Celebrating 10 years of Asian Business Law Institute and the 11th year of the coming into effect of the HCCH 2005 Choice of Court Convention

This event takes place from 9:15am to 1pm (Singapore time) on Wednesday, 26 August 2026.

Enter promo code ABLI10 to enjoy a special rate of only s$70 for this event!

Members of the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) who want to redeem this event with their SAL C$ can sign up instead at https://store.lawnet.com/webinar-bridging-laws-for-business-a-decade-advancing-trade-technology-and-trust.html (for online attendance) or https://store.lawnet.com/in-person-bridging-laws-for-business-a-decade-advancing-trade-technology-and-trust.html (for in-person attendence).

Overview

This half-day event celebrates the ten-year anniversary of the Asian Business Law Institute and the 11th year anniversary of the coming into effect of the HCCH 2005 Choice of Court Convention.

When is this event scheduled?

This event will take place from 9:15am to 1pm (Singapore time) on Wednesday, 26 August 2026.

What is the format of this event?

This is a hybrid event.

For in-person attendance, this event will be held at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, Azalea Rooms I, II and III.

For online attendance, the platform is Zoom. Please be mindful of time difference if you are attending online from outside of Singapore.

What is the program of this event?

9 to 9:15am Registration and welcome drinks for in-person attendees

9:15 to 9:55am Keynote addresses

By the Honourable the Chief Justice of Singapore Sundaresh Menon and

By Dr Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary-General, Hague Conference on Private International Law

9:55 to 11:05am Panel 1 jointly organized with the Hague Conference on Private International Law: Role of the HCCH 2005 Choice of Court Convention in effective transnational access to justice

Dr Christophe Bernasconi, Associate Professor Adeline Chong, Justice David Goddard, Ms Delphia Lim, and Mr Colin Seow

11:05 to 11:30am Networking break for in-person attendees

11:30 to 11:40am Presentation: Beyond the Token: Private International Law and the Legal Architecture of Digitally Mediated Markets

By Dr Gérardine Goh Escolar, Deputy Secretary General, Hague Conference on Private International Law

11:40 to 12:50pm Panel 2: A “cradle to grave” review of cryptoassets disputes in ASEAN

Mr Paul Papon Charoenpao, Ms Sapna Jhangiani KC, Ms Wendy Lin, Mr Pham Viet Tuan, and Ms Dewi Savitri Reni (Vitri)

1pm End

Who will be speaking at this event (in alphabetical order by session)?

Panel 1 jointly organized with the Hague Conference on Private International Law

Role of the HCCH 2005 Choice of Court Convention in effective transnational access to justice

This panel will examine the operation of the HCCH 2005 Choice of Court Convention in the context of today’s evolving transnational dispute resolution landscape. This panel will explore how the Convention enhances legal certainty, increases access to justice, and facilitates international commerce and trade. Experts will offer diverse perspectives on its impact on cross-border litigation, its relationship with mediation and other dispute resolution mechanisms, and its role in supporting the development of international commercial courts.

Dr Christophe Bernasconi

Secretary-General, Permanent Bureau of the Hauge Conference on Private International Law

Dr Christophe Bernasconi has served as Secretary General of the HCCH since 1 July 2013. He was reappointed in 2018 and again in 2023 for a further five-year term.

As Secretary General, he initially focused on strengthening the HCCH’s good governance, laying the institutional foundations necessary for its continued development. On that basis, he has increasingly focused on the Organisation’s strategic direction, with particular emphasis on practical, effective multilateralism and on advancing universality and inclusiveness.

Over nearly three decades at the Permanent Bureau, Dr Bernasconi has played a central role in developing both the normative and non-normative work of the HCCH across its three core areas: transnational litigation and the authentication of public documents (Apostilles); international family and child protection law; and international commercial, digital and financial law. He notably designed and administered the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP), now used worldwide.

Before joining the HCCH, he lectured in private international law at the University of Fribourg, worked at the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law in Lausanne, served at the Federal Office of Justice of Switzerland, and advised practitioners on private international law matters.

He holds degrees from the University of Fribourg and McGill University, including a doctorate in private international law (summa cum laude). He serves on several advisory boards and holds honorary academic and professional distinctions.

Adeline Chong

Associate Professor of Law; Associate Dean (Faculty Matters)

Yong Pung How School of Law, Singapore Management Unive

Description supplied by the event organiser.