Law Commons^™

Hazards Of The Job: Good Listening And Mental Health, Nadja Alexander

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

To the extent that a mediator’s job involves listening to people complain and engage in negative behaviour, mediators face a serious mental health hazard.

Criminal Law Act Is Useful — But Handle With Care, Tan K. B. Eugene

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In a significant decision last week, Singapore’s highest court ruled that alleged global football match-fixer Dan Tan Seet Eng’s preventive detention was unlawful. His detention went beyond the scope of discretionary power vested in the Minister for Home Affairs under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act (CLTPA). The court’s ruling drew criticisms from a former Interpol chief and, ironically, FIFA, football’s graft-ridden governing body.

A Critical Assessment Of The Role Of The Venice Commission In Processes Of Domestic Constitutional Reform, Maartje De Visser

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

On January 26, 2014, an overwhelming majority of the National Constituent Assembly of Tunisia approved the country's new constitution. Drafted in the aftermath of the Tunisian revolution, the constitution received considerable international critical acclaim, regarding the manner in which the text had been drafted and adopted as well as its content, notably the entrenchment of a host of fundamental rights and liberties. Comparisons have inevitably been drawn with Egypt's new constitution and those of other Arab nations, with the Tunisian text hailed as one of the most progressive in the region, providing the foundations for a modern and credible democracy. …

Reputation And Defamatory Meaning On The Internet: Communications, Contexts And Communities, Gary Kok Yew Chan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The determination of the appropriate scope of protection of reputation in the tort of defamation is crucially dependent on the construction of defamatory meaning. With the continuing rise of Internet publications, it is important to assess the impact of the various modes of Internet communications such as Internet websites, hyperlinking, blogs, emails, Twitter, Facebook and other forms of social media on defamatory meaning. Such defamatory meaning is being constructed based on the unique contexts and social expectations that have been generated by the various modes of Internet communications. The potential impact on defamatory meaning can also be assessed from the …

Accessory Liability In Tort And Equity, Pey Woan Lee

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Unlike the position in criminal law, there does not currently exist a general doctrine of accessory liability in civil law. Thus, a person may be liable as an accessory in equity for dishonestly assisting with a breach of trust, but there is no tort for dishonest assistance. Rather, one who participates in another's tort will only be liable if he is a joint tortfeasor acting pursuant to a common design with the primary tortfeasor. This article examines the reasons for this divergence and evaluates the case for their assimilation. It observes that, contrary to common perception, the scope of participatory …

Learn To Play, Play To Learn: Designing A Digital Board Game For A Law Of Torts Class, Gary Kok Yew Chan, Swee Liang Tan, Khe Foon Timothy Hew, Li Siong Lim, Bernie Grayson Koh

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This paper documents the learning journey and outcomes of designing an electronic roll-and-move board game, The Grade Inflation Game (GIGAME). It was developed by the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) for classes conducted in the School of Law at the Singapore Management University (SMU). It investigates the effectiveness of using an electronic board game in teaching and learning. Based on the survey on 64 student-players of the game, the study revealed that the game enabled students to consolidate objective skills and knowledge while having 'serious' fun.

We Built This City: Public Participation In Land Use Decisions In Singapore, Jack Tsen-Ta Lee

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This article considers the extent to which the legal framework for making land use decisions in Singapore allows for public participation. It examines the issue from two angles: the creation and preservation of the built environment, and the transient use of public space. The first angle is discussed primarily from a heritage law viewpoint, focusing on planning law, compulsory acquisition law, and the legal regime for creating national monuments. As for the second angle, the article looks at how the use of common spaces for assemblies and processions is regulated. The foregoing are examined in the context of Edward Soja’s …

Singapore: Reflecting On The Development Of The Domestic Mediation Scene, Eunice Chua

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Amidst all the attention that Singapore has attracted as an international dispute resolution hubwith the recent launches of the Singapore International Mediation Centre (“SIMC”), SingaporeInternational Mediation Institute (“SIMI”) and the Singapore International Commercial Court,it is appropriate to pause to reflect on how far the domestic mediation scene has come in orderto support these global ambitions.

