New MoU between Supreme Courts of NSW and Singapore on references of questions of law

The Supreme Courts of NSW and Singapore have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), effective from 14 September 2010.

The MoU provides that each court will give consideration, in accordance with its Rules and procedures, to directing parties in proceedings to take steps to have any contested issue of law determined by the courts of the jurisdiction of the relevant governing law (ie Singapore or NSW). This process is aimed at overcoming the difficulties and costs involved in traditional processes for determining questions of law by the judges of one of these jurisdictions with respect to the law applicable in the other jurisdiction.