Singapore International Commercial Court Rules 2021
SICC
Table of Contents
Singapore International Commercial Court Rules 2021
Order 1 GENERAL MATTERS
PRELIMINARY
1 Citation and commencement (O. 1, r. 1)
2 Application of Rules (O. 1, r. 2)
3 General Principles (O. 1, r. 3)
4 Definitions (O. 1, r. 4)
5 Time (O. 1, r. 5)
6 Mode of application (O. 1, r. 6)
7 Language of documents (O. 1, r. 7)
8 Use of foreign documents under Apostille Convention or Civil Procedure Convention (O. 1, r. 8)
9 Forms (O. 1, r. 9)
THE COURT
10 Constitution of Court and Court of Appeal (O. 1, r. 10)
11 General powers of Court (O. 1, r. 11)
12 Claim for declaration without other relief (O. 1, r. 12)
THE REGISTRY AND ADMINISTRATION
13 Jurisdiction and powers of Registrar (O. 1, r. 13)
14 Practice directions (O. 1, r. 14)
15 Registry records (O. 1, r. 15)
Order 2 JURISDICTION AND TRANSFER
1 Jurisdiction (O. 2, r. 1)
2 Effect of agreement to submit to Court’s or High Court’s or General Division’s jurisdiction (O. 2, r. 2)
3 Court may consider jurisdiction and exercise of jurisdiction (O. 2, r. 3)
4 Transfer of case to or from Court (O. 2, r. 4)
5 Variation of exclusive choice of court agreement (O. 2, r. 5)
6 Dispute as to service (O. 2, r. 6)
7 Procedure for applications under this Order (O. 2, r. 7)
Order 3 LEGAL REPRESENTATION
1 Representation in Court (O. 3, r. 1)
2 Representation in Court of Appeal (O. 3, r. 2)
3 Definition of offshore case (O. 3, r. 3)
4 When case may be treated as offshore case (O. 3, r. 4)
5 Offshore case declaration (O. 3, r. 5)
6 Decision that case is offshore case (O. 3, r. 6)
7 Decision that case is not offshore case (O. 3, r. 7)
8 Validity of acts done by registered foreign lawyer or by solicitor registered under section 36E of Legal Profession Act (O. 3, r. 8)
9 Entities to be represented by counsel (O. 3, r. 9)
10 Appointment, change and discharge of counsel (O. 3, r. 10)
11 Warrant to act or power of attorney (O. 3, r. 11)
Order 4 COMMENCEMENT AND DEFENCE OF PROCEEDINGS
MODE OF COMMENCING PROCEEDINGS
1 Originating Application (O. 4, r. 1)
2 Issue of Originating Application (O. 4, r. 2)
3 Duration and renewal of Originating Application (O. 4, r. 3)
4 Claimant’s Statement (O. 4, r. 4)
MODE OF DEFENDING PROCEEDINGS
5 Defendant’s Statement (O. 4, r. 5)
ADJUDICATION TRACKS
6 Adjudication tracks (O. 4, r. 6)
7 First case management conference (O. 4, r. 7)
COMMENCING PROCEEDINGS WITHOUT NOTICE
8 Originating Applications without notice (O. 4, r. 8)
Order 5 SERVICE
1 Service of Originating Applications and other documents (O. 5, r. 1)
2 Personal service (O. 5, r. 2)
3 Ordinary service (O. 5, r. 3)
4 Substituted service (O. 5, r. 4)
5 Dispensing with service (O. 5, r. 5)
6 Permission for service out of Singapore (O. 5, r. 6)
7 Methods of service out of Singapore (O. 5, r. 7)
8 Service of Originating Application on person in Malaysia or Brunei Darussalam (O. 5, r. 8)
8A Service of Originating Application, etc., out of Singapore on person under Article 3 of Hague Service Convention (O. 5, r. 8A)
9 Service of Originating Application on High Contracting Party to Warsaw Convention (O. 5, r. 9)
10 Service of Originating Application on foreign State (O. 5, r. 10)
11 Undertaking to pay expenses of service (O. 5, r. 11)
12 Certificate of service (O. 5, r. 12)
Order 6 PLEADINGS
1 General (O. 6, r. 1)
2 Form and service of Statement of Claim (O. 6, r. 2)
3 Form and service of Defence (O. 6, r. 3)
4 Form and service of Counterclaim (O. 6, r. 4)
5 Form and service of Reply (O. 6, r. 5)
6 Form and service of Defence to Counterclaim (O. 6, r. 6)
7 Form and service of Reply to Defence to Counterclaim (O. 6, r. 7)
8 Further pleadings (O. 6, r. 8)
9 Close of pleadings (O. 6, r. 9)
10 Compliance with requirements for pleadings (O. 6, r. 10)
11 Pleadings to be verified by statement of truth (O. 6, r. 11)
