This session will provide an overview of FIDIC contracts, focusing on their global relevance and regional adaptations in North and Latin America and the Caribbean. Speakers will guide participants through the key components of FIDIC contracts, discussing their evolution, application across different regions and how they can be tailored to specific projects and legal environments. Emphasis will be placed on the differing levels of familiarity with FIDIC contracts across the Americas. The session will offer foundational knowledge on FIDIC contracts, preparing attendees for more in-depth discussions on contract management and dispute avoidance in subsequent sessions. 

Key topics to be discussed: 

• Overview of FIDIC’s role in global construction and engineering. 
• Main features of FIDIC contracts. 
• FIDIC contracts in North America vs. Latin America: key differences and challenges. 
• FIDIC contracts in the Caribbean.  
• The evolution of FIDIC contracts, new developments and trends. 

This session will explore why FIDIC contracts are an effective tool for successful project execution. Speakers will discuss how FIDIC contracts lead to smoother project delivery and enhanced collaboration. The session will look at the essential contract drafting techniques, including the dos and don’ts of working with FIDIC contracts, with a focus on the "FIDIC Golden Principles" that ensure clarity and fairness in contract terms. 

Additionally, the session will look at the importance of considering applicable laws when drafting and implementing FIDIC contracts.  

Additionally, the session will look at the importance of considering applicable laws when drafting and implementing FIDIC contracts.  

• Finally, the session will look at how understanding local legal requirements can enhance the successful Implementation of FIDIC contracts. 
• Key topics to be discussed: 
• How to use FIDIC tools for procurement and contract preparation, including selecting the right FIDIC form/s. 
• Contract drafting principles, avoiding unnecessary changes during contract drafting, including the FIDIC Golden Principles. 
• The importance of considering governing law when drafting and implementing FIDIC contracts. 
• How local laws and regulations impact project execution.  

This session will explore key aspects of contract management in FIDIC contracts, focusing on risk allocation, communication strategies and the essential roles of the project participants.  

Participants will learn how FIDIC contracts allocate risk between the parties and learn from other experiences from the region, helping them to manage issues as they arise and promote smoother project delivery.  

The session will also dive into the critical importance of good communication in managing risks and preventing disputes. 

Additionally, the session will examine the roles and responsibilities of the Employer, Contractor and Engineer, emphasising how effective coordination between stakeholders minimises delays and improves project outcomes. Best practices for managing variations, claims, payments, and design responsibilities will be discussed, providing strategies for mitigating conflicts and ensuring that projects stay on track. 

Key topics to be discussed: 

• Risk allocation in FIDIC contracts and how it supports project success. 
• The role of communication in managing risks and preventing disputes. 
• Roles and responsibilities of the Employer, Contractor and Engineer in FIDIC contracts. 
• Managing variations, claims, payments, and design responsibilities. 
• Regional insights of working with projects not based on FIDIC forms – comparative assessment. 

This session will discuss dispute avoidance and adjudication on construction projects, focusing on the growing role of dispute boards (DBs) in avoiding and resolving disputes in construction projects.  

As dispute boards gain increasing traction on FIDIC-based projects, this session will examine their importance in ensuring smooth project execution and preventing disputes from escalating. 

The session will cover the practical aspects of dispute avoidance, the role of DBs and the common challenges in implementing them. Attendees will learn strategies for enhancing dispute avoidance processes to keep projects on track by looking at FIDIC’s dispute board rules and two latest practice notes. 

Key topics to be discussed: 

• Use of dispute boards in the region and differences. 
• The growing importance of dispute boards in FIDIC contracts. 
• Key principles of dispute avoidance and how they are implemented within FIDIC contracts. 
• The adjudication process and the role of dispute boards in resolving disputes quickly and efficiently. 
• Practical solutions to improve the effectiveness of dispute boards. 

This session will showcase successful global projects that have utilised FIDIC contracts, highlighting best practices and lessons learned. The Panama Canal project will be used as a prominent example, with a discussion on its successful implementation of FIDIC. Speakers will invite regional practitioners to share their experiences with FIDIC, offering tips to those interested in adopting FIDIC contracts in their own projects. 

Key Topics to be discussed: 

• Case study: The Panama Canal project 
• Successful project examples using FIDIC contracts 
• Lessons learned and recommendations