Description: Construction projects are complex and commonly have a high dispute potential. Learn how aggressive dispute management provides cost savings to all project participants. Identify what provisions and project management tools can be used to incorporate highly effective Dispute Resolution Programs, which are often not included in common industry contract documents and practices. Discuss how design professionals and their clients can regain control over project dispute resolution practices from litigators whose adversarial approach often creates more confrontation and increases project inefficiency.

Learning objectives:
1. Develop a working knowledge of current alternatives to manage project disputes, and identify methods to minimize adverse project impacts arising from adversarial litigator approaches to resolving project disputes.

2. Outline the elements of a successful early dispute resolution program and develop strategies to demonstrate client benefits from implementing a Dispute Resolution Program on their projects.

3. Identify what provisions and project management tools can be used to incorporate highly-effective Dispute Resolution Programs and supplement common industry contract documents and practices, which often do not include best practices dispute resolution programs.

Ronald Leaders is an engineer and attorney, and a principal in the Washington State law firm of Buckley & Leaders with specialized training and certifications in arbitration, mediation and negotiation from the American Arbitration Association, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Harvard Project on Negotiations, and Disputes Resolution Board Foundation. For more than 20 years, Mr. Leaders has provided general counsel, risk management and other legal advisory services to engineering and scientific professional service firms, owners and contractors.

Dispute Resolution Board Foundation was formed in 1996 and provides training programs on DRB administration, practice and related issues that promotes this cost-effective means of prevention and resolution of construction disputes.