The Third Singapore-WTO Policy Dialogue on the World Trading System was held prior to the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC10) under the title ‘Singapore Dialogue on the WTO: 20 Years and Beyond’.  Similar to previous editions of the Dialogue in 2011 and 2013, this year's Dialogue was intended to provide an opportunity for senior government officials to exchange views and brainstorm on issues and challenges confronting the Multilateral Trading System, in light of recent developments in the global economy.  This would involve high-level officials from the Asia-Pacific region in a broad-ranging strategic dialogue on topics such as the MC10, reinvigorating Doha and key issues for the WTO in the next 20 years.

The Dialogue, was held on 19 – 20 October 2015, was sponsored and organised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Government of Singapore, through the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), in collaboration with the Singapore Management University (SMU), as part of the agreed activities in the Singapore-WTO MoU signed in 1996 to establish the Singapore-WTO Third Country Training Programme.

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The Third Singapore-WTO Policy Dialogue on the World Trading System was held prior to the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC10) under the title ‘Singapore Dialogue on the WTO: 20 Years and Beyond’.  Similar to previous editions of the Dialogue in 2011 and 2013, this year's Dialogue was intended to provide an opportunity for senior government officials to exchange views and brainstorm on issues and challenges confronting the Multilateral Trading System, in light of recent developments in the global economy.  This would involve high-level officials from the Asia-Pacific region in a broad-ranging strategic dialogue on topics such as the MC10, reinvigorating Doha and key issues for the WTO in the next 20 years.

The Dialogue, was held on 19 – 20 October 2015, was sponsored and organised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Government of Singapore, through the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), in collaboration with the Singapore Management University (SMU), as part of the agreed activities in the Singapore-WTO MoU signed in 1996 to establish the Singapore-WTO Third Country Training Programme.

View Original Article

The Third Singapore-WTO Policy Dialogue on the World Trading System was held prior to the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC10) under the title ‘Singapore Dialogue on the WTO: 20 Years and Beyond’.  Similar to previous editions of the Dialogue in 2011 and 2013, this year's Dialogue was intended to provide an opportunity for senior government officials to exchange views and brainstorm on issues and challenges confronting the Multilateral Trading System, in light of recent developments in the global economy.  This would involve high-level officials from the Asia-Pacific region in a broad-ranging strategic dialogue on topics such as the MC10, reinvigorating Doha and key issues for the WTO in the next 20 years.

The Dialogue, was held on 19 – 20 October 2015, was sponsored and organised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Government of Singapore, through the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), in collaboration with the Singapore Management University (SMU), as part of the agreed activities in the Singapore-WTO MoU signed in 1996 to establish the Singapore-WTO Third Country Training Programme.

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In defamation cases, SMU Associate Professor Gary Chan believes that a declaration of falsity should be one way for plaintiffs to clear their name.

Back to Research@SMU Issue 41

Photo Credit: Cyril Ng

By Nurfilzah Rohaidi

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SMU Office of Research & Tech Transfer – It was a case of a dramatic, bitter legal feud between two former friends and business partners, dragging on for over six years and ending in a pay-out of more than 132 million dollars in damages.

In the Singapore Court of Appeal case of Low Tuck Kwong v Sukamto Sia, Singapore businessman Sukamto Sia had accused Indonesian coal magnate Low Tuck Kwong of reneging on an oral agreement to give him shares in his coal-mining company, PT Bayan Resources, if Mr. Sia would loan him S$3 million to start the said company.

In response, Mr. Low sued for both defamation and malicious falsehood. After a long, drawn-out legal battle, he finally won the case in November 2013. “It was proven that the statement was false and made maliciously,” says Gary Chan, Associate Professor and Lee Kong Chian fellow at the Singapore Management University (SMU) School of Law.

“The Court of Appeal allowed damages to be claimed, but towards the end of the judgment, they had to deal with one legal issue raised by the counsel for Mr. Low: could a declaration of falsity have been granted?”

Professor Chan addresses this question in his paper, “The Right to a Good (Business) Reputation and Truth: Re-examining the Declaration of Falsity”. He presented his findings at the Protecting Business and Economic Interests: Contemporary Issues in Tort Law conference, held at the Supreme Court of Singapore on 18-19 August 2016.

The case of “he said this, he said that”

As Professor Chan explains, a declaration of falsity is an official statement by the court that what the defendant had said about the plaintiff was in fact false. As mentioned, Mr. Low had sought a declaration of falsity, among other remedies, in respect of his claim in malicious falsehood. The declaration was meant to make it clear that the respondent, Mr. Sia, did not in fact give him the money for the purpose of investment, and that the respondent was therefore not entitled to the company shares.

“What the respondent alleged didn’t happen. According to the court, there was no such understanding between the two of them. But that’s what [Mr. Sia] said, that ‘I have an understanding with you, you promised me the shares but you didn't give them to me’. That’s defamatory,” says Professor Chan.

However, the Court of Appeal rejected Mr. Low’s application for the declaration of falsity in malicious falsehood. The judicial decision that it is not an appropriate alternative remedy was based in part on a previous English case, Loutchansky v Times Newspapers Ltd. Dr. Grigori Loutchansky, a businessman born in Tashkent and subsequently based in Latvia, attempted to sue a newspaper for libel as it had published articles that claimed he was involved in criminal activities.

Dr. Loutchansky’s application for a declaration of falsity was rejected due to four reasons, according to Professor Chan. There is no existing legal right to a good reputation, for one. Secondly, the grant of a declaration of falsity would subvert the defence of qualified privilege, which permits persons in positions of authority or trust to make, relay or report statements that would be considered slander and libel if made by anyone else.

There is also a ‘floodgates’ problem associated with the granting of declarations of falsity, which adds to the costs of defending defamation claims. “According to this objection, there is the fear that for every defamation claim, a declaration of falsity will be a tag-on. This might invite more claims by potential plaintiffs,” he says.

In this regard, Professor Chan proposes that the individual plaintiff elect either a declaration of falsity or general damages in defamation claims (but not both remedies) for the purpose of vindicating reputation and as a consolation for hurt feelings.

Finally, the declaration of falsity cannot be granted without full evidence to show that the statement is false, which would include gathering evidence from witnesses and so on, Professor Chan adds.

