Selected Essays on International Arbitration by Michael Hwang S.C. - Book review
Published 24 March 2014
Introduction
Michael Hwang S.C.'s recently-published collection of essays titled Selected Essays on International Arbitration offers international arbitration practitioners something they frequently pay hundreds of dollars in conference registration fees to obtain - the candid views of a preeminent arbitrator. Indeed, the candour with which Mr Hwang speaks in his essays can be striking, piquing the curiosity as to whether his appointment as arbitrator has ever been challenged on the basis of his strongly-worded published views. Mr Hwang's willingness to take a stand on issues both procedural and substantive and his penchant for procedural innovation serves to win the respect of his readers.
Respect is something Mr Hwang has earned over his 40 years practicing the law. Though his curriculum vitae is too long to recount for present purposes, Mr Hwang has held several distinguished posts in academia and private practice prior to becoming a full-time arbitrator with his own chambers. Many would argue that Singapore’s prominent status as an international arbitration centre is in very large part attributable to Mr Hwang’s performance as counsel, arbitrator and promoter of Singapore as a seat of arbitration. This is reflected not only by the fact that Mr Hwang’s book of essays – which he refers to as a 70th birthday present to himself – is published by Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), but also by his role in growing the Singaporean “arbitration pie” (as he calls it), as SIAC’s case load grows exponentially and Singaporean firms gain in global prestige.
Note: The book is available for download here