Global supply chains continue to face disruption arising from geopolitical tensions, sanctions, shipping delays, export controls, cyber incidents, labour shortages and extreme weather events. These developments have had significant implications for the movement of goods, energy and critical components across borders.

Against this backdrop, force majeure clauses have come under increasing scrutiny in commercial contracts. Businesses are increasingly grappling with questions such as:

• Do supply chain disruptions constitute force majeure events?
• Can rising costs, shipping delays or shortages excuse contractual non-performance?
• What notice and mitigation obligations apply?
• Under what circumstances may parties suspend, renegotiate or terminate contractual obligations?

Join us for an exclusive seminar examining the legal and commercial implications of force majeure events and supply chain disruption. Speakers from Drew & Napier and Freshfields will share practical perspectives drawn from recent developments and matters, including considerations under Singapore and English law relevant to businesses operating across Asia and globally.

This event is an initiative of the SICC Legal Services Interest Group and is exclusively for SICC members. Registrations from non-members will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

This event is complimentary for SICC members.

Register for the event here.

Venue Partner: 

Knowledge Partner:

Programme Flow:

3.30pm – 4.00pm	Registration
4.00pm – 4.10pm	Opening Remarks by Mr Benjamin Gaw, Chair of SICC Legal Services Interest Group, Director, Corporate and M&A, Drew & Napier LLC
4.10pm – 5.00pm	Seminar
5.00pm – 5.30pm	Q&A
5.30pm – 6.00pm	Networking & Refreshments
6.00pm	End of Event

Speakers:

Mr Mahesh Rai, Director, Dispute Resolution, Drew & Napier LLC

Mahesh Rai is a Director in the Dispute Resolution practice at Drew & Napier and is recognised as one of Singapore’s leading disputes lawyers. He specialises in complex international arbitration, commercial litigation and cross-border disputes across a broad range of sectors including energy, infrastructure, technology, telecommunications, commodities and construction.

Mahesh regularly acts in high-value and high-profile disputes at all levels of the Singapore Courts and in arbitrations under the rules of the major institutions. He has extensive experience advising clients on disputes arising from geopolitical events, supply chain disruption, sanctions, contractual non-performance, force majeure and crisis management issues.

He has been recognised in Chambers Asia-Pacific, Chambers Global, Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific, Lexology Index and Asian Legal Business for both litigation and arbitration. Mahesh was also named in ALB’s Asia Super 50 Disputes Lawyers list and is known for his strategic, commercially-focused and practical approach to resolving complex disputes.

Mr Nicholas Lingard, Partner, Freshfields Singapore

Nick heads Freshfields’ international arbitration group in Asia and is an experienced international arbitration counsel and advocate. Nick is recognised as a “Global Elite Thought Leader” by Lexology Index and as one of the “45 Under 45” leading arbitration practitioners globally by GAR.

Band 1-ranked by Chambers and all major legal directories, Nick represents commercial parties in high-profile, cross-border disputes across the region and globally, including those arising from force majeure events such as supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions. He has extensive experience with arbitrations under all major systems of law, including English law, and under all the major arbitral rules. He also leads one of the most active treaty arbitration practices in the Indo-Pacific, representing investors and States in politically complex cases.

Nick serves as Freshfields’ Singapore managing partner. He is admitted in England & Wales, New York, and New South Wales.