12 Admissions and denials (O. 6, r. 12)
13 Further and better particulars (O. 6, r. 13)
14 Setting aside judgment in default (O. 6, r. 14)
Order 7 STATEMENTS
1 General (O. 7, r. 1)
PART 1 CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM TO BE DECIDED BY STATEMENTS ADJUDICATION TRACK
2 Application of Rules (O. 7, r. 2)
3 Service of witness statement of claimant (O. 7, r. 3)
4 Service of witness statement of defendant (O. 7, r. 4)
5 Counterclaim (O. 7, r. 5)
6 Mode of hearing (O. 7, r. 6)
PART 2 ORIGINATING APPLICATION WITHOUT NOTICE MADE PURSUANT TO ORDER 4, RULE 8
7 Application of Rules (O. 7, r. 7)
8 Filing of witness statement of claimant (O. 7, r. 8)
9 Mode of hearing (O. 7, r. 9)
Order 8 MEMORIALS
1 Proceedings by way of memorials, and powers of Court (O. 8, r. 1)
2 Memorial and Counter-Memorial (O. 8, r. 2)
Order 9 CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
1 General matters (O. 9, r. 1)
2 Conduct of case management conferences (O. 9, r. 2)
3 Preparation for case management conferences (O. 9, r. 3)
4 Case Management Bundle (O. 9, r. 4)
5 Alternative dispute resolution (O. 9, r. 5)
6 Compliance with case management directions (O. 9, r. 6)
Order 10 COUNTERCLAIMS AND PARTIES
COUNTERCLAIMS
1 Counterclaim against claimant (O. 10, r. 1)
2 Counterclaim against additional parties (O. 10, r. 2)
3 Court may order separate trials, etc. (O. 10, r. 3)
4 Transfer of proceedings under a counterclaim to General Division (O. 10, r. 4)
ADDITION AND SUBSTITUTION OF PARTIES (INCLUDING THIRD PARTIES)
5 Joinder of persons as parties (O. 10, r. 5)
6 Addition, removal and substitution of parties (O. 10, r. 6)
7 Procedure for adding, removing and substituting parties (O. 10, r. 7)
8 Where 2 or more persons are jointly entitled to remedy (O. 10, r. 8)
9 Misjoinder and nonjoinder of parties (O. 10, r. 9)
10 Third-party notice (O. 10, r. 10)
11 Applications for permission to issue third-party notice (O. 10, r. 11)
12 Default of third party, etc. (O. 10, r. 12)
13 Judgment between defendant and third party (O. 10, r. 13)
14 Transfer of proceedings under third-party notice to the General Division (O. 10, r. 14)
15 Claims by third and subsequent parties (O. 10, r. 15)
16 Notice of case to non-parties (O. 10, r. 16)
REPRESENTATIVE PARTIES
17 Proceedings against estates (O. 10, r. 17)
18 Representation of parties who die or become insolvent or are otherwise incapacitated (O. 10, r. 18)
19 Representative proceedings (O. 10, r. 19)
Order 11 INTERPLEADER
1 Entitlement to relief by way of interpleader (O. 11, r. 1)
2 Mode of application (O. 11, r. 2)
3 Witness statement (O. 11, r. 3)
4 Reply witness statement (O. 11, r. 4)
5 Powers of the Court hearing the application (O. 11, r. 5)
Order 12 DOCUMENT DISCLOSURE AND INTERROGATORIES
1 Production of documents (O. 12, r. 1)
2 Request to produce (O. 12, r. 2)
3 Objection to production (O. 12, r. 3)
4 Application for Court to order production (O. 12, r. 4)
5 Additional or alternative modes of disclosure (O. 12, r. 5)
6 Pre-action production (O. 12, r. 6)
7 Power of Court to inspect documents (O. 12, r. 7)
8 Production of copies instead of originals (O. 12, r. 8)
9 Continuing obligation of disclosure (O. 12, r. 9)
10 Admissions as to authenticity of documents (O. 12, r. 10)
11 Failure to disclose document (O. 12, r. 11)
12 Use of documents in other proceedings (O. 12, r. 12)
13 Production of electronically-stored documents (O. 12, r. 13)
14 Interrogatories (O. 12, r. 14)
Order 13 EVIDENCE
1 Evidence in trials (O. 13, r. 1)
2 Evidence in hearings other than trials (O. 13, r. 2)
3 Mode of evidence (O. 13, r. 3)
4 Use of witness statements for other purposes (O. 13, r. 4)
5 Witness statement (O. 13, r. 5)
6 Statement of truth (O. 13, r. 6)
7 Safeguards for persons not fluent in English or unable to read or sign (O. 13, r. 7)