A legal right to a good reputation

While Professor Chan agrees with the Low Tuck Kwong decision not to grant a declaration on the particular facts, this general ‘all or nothing’ approach in the claim alone for monetary damages might be too rigid, he wrote in his paper. As he pointed out, the four objections are not persuasive enough reasons for rejecting, as a matter of general principle, the potential remedy of a declaration of falsity.

“I think that there is a right to a good legal reputation. Will anyone argue that they have a right to a bad reputation?” he muses, referencing the first objection. “A good reputation is, in a sense, implied, in the right to reputation.”

During his presentation, he outlined some of his arguments for a declaration of falsity to be granted. For one, it is useful when the primary purpose is for the appellant to vindicate his reputation, notes Professor Chan. “In some of these cases, a declaration of falsity might be appropriate where the plaintiff just wants to clear his name,” he says. “He may not be really after the money.” Furthermore, there will be times when defendants are bankrupt and cannot pay for damages anyway, he says.

As Professor Chan noted during his presentation, reputation and truth are connected. Most importantly, when the court makes a declaration, it carries authoritative weight. “A declaration of falsity offers a more direct link to protecting one’s reputation. Because you’ve said something false about me, I can ask for a declaration from the court that the statement was false,” he explains. 

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Singapore, 19 January 2017 (Thursday) – Singapore Management University (SMU) has announced that more financial support has been made available to law undergraduates enrolled into SMU’s Bachelor of Laws programme.  The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) has established a prestigious scholarship that will benefit financially-needy SMU law undergraduates with a high potential to succeed in his/her legal education.  Named the Singapore Academy of Law Undergraduate Scholarship, the award will cover the full tuition fees of one needy Singaporean law freshman each year, starting from Academic Year (AY) 2017-2018.  The award has been pledged for an initial term of five years and will be reviewed in AY 2021-2022.  The Scholarship is valued at approximately $50,000 each (based on existing tuition fees for the SMU Bachelor of Laws programme).

Also newly established for four years is the Patrick Ong Law LLC Bursary, which has been made possible by the generosity of Mr Patrick Ong, Director of Patrick Ong Law LLC.  One needy Singaporean / Singapore Permanent Resident law student will benefit from a S$5,000 bursary award each year, starting from AY2016-2017.

Professor Yeo Tiong Min, Dean of SMU School of Law, said, “I’m very grateful to SAL and Mr Patrick Ong for their encouragement towards needy law undergraduates.  The new scholarship and bursary, which give an additional boost to existing scholarships and bursaries, will undoubtedly make a significant difference in the educational journey of deserving law students at SMU.  The support will enable them to enjoy a fulfilling university education free from financial burden and distractions.  It will also motivate our law students to pursue all-round excellence.”

Ms Serene Wee, Chief Executive SAL, said, “The SAL Undergraduate Scholarship underscores our commitment to nurture the future generations of the legal profession. The scholarship not only provides much needed financial assistance but also aims to provide the recipients with a valuable opportunity to participate in SAL programmes and committee work where they can interact with and learn from senior members of the profession. We believe that this practical exposure will complement their academic learning in preparing them for the future.”

Mr Patrick Ong said, “It is a privilege to be able to help SMU law students who face financial constraints.  I believe that every firm, regardless of its size, can contribute something towards education and society at large in a meaningful and fulfilling way.”

SMU practises a ‘needs-blind’ admission policy where no deserving student will be deprived of an education because of financial hardship. Grants, bursaries, loans and scholarships are available for needy students, so that they can focus on their studies and enjoy an enriching educational journey at SMU without worry. In FY2016, a total of $4.87 million was set aside in financial aid (grants, bursaries, needs-based scholarships, awards and loans) to students, combining university resources as well as donor-supported schemes.

There are about 170 bond-free scholarships (merit- and needs-based) which freshmen can apply for. On average, one in 12 freshmen of the new intake will also stand a chance to be awarded a scholarship by the University.

Within the School of Law, there are currently 32 bursaries and scholarships (merit and needs based) which law students can apply for, together with other grants and awards.

- End -

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About Singapore Management University

Singapore Management University (SMU) is internationally recognised for its world-class research and distinguished teaching.  Established in 2000, SMU’s mission is to generate leading-edge research with global impact and produce broad-based, creative and entrepreneurial leaders for the knowledge-based economy.  SMU education is known for its highly interactive, collaborative and project-based approach to learning, and for its technologically enabled pedagogy of seminar-style teaching in small class sizes.

Comprised of six schools specialising in Accountancy, Business, Economics, Information Systems, Law and Social Sciences, it offers a wide range of bachelors', masters' and PhD degree programmes and is home to 9,500 students.  With an emphasis on generating relevant multi-disciplinary research that addresses Asian issues, and being Singapore’s only university in the city, SMU enjoys strategic linkages with business, government and the wider community through its research institutes, centres and labs. www.smu.edu.sg

About SMU School of Law

SMU School of Law proudly welcomed its first cohort of 116 students in August 2007.  Taught by a dynamic faculty with postgraduate degrees from renowned universities such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol and London, the School aims to nurture its students to become excellent lawyers who will contribute significantly to society.  Trained with the ability to contextualise legal expertise and to think across disciplines and geographical borders coupled with SMU’s interactive pedagogy, SMU’s law graduates are confident articulate and analytically agile.

The SMU School of Law offers a four-year full-time Bachelor of Laws programme, a five-year double-degree programme which combines law with Accountancy, Business, Economics, Information Systems or Social Sciences, and a Master of Laws programme.  The School has also launched a full-time graduate programme, the Juris Doctor Programme which can be completed within three years, and in some cases, accelerated for completion within two years.  www.law.smu.edu.sg

About The Singapore Academy of Law

The Singapore Academy of Law (“the Academy”) is a promotion and development agency for Singapore’s legal industry, with the vision of making Singapore the legal hub of Asia.

Its work focuses on excellence in creating knowledge and know-how; catalysing ideas, insights and innovation; capability building with tools and technology; and connecting all in the legal community with each other and the public.

As a body established by statute, the Academy also undertakes statutory functions such as stakeholding services and the appointment of Senior Counsel, Commissioners of Oath and Notaries Public.

More information can be found at www.sal.org.sg  

About Patrick Ong LLC

Patrick Ong Law LLC is primarily a disputes resolution law practice, with a particular expertise in the field of building and construction law.

