Scope of arbitration clause: negotiable instruments

In Cassa di Risparmio di Parma e Piacenza SpA v Rals International Pte Ltd [2015] SGHC 264 Vinodh Coomaraswamy J considered the inherent conflict between the obligation of contracting parties to go to arbitration and the autonomy of obligations under negotiable instruments. The case concerned an assignee of a negotiable instrument, the question being whether the claim had to be brought by the assignee against the defaulting purchaser in arbitration. The court concluded that the arbitration clause did not extend to the assignee.

The contractual arrangements