The former Customs House in Maxwell Road, being equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, will make it easier for foreign lawyers to settle disputes here.

It is part of a series of concerted measures to build up Singapore's arbitration sector. They include attracting top institutions such as American Arbitration Association, Permanent Court of Arbitration and the International Chamber of Commerce - International Court of Arbitration.

The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) is also gaining ground internationally.

Law Minister K Shanmugam, speaking at the launch of Singapore Corporate Counsel Association's (SCCA) first regional conference on Thursday, said the recent appointment of highly regarded international arbitrators to its board 'is a clear statement of intent' of the body to become one of the leading centres in Asia and the world.

To strengthen the international fare, a regional Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) was signed on Thursday, extending Singapore Corporate Counsel Association's (SCCA) International Cooperation Agreement with its counterparts in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and South Korea.

Its existing partners comprised associations in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Malaysia and Hong Kong. To up the ante for corporate lawyers here, a specialist certificate programme will be conducted in October.

The four-day course is a collaboration between SCCA and the Institute of Knowledge Development.

Ms Neoh Sue Lynn, who heads Education and Development in SCCA, said: 'This is continued legal education for corporate counsels. We are looking at areas such as managing cross cultures and organisational politics.

'With international companies setting up their headquarters here meant having colleagues from the region. There is a need to be sensitive and the course would benefit us.'