Henry Winter and Abdul Azeem Abdul Samad write for DCNN Magazine on arbitrating data centre disputes in Southeast Asia

As data centre development accelerates in Southeast Asia and around the world, so does the potential for arbitration in relation to construction, reliability and ESG disputes. 

As governments push for digital transformation, operators and investors are racing to deploy their capital. However, an unprecedented build-out of data centre infrastructure also brings the potential for friction, during complex, capital-intensive projects.

Each data centre requires the coordination of cross-border stakeholders under compressed timelines, bringing together sensitive technology, grid and supply chain constraints, all within the framework of shifting regulatory landscapes. As such, if disputes arise, they should be resolved in a swift, technically sophisticated and confidential manner. Many market participants have found the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) to be the dispute resolution forum of choice.

Henry Winter, Partner in our Dispute Resolution team, and Abdul Azeem Abdul Samad, Legal Director in our International Arbitration team, write for Data Centre & Network News magazine, exploring key considerations around the arbitration of data centre disputes in Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asia's data centre cycle will reward those who deliver fast, sustainably, and at scale: sophisticated front-end drafting and disciplined project management are the best dispute-avoidance tools.

SIAC has cemented its position as Asia's leading arbitral institution for complex, cross-border disputes – SIAC arbitration offers clients a pragmatic route through complex disagreements, while keeping mission-critical infrastructure online, capital protected, and strategic plans on course.

Read the article in full in Edition 1 of the Data Centre & Network News magazine here.