 14 January 2015}}

SIMC maintains a panel of around 70 international mediators from 14 jurisdictions. They are certified by the Singapore International Mediation Institute, which acts as the professional standards body for mediation in Singapore.{{Cite web|url=http://www.singaporelawblog.sg/blog/article/52|title = SIMC and SICC - New Developments in Singapore for the Resolution of International Commercial Disputes}} SIMC's panel of mediators include Singapore's Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh and William Ury. SIMC also maintains a panel of technical experts to assist in mediations involving specialised issues.

In July 2018, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law concluded the Singapore Convention on Mediation, a treaty that makes it easier for businesses to enforce mediated settlement agreements across international borders.{{Cite web|url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/first-singapore-will-lend-its-name-united-nations-treaty-mediation|title = In a first, Singapore will lend its name to United Nations treaty on mediation}} Formally known as the [https://uncitral.un.org/en/texts/mediation/conventions/international_settlement_agreements United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation], the Singapore Convention was adopted on 20 December 2018 and opened for signature on 7 August 2019. It was signed by 46 countries on that day, the highest number of "first day" signatories for an UNCITRAL Convention.{{Cite web |title=SMU SOL Singapore Convention Mediation Handbook |url=https://www.singaporeconvention.org/sites/singaporeconvention.org/files/SMU%20SOL%20Singapore%20Convention%20Mediation%20Handbook.pdf |access-date=25 April 2022 |website=www.singaporeconvention.org}}