Lawrence V Fen Tigers: Controversies And Clarifications In The Law Of Nuisance, Kee Yang Low

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The law of nuisance is an area which is fraught with difficulties. In Lawrence v Fen Tigers [2014] 2 WLR 433, the UK Supreme Court dealt with several of these issues, in particular the relevance of planning permission and when damages should be granted in lieu of an injunction. This comment examines the decision and its implications.

The Singapore International Commercial Court: A Challenge To Arbitration?, Kc Lye, Darius Chan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

No abstract provided.

Mediation Goes Global In Singapore, George S. C. Lim, Eunice Chua

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Singapore has positioned itself as an international dispute resolution hub in Asia by providing a complete suite of services for international arbitration, international litigation and mediation through the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (“SIAC”), the Singapore International Commercial Court (“SICC”) and the Singapore International Mediation Centre (“SIMC”). SICC and SIMC build on Singapore’s reputation for quality legal services, including its status as the most preferred seat of arbitration in Asia and the third most preferred seat of arbitration in the world.[1] They bring more options to parties facing cross-border disputes who need tailored solutions that meet their needs.

Mediation Goes Global In Singapore, George S. C. Lim, Eunice Chua

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Singapore has positioned itself as an international dispute resolution hub in Asia by providing a complete suite of services for international arbitration, international litigation and mediation through the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (“SIAC”), the Singapore International Commercial Court (“SICC”) and the Singapore International Mediation Centre (“SIMC”). SICC and SIMC build on Singapore’s reputation for quality legal services, including its status as the most preferred seat of arbitration in Asia and the third most preferred seat of arbitration in the world.[1] They bring more options to parties facing cross-border disputes who need tailored solutions that meet their needs.

The Scope Of ‘De Novo’ Review Of An Arbitral Tribunal’S Jurisdiction, Darius Chan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In PT First Media TBK (formerly known as PT Broadband Multimedia TBK) v Astro Nusantara International BV [2014] 1 SLR 372 (“Astro”), the Singapore Court of Appeal held that the Court will apply a de novo standard of review when reviewing an arbitral award on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction. What exactly is the scope of de novo review? Specifically, can a party adduce before the Court fresh evidence that had not been put before the arbitral tribunal? Can a party insist that the Court re-hear oral testimony of witnesses who had testified before the arbitral tribunal?These separate but …

Magna Carta Then And Now, Tan K. B. Eugene

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

What’s the significance and relevance of Magna Carta, an 800-year-old handwritten sheepskin parchment currently on a world tour that has been to New York City, Luxembourg, China (Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai), Hong Kong, and now Singapore?

Dealing With The Long-Term Scourge Of Terrorism, Tan K. B. Eugene

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The year 2015 may well be the annus horribilis for the way the scourge of terrorism has plagued the world. In its latest affront designed to shock and awe, the Islamic State, or Daesh, has claimed responsibility for last Friday’s heinous attacks in Paris, which have claimed more than 120 lives, causing widespread panic and fear there and elsewhere.

Carbon Credits As Eu Like It: Property, Immunity, Tragico2medy?, Kelvin F. K. Low, Jolene Lin

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

While there have been many legal studies of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), none seem to have considered the EU ETS from the perspective of private law, particularly the private law issues that stem from the ambiguous legal nature of the 'carbon credit'. Such ambiguity translates into regulatory uncertainty and business risks of the sort that occurred in Armstrong DLW GmbH v Winnington Networks Ltd [2013] Ch 156, an English case involving fraud and 'stolen' European Union Allowances (EUAs). From an environmental law and policy perspective, uncertainty does not bode well for the EU ETS's regulatory effectiveness …