8 Contents of witness statement (O. 13, r. 8)
9 Alteration of witness statement (O. 13, r. 9)
10 Documents referred to in witness statement (O. 13, r. 10)
11 Affidavit (O. 13, r. 11)
12 False statements (O. 13, r. 12)
13 Pre-trial examination (O. 13, r. 13)
14 Evidence by live video or live television link where person to be examined is out of jurisdiction (O. 13, r. 14)
15 Court may specify applicable rules of evidence (O. 13, r. 15)
Order 14 EXPERT EVIDENCE, ASSESSORS AND INDEPENDENT COUNSEL
1 Expert (O. 14, r. 1)
2 Court to grant permission for use of expert evidence (O. 14, r. 2)
3 Issues and common set of facts (O. 14, r. 3)
4 Expert’s report (O. 14, r. 4)
5 Meeting and clarification on report (O. 14, r. 5)
6 Panel of experts (O. 14, r. 6)
7 Assessors (O. 14, r. 7)
8 Independent counsel (O. 14, r. 8)
Order 15 REFERRALS ON ISSUES OF LAW
1 Definitions (O. 15, r. 1)
2 General (O. 15, r. 2)
3 Order for reference of questions of foreign law to foreign courts on application of parties (O. 15, r. 3)
4 Referral of questions of foreign law on Court’s own motion (O. 15, r. 4)
5 Order for referral of questions of foreign law (O. 15, r. 5)
6 Determination of issues arising in foreign court proceedings (O. 15, r. 6)
7 Specified foreign countries (O. 15, r. 7)
8 Specified courts (O. 15, r. 8)
Order 15A REQUESTS FOR OPINIONS ON QUESTIONS OF FOREIGN LAW
1 Definitions (O. 15A, r. 1)
2 Transmission to foreign court of request for opinion on question of foreign law and for clarification (O. 15A, r. 2)
3 Request for opinion on question of foreign law and for clarification (O. 15A, r. 3)
4 Specified foreign country (O. 15A, r. 4)
5 Specified court (O. 15A, r. 5)
Order 16 OTHER INTERLOCUTORY MATTERS
1 General (O. 16, r. 1)
2 Security for costs (O. 16, r. 2)
3 Amendment of Originating Application, pleading or memorial, etc. (O. 16, r. 3)
4 Striking out of documents (O. 16, r. 4)
5 Judgment on admission of fact (O. 16, r. 5)
6 Summary judgment (O. 16, r. 6)
7 Decision on questions of law or construction of documents (O. 16, r. 7)
8 Foreign law (O. 16, r. 8)
9 Confidentiality, etc. (O. 16, r. 9)
10 Consolidation, etc., of causes or matters (O. 16, r. 10)
11 Separate hearings for separate questions or issues (O. 16, r. 11)
Order 17 WITHDRAWAL AND DISCONTINUANCE
1 Withdrawal of Defendant’s Statement (O. 17, r. 1)
2 Discontinuance without permission (O. 17, r. 2)
3 Discontinuance with permission (O. 17, r. 3)
4 Stay of subsequent action until costs paid (O. 17, r. 4)
5 Discontinuance of application (O. 17, r. 5)
Order 18 INJUNCTIONS, SEARCH ORDERS AND OTHER INTERIM RELIEF
1 Application for injunction or search order (O. 18, r. 1)
2 Detention, preservation, etc., of subject matter of action (O. 18, r. 2)
3 Transfer or handing over of property held as security (O. 18, r. 3)
4 Use of property for income before substantive hearing or trial (O. 18, r. 4)
5 Sale and dealings with immovable property before substantive hearing or trial (O. 18, r. 5)
6 Interim payments (O. 18, r. 6)
7 Receivers (O. 18, r. 7)
8 Order for early trial (O. 18, r. 8)
Order 19 PRE-TRIAL PREPARATION
1 General matters (O. 19, r. 1)
2 Setting down action for trial (O. 19, r. 2)
3 Opening statement (O. 19, r. 3)
4 Trial bundle (O. 19, r. 4)
5 Core bundle (O. 19, r. 5)
6 Preparation of trial bundle and core bundle (O. 19, r. 6)
7 Confidential bundle (O. 19, r. 7)
8 Provision of bundles (O. 19, r. 8)
9 Provision of identical bundle (O. 19, r. 9)
Order 20 TRIALS, HEARINGS, JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS
1 Hearings in open Court and in chambers (O. 20, r. 1)
2 Attendance of parties (O. 20, r. 2)
3 Attendance of witnesses (O. 20, r. 3)
4 Trials and hearings generally (O. 20, r. 4)
5 Trials (O. 20, r. 5)
6 Hearings other than trials (O. 20, r. 6)
