This joint conference with the SIAC on 17 September focuses on construction disputes in Asia and presents an important new collaboration for SCL.

We are fortunate to have Sir Vivian Ramsey (English High Court Judge and Joint Editor of “Keating on Construction Contracts”) deliver the keynote speech, as he did at last year’s SCL–Law Society Construction Law Conference.

The SIAC-SCL Conference brings together many well-known names from both Singapore and the region. It presents an excellent opportunity to listen, comment and interact with some of the leading commentators in the industry.

I would like to acknowledge with much thanks the work of Karen Fletcher, Vice Chair, SCL and Chair of our Professional Development Committee and Johnny Tan, Chairman of our External Relations Committee in nurturing this from inception to the actual event. They have been actively and heavily committed these last few months in putting together what, I am sure, will prove to be an excellent conference.

Our social and networking programs have always provided a pleasant break from the much headier and weighty aspects of our professional development programs.

Our 1st 2010 networking cocktail on 21 April at Upstairs @ Harry’s at Boat Quay proved a welcome respite as many members and their guests mingled and networked. We saw a very good turnout with many members and their guests in attendance.

One of the key social highlights of the Society’s calendar has been the SCL Annual Dinner, an event inaugurated last year. Those who attended last year’s event will know it was a tremendous success, with seats being sold out weeks ahead of schedule.

This year Annual Dinner has proved no less successful with places for the 28 July Dinner being sold out more than a month before the event.

On behalf of the Council, I wish to acknowledge the tireless work of Audrey Perez, Chair of the Social Committee in organizing this event, once again this year. I also wish to record my gratitude to our three sponsors who have returned after sponsoring the Annual Dinner last year. My thanks to David Langdon & Seah Singapore Pte Ltd, Dragages Singapore Pte Ltd and Pinsent Masons LLP.

The Council and I look forward to the opportunity to meet our members at the Annual Dinner. I hope that this event will feature as a regular part of the construction industry’s social calendar in Singapore.

I mentioned in my Chairman’s report at last year’s AGM that the Professional Development Committee was looking at the possibility of a training workshop for non-lawyers, to complement the Engineering 101 Workshop that has now been running successfully for two years.

I am very pleased to inform members that this program will be available in early November as a series of four evening lectures over two weeks.

This course is designed for non-lawyers in the construction industry interested in the basics of construction law principles. It will review contractors and employers’ contract obligations, and legal issues relating to variations, extension of time, delay and liquidated damages, amongst other topics. More details will be made available shortly.

These are some of the highlights in the last few months since my message in the March 2010 Bulletin.

I will be delivering a fuller and more detailed report at the AGM in August.

I end this message by looking forward to your continuing support as a new council comes into office shortly.

Your feedback and comments are always welcome, both on what we have been doing, as well as what we have not been doing, or on not doing right. You can email me c/o the SCL Secretariat This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..