DISPUTE REVIEW BOARDS

Looking to set up a Dispute Review Board for your next construction project? Talk to us today.

Building Disputes Tribunal (BDT) works with contracting parties to set up Dispute Review Boards for a full range of construction projects. BDT has over 30 years of experience in providing credible and effective dispute management and resolution services to the construction industry. Consequently, we are well placed to assist you with your project.

The primary function of Dispute Review Boards is to assist the parties to a construction contract avoid disputes by:

• facilitating and improving communication; and
• encouraging the resolution of contentious issues by the parties at the job level rather than allowing them to escalate into full blown disputes; or
• if the issue cannot be resolved at job level, to assist the contracting parties to resolve disputes quickly and cost effectively without the need for arbitration or litigation.

In the first instance, Dispute Review Boards can informally assist the parties (if they so require) to resolve any disagreements which arise during the course of the contract works. The members can make recommendations or decisions regarding issues and disputes referred to them by any of the contracting parties.

Most importantly, the primary advantage of a standing Dispute Review Board (as opposed to an ad hoc  appointment of an adjudicator or arbitrator) is that, whenever a dispute arises, the members of the Dispute Review Board will have a high degree of knowledge of, and familiarity with:

• the project;
• its contractual context; and
• its progress,

which therefore enables the Dispute Review Board to assist the parties informally by providing recommendations, or if required, to render a decision within a relatively short period of time.