DKB v DKC

[2025] SGHC(I) 21 Singapore International Commercial Court 4 August 2025 • SIC/OA 10/2024 ( SIC/SUM 46/2024,HC/SUM 1177/2024,SIC/SUM 18/2025,SIC/SUM 51/2024,SIC/SUM 25/2024,SIC/SUM 17/2025 ) • 16 min read

8 cases cited

Catchwords

Civil Procedure — Costs — Principles — Defendant successfully obtained stay of proceedings in favour of arbitration despite having no intention to commence arbitration — Whether defendant is entitled to costs

Practice Areas

Civil Procedure

Judges (1)

Thomas Bathurst Delivered

Counsel (8)

A.Ang, Seah & Hoe Firm Allen & Gledhill LLP Firm Ang Cheng Ann Alfonso Counsel Claimant Chong Yee Leong Counsel Defendant James Ch'ng Chin Leong Counsel Claimant KarLuis Quek Counsel Defendant Lee Wei Cong Terence Counsel Claimant Liew Pei Jun Annette Counsel Defendant

Parties (2)

DKB Claimant DKC Defendant

Case Significance

[2025] SGHC(I) 21 is a Singapore International Commercial Court decision dated 4 August 2025 concerning Civil Procedure, specifically addressing costs. The judgment was delivered by Thomas Bathurst. The case was brought by DKB (claimant) against DKC (defendant). Legal representation was provided by A.Ang, Seah & Hoe and Allen & Gledhill LLP. The judgment cites 8 cases and references 2 statutory provisions, including the Arbitration Act and the International Arbitration Act.

Summary

This SICC judgment addressed costs arising from DKC's ultimately unsuccessful stay of enforcement of a US$315.9 million arbitral award, where DKC obtained the stay but never commenced the required Stockholm arbitration. The court ordered the claimant to pay the defendant's costs of SUM 46 at $25,820, while the defendant was ordered to pay the claimant's costs of SUM 17 and SUM 18 at $70,000 plus disbursements, with no further costs order for the costs proceedings themselves.

What was decided in [2025] SGHC(I) 21?

[2025] SGHC(I) 21 (DKB v DKC) is a Singapore International Commercial Court decision from 4 August 2025 addressing Civil Procedure, specifically costs. The judgment was delivered by Thomas Bathurst.

Who were the parties in DKB v DKC?

The claimant in [2025] SGHC(I) 21 was DKB, and the defendant was DKC. Legal representation included Allen & Gledhill LLP and A.Ang, Seah & Hoe. The case was decided on 4 August 2025 in the Singapore International Commercial Court.

Which judge decided [2025] SGHC(I) 21?

[2025] SGHC(I) 21 was delivered by Thomas Bathurst in the Singapore International Commercial Court on 4 August 2025. The case concerned Civil Procedure.

What cases and statutes does [2025] SGHC(I) 21 cite?

[2025] SGHC(I) 21 cites 8 prior decisions. It references Arbitration Act, International Arbitration Act.

Statutes Cited

Arbitration Act (Cap 10)

International Arbitration Act (Cap 143A)

s 29

Cases Cited (8)

SG (2)

[2025] SGHC(I) 11 [2025] SGHC(I) 14

SLR (6)

[1994] 2 SLR(R) 501 [2009] 4 SLR(R) 732 [2011] 1 SLR 582 [2012] 1 SLR 1076 [2024] 1 SLR 1 [2025] 3 SLR 114

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.

Read on eLitigation

Source: eLitigation ([2025] SGHC(I) 21)