SCL (Singapore) Conference 2024: Singapore Inc – Staying Best in Class in Construction?

Introduction

HKA Expert, Derek Nelson is delighted to be invited to speak at the Society of Construction Law (Singapore) 2024 conference on Wednesday, 2 October 2024.

Singapore’s judiciary and legal system continues to be recognised internationally as among the best in the world, and No.1 Overall in East Asia on the WJP Rule of Law Index for 2023. Singapore’s popularity as an international dispute resolution hub is continuing to grow, in amongst a global and regional landscape that is riddled with geopolitical instability.

However, in order to maintain its leading position in the global legal rankings, it is important that Singapore’s construction law industry addresses issues that it currently faces and continues to advance and progress. The Society of Construction Law (Singapore) Annual Conference for 2024 will re-focus on the construction industry in Singapore and explore a range of topics and issues that are affecting us today.

Join us as we navigate through these issues and gain an insight from industry leading law practitioners and experts. We are privileged to have Mr. Alex Wong Li Kok, Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Singapore and a former Chairman of SCL (Singapore), grace our Conference as our Guest of Honour and deliver the Keynote Address.

The Conference will feature four sessions which focus on:

• Constructing Tomorrow: Opportunities and Challenges in the Energy Transition
• Predictably Unpredictable: What to do when the Price is no longer Right?
• Making Expert Evidence Great
• Debate: “Judge GPT: AI Should be Used to Resolve Construction Disputes”

Derek Nelson will join the panel discussion on “Making Expert Evidence Great”.

HKA Speaker

Derek Nelson
Partner, HKA

Derek Nelson is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Chartered Engineering Surveyor, with over 40 years of construction and engineering experience. He has acted as expert on over 80 occasions in delay, disruption and quantum matters.

Derek is both an accredited and certified expert witness, fellow and immediate past chairman of The Academy of Experts and has acted as a delay and quantum expert witness in arbitration, conciliation, litigation and mediation and as an expert determiner. He has been cross-examined on over 20 occasions and has delivered concurrent evidence in disputes from Belize to Brunei and Scotland to Singapore. Alongside his work as an expert adviser for ongoing projects, Derek undertakes the role of ‘project neutral’, independently reviewing international projects in preventative, on-the-job dispute resolution.

Testimonials: Derek Nelson is heralded as “a powerhouse in construction disputes“, according to commentators who laud him as “one of the most experienced experts in the market“. Derek Nelson “has remarkable clarity of thought and expression”, “In giving oral evidence and under cross-examination, he is clear, precise and assured” comment sources, who add, Derek is highly recommended for “the great clarity of his presentation – difficult concepts are put across in an understandable way“, “I would rate him as among the finest experts that I have worked with”, “He is all you would want in an expert – a true master”, “Derek’s professionalism and thoroughness in evaluation and analysis are second to none” and “He drafts persuasive reports and his analysis is extremely thorough”.

Derek is commended for “the breadth and depth of his experience”. Derek “performs well under cross-examination” according to respondents who praise his “clear and well-researched reports”. The “impressive” Derek Nelson is a “much respected” figure in the market, commended by respondents for his outstanding work dealing with quantum, delay and disruption disputes.  The “highly respected” Derek Nelson is recognised for his “depth and breadth of technical know-how and industry experience” when it comes to complex construction disputes.  Derek Nelson has a broad international practice and impresses peers with his “high-quality reports, well substantiated conclusions and excellent performance under cross-examination”. Derek Nelson “performs well in cross-examinations” and offers “professional and consistently high-quality work” whilst referred to as “usually the quickest to comprehend the crux of a matter and from there he offers and communicates the practical options or solutions”.  Derek is “a gifted quantum expert” that is commended for his “vigilance” during construction disputes. Nelson’s technical background coupled with his “intimate knowledge of international construction law and arbitration hearings” ensure that he is “highly sought after” to testify in disputes.