Decision Making In International Construction Arbitration

Decision-Making in International Construction Arbitration

Decision-making in International Construction Arbitration

This book contributes to the empirical understanding of how arbitrators make their decisions on the substance of commercial disputes arising from international construction projects. It is based on in-depth interviews with 28 international construction arbitrators and on the analysis of dozens of international construction arbitration awards. The combined experience of those who participated in the author’s research amounted to hundreds of international construction arbitrations (~ 300 cases) in addition to several hundred international commercial arbitrations. It presents the results of the first and largest research to be undertaken in this area, and it will be useful to arbitration practitioners and scholars and to the wider audience of dispute resolution students, practitioners, and theorists. In turn, the book examines to what extent international arbitrators apply the law as the substantive norm, providing an explanation for that, and then offers insights into whether arbitrators, in fact, lean towards commercial and transnational norms to construe the parties’ contract before discussing to what extent international arbitrators take into account fairness considerations to reach their decisions on the merits of the parties’ claims. The book also examines to what extent international arbitrators apply mandatory rules of foreign law. Lastly, it provides insight into the effect of arbitrators’ background characteristics on their decisions. Written for arbitration practitioners (arbitrators and legal counsel) and scholars, the book will be useful for both experienced arbitrators and those starting their arbitration career or studying for their arbitration qualification. It will also be useful for project professionals involved in contract management and dispute resolution.

International Construction Arbitration Law

Arbitration in Context Series Volume 1 There is probably no area of activity more in need of reliable dispute resolution procedures than construction projects, especially if more than one jurisdiction is involved. The third edition of this eminently practical guide greatly facilitates the process for all parties concerned. The text, updated to include the latest edition of arbitral rules and introducing the Prague Rules, considers the full range of available dispute resolution methods, including mediation, conciliation and determination by dispute review boards, before focusing specifically on arbitration. The book then looks in detail at all aspects of arbitration, from commencement of proceedings, selection of the tribunal, through preparation and collection of the evidence necessary in complex construction cases, to common procedural issues, the conduct of the hearing, the effect of the award, challenges to it and its enforcement. The third edition addresses fresh thinking on MedArb, guidance on preparation for and conduct of virtual hearings in the wake of COVID-19, technological advances to assist collection and presentation of evidence, litigation funding and includes a new chapter on the role of arbitration in tender disputes. Specific valuable features include the following: guidance on the drafting of dispute resolution provisions designed to minimise disputes and facilitate their swift resolution; flowcharts to illustrate the stages in dispute procedures and arbitration; a comparison between common law and civil law approaches to key concepts; details of the key features of a construction contract, common standard forms and procurement structures; expert guidance on effective contract administration; step-by-step advice on the conduct of a construction arbitration to maximise efficiency; and coverage of particular issues thrown up by complex construction disputes which differentiate them from other commercial disputes, with guidelines on how to approach such issues in the presentation before a tribunal. As an easy-to-use resource for both general counsel and the lawyers in private practice, this book has no peers. It has proved to be of particular value to commercial contract negotiators and corporate counsel who may have many years of experience but have not had to live through a construction dispute or manage a construction contract during the life of a project. Lawyers in private practice embarking on a construction dispute for the first time will also find this book of value, as will students of dispute resolution.