Magna Carta Then And Now: A Symbol Of Freedom And Equal Rights For All, Eugene K. B. Tan, Jack Tsen-Ta Lee

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Magna Carta became applicable to Singapore in 1826 when a court system administering English law was established in the Straits Settlements. This remained the case through Singapore’s evolution from Crown colony to independent republic. The Great Charter only ceased to apply in 1993, when Parliament enacted the Application of English Law Act to clarify which colonial laws were still part of Singapore law. Nonetheless, Magna Carta’s legacy in Singapore continues in a number of ways. Principles such as due process of law and the supremacy of law are cornerstones of the rule of law, vital to the success, stability and …

Time To Say Local Cheese And Smile At Geographical Indications Of Origin? International Trade And Local Development In The United States, Irene Calboli

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In this Article, I offer some considerations on a possible compromising solution for the controversy between the European Union (EU) and the United States (U.S.) on the regulation of geographical indications of origin (GIs) as part of the negotiations in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Notably, I advocate that the EU and the U.S. consider adopting a solution similar to that adopted in the Canada and European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). In particular, I note that, even though CETA accepted several of the EU’s requests to claw-back names that were not previously protected in Canada, …

Von Fischen Im Wasser Und Andere Mediationserzählungen [Of Fish In Water And Other Mediation Stories] (In German), Nadja Alexander

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This essay offers an international and cross-cultural perspective on mediation. It builds on the contributions to this journal issue and extends the conversation to include (1) the role of culture in mediations models and (2) the taboo topic of directive, evaluative approaches. After reviewing various taxonomies of mediation models, the author’s mediation meta model is used as a framework to analyze diverse approaches of mediation including those presented in this issue. Historical-cultural perspectives provide further layers of depth and nuance that thicken the already complex storylines of the human mediation narrative. If mediation is to succeed in attaining truly global …

Compliance In The 21st Century: The Exchange Of Tax Information And The Future Of Banking Secrecy In Singapore, Wai Yee Wan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The presentation discusses the future of exchange of tax information and banking secrecy in Singapore

The Singapore Legal System, Eugene K. B. Tan, Gary Kok Yew Chan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The Singapore legal system is a rich tapestry of laws, institutions, values, history and culture. Like the Singapore-made quilt, each strand of the legal system is woven together to form a jurisprudential kaleidoscope bounded by a unique national identity.

The legal system will inevitably undergo tension as socio-economic and politico-legal changes unfold with increased globalisation and regionalisation. Thus, Singapore has to respond swiftly and deftly in creating new laws and institutions or adapting existing ones.

In this regard, Singapore is and has been ready and willing to learn from the legal developments taking place in foreign jurisdictions with similar aspirations. …

Assessment Of Damages In Intellectual Property Cases: Some Recent Examples Of "The Exercise Of A Sound Imagination And The Practice Of A Broad Axe"?, Gordon Ionwy David Llewelyn

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

There are few cases outside the US that deal with the assessment of damages for infringement of intellectual property rights. When they do, as Lord Shaw said: “[It involves] the exercise of a sound imagination and the practice of the broad axe.” This article discusses decisions where the infringer has ended up paying at the low end of what it would have paid as a legitimate user. One of the fundamental rights of the owner of an intellectual property right is the freedom to decide if others can use it, so the courts’ concern to avoid high awards can mean …

Recent Developments In International Mediation: Singapore’S Unique Approach, Josephine Hadikusumo, Eunice Chua

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Singapore’s vibrant dispute resolution sector has been growing on the back of a significant rise in commercial transactions in Asia and a corresponding increase in the number and complexity of cross-border disputes. In particular, Singapore has achieved significant success in the field of international arbitration. Singapore has been recognised as the third most preferred seat of arbitration, after London and Geneva, and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (“SIAC”) is the fourth most preferred arbitral institution worldwide despite being a relatively young institution. In recent years, Singapore law firms have also ranked amongst the top international arbitration practices in Asia.In order …

Why Ahpetc Is A National Issue In 2015, Tan K. B. Eugene

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

With tomorrow being the last day of the hustings, the battle for the hearts and minds of 2.46 million Singaporean voters takes on greater urgency and poignancy. Any misstep by the nine political parties and their candidates at this late stage might well be game changing.

