DMZ v DNA

[2025] SGCA 52 Court of Appeal 14 November 2025 • CA/CA 5/2025 ( CA/SUM 15/2025 ) • 35 min read
17 cases cited (16 SG, 1 foreign)

Catchwords

Arbitration — Conduct of arbitration — UNCITRAL Model Law — Article 5 — Whether party permitted to apply to court while the arbitration is ongoing to challenge a decision of the arbitral institution Arbitration — Conduct of arbitration — Rules — Arbitration Rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (6th Ed, 1 August 2016) — Rules 40.1 and 40.2 — Whether tribunal or court permitted to review a decision of the arbitral institution

Practice Areas

Arbitration

Judges (3)

Ang Cheng Hock Coram Steven Chong Coram Sundaresh Menon Delivered

Counsel (11)

Rajah & Tann LLP Firm WongPartnership LLP Firm Alicia Tan Counsel Respondent Chua Beng Chye Counsel Respondent Koh Swee Yen Counsel Appellant Li Zizheng Counsel Appellant Lin Chunlong Counsel Appellant Low Yi Heng Samuel Counsel Appellant Ting Yong Hong Counsel Respondent Wu Junneng Counsel Respondent Zerlina Yee Zi Ling Counsel Appellant

Parties (2)

DMZ Appellant DNA Respondent

Case Significance

[2025] SGCA 52 is a Court of Appeal decision dated 14 November 2025 concerning Arbitration, specifically addressing conduct of arbitration. The judgment was delivered by Sundaresh Menon, with Ang Cheng Hock and Steven Chong on the coram. The case was brought by DMZ (appellant) against DNA (respondent). Legal representation was provided by WongPartnership LLP and Rajah & Tann LLP. The judgment cites 17 cases (16 Singapore, 1 foreign) and references 5 statutory provisions, including the Arbitration Act, the Insolvency, and the Restructuring and Dissolution Act.

Summary

DMZ appealed against the High Court's refusal to grant permission to proceed with an application challenging a decision by the SIAC Registrar regarding the commencement date of an arbitration against an insolvent respondent. The key issue was whether a party could apply to the court during ongoing arbitral proceedings to challenge an administrative decision of the arbitral institution. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal with indemnity costs, holding the court had no power to grant the orders sought and that such intervention would violate the principle of minimal curial intervention in ongoing arbitrations.

What was decided in [2025] SGCA 52?

[2025] SGCA 52 (DMZ v DNA) is a Court of Appeal decision from 14 November 2025 addressing Arbitration, specifically conduct of arbitration. The judgment was delivered by Sundaresh Menon.

Who were the parties in DMZ v DNA?

The appellant in [2025] SGCA 52 was DMZ, and the respondent was DNA. Legal representation included Rajah & Tann LLP and WongPartnership LLP. The case was decided on 14 November 2025 in the Court of Appeal.

Which judge decided [2025] SGCA 52?

[2025] SGCA 52 was delivered by Sundaresh Menon in the Court of Appeal on 14 November 2025. Ang Cheng Hock and Steven Chong also sat on the coram. The case concerned Arbitration.

What cases and statutes does [2025] SGCA 52 cite?

[2025] SGCA 52 cites 17 prior decisions, including 1 from foreign jurisdictions. It references Arbitration Act, Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act.

Statutes Cited

Arbitration Act (Cap 10)
Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act
International Arbitration Act (Cap 143A)
Restructuring and Dissolution Act
Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap 322)
s 18

Cases Cited (17)

SG (2)
[2024] SGHC 261 [2025] SGHC 31
SLR (14)
[2004] 2 SLR(R) 14 [2007] 3 SLR(R) 86 [2009] 3 SLR(R) 936 [2013] 1 SLR 125 [2014] 4 SLR 79 [2015] 3 SLR 1041 [2015] 3 SLR 488 [2016] 1 SLR 373 [2016] 2 SLR 871 [2019] 1 SLR 732 [2020] 1 SLR 695 [2021] 1 SLR 935 [2021] 2 SLR 354 [2025] 1 SLR 849
UK (1)
[2023] UKSC 32

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.

Read on eLitigation

Source: eLitigation ([2025] SGCA 52)