RAC event within the framework of the Singapore Convention Week
On August 30, the Russian Arbitration Center held its first in-person event in Singapore as part of Singapore Convention Week. The panel "The Art and Science of Arbitral Tribunal Composition" was composed of the leading Russian lawyers in the field of arbitration, including Denis Almakaev, FCIArb, Head of International Disputes Practice at LEVEL Legal Services, and Yan Kalish, PhD, MCIArb, Counsel at RGD's Dispute Resolution practice, as well as foreign experts: Charis Tan, Partner at Peter & Kim; Olga Boltenko, an Independent Arbitrator, and Edmund Kronenburg, Managing Partner at Braddell Brothers LLP. The discussion was moderated by Ekaterina Bubnova, Legal Counsel at the Russian Arbitration Center.
The speakers discussed the current issues related to the appointment of arbitrators in disputes involving Russian parties. One of the hot topics was conducting interviews with potential candidates. The speakers stated that the interview is an effective tool for making a decision on the appointment of an arbitrator, however they also noted to play it safe. For example, it is recommended to record an interview to address any future challenges to arbitrators or applications for setting aside of an arbitral award. Additionally, the speakers suggested providing candidates with a set of questions beforehand to prevent uncomfortable situations where candidates may be hesitant to address sensitive topics like politics, religion, and culture.
During the discussion, the speakers also touched upon the practice of reviewing the social media profiles of candidates. It was unanimously agreed that arbitrators must be prepared for a comprehensive review of their social media accounts, especially the content they publish. Finally, the speakers highlighted the increasing interest of Russian parties in arbitrators and arbitration originating from Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Russian Arbitration Center expresses its gratitude to the Ministry of Law, Singapore for organizing Singapore Convention Week and the Rajah & Tann Asia Law Firm for their support in coordinating the event.
