In a landmark event, over 60 participants from 16 different courts and jurisdictions, including Australia, Brunei, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the People’s Republic of China, and Singapore, recently completed the first-ever Masterclass Programme for Commercial Judges in Asia. This significant programme took place at the Judicial Training Centre of the Supreme Court of Indonesia in Bogor, West Java, from 9 to 12 September 2024.
Focus on Critical Commercial Law Issues
The Masterclass Programme was a rigorous four-day course co-hosted by the Judicial Training Centre and the Singapore Judicial College. It covered essential topics in commercial law that are pertinent to various judiciaries, including the intersection of technology and law, arbitration practices, cross-border insolvency, maritime and shipping law, as well as intellectual property rights. The curriculum was crafted to elevate the expertise of judges, equipping them with the necessary tools to navigate the dynamic landscape of commercial law.
The Origin of the Masterclass Concept
The initiative for the Masterclass first emerged in November 2023, during Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon of Singapore’s visit to the Judicial Training Centre of the Supreme Court of Indonesia. This initial meeting sparked discussions that would later solidify into the formal programme. Additional collaborative discussions occurred when Chief Justice Prof Dr Muhammad Syarifuddin of Indonesia and Chief Justice Menon reconvened in February this year. They jointly invited jurisdictions throughout the Asia-Pacific region to nominate participants, specifically targeting High Court judges with two to three years of experience.
Renowned Faculty of International Judges
The Masterclass was enriched by a faculty of distinguished international commercial judges, each a recognised expert in their respective domains. Notable speakers and facilitators included Justice I Gusti Agung Sumanatha, Justice Syamsul Marif, and Justice Nani Indrawati from Indonesia. Additionally, Chief Justice Menon and esteemed judges from Singapore, such as Justice Aedit Abdullah and Justice Philip Jeyaretnam, contributed their insights. The faculty also featured Justice James Allsop from the Singapore International Commercial Court, Chief Justice (Ret) Geoffrey Ma from Hong Kong SAR, Justice David Goddard from New Zealand, Justice Dai Yiting from China, and Prof Jansen Calamita from the National University of Singapore. This diverse array of experts provided valuable perspectives that greatly enhanced the learning experience.
Transforming the Landscape of Commercial Law
In his keynote address, Chief Justice Menon articulated how various changes in core commercial areas are reshaping the realities of commercial law and practice. He expressed a vision for deeper collaboration among judiciaries in the Asia-Pacific region, emphasising that such partnerships could assist legal systems in managing these ongoing transformations. Chief Justice Menon also highlighted the “unique value proposition” of the Masterclass, identifying four key features that establish it as a vital platform for judicial education and dialogue in the region: its comprehensive scope, innovative teaching methods, diverse group of participants, and the networking opportunities it promotes.
The Vital Role of Judges in Economic Development
Chief Justice Syarifuddin addressed the increasing pressures on commercial courts, which have escalated due to the complexities associated with cross-border trade, international contracts, and global financial systems. He remarked, “The decisions we make as judges can have profound implications, impacting economic activity and the confidence of international investors in our legal frameworks.”
The Masterclass not only serves as an avenue for knowledge sharing but also aims to strengthen judicial collaboration across the region, fostering a more robust and unified approach to commercial law in Asia.
