Dear Members

Proposed International Federation of SCLs

The International Conference 2006 was indeed a useful gathering of representatives of equivalent SCLs and related organizations from the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, India and New Zealand. The representatives have met and are in communication to set up a proposed International Federation of Societies of Construction Law, with envisaged reciprocal benefits for members of the Federation societies, and we will keep Members informed of these developments as they take shape.

The International Construction Conference 2006

We are pleased that International Conference held on 15 to 17 October 2006, was an overwhelming success, as unanimously acknowledged by the speakers and delegates.

The Attorney-General’s Keynote Speech

We record our profound appreciation to the Attorney-General of Singapore, the Honourable Mr. Chao Hick Tin, for gracing the Opening Ceremony at the International Conference 2006 and delivering his Keynote Speech.

We invite all members to read the full text of the Attorney-General’s Keynote Speech at the SCL website.

In his Key-Note address, amongst other noteworthy points, the Attorney-General invited the Society to look into certain current concerns in the construction industry – such as reviewing current standard contracts so that they are clear, adequate, beneficial to the parties and reduce the number of disputes; standards of conduct and practice claims consultants and professionals in the industry; and reducing the cost involved in resolution of construction disputes.

Steering Sub-committee

The Society has taken up the Attorney-General’s suggestions and invitation to form a working party on these concerns and has appointed a Steering Committee, chaired by Mohan Pillay, which has drafted proposed terms of reference for the proposed “Working Groups” to look into the matters suggested by the Attorney-General under three broad categories, namely: (1) Review of the Standard Forms of Contract (2) Cost of Dispute Resolution and (3) Codes of Practice.

We are also following up with the Attorney-General’s Chambers on this, and in due course, we will keep Members informed of the formation of the Working Groups, and will be perhaps holding seminars with members on these issues in the course of the year.

Events in 2007

The Management Committee met on 11 December 2006 to plan events for the year, including the following proposed projects:

In addition, we will be hosting other talks and events in the course of the year, and in this connection, we do invite all members to contact the management committee or the Secretariat if they have suggestions as to talks by visiting experts on any topic of construction law which is of current interest.

SCL Secretariat

To assist the honorary Management Committee in organizing the increasing number of SCL events, the Management Committee has appointed Intellitrain Pte Ltd under an on-going professional services and management contract to serve as SCL’s secretariat.

Best Wishes,

Naresh Mahtani

Chairman, Society of Construction Law