Procedure & Fees

A party may commence arbitration or mediation by submitting an online application through the Platform and paying the applicable filing fee.

The application shall include:
• Identification of the parties;
• A summary of the dispute;
• The relevant contract or legal relationship;
• The relief sought;
• Supporting documents available at the time of filing.

The Administrator shall conduct a preliminary review to determine whether:
• the submission is complete;
• the required fee has been paid;
• an arbitration or mediation agreement appears to exist.

This review does not constitute a determination of jurisdiction or merits.

Upon acceptance of the filing, the Platform shall notify the Respondent and provide access to the case dashboard.

The Respondent shall generally have seven (7) days to submit a Response to Notice.

Depending on the applicable process:

Arbitration:
The dispute may be determined by:
• a Sole Arbitrator; or
• a Three-Member Tribunal.

Mediation:
The dispute shall be facilitated by a Mediator selected in accordance with the Parties’ agreement or the Platform's appointment process.

Proceedings are primarily conducted online through the Platform.

Case management tools include:
• secure document exchange;
• written submissions;
• procedural directions;
• scheduling tools;
• virtual hearings where required.

Unless the Parties agree otherwise, disputes submitted under the expedited procedure shall normally be resolved within six (6) weeks from the constitution of the Tribunal.

The Tribunal may extend this period according to Article 17 of the Arbitration Rules.

Subject to Article 14 of the Arbitration Rules, The Tribunal may determine that:
• the dispute can be decided on documents only;
• a virtual hearing is required;
• an in-person hearing is appropriate in exceptional circumstances.

Arbitration: The Tribunal shall issue a reasoned written award subject to Article 19 of the Arbitration Rules.

Mediation: If settlement is reached, the parties may request a written settlement agreement. Where applicable, the settlement may be documented in a form intended to facilitate enforcement under the Singapore Convention on Mediation.

A fixed Filing Fee is payable upon submission of a claim and covers the overall procedural handling of the case by the platform. This includes:

1.1. Case management services: All administrative steps required for the progression of the dispute, including compliance and identity verification checks, coordination of the appointment of the arbitrator, procedural oversight, and ongoing administrative support.

1.2. Platform access: Full use of the digital dispute resolution environment for the entire duration of the proceedings.

A non-refundable filing fee is payable upon commencement.

Where no specific monetary relief is requested, the claim shall be deemed to have a reference value of USD 250,000 (4%) solely for the purpose of calculating applicable fees.

Remuneration and reasonable expenses of the appointed arbitrator for handling the dispute. Arbitrators are compensated on a case-basis rather than hourly billing.

3.1. Sole Arbitrator:
Starting from: USD 2,000 – USD 10,000 (at Platform discretion) depending on:
• complexity;
• amount in dispute;
• procedural requirements.

3.2. Three-Member Tribunal:
Each individual Arbitrator shall be compensated equally based on Section 3.1 above.

A USD 500 Filing Fee, plus Mediator compensation of USD 1,500 (equally payable by both parties).

Administrative fees may apply for:
• emergency applications;
• expedited appointments;
• hearing arrangements;
• expert appointments;
• translation services.

Allocation of Costs: The Tribunal may allocate costs taking into account:
• outcome of the dispute;
• conduct of the parties;
• reasonableness of positions;
• procedural efficiency.

Taxes: All fees may be subject to applicable indirect taxes, including VAT or equivalent charges, depending on jurisdiction and prevailing legal requirements.

Payment Instructions: Payments shall be made via bank transfer to the designated account provided by the platform at the time of filing. Any charges imposed by financial institutions in connection with the transfer shall be borne solely by the paying party.

Refund Policy: The Filing Fee is generally non-refundable. A refund will only be issued where the platform declines to accept the claim. In such cases, the amount refunded will be reduced by an administrative processing charge of USD 250 (plus any applicable taxes).

Invoicing: Invoices are issued electronically upon request and made available through the platform or by email in digital format.

A fixed Challenge Fee of USD 2,000 applies in all cases where a party initiates a formal challenge or contestation procedure.

An "Arbitrator Challenge" means a written application seeking the removal, replacement, or disqualification of an Arbitrator on grounds including, but not limited to, lack of independence, lack of impartiality, conflict of interest, incapacity, or any other circumstance that may give rise to justifiable doubts regarding the Arbitrator's suitability to act.