The firm is founded by Mr Patrick Ong, who was admitted as an advocate and solicitor to the Singapore Bar in 1994. He and the associates at the firm also advice on arbitration and general civil and commercial litigation as well as non-contentious matters such as corporate and commercial issues as well as wills, probate and trusts issues.

__________________________________________________

For media enquiries, please contact:

HUANG Peiling

Senior Assistant Director, Corporate Communications, SMU

(65) 6828 0964 / plhuang@smu.edu.sg

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Singapore, 22 February 2017 (Wednesday) - The Singapore Management University (SMU) announced today that it has appointed Associate Professor Goh Yihan as the new Dean of the SMU School of Law (SOL), following an extensive and rigorous global search that started in September 2016.  Associate Professor Goh, who is currently the Associate Dean (Research) at SOL, will succeed Professor Yeo Tiong Min S.C. (Hon) as Dean of SOL from 1 July 2017 for a five-year term.  Professor Yeo will remain in the law school as Yong Pung How Chair Professor of Law after standing down from his role as Dean.

SMU Provost Professor Lily Kong, who led the international search for the new SOL Dean, said, "On behalf of the SMU community, I would like to express our appreciation to Professor Yeo Tiong Min for his tremendous commitment, able leadership and immense contributions.  Professor Yeo has been instrumental in developing SOL into a leading law school in Singapore and in Asia.  Besides building the School into one that distinguishes itself in producing excellent graduates who are well sought-after in the market, he also spearheaded the establishment of the Centre for Cross-Border Business Law in Asia (CEBCLA) and the Applied Research Centre for Intellectual Assets and the Law in Asia (ARCIALA) in 2014 and 2015 respectively – both of which are set to make significant contribution to legal research in this part of the world.”

“Associate Professor Goh has had an impressive career.  In him we have a new Dean who brings a deep understanding and knowledge of the School and Singapore law, as well as strong networks and familiar ties with the legal community.  His admirable maturity and conviction, and his passionate commitment to developing legal education will be a great inspiration for his students and colleagues. Celebrating its 10 years of establishment this year, the SMU School of Law is at a pivotal point of its development.  I am confident that Associate Professor Goh will build upon the good work of Professor Yeo to strengthen SMU School of Law’s global reputation and advance the School to even greater heights of excellence and contribution,” she added.

Associate Professor Goh brings to this deanery role an outstanding blend of academic and research achievements, and immensely valued legal experience.  A prolific researcher, he has published widely in his fields of expertise, such as contract and torts law.  His work has been relied upon by the courts in Singapore and Malaysia on multiple occasions in the course of their decision-making.  He is also the co-editor of the book Singapore Law – 50 Years in the Making, which was published to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of Singapore’s independence and was launched by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon at an event in 2015.  In 2013, in recognition of his invaluable contributions to the development and advancement of Singapore law, he became the youngest recipient of the pentennial Singapore Academy of Law Singapore Law Merit Award.

Associate Professor Goh is a well-recognised and active expert in the Singapore legal profession, with various professional appointments including being a board member of the Singapore Institute of Legal Education and the Singapore Judicial College respectively, amicus curiae before the Singapore Court of Appeal and the Singapore High Court, a professional fellow at the Attorney-General’s Chambers, and a Visiting Academic at Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP.  He is also an award-winning teacher, and has received six teaching awards in his eight-year teaching career.  Most recently, he received the SMU School of Law Most Promising Teacher Award in 2015 and the SMU School of Law Most Outstanding Teacher Award in 2016.  In 2016, he was also nominated for the University’s annual Innovative Teacher Award.

On the appointment, Dean-designate of SMU SOL, Associate Professor Goh, said, “It is an honour to succeed Professor Yeo, who has dedicated himself selflessly to the Deanship for the past five years.  Indeed, I am privileged to be given the opportunity to lead the SMU School of Law as it enters a pivotal point of its history 10 years after its initial establishment.  Together with our colleagues, students and alumni, as well as our external stakeholders, we now have an exciting opportunity to bring our School to its next phase of development.  To do this, we must not only look to improve existing strengths.  Instead, we must be bold and forward-looking, and seize opportunities to be thought leaders in research and professional fields that may not exist today.  But above all, we will always be committed to producing law graduates who will excel in legal practice, or whichever field they choose to commit themselves to, in today’s world and that of the future.”

About Associate Professor Goh Yihan

Associate Professor Goh obtained his LL.B. (First Class Honours) in 2006 from the National University of Singapore on a University Undergraduate Scholarship where he graduated as a top student in 2006, and subsequently obtained a LL.M. from Harvard University in 2010.  He was the recipient of several academic awards in the course of his studies, including the Adrian Clark Memorial Medal, the Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal and the B.A. Mallal Moot Prize (Best Oralist and Best Memorial).

Prior to joining academia, Associate Professor Goh was an Assistant Registrar, the Senior Justices’ Law Clerk and a Justices’ Law Clerk at the Singapore Supreme Court.  He started his academic career at the National University of Singapore and then joined SMU as Associate Professor in 2014.  He was appointed Associate Dean (Research) in 2016.

At SMU, he received the SMU School of Law Most Promising Teacher Award in 2015 and the SMU School of Law Most Outstanding Teacher Award in 2016.  In 2016, he was a nominee for the SMU Innovative Teacher Award.

Associate Professor Goh is a prolific researcher and his focus is primarily on the law of contract and torts, with a secondary interest in the principles of statutory interpretation and the legal process. He has published numerous books, chapters and journal articles internationally and in Singapore, which have been cited on multiple occasions by the Singapore courts and the Federal Court of Malaysia. In recognition of his invaluable contributions to the development and advancement of Singapore law, he became the youngest recipient of the pentennial Singapore Academy of Law Singapore Law Merit Award in 2013.

Apart from his academic activities, Associate Professor Goh is also active in the Singapore legal profession. Amongst his various appointments, he is a board member of the Singapore Institute of Legal Studies and the Singapore Judicial College respectively. He has been appointed amicus curiae before the Singapore Court of Appeal and the Singapore High Court. He is also a Visiting Academic at Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP and a Professorial Fellow at the Attorney-General's Chambers Academy. He is periodically consulted by law firms in his areas of expertise, and has appeared before the Court of Appeal as instructed counsel.

