INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION 1/3LY
IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL PRYLES 19
IN CONVERS AT ION WI TH MI CHAEL PRYLES S INGAPORE INT ERNAT IONAL ARBI TRAT ION 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
T R A NSF ORMING S I A C : F ROM PA ROCHI A L T O IN T ERN AT I ON A L
MI CHAEL Both challenging and rewarding! I was approached about the role six years ago, and it was completely unexpected. I was interested to learnmore 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, andmy Deputy Chairmanwas SundareshMenon (who is nowChief 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 didwas select an international board, and thenwe updated andmodernised the Centre’s rules, protocols and administration tomake 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 nowadministers, but also in the breadth and quantumof disputes – and its international reputation is better than ever. MI CHAEL 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. Howandwhere did you start? MI CHAEL It’s a long storywhich began at Monash LawSchool inMelbourne 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 firmpracticed in the corporate and commercial field. However, my interest in international transactions and disputes, combinedwithmy conflicts background, drewme 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 nowhave had not yet formed 20 years ago. Appointments were slow initially, but I was travelling extensively inmy 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 fairlywell known on the international circuit. In all, I made about 70 trips fromAustralia 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 nowPresident 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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