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11 December 2015 / Martin Burns , Brendan Van Rooyen
Issue: 7680 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Team building

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Leading industry bodies have joined together to reduce conflict in the construction & engineering industry, say Brendan Van Rooyen & Martin Burns

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) have formed an alliance in response to the rising financial cost of disputes in the construction and engineering industry, and growing desire to explore new forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

Stalled negotiations

Disputes in the construction and engineering sector are often the result of minor issues escalating over time into more serious issues. When this happens meaningful negotiations can stall and positions become entrenched. Lots of people and money can be thrown into the fray, with little or no success.

People at the heart of disputes, who understand the issues and are best placed to negotiate settlement, may no longer speak to each other, except through lawyers or claims consultants. Costs can escalate out of control, and more and

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