________________________________________________________________

For media queries, please contact:

HUANG Peiling

Senior Assistant Director, Corporate Communications

Office of Corporate Communications & Marketing, SMU

Contact: (65) 6828 0964 / (65) 9845 3361

Email: plhuang@smu.edu.sg

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Team SMU has won the Singapore national round of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, and are on their way to represent the country in Washington, D.C.!

Besides the title of the 2017 National Champions, the moot team comprising SMU School of Law undergraduates Chow Zi En (4th year), Daniel Ho (4th year), Shriram Jayakumar (3rd year), Alexander Lee (3rd year) and Wong Yan Yee (4th year) also clinched the Best Memorial award at the competition which was held on 25 February 2017 at the Court of Appeal.

The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, now in its 58th year, is the largest and most prestigious public international law moot competition in the world, with participants from over 550 law schools in more than 87 countries.  This is the fourth time SMU has won in the national round in the past five years that we have participated, SMU had also reached the championship final of the International Round in 2013 and 2014.  The consistent good showing is certainly testament to the rigour of SMU School of Law’s International Moots Programme and the excellent quality of SMU’s mooters.

Zi En, the team captain, said of the national round result: "It was a close contest, but our years of hard work paid off.  Along the way we also received a lot of help from hundreds of our alumni."

This year’s hypothetical case revolved around the use of a shared water resource (aquifer) between two states.  Both states were experiencing a drought and one of them proceeded to extract water from the aquifer at a rate that caused damage to the other state's farms as well as a shared World Heritage Site.  The other issues that arose were whether a state could withhold the return of stolen cultural property and whether there should be compensation for the creation of a migrant outflow.

Singapore currently has one of the best track records at the International Rounds, having been World Champion four times and Runner-Up nine times.  We wish the SMU team all the best as they train hard in the coming weeks to bring honour to the country at the Jessup International Round, scheduled to take place from 9 to 15 April in Washington, D.C.

[Featured Photo: The team, comprising (L-R) Chow Zi En, Wong Yan Yee, Shriram Jayakumar, Alexander Lee and Daniel Ho, with Assistant Coach Nicholas Liu (SMU alumni, JD'2015)]

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Singapore, 15 March 2017 (Wednesday)– Singapore Management University (SMU) today celebrated the official opening of its new School of Law building and the Kwa Geok Choo Law Library.  Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was the Guest-of-Honour at the ceremony, which was attended by 800 distinguished guests, donors, faculty, students, and SMU’s partners in the legal fraternity.

[Left photo: Prime Minister Lee speaking to 800 students, faculty and guests at the Opening Ceremony held on 15 March 2017.  Right photo: (L-R) SMU School of Law Dean Prof Yeo Tiong Min, SMU Chairman Mr Ho Kwon Ping, PM Lee, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, SMU President Prof Arnoud De Meyer.]

Completed in December 2016, the new School of Law building now stands as a distinctive landmark at the junction of Armenian Street and Stamford Road/Fort Canning Link.  The 23,000-square-metre building contains modern facilities to enrich the learning and teaching experience of SMU law students and faculty.  It will also enable the law school to deepen its engagement with its alumni, the community, as well as the legal fraternity.  The building is designed to be contemporary in expression, while integrating with the architecture and urban fabric of the civic district.  Additionally, it builds upon the porosity of SMU’s city campus and further promotes public access to Stamford Green and Fort Canning Park.

The building features a law library and a moot court facility.  The Kwa Geok Choo Law Library has been named in memory of the late Madam Kwa Geok Choo, wife of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.  It boasts a rich depository of knowledge and is designed to stay ahead of the changing patterns of knowledge acquisition and transmission through the broad and deep use of the latest digital technologies.

[Photo: Kwa Geok Choo Law Library.]

SMU Chairman, Mr Ho Kwon Ping, said in his speech, “The Library is expressed architecturally as a sculptural dome to represent an ‘inspirational beacon’ that seeks to illuminate the lives and minds of those who draw upon the library’s centuries of legal knowledge.  It is also symbolic of a ‘moral compass’ to remind students of the importance of ethical principles, truth and justice in society.”

“In this way we truly honour Madam Kwa Geok Choo. Beloved by all who knew her graceful humility, genuine warmth and gentle wit, Madam Kwa was herself a brilliant student and accomplished lawyer.  She also was key to the drafting of significant legislation which profoundly shaped Singapore in its formative years,” he added.

The moot court facility has been named after Mr David Marshall, who was Singapore’s first Chief Minister and a top criminal lawyer known for his great oratory.  Besides being Singapore’s first open-concept moot court, the facility also incorporates flexible furniture and movable walls, as well as state-of-the-art information technology and audio-visual infrastructure.  It will serve to further support and enhance SMU’s moot training programme, which has to date produced many outstanding mooters who have done Singapore proud in numerous global mooting competitions.  A bust of Mr David Marshall, donated by the Marshall family to SMU in 2011, stands in the moot court, reminding all SMU law students to always strive towards the qualities of passion, courage and integrity.

[Photo: SMU mooters making a presentation to Prime Minister Lee at the David Marshall Moot Court. In the forefront of the picture is a bust of Mr David Marshall, donated to SMU by the Marshall family in 2011.]

In commending the project team for their professionalism and dedication, SMU President, Professor Arnoud De Meyer, said, “The building itself represents a real engineering achievement. Constructed on the slopes of the historic Fort Canning Hill, on a site encompassing heritage trees, and with several municipal and conservation buildings, and the Fort Canning Tunnel close by – it was imperative that its design and construction were handled with the utmost integrity, sensitivity, skill and care.  Yet it was also important to make the most of this precious land.  In this respect, the Architect has designed the building to achieve optimal gross plot ratio, while adhering to building height constraints.”

The building boasts a high gross plot ratio of 3.2 GFA.  The development project also accomplished high standards of safety, recording over two million safe-man-hours.  For this achievement, the project received the 2017 Workplace Safety and Health Award Recognition for Projects (SHARP) presented by the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council and supported by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower; as well as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) 2016 Silver Award presented by United Kingdom-based ROSPA.

[Photo: SMU President, Prof Arnoud De Meyer, speaking at the Opening Ceremony held on 15 March 2017.]

