INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION 1/3LY
IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL PRYLES 19
IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL PRYLES SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE Eugene Tan, Partner at Clyde & Co LLP, in conversation with Michael Pryles, independent arbitrator and President of the Court of Arbitration, Singapore International Arbitration Centre
TRANSFORMING SIAC: FROM PAROCHIAL TO INTERNATIONAL
MICHAEL Both challenging and rewarding! I was approached about the role six years ago, and it was completely unexpected. I was interested to learn more but somewhat perplexed, because the previous chairmen had all been Singaporeans (as well as retired judges or attorneys-general). It was an interesting invitation; there was huge potential I felt, but I wasn’t interested in heading a parochial organization. I wanted to develop a truly international arbitral centre, which would involve appointing a truly international board and revising the panel of arbitrators, and – thankfully – that was what the Singaporeans wanted too! It was an honourary position, and my Deputy Chairman was Sundaresh Menon (who is now Chief Justice). We got on famously – incredibly so – and seemed to think along the same lines in terms of what we should do, and how to instigate change. The first thing we did was select an international board, and then we updated and modernised the Centre’s rules, protocols and administration to make them leading-edge. This sounds like a terribly immodest statement, but we succeeded beyond our wildest expectations. EUGENE The Centre’s growing tremendously – not only in the numbers of cases it now administers, but also in the breadth and quantum of disputes – and its international reputation is better than ever. MICHAEL We are certainly in the first rank of arbitral centres now, alongside the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). Raising the international profile of the Centre was one of our initial priorities, but my primary objective was to improve case administration; I took the view that there was no point in having excellent marketing if the product wasn’t excellent. We aim to be second to none in providing arbitral services.
EUGENE You’ve been involved in arbitration for a relatively long time, and are widely recognised as a distinguished arbitrator. How and where did you start? MICHAEL It’s a long story which began at Monash Law School in Melbourne where I taught conflict of laws and international trade law. My interest in international transactions and transnational disputes brought me to arbitration. After teaching I became a partner in a large law firm practiced in the corporate and commercial field. However, my interest in international transactions and disputes, combined with my conflicts background, drew me into dispute resolution; I taught international arbitration on a part-time basis and then began sitting as an arbitrator. At first, all my cases were scattered across Asia because the arbitration hubs we now have had not yet formed 20 years ago. Appointments were slow initially, but I was travelling extensively in my role as Commissioner with the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) – a body established by the Security Council for allocating compensation after the first Gulf War – and became fairly well known on the international circuit. In all, I made about 70 trips from Australia to Europe for the UNCC. Work picked up, and now I have arbitrations across the globe. EUGENE Since your appointment to SIAC – first as Chairman, and now President of the Court of Arbitration – you’ve overseen its development through a period of rapid growth. What’s that experience been like?
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