Conflict of Laws

Overview

Conflict of Laws featured in 13 reported judgments in Singapore between February 2025 to February 2026, heard primarily in the High Court (General Division) (7) and the High Court (Family Division) (2). Key sub-topics included Natural forum (4), Choice of law — Insolvency — Recognition and enforcement of foreign insolvency proceedings — Submission to foreign insolvency proceedings (1), Natural forum — Whether divorce proceedings in Singapore ought to be stayed based on forum non conveniens Domicile — Accommodation — Relevance to determination of domicile — Whether failure to own immoveable assets in Singapore negates intention to settle in this country Habitual residence — Whether mere possibility of cessation of employment negates habitual residence Family Law — Divorce — Stay of proceedings — Divorce proceedings in Singapore and France — Parties and their children are French citizens and have resided in Singapore for 10 years — Wife is working in Singapore and the children are studying in the French International School — Husband recently returned to France permanently — French courts obliged to apply Singapore law if they were to adjudicate on divorce and ancillary matters — Whether France is more appropriate forum to determine these matters — Whether divorce proceeding in Singapore should be stayed (1). The most active judges were Choo Han Teck (3), Sundaresh Menon (1), Steven Chong (1), while leading firms included Oon & Bazul LLP (2), WongPartnership LLP (1), LVM Law Chambers LLC (1). 64 lawyers appeared in conflict of laws cases during this period.

Data coverage: between February 2025 to February 2026