Professor Yeo Tiong Min, Dean of SMU School of Law, said, “Interdisciplinary knowledge is today becoming increasingly relevant in legal practice.  In a world of growing complexities, the law graduate of tomorrow needs to possess a deep reservoir of knowledge and cross-disciplinary expertise and mental agility to think, analyse and communicate.”  He expressed his gratitude for the foresight of those who were involved in shaping the curriculum and ethos of SMU and the School of Law right from the start, and affirmed that the School will continue to pursue a holistic, broad-based approach towards nurturing legal minds from its new ‘home’.

The SMU Pro Bono Centre, which was established in 2013, also finds a new home in the new building.  The Centre will be supported by the RHT Rajan Menon Foundation for five years (commencing in Academic Year 2017-2018), with a gift of $300,000 from the Foundation, which is the corporate foundation set up by the partners of RHTLaw Taylor Wessing LLP.  Through its work, the Centre will continue to give back to the community while it instills legal professionalism and social responsibility in SMU law students and provides them with opportunities to appreciate and integrate academic work with real-life experience.

“Pro bono involvement, as well as the diverse community service activities and projects that our law students partake in locally and abroad, will nurture in students a strong sense of social mission as well as empathy for the less privileged among us,” added Professor Yeo.

The SMU School of Law building is designed by Singapore-registered architectural firm, MKPL Architects, and constructed by Kajima Overseas Asia Pte Ltd.

[Photo: Kwa Geok Choo Law Library, reminscent of a pearl, glowing softly into the night.]

___________________________________________________________________________

For media queries, please contact:

Huang Peiling

Senior Assistant Director, Corporate Communications

SMU Office of Corporate Communications & Marketing

Contact: (65) 6828 0964 / (65) 9845 3361 / plhuang@smu.edu.sg

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"Word (World) of Yours" is a yearly writing competition organised by International New York Times (INYT). This year's topic is "Global Youth" and SMU's law student Chow Zi En won the runner-up in the University category.

The INYT Writing Competition began in 2009 in Hong Kong as part of INYT’s InEducation program, which encourages students to engage with current affairs and become globally-minded by reading the daily newspaper. Since 2015, the competition has been expanded to include all of Asia and all entries are judged by INYT’s award-winning newsroom.

To celebrate the win and participation of 15 SMU students who participated in the competition, Li Ka Shing Library hosted a tea reception on 7 March 2017. Said Prof Ong Siow Heng, Dean of Students, who gave his opening remarks at the certificate presentation ceremony held at The Hive, “Although reading and writing helps sharpen our knowledge skills, it is quite rare to find people holding a book in one’s hands and walking along the streets. You (participants of the competition) are fine examples for our entire student body and congratulations on your feat!”

Zi En’s essay explores the concept of the global youth and what it means to her and to most youths – a description of the people we often see and interact with on global platforms. She goes on to explain that conceptualising of the global youth based on what we see and are commonly exposed to can blind us to our privilege and lack of inclusiveness. According to her, “In our conversations about the global youth, we must not assume lightly that what we have before us is the global youth; instead we must always remember and fight to include more underprivileged youths in the discourse”. She argues that the global youth should be an aspirational and inspirational standard that we constantly strive towards. 

When asked why she thought she did well in this competition, she said, “It may be the angle that was taken in the essay, which was to explore the concept of 'global youth'– what it means to us as compared to what it should mean. Hopefully it serves either as a reality check for some, or an affirmation of what others have been striving to do.” She also credited the school environment and pedagogy for helping her to develop critical thinking skills and Assistant Professor Chen Siyuan for encouraging her to try new activities beyond her comfort zone. 

On her future plans, Zi En said she would definitely continue writing, most probably drafting legal memorandums as a commercial litigator or in the field of international arbitration. But she added that this competition has certainly encouraged her and if there were another opportunity, she would try her hand at writing (non-legal issues) again.

You can read the essays by Zi En and other students on InK, SMU's institutional repository.

To take part in the 2017 edition, click here.

[Featured Photo: L-R: Prof Ong Siow Heng, Dean of Students; Fern Long, Senior Development Manager, The New York Times; Chow Zi En, SOL student; Prof Pang Yang Hoong, Vice Provost (Undergraduate Matters & Student Development); Gulcin Cribb, University Librarian; Vani Swarupa Murali, SoSS student and Gloria Chan, SOL student]

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SMU has become the first Singapore University to win the Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot after emerging champions in the final round held in Germany on 11 March 2017.  The SMU team was also awarded the Gary Born Award for being the best team from a non-OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) country.  Furthermore, SMU undergraduate Dominic Liew snapped up the award for Best Oral Advocate.  SMU had also reached the final during its debut at this moot competition in 2014, the team eventually claimed the first runner-up position that year.

Hosted by the Frankfurt International Arbitration Centre and international law firm McDermott, Will & Emery, the Frankfurt Moot is in its 10th edition and saw a total of 61 teams participating this year.  They included the likes of United College London, Sciences Po Paris, National Law School of Indian and University of St. Gallen.

This year, teams were to tackle a moot problem concerning a dispute between an investor seeking to bring a claim against the host-State under a Bilateral Investment Treaty.

The SMU team, represented by final-year law undergraduates Sean Sim, 3rd-year law undergraduates Dominic Liew and Loh Kah Yunn, and final year JD student Luis Duhart Gonzalez, won all eight matches en route to the championship – pre-sided by International Court of Justice Judge Christopher Greenwood – defeating the likes of George Washington University, National Law University Delhi and Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Team captain Sean Sim said, "Investor-State arbitration is an exciting area of law and Singapore has been getting its fair share of cases in recent years. We are glad that we could do our country and university proud on the international stage."

For winning the moot, the team was awarded an exceptional three-week placement at The Hague Academy of International Law, which is the centre for high-level education in both public and private international law housed in the Peace Palace, The Hague.  For winning Best Oral Advocate, Dominic was offered an LLM scholarship to Queen Mary School of International Arbitration, with a specialisation in International and Comparative Dispute Settlement. The scholarship is sponsored by McDermott Will & Emory.

* * * * * * * *

Just one week following SMU’s win in Germany, another team of our mooters also emerged champions in inaugural Ian Fletcher International Insolvency Law Moot competition held in Sydney, Australia.  Sponsored by the QUT Faculty of Law, INSOL International and the International Insolvency Institute, the Fletcher Moot featured 14 international teams in this first edition.  The competition aims to encourage the best and brightest students around the globe to learn about international insolvency law and international commercial litigation by posing a hypothetical problem to challenge students' appellate advocacy skills.

