FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
13 SEPTEMBER 2020

JAPAN INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION CENTER AND SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL MEDIATIONCENTER LAUNCH JOINT MEDIATION PROTOCOL TO HELP CROSS-BORDER BUSINESSESRESOLVE DISPUTES SWIFTLY AND INEXPENSIVELYThe JIMC-SIMC Joint Covid-19 Protocol provides cross-border businesses with better access toonline mediation and its benefits; settlement agreements are enforceable in Singapore under
the Singapore Convention on Mediation, which entered into force on 12 September 2020.

JAPAN & SINGAPORE — The Japan International Mediation Center (JIMC) and Singapore
International Mediation Centre (SIMC) on 12 September 2020 signed a Memorandum ofUnderstanding to operate a joint protocol that provides cross-border businesses, including
companies along the Japan-Singapore corridor, with an economical, expedited and effective
route for resolving commercial disputes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The JIMC-SIMC Joint Protocol is thought to be the first joint online mediation protocol
between two international dispute resolution centres committed to providing expedited
mediation during the pandemic. It is SIMC’s first such collaboration with an overseas
mediation centre, following the SIMC Covid-19 Protocol which was launched in May.

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the performance of contractual obligations, supply
chains and other aspects of commerce, resulting in differences and disputes between
businesses around the world. Mediation helps parties to resolve their disputes in an
Tel +81-75-744-6032
office@jimc-kyoto.jp
c/o Doshisha University, Faculty of Law
Karasuma-higashi-iru, Imadegawa-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi 602-8580 JAPANwww.jimc-kyoto.jp

expeditious, economical and effective manner without being engaged in protracted legal
proceedings. Mediation also preserves relationships as the disputes are resolved amicably,with parties free to adopt commercially driven solutions that are flexible and creative. Users
that consider mediation as their first port-of-call are therefore in a better position to recoverfrom the wide-ranging impact of the pandemic.

The coming into force of the Singapore Convention on Mediation on 12 September also allows
parties to enforce settlement agreements in the jurisdictions that have ratified theConvention, including Singapore. The United Nations trade treaty underscores the role ofmediation as an important tool that companies can deploy to resolve their cross-borderdisputes.

Given the international impact of the pandemic, SIMC is also working with partners around theworld on similar protocols that are customised to the needs of specific jurisdictions. The JIMCSIMC Joint Protocol supports the commitment to further strengthen economic resilience amid
the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Joint Protocol is expected to be formallylaunched later this year at an event marking JIMC’s 2nd year anniversary on 20 November.

Some key aspects of the Joint Protocol include:a. Mediations may be easily filed at either JIMC or SIMC online by paying a low
JPY 20,000 or SGD 250 filing fee. JIMC and SIMC will jointly manage
mediations.

Tel +81-75-744-6032
office@jimc-kyoto.jp
c/o Doshisha University, Faculty of Law
Karasuma-higashi-iru, Imadegawa-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi 602-8580 JAPANwww.jimc-kyoto.jp

b. Cases will be resolved by two experienced mediators (one nominated by eachCentre) to facilitate cross-border settlement.
c. Parties will enjoy fixed and reduced fees adapted for the Japanese market. For
example, for disputes of less than S$1.3M, each party pays S$6,500 (see AnnexI).
d. Mediation can be conducted online to overcome the current limitations ontravel.
e. Settlement agreements may be enforced under the Singapore Convention on
Mediation in countries that have ratified or approved the Convention,including Singapore.

These unique aspects will ensure that users are set up for a successful mediation. For example,
in a mediation between a Japanese and non-Japanese party, the co-mediation aspect allows
for the appointment of mediators who are familiar with different legal and cultural contexts;
mediators may be a Japanese-speaking and international mediator selected from both centres’
established panels of mediators with skillsets to address any given dispute.

-ENDS-For further details, please contact:
Kazuhiko Nishihara
Secretary General, Japan International Mediation Center
T: +81 75 744-6032
E: office@jimc-kyoto.jp

Tel +81-75-744-6032
office@jimc-kyoto.jp
c/o Doshisha University, Faculty of Law
Karasuma-higashi-iru, Imadegawa-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi 602-8580 JAPANwww.jimc-kyoto.jp

Annex I: Fee Schedule

The Fee Schedule is subject to the conditions set out in the JIMC-SIMC Protocol. Parties making
the mediation request through JIMC may refer to Table 1, while Parties making the mediation
request through SIMC may refer to the equivalent rates in Table 2.
Table 1:
紛争価値

１当事者当たりの費用 (日本円)

1 億円以下

５０万円

1 億円-5 億円

紛争価格の 0.5％（但し上限１００万円）

5 億円以上

紛争価格の 0.2%（但し上限１２５万円）

Table 2:
Dispute Value (SGD)

Total fee payable per party (SGD)

Below SGD 1.3 M

SGD 6,500

SGD 1.3M~6.5M

0.5％ of Dispute Value, subject to a cap of SGD 13,000

Above SGD 6.5M

0.2% of Dispute Value, subject to a cap of SGD 16,000

Tel +81-75-744-6032
office@jimc-kyoto.jp
c/o Doshisha University, Faculty of Law
Karasuma-higashi-iru, Imadegawa-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi 602-8580 JAPANwww.jimc-kyoto.jp