The forum is for adjudicators, members of the FIDIC President’s List of Adjudicators and dispute board practitioners to discuss the latest key global issues in the dispute avoidance and adjudication arena.  

Engage with members of FIDIC’s Presidents list of Adjudicators and other dispute board practitioners in enlightening discussions about the most critical issues in the dispute avoidance arena and gain valuable insights on the DAAB role and practical strategies for effective conflict management in construction projects.

Please note that this is an invitation-only session. To express your interest, kindly complete the waitlist form. A fee of £50 (excluding VAT) applies to confirmed conference registrants, while a fee of £250 (excluding VAT) applies to non-registrants. We will notify you if your place is confirmed.

Registration and arrival refreshments: 10:00 - 10:30am 

Part A: 10:30am - 1:00pm
Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Forum – Part A: “Dispute Boards Across the Globe”

This part of the forum will explore how Dispute Boards (DBs) are being used around the world under FIDIC Contracts to promote dispute avoidance and efficient resolution in construction and infrastructure projects.
Participants will be split into tables to share real-world experiences of DB implementation and practice - discussing:

• How DBs have been used in their regions or projects
• Success stories demonstrating their value in:
  • dispute avoidance; and
  • dispute resolution
• Three key challenges faced in practice  - what prevents the DB from operating successfully
• Their vision for the future of DBs and how the system can continue to evolve to facilitate successful project outcomes

An engaging, interactive discussion aimed at learning from experience, connecting perspectives, and shaping the next chapter of dispute boards worldwide.

Part B: 2:30 - 5:00pm 
Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Forum – Part B: “Hearings of Dispute Boards”

Building on the previous FIDIC Practice Notes and the work of Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Forum, this session will focus on the practical aspects of Dispute Board hearings - from preparation and procedure to effective conduct and communication during hearings.

Participants will explore real experiences and best practices, identifying what makes hearings fair, efficient, and constructive. 

The outcomes and shared visions from this session will serve as a foundation for FIDIC's next Practice Note, helping to capture and shape guidance for Dispute Board hearings globally. 

Moderators:

Daduna Kokhreidze - Chief Legal and Contracts Officer, FIDIC
John Papworth - Managing Director, John Papworth Limited

 

Come and meet the delegates and speakers in an informal setting the night before the conference begins. This informal setting provides an opportunity to discuss and explore what the next few days entail.

No matter how well-structured a contract or how technically sound a project plan may be, the human element remains a defining factor in project success or failure. Differences in culture, personality, decision-making styles, and cognitive biases can influence communication, negotiation, dispute avoidance and resolution, and team dynamics - especially in international and multi-stakeholder environments.  

This session explores how human nature and cultural diversity impact infrastructure and construction projects. The discussion will focus on the science behind cognitive bias, the role of cultural norms in project interactions, and the influence of individual behaviours on projects success. Emphasis will be placed on promoting constructive dialogue and practical awareness of how to manage and benefit from human diversity on projects.

This session explores the evolving role of the Engineer within FIDIC contracts, the importance of effective employer, contractor and engineer engagement and how alignment with FIDIC contract requirements can improve project outcomes. This session will present FIDIC's upcoming Golden Principles for services agreements. 

Key Topics: 

• The evolving responsibilities of the Engineer in modern project delivery 
• Dual role of Employers` agent and neutral decision maker   
• Common challenges Engineers face in contract administration 
• Interactions between Engineer, Employer, and Contractor and Dispute Boards 
• Importance of clear employer roles and informed appointments 
• Promoting fairness, neutrality, and alignment with FIDIC’s Golden Principles 

This session marks the official launch of the FIDIC Carbon Management Guide, a critical new resource designed to help the global infrastructure and construction sectors embed carbon-conscious thinking into every stage of a project’s lifecycle. The guide offers carbon management guidelines for tender evaluation criteria and FIDIC contracts. 

The session will introduce FIDIC Carbon Management Principles, demonstrate their practical applications across project stages and with different FIDIC forms and provide a platform for discussion with stakeholders on how to mainstream carbon management through FIDIC contracts and their procurement. 

Key Topics: 

• Purpose, structure, and scope of the FIDIC Carbon Management Guide. 
• How Funders, Employers, Consultants, Contractors, and other project stakeholders can collaborate on decarbonisation using FIDIC`s proposed strategies for procurement and contract clauses. 

Multilateral Development Bank (MDB)–funded projects play an important role in delivering infrastructure and development worldwide. This session explores the fundamental principles that underpin such projects, focusing on current procurement trends, employer requirements for securing financing, the role of MDBs in project implementation and the evolving expectations from MDBs. It will explore the perspectives of both Employers, Contractors and other project participants — highlighting best practices and innovative approaches for navigating procurement and contracting environment.  

Key Topics:   

• Explain how MDB-funded projects are structured and what stakeholders need to know to participate effectively.  
• Discuss procurement policies, expectations, and innovations emerging from leading MDBs.  
• Outline what Employers must demonstrate to obtain and manage MDB financing and MDB funded projects.  
• Discuss MDBs Copas, use of FIDIC forms and their role in project implementation  
• Compare the perspectives of Employers, Contractors and other project participants working within MDB funded projects. 

Delegates may join the Discussion Table

This session will explore the multifaceted effects of tariff regimes and financing suspensions on construction projects  - particularly those linked to USAID and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funded projects based on FIDIC forms. The discussion will center on the legal and contractual challenges arising from such events, with a focus on mitigation strategies and practical management approaches under existing FIDIC forms.  