[Photo: (L-R) Weng Fong, Gary, Benedict and Yong Ngee with their championship trophy after winning the first-ever Ian Fletcher International Insolvency Law Moot.]

The team comprising third year law undergraduates Benedict Chan, Goh Yong Ngee, Gary Leow and Pang Weng Fong completed six matches in total, going up against the likes of Deakin University, Chicago-Kent College of Law, and Queensland University of Technology, and defeated National University of Singapore in the final, which was judged by James Allsop (CJ of the Federal Court of Australia), David Richards (Lord Justice of Appeal), and Allan Gropper (US Bankruptcy Court, NY).

Besides bringing home the championship cup, Benedict was named Best Speaker of the championship final, while Yong Ngee was named Best Speaker of the competition.  These awards are certainly icing on the cake for the team which has been training hard!

With these first achievements, SMU has now reached 38 international moot finals in total, winning 19.  In this moot season alone, SMU has won two other main titles – LawAsia International Moot and the Jessup national round.

Assistant Professor Chen Siyuan said, “This is an excellent start to the moot season.  We are now performing at equally high levels for both private and public international law moots, which is a great testament to the skill sets and breadth of knowledge of our students.  On behalf of the team, I would like to thank our School of Law faculty members and alumni, as well as partners in the law fraternity who have dedicated their time to coach, mentor and/or judge the teams.  We are also grateful to WongPartnership for their support since 2015.  The strong encouragement that we are receiving on all fronts means a lot to our mooting teams who put in their best at every moot competition.”  Assistant Prof Chen heads the International Moots Programme at the SMU School of Law.

[Featured photo: (L-R) Professer Charles Poncet, Judge Al-Kasawneh, Dr Sabine Conrad, Sean Sim, Dominic Liew, Loh Kah Yun, Luis Duhart, Dr Stanimir Alexandrov and Judge Christopher Greenwood.]

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SMU students have done Singapore proud!

In a rare feat, a team of mooters from SMU School of Law has defended its championship title at the annual Price Media Law Moot Competition (Price Moot), and is the first university to win the Price Moot thrice!  This is also the fourth time SMU has reached the final of the Price Moot – yet another record in the competition.

Organised by Oxford University, the Price Moot is now considered one of the seven ‘grand slam’ moots as it attracts around a hundred teams annually (92 this year) and is the largest moot on human rights, freedom of expression in particular.  The Moot, which is celebrating its 10^th edition this year, was held in Oxford, United Kingdom, from 3 to 7 April 2017.

The moot team, comprising third-year undergraduates Chia Chen Wei, Lyndon Choo, Tracy Gani and Kara Quek, and third year Juris Doctor students Jacintha Gopal and Saw Teng Sheng, won all seven matches en route to the championship.  Besides clinching the championship title, Teng Sheng was named Best Oralist in the championship final (a first for SMU in this moot) and also Best Oralist of the tournament (another first for SMU in this moot).  Chen Wei was also named second runner-up for Best Oralist of the tournament.

(L-R) Chen Wei, Jacintha, Teng Sheng, Yi Siong, Kara, Tracy, Lyndon

The moot problem this year was mainly about the freedom of expression; specifically, whether a political blogger had incited violence in another state, and whether the social intermediary which hosted her content could be sanctioned.

Apart from Oxford University, which SMU was up against in the final round, some of the other opponents the team met included University of Technology Sydney, the University of the Philippines and the University of Sao Paulo.  The team was judged by a number of Queen’s Counsel at various points in the competition, and the final comprising seven leading practitioners was presided by Nicolas Bratza, the former President of the European Court of Human Rights.

With this latest achievement, SMU has reached 39 international moot finals in total, winning 20.  So far in this moot season, SMU has reached four international moot championships with at least seven more international competitions to go.

This result also means that we have become the second university in the history of international moots to successfully defend a ‘grand slam’ moot title – we were the first to do so when we won back-to-back International Criminal Court titles in 2015 and 2016.

As per previous moots, there was a strong cast of alumni and law faculty members behind the team, who served as joint coaches and judges of practice sessions.  The School is also grateful to WongPartnership for their support since 2015.

“Indeed, doing well in international moots is more than just a university endeavour – I would say it is a national one, as part of nation-building.  If we as a country want to be serious about being a world-class dispute resolution hub, we must continue to invest wisely in our students and coaches to match that ambition,” said Assistant Professor Chen Siyuan, who heads the International Moots Programme at the SMU School of Law.

[Featured photo (L-R): Lyndon, Kara, Chen Wei, Yi Siong, Teng Sheng, Tracy, Jacintha]

Also read coverage published in The Straits Times on 14 April 2017.

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SMU today celebrated the official opening of its new School of Law building and the Kwa Geok Choo Law Library. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (PM Lee) officially opened the 23,000 sq m School of Law building, located at the junction of Armenian Street and Stamford Road. Among the building's features are a pearl-shaped dome, which houses the Kwa Geok Choo Law Library, named in memory of the late Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, who is PM Lee's mother.

In his opening speech, PM Lee shared with the 800-strong audience present that his mother, who was a conveyancing lawyer for over 30 years, kept a small personal library of law books in her office. Besides nurturing young lawyers, PM Lee also added that his mother had paid special attention to the female lawyers in her firm and she was even a pioneer of work-life balance in the 1980s. PM Lee later toured the 2,200 sq m, three-storey library, which will focus on developing special collections in commercial law, dispute resolution and Asean law, among other areas. He also visited the new David Marshall Moot Court, which is named after the country's first chief minister and one of its top criminal lawyers.

Overlooking Fort Canning and the city, the Kwa Geok Choo Law Library will house a digital collection which will serve not only the SMU community, but also "the entire legal fraternity in Singapore and beyond", SMU Board of Trustees Chairman Ho Kwon Ping said at the ceremony. "It is expressed architecturally as a sculptural dome to represent an inspirational beacon that seeks to illuminate the lives and minds of those who draw upon the library’s centuries of legal knowledge. It is also symbolic of a moral compass to remind students of the importance of ethical principles, truth and justice in society," Mr Ho added

In his speech, SMU president Arnoud De Meyer called the building "a real engineering achievement". He commended the building's designer MKPL Architects and its builders Kajima Overseas Asia for their "sensitivity, skills and care", as the project is "constructed on the slopes of the historic Fort Canning Hill, on a site encompassing heritage trees" with several conservation buildings and the Fort Canning Tunnel close by. SMU School of Law Dean Professor Yeo Tiong Min said: "It is without a doubt that the new School of Law building will be a venue where legal minds will be able to meet, interact, network and collaborate."

