Singapore Mediation Centre

Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) is a not-for-profit organisation structured as a company limited by the guarantee of the Singapore Academy of Law.^[1]

Background

In 1996, a cross-profession committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) chaired by then Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, was formed to study how mediation in Singapore could be promoted outside the courts. The Committee made two main recommendations. One of which was the creation of a commercial mediation centre under the Singapore Academy of Law. This centre, the Singapore Mediation Centre, was launched on 16 August 1997. SMC is limited by the guarantee of the Singapore Academy of Law, a body presided by the Chief Justice of Singapore and governed by a Senate, most of whose members are also judges of the Supreme Court.^[2]

Present Day

SMC is located within the Supreme Court's premises. Mediations at the SMC is usually held at the mediation chambers in the Supreme Court. Mediation provides strategic conflict management in which parties can resolve their own disputes, including commercial, contractual, or matrimonial disputes with the help of a neutral third party. The mediator acts only as a facilitator to guide and regulate the process. The outcome of the mediation is determined by the parties themselves. Mediation is an interest-based approach that is non-confrontational, and focuses on solving problems in regards to the parties' interest. Examples of mediation services are the Pilot Healthcare Scheme, which offers subsidised mediation services for disputes between patients and healthcare institutions, and mediation for disputes arising from the Personal Data Protection Act.^[3]

SMC is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Justice Belinda Ang; and assisted by a Board of Advisors who provide strategic advice to enable SMC to achieve its mission.^[4] SMC has 3 panels of mediators, classed as International, Principal and Associate Mediators.^[5]

In 2015, SMC handled a record 337 cases — the highest number since it opened in 1997. 49 matters were related to construction disputes.^[6]

References

Law of Singapore
Constitutional law	Executive branch President Government Cabinet Prime Minister Attorney-General Legislative branch President Parliament Judicial branch Judicial system Judicial independence Judicial officers Constitution of the Republic of Singapore Tribunal Supreme Court Court of Appeal High Court State Courts Constitution Elections Human rights Internal Security Act Presidential Council for Minority Rights Singaporean nationality law
Administrative law	General Exclusion of judicial review Remedies Threshold issues Illegality Fettering of discretion Precedent fact errors Relevant and irrelevant considerations Substantive legitimate expectation Irrationality Wednesbury unreasonableness Procedural impropriety Bias Procedural legitimate expectation
Alternative dispute resolution	Singapore International Mediation Centre Singapore Mediation Centre
Criminal law	Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act Misuse of Drugs Act Penal Code Section 377A of the Penal Code Sedition Act Vandalism Act
Family law	Matrimonial law Women's Charter
Religious law	Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act Charities Act
Procedure	Electronic Filing System Integrated Electronic Litigation System
Sources of Singapore law List of Acts of Parliament in Singapore