The proposed law also ensures the enforceability of decisions within the referring jurisdiction
The Singapore Parliament introduced the Singapore International Commercial Court (International Committee) bill on October 14, aiming to create an International Committee within the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC).
The new body will handle civil appeals and related proceedings from specific foreign jurisdictions. The SICC, a division of the High Court’s general division, was designed to adjudicate complex transnational commercial disputes. Establishing the International Committee will expand the SICC’s jurisdiction by offering a specialized forum to handle cross-border appeals.
Under the proposed bill, the International Committee will operate as an independent body within the SICC, composed of judges from Singapore’s Supreme Court and international judges from the SICC. Additionally, ad hoc members from the courts of the foreign jurisdictions referring appeals to the committee will participate, reflecting the collaborative nature of this new structure.
The bill grants the Minister for Law the authority to regulate the cases brought before the International Committee. These cases will be civil appeals and related proceedings that originate from foreign jurisdictions recognized under the new legislation. Representation before the International Committee will be open to Singapore advocates and solicitors, as well as foreign lawyers and legal experts registered to appear before the SICC.
A key feature of the bill is its provision for enforcement. Judgments or orders issued by the International Committee will be treated as judgments or orders of the foreign jurisdiction’s court from which the appeal arose. This ensures the enforceability of decisions within the referring jurisdiction. The bill also establishes that decisions made by the Committee will be final, preventing further appeals.
The introduction of this bill follows the signing of a bilateral treaty between Singapore and Bahrain on March 20 to set up the Bahrain International Commercial Court. This treaty is part of Singapore’s ongoing efforts to collaborate internationally on legal matters. By establishing the International Committee, Singapore aims to offer a reliable and impartial platform for resolving international commercial disputes and appeals.
