OCT'23

Practical Dispute Resolution at DRBF MENA 2023

On 24–25 October 2023 in Istanbul, our Senior Associate Selcen Özcan was proud to serve on the organizing team for the DRBF MENA Regional Conference 2023. Conference was held over two days at the Wyndham Grand Levent Hotel in Istanbul. The gathering brought together leading practitioners, contractors, and owners from across the region to exchange perspectives on how Dispute Boards are shaping project delivery and dispute resolution in the construction sector. Ms. Özcan participated in the “DRBF Intermediate Workshop: Dispute Avoidance, Ethics, and the Use of AI,” then took the stage as a speaker in the “Mock Dispute Board” session.

DRBF’s MENA Regional Conference focused on two themes that sit at the heart of our practice: practical, early dispute avoidance and clear, ethical decision-making. In sharing our experience, we emphasized how these principles are critical to keeping complex international projects on track, particularly when operating across multiple jurisdictions. We also explored the growing role of technology by highlighting how AI can support but never replace sound professional judgment in managing disputes. Clients benefit from practices that help prevent issues before they escalate and keep projects moving efficiently across borders.

Adopting proactive approaches to conflict management not only helps prevent issues from escalating but also keeps projects moving efficiently across borders, which is an essential advantage in an industry where delays and disputes carry high financial and reputational risks. By engaging in forums like this, we reaffirm our thought leadership in international construction law and our role as a trusted advisor on Dispute Boards.