The Construction Arbitration, Dispute Resolution and Expert Witness Practice Training Course provides practical knowledge and professional skills for managing contractual disputes arising from construction and civil engineering projects. The programme focuses on Construction Arbitration, adjudication, mediation, expert reports, FIDIC, legal disputes, claims management, contract interpretation, evidence assessment, and dispute resolution procedures.

Delivered by The British Academy For Training and Development, this course falls under Engineering Maintenance and Operation and specializes in Construction and Civil Engineering Training Courses. Participants learn how to identify dispute causes, evaluate contractual and technical evidence, prepare expert reports, support arbitration proceedings, manage adjudication and mediation processes, and communicate technical findings effectively in construction-related disputes.

• Understand the principles and procedures of Construction Arbitration.
• Identify common causes of construction disputes.
• Understand adjudication and its role in construction dispute resolution.
• Apply mediation techniques to construction-related disputes.
• Understand the structure and application of FIDIC contracts.
• Analyse contractual rights, obligations, and dispute provisions.
• Evaluate claims, counterclaims, variations, delays, and cost impacts.
• Develop effective evidence-gathering and documentation practices.
• Prepare clear and technically robust expert reports.
• Understand the responsibilities and duties of an expert witness.
• Present technical evidence in a clear and objective manner.
• Analyse construction programme, cost, quality, and contractual evidence.
• Understand procedures associated with construction-related legal disputes.
• Develop strategies for preventing and resolving construction disputes.

Target Audience

This course is designed for:

• Construction project managers.
• Civil and construction engineers.
• Quantity surveyors and cost consultants.
• Contract managers and administrators.
• Claims consultants.
• Commercial managers.
• Construction lawyers and legal professionals.
• Arbitrators and dispute resolution professionals.
• Expert witnesses and technical consultants.
• Project controls professionals.
• FIDIC contract specialists.
• Professionals involved in construction claims and disputes.

Module 1: Fundamentals of Construction Arbitration

• Principles of Construction Arbitration.
• Nature and characteristics of construction disputes.
• Arbitration versus litigation.
• Arbitration agreements and clauses.
• Arbitration procedures and stages.
• Roles of parties, arbitrators, lawyers, and experts.
• Advantages and limitations of arbitration.

Module 2: Causes and Classification of Construction Disputes

• Contractual disputes.
• Payment and valuation disputes.
• Variations and change orders.
• Delay and disruption claims.
• Defects and quality disputes.
• Extension-of-time claims.
• Termination and performance disputes.
• Identifying dispute triggers at an early stage.

Module 3: Adjudication and Mediation

• Principles of adjudication.
• Adjudication procedures and submissions.
• Evidence and decision-making in adjudication.
• Principles of mediation.
• Mediation preparation and negotiation.
• Role of mediators and participating parties.
• Settlement strategies and dispute prevention.

Module 4: FIDIC Contracts and Dispute Resolution

• Overview of FIDIC contract structures.
• Contractual responsibilities and obligations.
• Engineer and employer roles.
• Claims and notices under FIDIC.
• Variations and payment provisions.
• Extension-of-time procedures.
• Dispute avoidance and dispute boards.
• Arbitration provisions under FIDIC contracts.

Module 5: Construction Claims and Evidence

• Identifying and evaluating construction claims.
• Contractual and factual evidence.
• Project correspondence and records.
• Programme and schedule evidence.
• Cost and payment documentation.
• Site records and inspection evidence.
• Establishing entitlement and causation.
• Organizing evidence for dispute proceedings.

Module 6: Expert Witness Practice

• Role and responsibilities of an expert witness.
• Independence and professional objectivity.
• Technical versus legal evidence.
• Expert witness instructions.
• Reviewing project documentation.
• Developing expert opinions.
• Maintaining professional credibility.
• Communication with legal teams and tribunals.

Module 7: Preparing Expert Reports

• Structure of expert reports.
• Defining scope and issues for determination.
• Technical analysis and supporting evidence.
• Quantification of construction impacts.
• Delay, disruption, and cost analysis.
• Referencing contractual and project records.
• Preparing clear conclusions and opinions.
• Common weaknesses in expert reports.

Module 8: Arbitration Hearings and Technical Evidence

• Preparing for arbitration hearings.
• Presentation of technical evidence.
• Examination and cross-examination principles.
• Responding to challenges to expert opinions.
• Explaining complex engineering information.
• Maintaining objectivity under questioning.
• Tribunal expectations and professional conduct.

Module 9: Managing Legal Disputes and Dispute Strategy

• Understanding construction legal disputes.
• Early dispute assessment.
• Dispute escalation and resolution strategies.
• Settlement evaluation.
• Litigation and arbitration considerations.
• Managing legal and technical teams.
• Cost, time, and risk considerations.
• Dispute avoidance and prevention strategies.

Module 10: Practical Construction Dispute Resolution

• Analysing construction dispute scenarios.
• Evaluating contractual and technical evidence.
• Preparing claim and defence strategies.
• Developing expert report structures.
• Applying adjudication and mediation techniques.
• Preparing for arbitration proceedings.
• Presenting technical findings.
• Lessons learned from construction dispute cases.