7 Questions and inspection by Court (O. 20, r. 7)
8 Exhibits of hearings (O. 20, r. 8)
9 Record of hearings (O. 20, r. 9)
10 Delivery of Court’s judgment and consequential orders (O. 20, r. 10)
11 Judgments and orders generally (O. 20, r. 11)
12 Preparation of orders (O. 20, r. 12)
13 Redaction and prohibition of inspection or copying of judgments or orders (O. 20, r. 13)
14 Interest on money payable under orders (O. 20, r. 14)
15 Death of party (O. 20, r. 15)
16 Death or incapacity of Judge or Registrar (O. 20, r. 16)
17 Assessment of damages or value and taking of accounts (O. 20, r. 17)
Order 21 APPEALS
GENERAL
1 General matters (O. 21, r. 1)
2 Meaning of applications in proceedings (O. 21, r. 2)
3 One appeal for each application (O. 21, r. 3)
4 When time for appeal starts to run (O. 21, r. 4)
5 Permission to intervene (O. 21, r. 5)
6 Stay of enforcement, etc. (O. 21, r. 6)
7 Expedited appeal (O. 21, r. 7)
8 Absence of parties (O. 21, r. 8)
PART 1 APPEALS FROM REGISTRAR TO A JUDGE IN PROCEEDINGS IN COURT
9 Bringing of appeal (O. 21, r. 9)
10 Written judgment by Registrar (O. 21, r. 10)
11 Documents to be filed (O. 21, r. 11)
12 Further arguments (O. 21, r. 12)
PART 2 APPEALS FROM COURT TO COURT OF APPEAL
13 Definitions (O. 21, r. 13)
14 Bringing of appeal (O. 21, r. 14)
15 Further arguments (O. 21, r. 15)
16 Permission to appeal (O. 21, r. 16)
17 Application of domestic Rules of Court as in force before 1 April 2022 to determine timelines for appeal and Originating Application (O. 21, r. 17)
18 Security for costs (O. 21, r. 18)
19 Related appeals (O. 21, r. 19)
20 Documents to be filed where appeal is against decision of Court in relation to application in proceedings (O. 21, r. 20)
21 Documents to be filed where appeal is against decision of Court made on trial or hearing on merits of proceedings, etc. (O. 21, r. 21)
22 Appellant’s Case, respondent’s Case and appellant’s Reply (O. 21, r. 22)
23 Powers of Court of Appeal (O. 21, r. 23)
24 Withdrawal of appeal or application (O. 21, r. 24)
25 Judgment (O. 21, r. 25)
26 Consent judgment or order (O. 21, r. 26)
27 Further arguments (O. 21, r. 27)
28 Powers in section 58(1) of Supreme Court of Judicature Act exercisable by Registrar (O. 21, r. 28)
29 Payment out of security for costs and release of undertaking (O. 21, r. 29)
30 Applications to Court of Appeal (O. 21, r. 30)
31 Written submissions for applications to Court of Appeal (O. 21, r. 31)
32 Application for permission under section 58(4)(b) of Supreme Court of Judicature Act (O. 21, r. 32)
33 Compliance with provisions in Appendix C provided under this Order, etc. (O. 21, r. 33)
34 Application for permission under section 36P(1A)(a) of Legal Profession Act 1966 or rule 14(1A)(a) of Legal Profession (Regulated Individuals) Rules 2015 (O. 21, r. 34)
Order 22 COSTS
1 Definition and general matters (O. 22, r. 1)
2 Powers of Court (O. 22, r. 2)
3 Entitlement to costs and assessment of costs (O. 22, r. 3)
4 Costs for litigant not legally represented (O. 22, r. 4)
5 Power of appellate court to decide costs (O. 22, r. 5)
6 Interest on costs (O. 22, r. 6)
Order 23 INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION ACT PROCEEDINGS
1 Definitions (O. 23, r. 1)
2 Application of Rules and adjudication track for IAA proceedings (O. 23, r. 2)
3 Jurisdiction (O. 23, r. 3)
4 Commencement of IAA proceedings (O. 23, r. 4)
5 Service out of jurisdiction of Originating Application and order made in IAA proceedings (O. 23, r. 5)
6 Defence of IAA proceedings (O. 23, r. 6)
7 Matters to be heard by Judge only (O. 23, r. 7)
8 Matters to be heard by Judge or Registrar (O. 23, r. 8)
9 Enforcement of interlocutory orders or directions (O. 23, r. 9)
10 Enforcement of awards or foreign awards (O. 23, r. 10)
11 Transfer from General Division to Court (O. 23, r. 11)
