The DRC is appointed by the EMC Board. The DRC is responsible for the effective operation of the dispute resolution process. He plays a central role in the process and also makes appointments to the dispute resolution and compensation panel, from which mediators and arbitrators are selected. The Market Assessment Unit of EMC assists the DRC in facilitating dispute resolution.

In the dispute resolution process, the DRC:

• helps people to become familiar with the dispute resolution process
• assists market participants in setting up dispute management systems by issuing guidance notes
• acts as a case manager in monitoring disputes and guiding disputants to resolve them through the dispute resolution process
• considers requests to extend time limits prescribed for the dispute resolution process

Dispute Resolution Counsellor (DRC)

The Dispute Resolution Counsellor appointed for the NEMS is George Lim Teong Jin.

Mr Lim, a partner in the law firm of Messrs Wee Tay & Lim, has practised as an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court since 1982. Mr Lim is a trial lawyer. He served as President of the Law Society of Singapore between 1998 and 1999 as well as Vice-President of the Singapore Academy of Law for the same period.

Mr Lim was trained in mediation in the United Kingdom at the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR). He has also undergone mediation training at Harvard Law School. Mr Lim was involved in the setting up of the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) in 1997. He conducts mediations regularly at the Centre and is on its panel of trainers. Mr Lim has helped to train lawyers and judges in mediation for the Bar Council of Malaysia and the Philippine Judicial Academy.

Mr Lim sits on the Board of Directors, SMC. He is a member of the Regional Panel of Arbitrators of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), and serves on the Board of Legal Education. In 2004, Mr Lim was appointed to chair an Appeals Tribunal relating to the gas industry. In August 2005, he was awarded a Public Service medal for his contributions to the legal profession.