NOV'24

DRBF Regional Conference in The Hague

20-21 November 2024: Our Senior Associate Selcen Özcan participated in the Hague 2024 Dispute Resolution Board Foundation Regional Conference. The Conference was held in the historic The King's Ballroom in The Hague and gathered several topics of importance on dispute board practices. The conference focused on “The Power of Dispute Avoidance,” Participants discussed the value of DABs. The general consensus was that well-functioning DABs play a crucial role in steering parties away from disputes, helping to avoid cost overruns, delays, and protracted conflicts.

It was highlighted that, unlike 10–15 years ago when the added value of such mechanisms was not widely recognized, today they are seen as an important safeguard in construction projects. For example, some major contractors emphasized that they would not have taken on complex projects under FIDIC contracts without the assurance of a DAB.

The conference also raised the point that public authorities in the Netherlands could benefit from adopting DABs more systematically in their contracts, as this could lead to significant savings in time, money, and frustration.