12 Order to attend court and order to produce documents (O. 23, r. 12)
13 Taking of evidence (O. 23, r. 13)
Order 23A PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO CORPORATE INSOLVENCY, RESTRUCTURING OR DISSOLUTION
1 Definitions (O. 23A, r. 1)
2 Jurisdiction (O. 23A, r. 2)
3 Application of IRDA, CIR Rules and these Rules (O. 23A, r. 3)
4 Transfer of insolvency proceedings from General Division to Court (O. 23A, r. 4)
5 Application for permission under section 36P(1A)(a) of Legal Profession Act 1966 or rule 14(1A)(a) of Legal Profession (Regulated Individuals) Rules 2015 (O. 23A, r. 5)
Order 24 ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS OR ORDERS OF COURT
1 Applications relating to enforcement of judgments or orders of Court in Singapore (O. 24, r. 1)
2 Application for stay of enforcement (O. 24, r. 2)
Order 25 CONTEMPT OF COURT
1 Definitions (O. 25, r. 1)
2 Committal order for contempt of court (O. 25, r. 2)
3 Disapplication of parts of Order 4 (O. 25, r. 3)
4 Application for permission of Court (O. 25, r. 4)
5 Application for committal order after permission of Court granted (O. 25, r. 5)
6 Power to commit without application (O. 25, r. 6)
7 Provisions as to hearing (O. 25, r. 7)
8 Power to suspend execution of committal order (O. 25, r. 8)
9 Discharge of committal respondent (O. 25, r. 9)
10 Saving for other powers (O. 25, r. 10)
11 Form of committal order (O. 25, r. 11)
12 Order to arrest committal respondent (O. 25, r. 12)
13 Sheriff may engage auxiliary police officer or other security agency (O. 25, r. 13)
Order 26 FEES AND DEPOSITS
1 Application (O. 26, r. 1)
2 Definition (O. 26, r. 2)
3 Milestone fees (O. 26, r. 3)
4 Hearing fees (O. 26, r. 4)
5 Miscellaneous fees (O. 26, r. 5)
6 Court powers in relation to fees (O. 26, r. 6)
7 Deposit (O. 26, r. 7)
8 Registrar may refuse to administer proceedings if fees or deposits unpaid (O. 26, r. 8)
Order 27 OTHER MATTERS
ADMIRALTY PROCEEDINGS AND MARINE INSURANCE CLAIMS
1 Admiralty causes and matters in Court (O. 27, r. 1)
PARTNERS
2 Actions by and against firms within jurisdiction (O. 27, r. 2)
3 Disclosure of partners’ names (O. 27, r. 3)
4 Service of Originating Application and other documents (O. 27, r. 4)
5 Defendant’s Statement in action against firm (O. 27, r. 5)
6 Application to person carrying on business in another name (O. 27, r. 6)
SHERIFF
7 Powers and duties of Sheriff of Supreme Court (O. 27, r. 7)
FINANCIAL MATTERS AND PAYMENT INTO AND OUT OF COURT
8 Financial matters and payment into and out of Court (O. 27, r. 8)
ELECTRONIC FILING SERVICE
9 Electronic filing service (O. 27, r. 9)
10 Electronic filing (O. 27, r. 10)
11 Service of document through electronic filing service (O. 27, r. 11)
12 Foreign law practices and full registration foreign lawyers (O. 27, r. 12)
Order 28 TECHNOLOGY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION LIST
PRELIMINARY
1 Application and definitions (O. 28, r. 1)
2 TIC Claim (O. 28, r. 2)
PROCEDURE FOR PLACING CASE IN TECHNOLOGY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION LIST
3 Placement in TIC List (O. 28, r. 3)
EXPERT EVIDENCE
4 General matters concerning expert evidence (O. 28, r. 4)
5 Parties to seek permission for expert evidence (O. 28, r. 5)
6 Joint statement and joint report by experts (O. 28, r. 6)
7 Court may convene case management conference with experts (O. 28, r. 7)
EVIDENCE AND DISCLOSURE
8 Witness statements (containing evidence-in-chief) to be filed before document disclosure (O. 28, r. 8)
SUBMISSIONS
9 Presentation of parties’ cases using Scott Schedules (O. 28, r. 9)
SIMPLIFIED ADJUDICATION PROCESS
10 Simplified adjudication process protocol (O. 28, r. 10)
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
11 Alternative dispute resolution (O. 28, r. 11)
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
