The Singapore Law Gazette

Dispute Resolution in Singapore

The inaugural Mass Call this year marks a significant milestone in the lives of the newly admitted lawyers, even as we commemorate 200 years of the legal profession in Singapore.

In recent decades, Singapore has experienced a meteoric rise in its international legal profile. This is reflected in both the diversity of Singapore’s legal profession and the rise in cross-border legal work. As of January 2026, there are 1,418 foreign lawyers¹Registered under Sections 36B, 36C, 36D and 176(1) of the Legal Profession Act 1966. registered with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority, making up 18.15% of the registered lawyers in Singapore.²Legal Services Regulatory Authority, E-Services Portal (last accessed 20 January 2026). The number of Foreign Law Practices (FLPs) has grown from 74 in 2020³Data retrieved from The Law Society of Singapore. to 141 as of January 2026.⁴Legal Services Regulatory Authority, E-Services Portal (last accessed 20 January 2026). Of these FLPs, 10 have obtained a Qualifying Foreign Law Practice licence, 9 are part of a Joint Law Venture and 10 are part of a Formal Law Alliance (collectively, “foreign law structures”).⁵Ibid. The introduction of foreign law structures has expanded the scope of legal practices available to Singapore practitioners, allowing them to pursue further accreditation within Singapore’s legal structures. For example, at the time of publication, no less than four Foreign Law Alliances offer dual qualification training programmes, under which trainees will qualify in both Singapore and the UK.⁶Clifford Chance with Cavenagh Law, Ashurst with ADTLaw, Herbert Smith Freehills with Prolegis LLC, and Simmons & Simmons with JWS Asia Law Corporation.

The number of newly admitted lawyers has fallen over the past few years. There was a sharp drop between 2020 and 2021, from 714 to 613. This was followed by a record low of 569 admissions in 2023 for the first time in half a decade.⁷Final Report of the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee (8 January 2025), para 44(b); Adrian Tan, President of the Law Society, Address at the Opening of the Legal Year 2023 (9 January 2023), paras 15-18. There was a slight increase in the number of newly called lawyers in 2024, with 593 admissions.⁸Law Society of Singapore, ‘Sustainability in Practice: 2024 Annual Report – Admissions’ p.97.

The liberalisation of the legal sector in 2000 and 2008, which introduced the foreign law structures that exist today, was driven by the 1997 Asian financial crisis and Singapore’s development as a global financial hub.⁹Jeffrey Chan Wah Teck SC, “Liberalisation of the Singapore Legal Sector”, ASEAN Law Association 10^th General Assembly. As Singapore’s economy and financial sector matured, the demand for a neutral forum for international dispute resolution became increasingly evident. Today, Singapore is acknowledged as a significant global player in dispute resolution. It has consistently been ranked as a top global arbitration seat in the annual Queen Mary University of London and White & Case International Arbitration Survey since 2010. In the 2021 survey, Singapore rose to share the top globally ranked seat with London in 2021¹⁰Queen Mary University of London, White & Case, ‘2021 International Arbitration Survey: Adapting Arbitration to a Changing World’. and maintained its position in 2025.¹¹Queen Mary University of London, White & Case, ‘2025 International Arbitration Survey: The Path Forward: Realities and Opportunities in Arbitration’. The increased global confidence in Singapore as an arbitration hub is also reflected in the consistent growth in caseload and value of disputes heard by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). The total number of cases heard has grown from 343 in 2016 to 625 in 2024, with a notable peak of 1,063 cases in 2020.¹²Singapore International Arbitration Centre Annual Reports, 2016-2024. The composition of cases heard by the SIAC has consistently been more international in nature, making up 90.56% of the SIAC’s caseload in 2024.

Complementing Singapore’s robust international arbitration scene is the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC), which was established in 2015 as a division of the High Court. Cases of an international and commercial nature can be commenced in the SICC or transferred from the General Division at the General Division’s own motion or on the application of a party.¹³See Order 2, Rule 4 Singapore International Commercial Court Rules 2021. The popularity of the SICC has grown steadily since its inception. Not only has there been a rise in caseload from 2 cases in 2015 to 28 cases in 2024,¹⁴Chapter 9, “The Singapore International Commercial Court and Arbitration” in Charting New Waters: The Singapore Interna-tional Commercial Court After Ten Years (2024). but the number of cases commenced in the SICC surpassed those transferred for the first time in 2024, with 18 originating cases and 10 transferred cases. Singapore has endeavoured to enhance cross-border dispute resolution in the MENA region through the 2025 Bahrain International Commercial Court (BICC) and SICC Partnership. This partnership introduces a unique appeals mechanism which allows cases heard by the BICC to be appealed to the International Committee of the SICC, marking the first arrangement of its kind between commercial courts.¹⁵BRICS + ‘Bahrain Launches International Commercial Court Modelled on Singapore System’ (11 Nov 2025) <https://neweconomy.expert/news/261161/> (last accessed 20 January 2026). This development underscores the importance of not merely cultivating industry-specific expertise in cross-border commercial law but also staying attuned to emerging international partnerships. Building familiarity with the SICC framework and its regional extensions will position lawyers to seize opportunities in an increasingly interconnected global legal landscape.