Broad, Inflexible And Redundant?: Fixing The Anti-Avoidance Rule In Section 75a Finance Act 2003, Vincent Ooi

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Sections 75A - 75C of the Finance Act 2003 (‘the Sections’) were enacted with the intention of countering schemes that have the effect of reducing Stamp Duty Land Tax (‘SDLT’) liability. These sections were subjected to criticism right from the start, with practitioners noting its exceptionally broad scope and some going so far as to call it ‘fundamentally deficient’ and ‘almost unworkable in practice’. The recent decisions of the First-Tier Tribunal in Project Blue Ltd v Revenue and Customs Commissioners (‘Project Blue FTT’) and its subsequent appeal to the Upper Tribunal in Project Blue Ltd v Revenue and Customs Commissioners …

Juggling Centralized Constitutional Review And Eu Primacy In The Domestic Enforcement Of The Charter: A. V. B., Maartje De Visser

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Let the letters in the title of the judgment not fool anyone as to the anonymity of the parties involved: the facts that can be gleaned from this and the relevant Austrian judgments (the Kazakhstani plaintiff was alleged to have kidnapped other Kazakhs and lived at various junctures in Austria and Malta) should provide enough information for anyone with rudimentary skills in operating search engines to unearth the sensational beginning and unexpected ending of the protagonist. Such details, unfortunately, belong in a blockbuster movie rather than an academic case note.

Justice As Friendship: Book Review, Wei Yao, Kenny Chng

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Dr. Tan Seow Hon’s book, Justice As Friendship: A Theory of Law (Ashgate, 2015), presents a unique and compelling argument for the proposition that law can be justified by extra-legal moral principles elucidated through the heuristic device of friendship.

Breach Of Agreement Versus Vexatious, Oppressive And Unconscionable Conduct: Clarifying Their Relationship In The Law Of Anti-Suit Injunctions, Wei Yao, Kenny Chng

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Cases warranting the grant of an anti-suit injunction can be divided into three main categories: breach of agreement, vexatious, oppressive, or unconscionable conduct, and abuse of process. A series of Singapore cases have demonstrated that the boundaries between the first two categories are ambiguous in Singapore law. This ambiguity reflects a lack of clarity about the principles underlying anti-suit injunctions and creates uncertainty as to the applicable analysis for each category. This article argues that the two categories should be distinct in kind, with both categories remaining part of the court’s equitable jurisdiction. Such an approach will provide a good …

Dividing The Single Indivisible Transaction: Balancing The Interests Of Mortgagees And Innocent Occupants, Vincent Ooi

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

When a mortgagee provides the funds necessary to purchase a property, the law protects the priority of the mortgagee’s security interest from any other interests in the property created after that property was purchased (unless consented to by the mortgagee). The House of Lords affirmed this principle in Abbey National Building Society v Cann (‘Cann’), and rejected the technical argument based on a scintilla temporis in favour of the policy argument concerning the need to ensure that housing loans are available and affordable. The effect of this principle is to allow the mortgagee to enforce the security interest in the …

Lucky To Be Singaporean, Ee-Ing Ong

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Op-ed about being Singaporean, in our historic 2015 elections.

"In the midst of our historic elections, I would like to remind Singaporeans that there remains a wider world out there. That our concerns about CPF money, high housing prices, rising income inequality, foreign workers, transportation woes, and the AHPETC saga, while important, are nonetheless First World problems. We have the luxury of arguing about them because we don’t have to worry about the fundamental problems of survival. Literally.

Thus, as we consider what we would like our country to look like in the coming years, I suggest that we first …