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    Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) offers ways to resolve disputes without going to court. It can be formal like Arbitration and Adjudication, but also includes less formal approaches like Mediation. ADR can also refer to Dispute Boards, Conflict Avoidance Panels, and the use of expert witnesses.

    This hub is a central resource for the RICS Dispute Resolution Service (DRS), providing access to the latest news, insights, and thought leadership from around the world on all aspects of dispute resolution.

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    Latest DRS news

    Understanding Dispute Boards

    Over the past few years, there has been much discussion about conflict avoidance and relationship management in the construction sector, particularly around the use of Dispute Review Boards.

    Using Adjudication to Decide Low-Value Disputes

    I was recently asked by an adjudicator, nominated by RICS, whether he was "allowed" to adopt the Construction Industry Council’s Low Value Disputes Model Adjudication Procedure (LVD MAP).

    5 Reasons to Train as a Construction Adjudicator

    Here are five reasons to train as a construction adjudicator, and why the RICS Diploma in Adjudication is a smart next step.

    Interview with Amna Al Owais, Deputy Director at DIFC Courts

    As mediation gains traction across the UAE, the launch of the DIFC Courts Mediation Centre marks a significant step forward.

    Arbitration – adding another string to the chartered surveyor’s bow

    In this time of changing economic and political direction, it is important that chartered surveyors evolve and adapt their services and skills to enable their businesses to survive and thrive.

    The ever-changing role and duties of the Expert Witness

    The use of experts to inform legal proceedings is nothing new. The ancient Romans, for example, occasionally employed handwriting specialists and land surveyors as legal experts.

    How not to apply to RICS for an adjudicator

    RICS plays a limited, but immensely important, role in construction adjudication. We nominate adjudicators. We do this in over 1,000 cases each year.

    How independent does an independent expert need to be?

    Alternative Dispute Resolution, or ADR, is any method which people, businesses and organisations can use to resolve disputes in a confidential environment, which does not involve a potentially lengthy and costly court trial.

    Let’s talk about you signing the Pledge and the benefits

    A few years ago, I had the pleasure of speaking about the Conflict Avoidance Pledge to an audience of government and industry representatives. There were around 40-50 people in the room. I spoke for 20 minutes using only three slides, one of which included the wording of the Pledge.

    Expert witnesses – single joint experts and independent experts

    The differences in types of expert witnesses explained.

    Resolving construction and engineering disputes

    It’s time for arbitration to make a comeback.

    Conflict management and early intervention

    Conflict management techniques are about being realistic and pragmatic, and they work best when applied early to address issues in the early stages, before they get out of hand.

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    CPD recordings: Watch again

    Evaluative Mediation: The Shift, The Benefits, and The Demand - CPD Session May 2025

    Join Raj Sohal as she leads a panel discussion with industry experts Theresa Mohammed, Paul Whittle, and Ed McCluskey on the growing role of evaluative mediation.

    Stepping Up: Essential Skills for Party Representatives - CPD Session April 2025

    Are you ready to take on the responsibilities of a party representative with confidence?

    The Expert Witness in Australia: Roles, Responsibilities, and the Path to Excellence

    This recorded webinar featured a discussion on the evolving role of expert witnesses in Australia, with insights from Robert Gemmell and a past Expert Witness Certificate delegate.

    AI, Legal, and Expert Insights for Construction Disputes Webinar

    Women in Construction Scholarship

    Women in Construction Scholarship

    Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) is providing an industry scholarship for the RICS Diploma in Adjudication programme.

    Women in Construction Scholarship Winners

    Meet our women in construction winners.

    Women in Construction Scholarship: Winning and Highly Commended Essays

    RICS is committed to fostering greater diversity in the construction adjudication sector and is advocating for greater representation of women in adjudication roles.

    Podcast episodes

    DRS Podcast: Surveyors Using CAP in Contracts

    In this podcast, Martin and Jim discuss how the Conflict Avoidance Process (CAP) is reshaping the way surveyors manage disputes before they even arise.

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