Introduction to International Arbitration Course 2026
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Singapore)
Invites You to the Upcoming Course
On 28 August 2026, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Venue: Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)
6.5 Public CPD Points (TBC)
What is the aim of the course?
This course provides candidates with a foundational understanding of the general principles of International Arbitration, and how it relates to other dispute resolution processes. Candidates will be introduced to the legal framework governing International Arbitration, alongside good practice and procedure.
Our lecturers bring hands-on experience in IP and technology-related disputes, offering candidates valuable real-world perspectives throughout the course. Some course materials will also draw on specific examples and issues that commonly arise in the IP and technology sectors.
Confirmed lecturers include:
- Kathleen Paisley – Kathleen is a US national who has been practicing in Brussels, London and The Hague for more than 25 years. She combines a degree from the Yale Law School with an MBA in Finance and has passed the Certified Public Accountancy exam.
- Jonathan Choo – Jonathan is an experienced independent arbitrator and mediator and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Singapore Branch.
- Anne Secomb - Dr Anne Secomb specializes in international arbitration and has acted as counsel in private practice, as counsel at the ICC Secretariat in Paris and Singapore, and as arbitrator in more than 20 international arbitrations.
- Kent Phillips – Kent Philips is an international arbitration lawyer based in Singapore. He has more than 20 years of experience conducting arbitrations under leading institutional rules in all of the major seats, under both civil and common applicable laws.
What are the learning outcomes?
On successful completion of this course, candidates will be able to:
- Understand the background to international arbitration
- Describe the process and procedure of international arbitration
- Understand international arbitration in the context of other forms of dispute resolution
What is covered within the syllabus?
- Comparison of dispute resolution procedures
- Fundamental principles of the International Arbitration process
- The legal framework: the importance of the seat, the New York Convention, procedural laws, and procedural rules
- The UNCITRAL Model Law and UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules
- Key elements of the arbitration agreement
- Comparison of ad hoc and institutional arbitration and different institutional procedural rules
- Commencement of the Arbitration
- An Arbitrator’s jurisdiction and powers
- The Arbitration process: obligations of the tribunal, responsibilities and obligations of the parties
- Managing the Arbitration process: communications, preliminary meeting, interlocutory matters, party submissions, dealing with factual and expert evidence and disclosure of documents
- Documents only arbitration and expedited procedures
- Procedure at a typical evidentiary hearing, including contrasting common and civil law jurisdictions
- Addressing costs and interest: alternative approaches in different jurisdictions
- Essentials of an enforceable Award
How is the course delivered?
It will be a one-day course on 28 August 2026 (Friday), from 9:00AM – 5:00PM, held in-person at the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS). Venue generously sponsored by IPOS.
How will I be assessed?
Participants may choose to attend the course by itself, or to take the course together with an online multiple-choice assessment. Please refer to the course fees table below for the applicable fees. Please note that in order for candidates to be awarded a certificate and to be eligible to apply for Associate grade membership of Ciarb and take advantage of a range of educational and professional benefits, candidates will need to successfully complete both the course and the online assessment.
The online assessment period commences the day after the course, on 29 August. Candidates will be given login details to access the online platform and then have 28 days to complete the assessment, with three attempts during that time to complete it.
What are the entry requirements?
There are no entry requirements. The course is intended for candidates who:
- are new to the field of international arbitration;
- wish to learn more about international arbitration and its benefits to users; or
- wish to become an Associate member of Ciarb.
English Language Competence - Ciarb training and assessment is carried out in English it is therefore essential that candidates are proficient in both written and spoken English. Where English is not a candidate’s first language it is recommended that they have achieved a standard that is, as a minimum, equivalent to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) level 7 or a score of 94-101 in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) system. Ciarb issues this advice as a guideline and, while it will not require any evidence of this standard prior to enrolment on a course, candidates who do not have this standard of English may be disadvantaged.
What are the course fees and what does it include?
Course fees are structured as below:
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Course Only
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Course + Online Assessment
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Course Fee (inclusive of registration & study materials)
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· Standard: SGD 500
· Subsidised fee: SGD 250 | Generously supported by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)
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Online Assessment Fee
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—
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GBP 72 (approx. SGD 124)
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Total
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SGD 250
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SGD 250 + GBP 72
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Payable To
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Ciarb Singapore
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The course fee will be paid directly to Ciarb Singapore, while the assessment fee will be paid separately to the Ciarb HQ in London.
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*Note: The IPOS subsidy applies to the course fee only. The online assessment fee is not subsidised. SGD equivalent of GBP 72 is an estimate and subject to fluctuating exchange rates.
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What happens when I register for the course?
The registration deadline, whether for attending the course only or with assessment, will be
6 August 2026, Thursday.
Upon successful registration on the course, candidates will receive confirmation that they are booked on the course. Joining instructions and course materials will be sent to candidates prior to the course start date by email provided full payment has been received. Candidates will be provided with an electronic copy of a Workbook to assist them with their studies together with a suggested reading list.
Complimentary Pass to IP Week SG 2026 (Days 1 and 2)
With the generous support of IPOS, if you register for the course, you will receive a complimentary pass to IP Week SG 2026 (Days 1 and 2) (worth S$900, excluding GST), with access to ADR TIPS (Ciarb X IPOS Joint Event) and other conference sessions.
Details on how to redeem the complimentary pass, including the applicable discount code, will be provided upon course registration.
What is Ciarb's policy on cancellation of courses?
Ciarb reserves the right to cancel or change the date, venue or content of programmes and the names of speakers, lecturers and tutors. If Ciarb has to cancel a course, candidates will be provided with a full refund or the opportunity to transfer their registration to another course. Should a candidate wish to cancel his or her registration of a course, notification must be received in writing to secretariat@ciarb.org.sg at least two weeks before the date the course is due to commence. If a candidate fails to give such notice, the Ciarb may apply a cancellation charge of 50% of the course fee or such other amount as it may in its sole discretion determine.
What is the Attendance Policy?
Participants who wish to obtain CPD Points are reminded that they must comply strictly with the Attendance Policy set out in the CPD Guidelines. For this activity, this includes signing in on arrival and signing out at the conclusion of the activity in the manner required by the organiser, and not being absent from the entire activity for more than 15 minutes. Participants who do not comply with the Attendance Policy will not be able to obtain CPD Points for attending the activity. Please refer to http://www.sileCPDcentre.sg for more information.
This course offers 6.5 (TBC) Public CPD Points
- Practice Area : Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Training Level : General
What is my next step when I complete the course?
On successful completion of this course, candidates will:
- be eligible to claim CPD points
- may progress onto Module 1 of the International Arbitration Pathway
- will be eligible to apply for Associate grade of Ciarb, and take advantage of a range of educational and professional benefits
What is the Attendance Policy?
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Public CPD Points: 6.5 (TBC)
Practice Area: Alternative Dispute Resolution
Training Level: General
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Participants who wish to obtain CPD Points must comply strictly with the Attendance Policy set out in the CPD Guidelines. For this activity, participants are reminded to sign in on arrival and sign out at the conclusion of each day of the event in the manner required by the organiser. Participants must not be absent from each day of the event for more than 15 minutes. Participants who do not comply with the Attendance Policy on any particular day of the event will not be able to obtain CPD Points for that day.
Please refer to http://www.sileCPDcentre.sg for more information.
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To register for the course, please visit https://shorturl.at/SoQ6s or for more information, please contact Ciarb Secretariat at secretariat@ciarb.org.sg.