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SMU yesterday celebrated the official opening of its new School of Law building and the Kwa Geok   Choo Law Library.  Speaking at the official opening, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (PM Lee) said that lawyers will need different skills to value add as technology is automating many routine legal tasks and law schools will have to keep their curricula up to date so they can then produce lawyers who are prepared for the demands of the new working environment. PM Lee later toured the new 23,000 sq m School of Law building, located at the junction of Armenian Street and Stamford Road. The building features a new new state-of-the-art law library, named after late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's wife and lawyer Madam Kwa Geok Choo. The Kwa Geok Choo Law Library will house a digital collection which will serve not only the SMU community, but also the legal fraternity in Singapore. The new building also boasts a moot court, named after Singapore first Chief Minister David Marshall.

SMU students shared their views about the new law school building. SMU Juris Doctor Student Saw Teng Sheng noted that the moot court helps students prepare for actual competitions. He said that students were practicing in classrooms and seminar rooms before this building came about, which does not create the atmosphere that they experience in finals. He added that the new building helps them to prepare to get into the whole momentum.

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SMU yesterday celebrated the official opening of its new School of Law building and the Kwa Geok Choo Law Library.  Speaking at the official opening, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (PM Lee) said the way law is being practised will change in the future, and more cross-disciplinary learning should be encouraged. He said the Government will be supporting the bigger law firms to venture into new areas of legal practice while helping the smaller ones raise their productivity and deliver better services to clients. PM Lee also noted that the SMU School of Law, Singapore's second law school, was set up in 2007 not just to increase the number of law graduates. "We wanted a law school that would provide a rigorous legal education, coupled with exposure to other disciplines, such as business, economics, accountancy, social sciences or information systems."

PM Lee later toured the new 23,000 sq m School of Law building, located at the junction of Armenian Street and Stamford Road. The building was completed last December at a cost of $165 million. The building features the Kwa Geok Choo Law Library. Madam Kwa, a lawyer, was one of the founders of Lee & Lee, one of Singapore's oldest firms. Madam Kwa, who died in 2010, is PM Lee's mother.

SMU Board of Trustees Chairman Mr Ho Kwon Ping, in his speech, said the 2,200 sq m Kwa Geok Choo Law Library will be "at the heart of legal education and scholarship in Singapore". He added: "Universities around the world are known for their iconic libraries, and this one is strategically placed at the high point of the site next to Stamford Green." The three-storey library, which can seat more than 500 people, will focus on developing special collections in commercial law, dispute resolution and Asean law, among other areas. Mr Ho also said students can now better prepare for law competitions with the new David Marshall Moot Court, which simulates a courtroom or arbitration chamber. SMU School of Law Dean Professor Yeo Tiong Min said that the centre "sensitises law students to social justice issues" and allows them to "appreciate and integrate academic work with real-life experience".

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SMU celebrated the official opening of its new School of Law building and the Kwa Geok Choo Law Library on Wednesday (Mar 15).  Speaking at the official opening, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (PM Lee) said that lawyers will need different skills to value add as technology is automating many routine legal tasks and law schools will have to keep their curricula up to date so they can then produce lawyers who are prepared for the demands of the new working environment. PM Lee later toured the new 23,000 sq m School of Law building, located at the junction of Armenian Street and Stamford Road. The building features a new new state-of-the-art law library, named after late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's wife and lawyer Madam Kwa Geok Choo. The Kwa Geok Choo Law Library will house a digital collection which will serve not only the SMU community, but also the legal fraternity in Singapore. The new building also boasts a moot court, named after Singapore first Chief Minister David Marshall.

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SMU Associate Professor Goh Yihan has been appointed the new Dean of the SMU School of Law (SOL), following an extensive and rigorous global search that started in September 2016. Associate Professor Goh, who is currently the Associate Dean (Research), will succeed Professor Yeo Tiong Min as Dean of SOL from 1 July 2017 for a five-year term. Professor Yeo will continue as Yong Pung How Chair Professor of Law at SMU SOL.

SMU Provost Professor Lily Kong noted the impressive career and background of the incoming Dean. "In Associate Professor Goh, we have a new Dean who brings a deep understanding and knowledge of the School and Singapore law, as well as strong networks and familiarities with the legal community," she said. Professor Kong also lauded Prof Yeo "for his tremendous commitment, able leadership and immense contributions." On his appointment, Associate Prof Goh said: "It is an honour to succeed Professor Yeo, who has dedicated himself selflessly to the Deanship for the past five years. Indeed, I am privileged to be given the opportunity to lead the SMU School of Law as it enters a pivotal point of its history 10 years after its initial establishment."

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A quartet from SMU School of Law edged out an NUS team in the inaugural Ian Fletcher International Insolvency Law Moot Competition held in Sydney, Australia. SMU's team comprised students Benedict Chan, Goh Yong Ngee, Gary Leow and Pang Weng Fong. Mr Benedict Chan was named the best mooter in the competition. He said the award was “a pleasant surprise" and thanked his teammates and others for providing helpful feedback.

SMU School of Law’s international moots programme head Assistant Professor Chen Siyuan said: "The win is significant as cross-border insolvency is one of the areas of law that is growing and our Government has also expressed an interest for Singapore to develop an expertise in it." Meanwhile, in the Price Media Law Moot Court competition held in Oxford last week, SMU became the first university to snag the winning trophy for the third time, after bagging it last year and in 2010. The competition revolves around issues of human rights - specifically freedom of expression - and draws about 100 teams from around the world each year. The SMU team comprised students Chia Chen Wei, Lyndon Choo, Tracy Gani, Kara Quek, Jacintha Gopal and Saw Teng Sheng. Prof Chen thanked local law firm WongPartnership for supporting its teams.