While the landscape of cross-border dispute resolution in Singapore continues to expand, domestic practice remains a critical pillar of the profession. The number of cases filed in the Family Justice Courts has risen from 27,842 cases in 2016 to 28,541 in 2024, with slight fluctuations in the interim.¹⁶Singapore Courts Caseload Statistics 2016-2023; Singapore Courts Annual Report 2024. This reflects a steady demand for family law practitioners. The State Courts have accounted for the largest share of the Singapore Court’s annual caseload since 2016, representing 78.96% of all cases filed in 2024.¹⁷Singapore Courts Annual Report 2024. However, filings in the State Courts have declined by 50.78% between 2016 (319,740 cases) and 2024 (157,375 cases), primarily due to the decrease of 148,781 criminal case filings. Nonetheless, criminal cases remain the leading contributor to the State Courts’ workload, comprising 75.71% of State Court cases in 2024 and far exceeding civil, community justice and tribunal case filings. The reverse is true of the Supreme Court, where civil cases outweigh criminal cases. Excluding fresh filings in the SICC, there was only a modest decrease in total cases filed in the Supreme Court from 14,538 in 2016 to 13,365 in 2024. Domestic practice therefore remains a vibrant arena for young practitioners.

As you embark on your legal journey, developing specific competencies in dispute resolution strategies and emerging areas of legal practice will be vital to providing effective legal services and tapping into new legal markets. In this journey, the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme is a vital tool to keep abreast with legal and technological developments. Resist the temptation of treating the CPD scheme as an annual “tick-box” exercise. Leveraging the training programmes offered by the likes of the Singapore Academy of Law, Singapore Mediation Centre and Singapore Law Society will not only bridge gaps in industry knowledge but also accelerate your learning of soft and hard skills.

Beyond your work as counsel, contributing to the legal and business communities is a necessary element in forging a successful career. Contribution is the gateway for market players to know your heart, mind and ability. Make your presence felt in bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (SIArb), Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, Singapore Institute of Directors and committees of both the Singapore Academy of Law and the Law Society. Civic organisations, such as the many Voluntary Welfare Organisations present in Singapore, and bodies with an international reach, such as Rotary International, are useful avenues of contribution. Many law practices and legal bodies host conferences and events ranging from panel discussions to fireside chats, all of which provide ample opportunities for young practitioners to participate and grow. Demonstrating your thought leadership through written publications will signal your interest in shaping industry conversations.

Contributing to pro bono clinics for the Legal Aid Bureau, Pro Bono SG clinics, and Community Legal Clinics at Community Development Councils is also a meaningful way to give back to the community. Pro bono work is an opportunity for young practitioners to gain practical court and trial experience and manage a file independently early on in their careers. Young lawyers can also enhance their mediation skills by contributing to the SMU Pro Bono Mediation Clinic. Other avenues to sharpen your advocacy skills include participating in advocacy training courses, including those organised by the Law Society, the Singapore Academy of Law and the NUS Faculty of Law. In advancing your proficiency in dispute resolution, gaining accreditation through institutions such as CIArb, SIArb and the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution will enhance your professional credibility as a mediation or arbitration lawyer. As you grow in tenure and experience, it is also recommended that you invest in these communities by being involved in their activities, such as by assisting in training initiatives.

The international arbitration community is receptive to young lawyers looking to establish themselves in the industry. Capitalise on opportunities in the region as well. The SIAC and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) offer free membership to their young professionals’ group – Young SIAC and HK45 – for individuals under 45. Members gain access to regular seminars, networking events and development opportunities. Notable events include the annual SIAC Symposium, which is a key platform for lawyers to network with global leaders in arbitration, and the HK45 Essay Competition, with winning essays being considered for publication in the Asian Dispute Review and Kluwer Arbitration Blog.¹⁸HK45 Website ‘HK45 Essay Competition’ <https://hkiac.org/hk45/hk45-essay-competition/> (last accessed 21 January 2026). Further, SIArb has a Young Practitioners Network (YPN) for members under 40, or with less than 10 years of experience in arbitration. It promotes a strong mentorship culture through the YPN Mentoring Programme and events such as the Annual Careers Roundtable.

Free membership to young professionals’ groups such as the London Court of International Arbitration’s Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG), International Chamber of Commerce Young Arbitration and ADR Forum (ICC YAAF), and Young International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) is available to individuals under 40. These groups offer networking platforms including the YIAG Tylney Hall Symposium, writing opportunities like the YIAG Gillis Wetter Memorial Prize and Young ICCA Essay Competitions, and global events such as those hosted by ICC YAAF. Further, Young Arbitral Women is a network available to female practitioners seeking early exposure, mentorship and meaningful opportunities within the international arbitration community. Other international institutions with robust young practitioners’ networks include the International Centre for Dispute Resolution, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes and the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA).

Being an active member of such groups will allow you to foster relationships with like-minded peers across the globe. International bodies such as the International Bar Association and IPBA are potent platforms of contribution and connection. The writer is somewhat partial towards the IPBA, which has a greater focus on Asia and attendees to its annual flagship conference with a track record of consistent repeat attendances.

It is also useful to be accredited as a trained tribunal secretary as it will expand your understanding of arbitration beyond the perspective of counsel. Working closely with seasoned arbitrators will not only accelerate your learning but also expand your network vertically. Institutions such as the HKIAC, the Asian International Arbitration Centre and Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration offer accredited tribunal secretary training programmes. Locally, SIAC hosts virtual and in-person courses on the role of tribunal secretaries.

Finally, be acutely conscious of the power and impact of vibrant relationships. Actively cultivate this. From court clerks to judges, from the tea lady to your boss, from colleagues to opposing counsel. Treat everyone as you wish to be treated – respect, courtesy and integrity are key. Every individual in the legal, business and general community is ultimately your travelling companion, support and ally. When you can count them as meaningful friends and partners, life itself acquires a magical quality. What Singapore will turn out to be in a decade or more from now will be determined in large part by the spirit, moral values and guiding beliefs of the younger practitioners, and they will ultimately shape the destiny of the legal profession.

The writer is indebted to Joey Chee for her invaluable assistance on this article.