A Week in Conversation – SIMC at SC Week 2026
This year Singapore Convention Week (SC Week 2026) was held from 24 to 28 August 2026. This year’s theme, Timeless Principles, Timely Solutions: Nurturing Trust in a Changing World, reflects the need to uphold principles of fairness and rule of law while adapting to geopolitical shifts, technological disruption, and evolving cross-border relationships in an era of change. The week-long event brought together the international dispute resolution community to discuss and exchange insights around issues that matter most - arbitration, mediation, litigation and the evolving frameworks that shape them.
In addition to SIMC's annual Signature Event, SIMC also participated in a range of events and engagements throughout the week, contributing perspectives on mediation and its role in navigating an increasingly complex commercial and geopolitical landscape.
From left: Chuan Wee Meng, Iris Li, Bill Marsh, Byung-Chol (B.C.) Yoon and George Lim SC.
UNCITRAL Academy Industry Capacity-Building Workshop
Held as part of the UNCITRAL Academy Conference on 25 August, and in partnership with the UNCITRAL and Ministry of Law, SIMC led a UNCITRAL Academy Industry Capacity-Building Workshop, themed AI-Enabled Mediation: Innovation, Ethics, Access to Justice, and the Future of Dispute Resolution.
This workshop focused on the practical application of AI in mediation and complemented and built on the broader discussions took place at the Conference.
SIMC CEO Chuan Wee Meng delivered a presentation on Reimagine Mediation with MAIA®, sharing updates on the development of MAIA® through a newly created animation video, as well as a demonstration of MAIA®’s existing capabilities and a glimpse into work-in-progress features, including Possible Interests, Potential Options and Possible Outcome Assessment.
A subsequent panel discussion, moderated by SIMC Chairman George Lim SC, brought together Bill Marsh, Leading International Commercial and Investor-State Mediator; Byung-Chol (B.C.) Yoon, Partner at Kim & Chang; and Iris Li, Head of Dispute Resolution and Regulatory Investigations at Alibaba Group. The panellists discussed the growing role of AI in dispute resolution, including its potential to support the management of complex disputes and improve access to justice, while considering the ethical safeguards needed to ensure its responsible use.
SIMC’s Annual Signature Event
On 26 August, SIMC hosted our annual flagship event titled, Future of Commercial Diplomacy: Mediation Amidst Disruptive Technologies and Geopolitics, as part of SC Week 2026.
The event welcomed over 250 attendees from about 30 countries. It has brought together leaders and members of the mediation and dispute resolution community for a day of thought-provoking discussions on the forces shaping commercial diplomacy and the future of dispute resolution.
From left: Huawei Sun, Prof. Teresa Cheng SC, Anne-Karin Grill, George Lim SC, Lars Markert, Frauke Nitschke, Michele Sonen.
IBA Asia Pacific Arbitration Group Symposium
On 26 August, SIMC Chairman George Lim SC participated in the IBA Asia Pacific Arbitration Group Symposium, International Arbitration in a Fragmented World – Geopolitics, Sovereign Immunity, and New Paths to Resolution, held at Maxwell Chambers, Singapore. The symposium explored emerging challenges in international arbitration, including the impact of geopolitics and sanctions, sovereign immunity and enforcement constraints, and the evolving role of mediation in investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS).
Mediation in New Era: Ethics in Mediation Including the Use of AI
On 27 August, SIMC Deputy Chairman Lok Vi Ming SC participated as a panellist at the seminar Mediation in New Era: Ethics in Mediation Including the Use of AI, co-hosted by the Ministry of Justice of Japan and the Embassy of Japan in Singapore. Moderated by Hiroyuki Tezuka, Head of the international dispute resolution practice of Nishimura & Asahi (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo). The panel also featured Thara Gopalan, Vice President at the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), the international division of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), Kim Sae Youn, Partner at Kim and Chang and Dr. Rouven F. Bodenheimer, Partner at Bodenheimer, with discussions focusing on ethics in mediation and the implications of AI for the future of mediation.
From left: Moderator Hiroyuki Tezuka, Thara Gopalan, Kim Sae Youn, Dr. Rouven F. Bodenheimer, Lok Vi Ming SC.
Gregory Vijayendren SC presenting to a diverse group of attendees, ranging for almost 30 countries.
