In a landmark decision handed down by the Singapore High Court, an independent director’s conviction for market misconduct was overturned. As a result of this case, company directors are no longer in the dark about their disclosure obligations and duties under the Securities and Futures Act. Melissa Russell and Victoria Macgregor of Clyde & Co LLP Singapore (with assistance from Clasis LLC) shed light on the requisite thresholds that need to be crossed in order to impute liability upon independent directors.

Singapore is making an effort to step up to the plate in order to give athletes a fair shake when it comes to competitive opportunities in the region, according to Stephen Townley, foreign consultant at KhattarWong. However, the island still has some way to go and needs to invest in the requisite ‘intellectual infrastructure’.

In this month’s Special Report on dispute resolution, we take a look at how Asia Pacific’s role as an international centre for dispute resolution, particularly arbitration, has grown against a backdrop of increasing cross-border transactions. As demand has grown exponentially, so Asia’s leading arbitration centres – including HKIAC, KCAB and SIAC – have moved with the times to maximise the services they provide in a constantly evolving legal framework. We examine some of the key new laws which have shaped dispute resolution in 2010 and outline some of the challenges in pursuing justice through both litigation and arbitration.

Our latest edition of Asian-Counsel takes a look at the various happenings in the region’s capital markets sector. Whilst change is abreast with money flows shifting directions and new industries gaining momentum, we uncover why Hong Kong and Singapore regulators are still setting the pace. Leading law firms also reveal the latest capital markets trends in Malaysia, India, Japan, Thailand and South Korea.

In the latest issue of Asian-Counsel, we uncover the lofty aims of several arbitration centres in the region. We also receive comprehensive updates from a host of leading law firms, and the SIAC, as to the state of dispute resolution across the Middle East, Vietnam, South Korea, India, Hong Kong and Singapore.