International Arbitration

The Firm’s International Arbitration practice has experience dealing with the full gamut of arbitration-related disputes across various leading arbitration institutions.

We have acted as counsel for numerous corporations in leading arbitration institutions such as the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the International Commercial Court (ICC), the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA).

Our Senior Counsel, Mr Lok Vi Ming, has been appointed arbitrator (both sole and as part of a panel) on numerous arbitration proceedings and also as an expert on Singapore law in such proceedings. Huangbin has also been appointed in international arbitration disputes as Presiding Arbitrator, Sole Arbitrator, and Co-Arbitrator.

In particular, our Director, Mr Ge Huangbin, is a leading pioneer in China-related international arbitration and mediation sectors, having served as the first Head of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) China Desk for 8 years, a member of the Singapore Academy of Law China Working Committee, and a Standing Council Member of the China Academy of Arbitration Law (CAAL).

Our Directors are also empanelled across various arbitration institutions, including the SIAC, Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, South China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, Chongqing Arbitration Commission, Qingdao Arbitration Commission, Asian International Arbitration Centre, and Korean Commercial Arbitration Board.

Testament to the team’s abilities, the practice has been ranked favourably by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, and Benchmark Litigation. Positive client feedback includes the following:

• “LVM Law Chambers is a specialist litigation boutique that offers a lot of value for money. They have broad-based experience across a range of litigation and arbitration matters. They also co-counsel with international law firms on disputes seated outside of Singapore.”
• “Members of LVM’s legal team are fluent in Mandarin, which speeds up the communication between the client and LVM. The prompt response is another strength of LVM’s legal team. LVM’s legal team submits the documents which the client needs within a short period of time, with sufficient details.”

Some notable cases include:

• Acting as counsel in the successful setting aside the enforcement of an emergency arbitration award (CVG v CVH [2022] SGHC 249).
• Acting as counsel in an ongoing franchise dispute against a multinational health products company with the dispute being subject to the American Arbitration Association rules.
• Acting as counsel in a conspiracy claim brought against an oil storage terminal worth about US$38 million with the dispute being subject to the SIAC rules; (c) advising on rights and liabilities against potential claimants in respect of delays to ground handling of air freight cargo arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Setting aside of an arbitration award made against a renewable energy company on the basis of a breach of natural justice.

A recent development that dovetails beautifully with international arbitration is the field of international mediation. Both serve different roles in assisting clients to resolve international disputes, and we have represented clients in international mediation matters as well. Mr Lok Vi Ming, S.C. also serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Singapore International Mediation Centre, which works closely with the SIAC to offer an Arb-Med-Arb Protocol. The Arb-Med-Arb protocol allows international parties to explore the possibility of entering consent awards and resolve their disputes in a quick and cost-efficient manner.