About this Seminar:-

In the last two decades, Dispute Boards (DBs) have emerged as a highly effective means of avoiding and resolving disputes on large infrastructure projects. The DB concept has been embraced internationally by government agencies, private owners, major contractors and the multi-lateral development banks. Various forms of DBs have been developed in different countries to suit particular local conditions. Both FIDIC and the ICC now publish model DB clauses and rules for use in international construction contracts. The international experience to-date with DBs has been an outstanding success. The vast majority of projects with DBs have achieved superior outcomes in terms of delivery time and out-turn cost and have been completed without resort to litigation or arbitration. More recently, DBs have enabled a pro-active “dispute avoidance” approach to be implemented in the management of many projects. DBs are thus proving to be an important means of maintaining a “best-for-project” relationship between the contracting parties and avoiding the impact of highly disruptive and expensive contractual disputes. The speakers in our panel have all had extensive international experience with DBs. They will provide an explanation of the various DB concepts around the world. They will also pass on their insights into the current best practices for DBs and future potential applications. The role of DBs in the Singapore region and the opportunities for SIArb members will also be addressed. 

Seminar Programme:-

About the Speakers: 

Professor Doug Jones AO is an international infrastructure and dispute resolution lawyer. He is a Sydney-based partner in the Australian law firm of Clayton Utz where he heads the International Arbitration and Projects Groups of the firm. Doug is a leading alternative dispute resolution specialist. In addition to his numerous appointments as Arbitrator and Counsel, Doug is also regularly involved in other forms of ADR including conciliation and mediation in project disputes. Doug also has extensive experience with the use of dispute resolution boards and holds the positions of Executive Director of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation, President of Region 3 of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation and President of the Dispute Resolution Board of Australasia Inc. 

Graham Easton is a civil engineer and lawyer based in Sydney, Australia. He works throughout Australia and S.E. Asia as an independent arbitrator, court referee, mediator and dispute board member. Mr. Easton’s qualifications include B.Sc. (Computer Science), B.E. (Hons) (Civil Engineering), M.Eng.Sc. (Operations Research) and LL.B. (Law) degrees. He is a Barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, a Grade 1 Arbitrator of the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia, a Member of the London Court of International Arbitration, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and a member of the SIAC Arbitration Panel. Mr. Easton worked as a construction engineer on major projects for several years before commencing his practice as a construction lawyer. He has since acted as an arbitrator / court referee / mediator in more than 250 disputes throughout Australia and internationally. Mr. Easton is currently President of the Executive Board of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation – the peak international body for Dispute Board members. 

Gerlando Butera is a partner in the Construction & Engineering team of Nabarro LLP. Previously based in Nabarro's head office in London, Gerlando re-located to its Singapore office in September 2012. Gerlando has specialised in handling disputes arising out of construction, engineering and power projects for over 30 years. His experience includes many forms of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration, expert determination, early neutral evaluation, adjudication, mediation and dispute boards. He is a member of the London Court of International Arbitration, and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators. He is also the Country Representative for the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation in Singapore, and is chairing the organising committee for the DRBF International Conference 2014 which will be taking place for the first time in Asia, at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, on 16-17 May 2014.

About the Chairperson:

Mohan Pillay is the Joint Head of the Singapore JLV, Pinsent Masons MPillay LLP, and Managing Partner of the Singapore constituent practice, MPillay. He is a Singapore and UK qualified disputes resolution lawyer with over 25 years’ experience in commercial litigation and regional arbitration work. Mohan is regularly identified as a leading Singapore and Asian lawyer for construction and dispute resolution by The Asia Pacific Legal 500 and The International Who's Who of Construction Lawyers. He is the Immediate Past President of SIArb and Vice Chair of the Dispute Resolution & Arbitration Committee, IPBA, He talks and writes regularly on arbitration and construction, and is one of the General Editors of the Sweet & Maxwell annual publication, Singapore Construction Adjudication Review. His teaching appointments have included Adjunct Assoc. Professor, Faculty of Law, NUS [2003- 2011] and Visiting Professor, Centre of Construction Law, King’s College London [2008-2011].

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