At SMC, we endeavour to build on Mr Lee’s vision of the legal system, by providing a host of quality alternative dispute resolution services to complement Singapore’s court system, providing access to justice for all in the process, and helping to put Singapore on the world map for premier legal services.
There is great potential for mediation to facilitate deal-making and transactional negotiations such as mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.The mediator improves the overall quality and efficiency of negotiations by cultivating open dialogue and avoiding competitive or adversarial negotiations.
When parties are of different cultural backgrounds, it may be useful to have co-mediators of those same cultures to address the different communication styles, cultural norms and reservations.
Mediation had a bumper year in 2014. There was a 57% increase in the number of mediation matters as compared to 2013 (from 214 matters to 337 matters). We are confident that the numbers will continue to grow in 2015.
As the year comes to a close, we revisit the many new developments at Singapore Mediation Centre. This would not have been possible without the contributions and support of our dedicated mediators and business associates. We express our sincerest appreciation to you.
Are there benefits of mediation to lawyers? Read more on why some of our lawyer-mediators choose mediation in this month’s issue. Also, as we are wrapping up for the year of 2014 in the next issue, we would like to hear your feedback in our Singapore Mediation Centre End-of-Year survey.
General Electric (GE) generates US$146b in annual revenue and has a presence in 170 countries. Why does an MNC like GE embrace mediation? Find out more from Mr Bradford Berenson, Vice President and Senior Counsel for Litigation and Legal Policy of GE.
In this inaugural issue, we have featured an article by Dr Joseph Sheares. Dr Sheares will provide his take on how subject matter expertise can be useful for mediation. In this regard, and in response to customer needs, Singapore Mediation Centre is introducing sub-panels of industry specialist mediators.