On the 22nd February, the London Region assembled a top class panel from the world of adjudication for our “Myths and Legends of Adjudication” event. We managed to get representatives from the life cycle of an adjudication: representing the users, we had Alastair Easton of Skanska UK, for the lawyers we had Adam Constable of Keating Chambers, for the nominating bodies we had Martin Burns of the RICS Dispute Resolution Service and for the adjudicators, Franco Mastrandrea of Northcroft Management Services.
The above meeting took place as planned and was attended by approximately 25 people. The make of the audience comprising representative of the main ANB’s, adjudicators, adjudication users such as contractors, solicitors/barristers, quantity surveyors and claim consultants. The meeting was chaired by Peter Fenn from Umist supported by Michael O’Shea a solicitor from Masons and Martin Burns from RICS. The following agenda was followed:
Welcome and introduction
Brief Synopsis
The role of the ANB’s
Comment and Questions for the floor
Summary
Midlands region held a surgery attended by about 20 people. Guy Cottam led the surgery, which involved case studies based around a theoretical dispute. The surgery worked in groups of 4-5 who had to address issues raised at different stages of a hypothetical adjudication. The first issues were objections to jurisdiction - in relation to appointment - and the crystallisation of the dispute. The Contract based on the ICE 6th Edition contained a clause requiring the matter of dissatisfaction procedure to be followed before a "dispute " as defined in the contract arose.
As Adjudication continues to flourish within the UK it is noticeable that other countries such as Australia and New Zealand have also introduced Adjudication as a means of dispute resolution.
Following discussion about the success of adjudication within the construction industry the Adjudication Society are undertaking an examination of the extent that it would be appropriate to expand the use of this process of dispute resolution into other industries in a similar manner to Arbitration.
The Second CPD conference and dinner held by the Adjudication Society will take place on 18 and 19 June 2004 at the Waltham Abbey Marriott in Essex.
As last year, the conference will last from midday on Friday until Saturday afternoon with the option to stay on until Sunday morning.
The 2003 Annual Conference was a great success with 160 delegates attending, and we have had a great deal of positive feed back. The workshop format is an opportunity to hear everyone’s views on the process. Grateful thanks to the team who put this together, and particularly Martin Potter a patient and careful organiser!!
Well done to Bob Davis who was a splendid Chairman on the day.
The 2003 Annual Conference was a great success with 160 delegates attending, and we have had a great deal of positive feed back. The workshop format is an opportunity to hear everyone’s views on the process. Grateful thanks to the team who put this together, and particularly Martin Potter a patient and careful organiser!!
Well done to Bob Davis who was a splendid Chairman on the day.
Members will be aware that the Adjudication Society is closely linked with the DISPUTES RESOLUTION BOARD FOUNDATION (DRBF), a world-wide dispute adjudication organisation with headquarters in Seattle, USA. The DRBF is holding two conferences this year. On 26th and 27th September 2003, the DRBF International Meeting will be held in Paris. On 17 and 18th October 2003 the DRBF Annual Meeting will be held in Washington DC. Details of these two conferences are available on the DRBF website www.drb.org.
Mock Adjudication
On 10 June 2003 the South West branch of the Adjudication Society held a mock adjudication at the offices of Clarke Willmott in Bristol.