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This special feature describes SMU Assistant Professor of Law Christopher Chen’s studies of a wide range of regulatory issues in banks, insurers and capital markets. His research on regulations and banks, insurers and capital markets spans a broad range of issues, and includes how the rules governing finance can be tweaked to improve the lives of ordinary people. He also studies global standards, and how Asian regulations have evolved in response, as well as corporate governance issues, such as related party transactions and the network of company directors. Ultimately, Assistant Prof Chen’s interest in his research areas stems from their relevance to consumers, and the rapidly changing nature of global finance.

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Singapore, 10 July 2017 (Monday)– The Singapore Management University (SMU) is pleased to announce that Mr V. K. Rajah SC has been appointed the new Chairman of the SMU School of Law Advisory Board, for an initial term of two years.  He succeeds Mr Lucien Wong SC, the current Attorney-General of Singapore, who stepped down from the Advisory Board on 30 June 2017 after more than three years of chairmanship.

The School’s Advisory Board, established in January 2007, provides strategic advice and guidance to the Deanery of the School of Law, regarding the School’s academic programmes of study, curriculum development, internships, scholarships, international student exchange programmes and employment.

SMU President, Professor Arnoud De Meyer, said, “In the last 10 years since its establishment in 2007, SMU School of Law has grown to become a leading law school in Singapore and in Asia, which distinguishes itself as one which produces excellent graduates who are well-sought after in the market.  We are honoured and privileged that Mr V. K. Rajah has accepted the chairmanship to the School’s Advisory Board.  An eminent and respected figure in the legal fraternity, he brings a wealth of legal knowledge and experiences from both the private and public sectors.  I have no doubt that SMU School of Law will benefit immensely from his advice and leadership, as it begins its next chapter.”

SMU School of Law Dean, Associate Professor Goh Yihan, said, “I am absolutely delighted that Mr V. K. Rajah has agreed to the chairmanship of the School’s Advisory Board. Having worked with Mr Rajah in his former capacities, I am confident that his experience, dynamism and energy will take the School of Law to even greater heights of excellence.  I look forward very much to working with Mr Rajah in his capacity as Chairman of the Advisory Board.”

On his new role, Mr V. K. Rajah said, “I look forward to working closely with the Dean and the faculty, and building on the strong foundation of the SMU School of Law.  We share a common vision that aspires to make the School a centre of legal and professional excellence.”

[Photo: Mr V. K. Rajah is new Chairman of SMU School of Law Advisory Board (Photo courtesy of Mr V. K. Rajah)]

Mr Rajah was a one of Singapore’s leading commercial lawyers prior to entering public service.  He was among the first batch of Senior Counsel appointed in 1997, and led one of Singapore’s largest law firms.  In 2004, after 20 years of practice, he was appointed a Judicial Commissioner, and within the year a Supreme Court Judge.  Three years later, he became a Judge of Appeal, a position he held until 2014.

During his term on the Supreme Court Bench, he contributed prolifically to Singapore’s jurisprudence, and many of his judgments have shaped the development of Singapore law.  Beyond the courtroom, he helmed committees, which have enhanced the administration of justice and the vibrancy of Singapore’s legal profession.  These include the Committee to Develop the Singapore Legal Sector, which comprehensively reviewed the entire legal services sector, and made bold and important recommendations, including liberalising Singapore’s legal services, and building up Singapore’s exportable legal services in the areas of mediation and arbitration. 

This Committee also proposed to develop Singapore as a centre of legal education, and enhance post-graduate and professional training.  One result was the Singapore Institute of Legal Education, an umbrella institution overseeing vocational training and continuing education for the legal fraternity.  In 2013, Mr Rajah also chaired the 4th Committee on the Supply of Lawyers.

Beyond legal education, Mr Rajah actively promoted the use of Singapore law in the region.  In 2004, he chaired a Working Committee to study this and went on to head the newly-formed standing International Promotion of Singapore Committee, whose initiatives have helped raise the profile of Singapore law beyond our shores.  As Attorney-General from June 2014 to January 2017, he implemented strategic measures to strengthen and equip the Attorney-General’s Chambers, including setting up an AGC Academy to raise professional standards across the various divisions in the Chambers.  In January 2017, upon his retirement from public service, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong penned a valedictory letter to thank Mr Rajah for his luminary service and outstanding contribution to Singapore.

SMU also expressed its appreciation to outgoing Chairman, Mr Lucien Wong, for his guidance.  “We are very grateful to Mr Wong for his valuable advice and contribution as Chairman of the School of Law Advisory Board for more than three years.  Under his chairmanship, the School has made great strides towards enhancing its global reputation, and also established two excellent research centres, amongst others,” said Professor De Meyer.

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SMU’s international mooters have marked the end of the AY2016-2017 moot season with nothing less than a gold!

Final year law undergraduates Jolyn Khoo, Darren Ng Zheng Qiang, R Saravanan, Claudia Tan and Jonathan Tan Wei Xiang were crowned champions of the 2017 Asian Law Students' Association (ALSA) International Moot Court Competition on 20 August 2017, after five gruelling rounds of competition.

About 30 teams participated in the moot competition this year, which was based on investment arbitration.  The best teams qualified for the international rounds held in Kuala Lumpur between 18 and 20 August.  In addition to the championship title, the SMU team, which was coached by SMU School of Law alumni Sean Sim and Daniel Ho, also won the Best Claimant Memorial award.

This is SMU’s second win in this competition, and the achievement certainly brings a fitting conclusion to SMU's 2016-17 moot season.  With SMU School of Law winning five international championships in six finals this season, the School has equalled its AY2014-15 world record for the most number of international championships won in a season.

SMU's overall tally in international moot competitions now stands at 21 championships in 41 championship finals.  15 of these finals were of ‘grand slam’ moots, i.e. those which attract at least a hundred teams.  Notably, since the launch of its International Moots Programme in 2010, SMU has been the only Singapore university to have reached a grand slam moot final (winning seven such finals).

“This is an excellent way to conclude the moot season.  On behalf of the team, I would like to thank our School of Law faculty members and alumni, as well as partners in the law fraternity who have dedicated their time to coach, mentor and/or judge the teams.  We are also grateful to WongPartnership for their support since 2015.  2017 also marks the first year in our new building, and facilities such as the David Marshall Moot Court have been helpful for our preparations,” said Assistant Prof Chen, who heads the International Moots Programme at the SMU School of Law.

Well done, SMU mooters!

[Featured Photo: The SMU team comprising Darren, Claudia, Jonathan, Saravanan and Jolyn being presented the championship.]

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