Key Topics:  

• Managing the impact of fluctuating tariff policies on project delivery  
• Direct and indirect impacts of project financing suspensions by USAID/MCC.  
• Legal and contractual implications, including the applicability of force majeure clauses and specific provisions applicable to suspension cases, such as Sub- Clause 8.11. 

This session explores pricing and payment provisions under FIDIC contracts, including how contract pricing is established, managed, and adjusted throughout the project lifecycle. It will examine challenges such as abnormally low tenders, the development of new rates for varied works, and how payment mechanisms interact with both contract terms and applicable law.  

Key Topics:  

• Pricing and payment provisions in FIDIC contracts  
• Abnormally low tenders – anomalies in contract pricing  
• Payment mechanisms and certification processes  
• Price adjustment and cost fluctuation provisions  
• New rates for additional or varied works  
• Interaction with applicable laws 

This session will provide an update on FIDIC’s latest contract developments. Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to engage directly with the FIDIC Contracts Committee in a Q&A session.  

Key Topics:  

• New developments beyond 2025  
• FIDIC Contract use globally and contract translations  
• Q&A for newcomers and those seeking clarity on updates or best practices 

The FIDIC Gala Dinner and Contract Users’ Awards Ceremony recognise excellence in the use of FIDIC contract forms for project delivery and showcases examples of good practice through collaboration from across the world.  

Winners to be announced during the Gala Dinner and Contract Users' Awards Ceremony which takes place in London as an in-person event on Tuesday 2 December 2025. 

This session explores how FIDIC contracts are being practically applied and adapted to meet the unique needs of various sectors and regions providing project highlights. From Middle East to Eastern Europe, South America to Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Africa hear how stakeholders are using FIDIC contracts to deliver complex infrastructure across various jurisdictions.  

Key Topics:  

• FIDIC in major infrastructure projects across the world  
• Applying FIDIC in fast-paced, technology-driven developments  
• Case studies and lessons learned from diverse jurisdictions  
• Risk allocation and payment mechanisms using FIDIC across diverse markets  
• FIDIC-based contracting for energy and infrastructure projects  
• Adapting FIDIC contracts to align with regional laws and practices  
• Dispute avoidance and navigating cross-border project challenges

 This session will discuss the upcoming FIDIC Collaborative Contract Form aimed at supporting improved collaboration between project participants to achieve clearly defined project outcomes. FIDIC`s new collaborative contract model is appropriate for any project where enhanced cooperation and early contractor involvement is needed, particularly those involving complex, multi-party interactions. 

This session introduces the key features of the FIDIC collaborative form, outlines its unique approach, practical applications, and explores how it promotes shared responsibility, collaborative governance, and performance-based delivery across the entire project lifecycle.  

The presentation will be followed by a discussion on Collaborative Contracting in practice.   

Join FIDIC and industry leaders as they discuss and debate how this innovative contract can reshape project execution and provide long-term value for clients, consultants, and contractors alike.  

Key Topics:  

• Purpose, structure, and innovation behind the FIDIC Collaborative Contract Form.  
• Benefits of collaborative contracting in delivering complex and high-value projects.  
• How collaboration enhances risk sharing, dispute avoidance, and performance-based outcomes.  
• Collaborative Contracting in Practice: Is it broadly applicable or better suited to specific project types? What factors influence its effectiveness and successful implementation in practice. 

Join this discussion table to continue discussion on FIDIC's Public-Private Partnership (PPP) 2.0 Model Contract development. This interactive session will focus on the concept’s and practical implementation, with participants invited to share their views and experiences on PPP projects. This table will discuss the evolving nature of PPP contracts and open a dialogue on best practices, challenges and future developments in this project structure.
 

Explore how emerging AI technologies are influencing the roles, responsibilities, and interactions of parties within FIDIC-based construction contracts. This session highlights practical applications, human oversight, and how the industry can adapt for greater efficiency. 

Key Topics:  

• Presentation from AI providers – practical look   
• Use of AI in contract management and project delivery – evolution and journey so far  
• Enhancing communication and decision-making through AI   
• Balancing AI outputs with human judgment   
• Opportunities for improved efficiency across the project lifecycle  
• Evolving roles of project participants in an AI environment 

This session examines the dual role of Dispute Boards under FIDIC contracts—supporting dispute avoidance while being prepared to issue binding decisions when needed. Practical examples will be shared on when and how to transition from informal assistance to decision making. This session will include presentation of the FIDIC Practice Note III – Decisions.

Key Topics:   

• Striking the right balance between dispute avoidance and decision-making  
• The role of the Engineer in dispute avoidance and claims management
• How and when Dispute Boards should shift from informal assistance to formal decisions  
• Practical tips for maximising the effectiveness of Dispute Boards and interaction of the Parties  
• Regional considerations and best practices across jurisdictions  
• Feedback from Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Forum – Presentation of FIDIC Practice Note III - Decisions

This session will look into current trends in International arbitration, including common dispute types, emerging outcomes, and the growing use of expedited and compliance procedures in construction-related disputes.  

Key Topics:  

• Latest trends in international arbitration and ICC statistics  
• Use of expedited procedures for faster resolution  
• The role of compliance arbitration in enforcement of dispute board decisions