Managing International Commercial Arbitration And Disputes Resolution During A Pandemic

Eugene Thuraisingam moderated a panel discussion on the challenges of Alternative Dispute Resolution during COVID-19 at the Asian Legal Business Virtual In-house Legal Summit 2021

1. Asian Legal Business Virtual In-house Legal Summit 2021

Asian Legal Business (“ALB”) held its virtual summit from 10 – 12 November 2021, bringing together more than 600 legal experts, leading senior-level corporate counsel, business leaders and private practice lawyers from all around Asia.

2. The Programme Agenda

Across the three-day summit, there were more than 30 speakers engaging in panel discussions, presentations, and a fireside chat. The programme agenda included the following topics:

a. India M&A – New Regulations, Impacts across Sectors and Opportunities;
b. Uncovering The Year’s Top Anti-Corruption Considerations: What Should Be On Your Radar;
c. Building Back Stronger: Shaping an Uncertain Future and Seizing Opportunities;
d. The Future of Project Finance In Asia: A Post-Pandemic Outlook;
e. Middle East Business Law: Dubai, UAE, and Beyond – What Multinationals Need to Know;
f. Redefining Your Dispute Tactics to Suit the New Normal;
g. Assessing the Current Asia M&A Landscape;
h. Managing International Commercial Arbitration and Disputes Resolution During A Pandemic; and
i. a Fireside Chat on Cyber and Data Resilience: Smart Approach to Protecting Your Data.

3. Eugene Moderated a Panel Discussion on “Managing International Commercial Arbitration and Disputes Resolution During A Pandemic”

Our Mr Eugene was invited to moderate the panel session with more than 100 participants on “Managing International Commercial Arbitration and Disputes Resolution During A Pandemic”. The panel session looked at the key strategic considerations for companies in deciding whether to arbitrate or mediate, and on the impact of COVID-19 on companies’ Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) strategies. The panellists also shared key tips on how companies can improve their ADR strategies, including effective liaison between in-house counsel and external counsel, and adapting to the increasing use of technology and remote hearings brought on by COVID-19.

The esteemed panel comprised of:

a. DJ Goh, Associate General Counsel & Senior Director, APAC Legal, Juniper Networks,
b. Rhonda Hare, General Counsel – Asia Pacific, AccorHotels, and
c. Helen Tung, Barrister, Tung Chambers & GC, NewSpace2060.

The panellists were from a wide range of industry backgrounds. They shared interesting and varied insights, including on the importance of mediation in preserving business relationships, the impact of COVID-19 on companies’ commercial considerations around ADR, and how remote arbitration hearings can potentially make arbitration hearings more efficient from a costs perspective.