Briefing Session for Delegates of Chief Legal Advisors Forum
SIMC’s Board Member Gregory Vijayendren SC represented SIMC at the Joint Briefing session for the delegates of the Chief Legal Advisors Forum (CLAF) on 27 August. CLAF was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Law of Singapore and the Attorney General’s Chambers of Singapore. With the theme “States and Investment Disputes – What Lies Ahead”, the CLAF 2026 gathered Chief Legal Advisors and senior government legal officials from 39 jurisdictions to exchange views on contemporary developments in Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism and the ongoing international efforts to reform the ISDS system. The briefing provided another opportunity to engage with the evolving conversation around investment disputes and the role mediation may play in their resolution. Amongst the attendees were from Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Ghana, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, United Kingdom, USA and Vanuatu.
Investor-State Mediation: Practical Barriers and Solutions for Sovereign Respondents
Also on 27 August, SIMC CEO Chuan Wee Meng spoke at the Korean Ministry of Justice’s side event, Investor-State Mediation: Practical Barriers and Solutions for Sovereign Respondents. Moderated by Ara Cho, Director of the International Dispute Settlement Division at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea, the session featured Professor Jaemin Lee from Seoul National University that spoke virtually, Frauke Nitschke, Chief Counsel at ICSID, Junyeul Alex Yang, Prosecutor and Team Lead at the Korean Ministry of Justice, Professor Jansen Calamita of the National University of Singapore, Sheila Ahuja, Partner at Allen & Overy, and Sophia Von Dewall, Partner at Vanguard. The discussion examined the practical challenges sovereign respondents face when considering mediation, including institutional and political constraints, confidentiality and transparency requirements, and concerns around public expenditure, accountability and domestic liability. Panellists also explored potential safeguards to build greater confidence in mediation as a viable option for resolving investor-State disputes.
From left: Chuan Wee Meng, Sophia von Dewall, Professor N Jansen Calamita, Frauke Nitschke, Junyeul (Alex) Yang, Sheila Ahuja KC and Ara Cho the moderator for the panel.
Engaging with the wider mediation and dispute resolution community
Beyond the events where SIMC presented or played an organising role, members of the team also took part in a range of programmes and meetings throughout SC Week 2026. These engagements provided opportunities to stay connected with developments across the dispute resolution community, exchange views with fellow practitioners and institutions, and explore areas of mutual interest. Here are some of the engagements:
26 August
- Attended the official launch of the ICSID Singapore Office, hosted by ICSID
- Hosted a briefing for the newly appointed Director-General of the Japan Ministry of Justice, Director-General Nobukazu Matsui
- Hosted a meeting with the Zhejiang CCPIT Secretary-General, Pan Jian Song and Zhejiang Representative Office, Ge Xin Ru.
Minister Edwin Tong SC at the ICSID Singapore Office Launch (left), SIMC with the delegation from the Japan Ministry of Justice (right).
27 August
- George Lim SC spoke at the event hosted by Pinsent Masons MPillay "The Hybrid ADR Playbook for
Mega Projects: What Works, What Fails, and Why"; - Attended a meeting hosted by Minister of Justice Akbar Tashkulov of Uzbekistan;
- Held a meeting with the Jiangsu Intellectual Property Office;
- Held a briefing session for the Guangdong Justice Bureau at the SIMC office;
- Hosted a visit by Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi of Papua New Guinea to the SIMC office,
Pinsent Masons MPillay event (left), meeting with delegations from the Uzbekistan (right).
SIMC with Jiangsu Intellectual Property Office representatives (left), with the the Guangdong Justice Bureau (right).
28 August
- Hosted a meeting with the Brunei Darussalam Arbitration Centre (BDAC) delegation;
- Held a briefing session with the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council delegation;
- Held a briefing for the China-Singapore Intellectual Property International Talent Development Programme organised by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)
SIMC with Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council delegation (left), with the Suzhou Industrial Park enterprise delegation (right).
As Singapore Convention Week 2026 comes to a close, SIMC is grateful for the many conversations, connections and opportunities to exchange ideas with our old partners and new friends. The week was a valuable reminder of the importance of dialogue and collaboration in advancing mediation and strengthening its role in resolving cross-border disputes.
See you at Singapore Convention Week 2027!