The sixth edition of the arbitration rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) entered into force on 1 August 2016. To mark the occasion we provide this client briefing on the key features of the new rules.

- The 2016 SIAC Rules will apply to disputes referred to SIAC from 1 August 2016, unless the parties agree otherwise.

- SIAC has retained the structure and much of the content of the 2013 SIAC Rules, while fine-tuning some important provisions and introducing some new innovations.

- Specifically, SIAC has introduced a new procedure for the early dismissal of claims and defences, becoming the first international commercial arbitral institution to do so.

- SIAC has also introduced new provisions on multi-party and multi contract disputes to keep pace with similar procedures already offered by competitor institutions.

- The rules on joinder have been developed to allow a non-party to apply to join an existing SIAC arbitration.

- The rules on emergency arbitrators and expedited proceedings, first introduced by SIAC in 2010, have also been developed to facilitate greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness.