Lawrence Boo heads The Arbitration Chambers since its inception in 1996. He is widely recognised as “a practitioner who truly understands the region”, and is “regularly seen presiding over some of the biggest disputes in Asia.” (Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific) both in commercial and investor-State disputes.

Formerly the Deputy Chairman (2004–2009), first Chief Executive Officer and Registrar (1991–1996) of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), Lawrence is one of Singapore’s founding voices of arbitration.

With more than 30 years of experience as an arbitrator, Lawrence has sat in more than 350 cases, presiding or acting as sole arbitrator in over 250 cases. He has taken on cases administered by institutions including the ICSID, SIAC, ICC, CIETAC, PCA, AAA-ICDR, LCIA, HKIAC, AIAC, AMTAC, SCMA, BANI, BAC, VIAC, SCMA and LMAA, as well as ad hoc matters.

Lawrence is also no stranger to mediation, having mediated in no less than 100 disputes, with mediations reaching settlement at a success rate of 75%.

Lawrence is on the panels of leading international arbitration and mediation bodies such as the AAA, AIAC, CIETAC, CMAC, BAC, KCAB, HKIAC, SIMC and SMC He is Singapore’s nominee to ICSID’s Panel of Arbitrators.

Professional Career

• Head of Chambers, The Arbitration Chambers (1996–2004; 2009–current)
• Executive Deputy Chairman, Singapore International Arbitration Centre (2004–2009)
• CEO and Registrar, Singapore International Arbitration Centre (1991–1996)
• Legal practice as Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore (1981–1991)

Academia

• Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, Bond University, Australia
• Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore

Professional Offices & Memberships

• Member, SIAC Court of Arbitration (2017)
• Member, ICC International Court of Arbitration (2018-2021) 
• Fellow, Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (FACICA) (2004)
• Chartered Arbitrator, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2000)
• Fellow, Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand (FAMINZ) (1998)
• Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) (1994)
• Fellow, Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (FSIArb) (1994)
• Member, Shanghai Arbitration Commission (2013)
• Singapore’s nominee, ICSID Panel of Arbitrators
• Member, Panel of the Protocol to the ASEAN Charter on Dispute Settlement Mechanism (2021–)
• Member, ICSID Panel of Arbitrators (2013–)
• Member, ICSID Panel of Concillators (2011–2017)
• Member, BAC Panel of Arbitrators (2006–)
• Member, CMAC Panel of International Arbitrators (1997–)
• Member, KCAB Panel of Arbitrators (1996–)
• Member, CIETAC Panel of Arbitrators (1994–)
• Member, AAA Panel of International Arbitrators (1992–)
• Member, SIAC Panel of Arbitrators (1992–)
• Member, AIAC (formerly KLRCA) Panel of Arbitrators
• Member, HKIAC Panel of Arbitrators
• Certified Mediator, International Mediation Institute (2009–)
• Member, Advisory Board of the Singapore Mediation Centre (1998–2004)
• Member, Panel of Mediators, Singapore Mediation Centre (1998–)
• Member, Panel of Community Mediators, Ministry of Law (1998–2012)
• Member, Panel of Arbitrators, Electricity Market Company (2003–)
• State Representative to UNCITRAL Working Group on Arbitration (2004–2009)
• Law Reform Consultant, Attorney-General’s Chambers, Singapore (2001–)
• Special Consultant to Attorney-General’s Chambers on Review of Arbitration Laws (1996–2000)
• Member, Inter-Ministry Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution (1996–1997)
  (Recommended setting up of community mediation centres leading to enactment of the 1997 Community Mediation Centres Act)
• Vice-Chairman, Sub-Committee on Arbitration Law, Law Reform Committee (1993–1994)
  (Recommended Adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, leading to the enactment of the 1994 International Arbitration Act)

Educational Background

• LL.M, National University of Singapore (1988)
• LL.B (Hons), University of Singapore (1980)

Publications
Representative publications only

• Author, Halsbury's Laws of Singapore Volume 1(2) – Arbitration (LexisNexis, 1998 and Re-issues 2003, 2011, 2017, 2020 and 2022)
• Co-author, UNCITRAL 2012 Digest of Case Law on the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (Vienna: UNCITRAL, 2012)
• Author, ‘Arbitration’ in Annual Review of Singapore Cases (Singapore Academy of Law, Annual issues from 2001 to 2022)
• Author, Chapter on “Enforcement of Arbitration Agreements Under Art 8 MAL” UNCITRAL Model Law after 25 years – Global perspectives on International Commercial Arbitration – McGill University; Juris LLC
• Co-author, “Of Moving Frontiers And Notes Verbales – Ascertaining The Intentions of State Parties in BITs” – (2018) AIAJ Vol 14 No 1 pg 15-36 (Kluwers)
• Co-author, Chapter on Singapore in ICCA International Handbook on Commercial Arbitration (Kluwer 1996 and supplements to 2022)
• Author, The Fordham papers 2012 – Contemporary Issues in International Arbitration – chapter on “Prescription and Relief – Is it a matter of choice?” - Martin Nijhoff Publications
• Author, ‘Internationalisation of decision-making – Arbitration’ in The Internationalisation of Law: Legislating, Decision-making, Practice and Education (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2010)
• Author, “The Writing Requirement in Contemporary Practice: Is there really a need for change?” 2008 DRI, Vol 2, May 2008, pg 75-83
• Author, “Ruling on Arbitral Jurisdiction – Is that an Award?” (2007) AIAJ Vol 3 No 2 pg125-142
• Author, “Cost of Arbitration” (2007) Chinese Yearbook of Private International and Comparative Law (Peking University Press) pg 12-138

Languages
English, Mandarin

For more information on contact details and recent appointments, download CV.