With fanfare and panache, SCL(S) organised its 2nd "Focus on Asia Conference" 2019 on 11 and 12 September 2019.

This was an excellent event that drew to attend in one place, esteemed speakers, thought leaders, specialists, professionals, academics and students, and other participants, from a multitude of disciplines across the construction industry. Participants from 12 countries attended at the Legends Ballroom in Fort Canning.

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The participants probably did not suspect that they were going to witness a legendary performance that would be remembered for years thereafter. The programme said there would be a light-hearted debate on the motion of whether construction contracts tend to allocate project risks to the most appropriate party, chaired by Sir Vivian Ramsey with debaters Mohan Pillay, Marion Smith QC in the red corner, and Philip Jeyaretnam SC and Anneliese Day QC in the blue corner. One would quite reasonably wonder how much space the choice of motion gave to the debaters to bring in their flair, creative license and brevity. 

What ensued was a rip roaring debate between the assumed roles of Employer, Architect, Contractor and Subcontractor, including props and wardrobe changes. Brown paper envelopes of monopoly money were exchanged, and the neon PPE and hard hats came on stage. There were Full Monty moments on stage (to catcalls and cheers) by the irrepressible Mohan Pillay and Philip Jeyaretnam SC. Pop culture and song references sprinkled liberally into Anneliese Day QC's speech, threatened to bring everyone up from their seats. Nothing was sacrosanct from lampooning, including the most unlikely of topics - class conflict and struggle - made real yet (somehow) fetching by Marion Smith QC. Sir Vivian kept all of this in check in his usual deadpan manner and both the winners and losers (by blind vote, no less) were suitably feted by the enthralled audience.

On the more serious end of matters, the audience were enriched by the views of the highly experienced speakers on the Belt and Road Initiative, including very informative predictions by the moderator of that panel, Paul Teo, and the on-the-ground insights from the SCL(S) Vice-Chair Lee Chau Ee. Highly respected panelists and moderators discussed the very current topic of Infrastructure Opportunities and Challenges in Asia. The audience was also brought through a whirlwind tour of the latest regional developments in construction law.

One could not help but notice that there were serious discussions not just on stage but also off-stage between the participants.

The choicest moments are forever immortalised in the photos of the event.

Many thanks and much kudos to the organising committee of the event, sponsors and exhibitors and the SCL(S) Secretariat of course, for yet another wildly successful event.