Conference

DRS Conference: The future of ADR

Name: DRS Conference: The future of ADR
Location: DRS Conference: The future of ADR

Thu 22 Oct 2026 • 09:00 - 17:00 BST

Continuing Professional Development for RICS members

Church House, Westminster

In-Person

From £295 + VAT

Overview

The RICS Dispute Resolution Service celebrates its 50^th anniversary in 2026, and this conference is the highlight of the year’s events.

It will bring together senior figures from across the dispute resolution community, the legal profession, industry, and academia to explore how alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is evolving to meet the needs of the built environment.

A central theme will be the responsible integration of emerging technologies (particularly artificial intelligence) as we look ahead to how these tools may support and shape the future of professional practice whilst highlighting the inherent risks involved in its development and application.

Agenda

09:00 - Registration and refreshments
09:30 - Opening and Presidential address
09:40 - The state of ADR around the globe
10:15 - Ethical challenges of AI and the erosion of professional judgment
11:00 – Coffee & networking
11:20 - The future of technical expertise - Expert evidence and the question of trust
12:05 - One Belt Road Initiative
12:20 - Lunch & networking
13:20 - The evolution of contract management: Collaboration, partnerships, conflict avoidance mechanisms
14:00 – Debate series part 1:
- This House believes that Dispute Boards are effective but underused.
- This House believes that Mediation is neither in demand nor fit for purpose.
15:00 - Coffee & networking
15:30 - Debate series part 2:
- This house believes that adjudication has become arbitration by another name
- This house believes that construction arbitration is overdue a comeback
16:30 - ADR 2035: What will dispute resolution look like in 10 years?
17:00 - Event close

DRS Conference: “The Future of ADR” - Programme (PDF 3.11MB)

Published date: 14 October 2026

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Learning outcomes

Participants will be able to:

Analyse emerging trends, risks, and innovations shaping the future of dispute resolution globally.
Evaluate ethical, commercial, and professional challenges arising from AI and evolving ADR practices.
Assess the effectiveness, accessibility, and value of current ADR mechanisms, identifying areas for reform.
Apply practical strategies to enhance flexibility, inclusion, and resilience in dispute resolution practice.

Speakers

Nicholas Maclean OBE, RD, FRICS

President and Chair of Governing Council, RICS

Nicholas Maclean is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and is the President and Chair of Governing Council of RICS. In this role, Nick utilises his experience to provide leadership that continues to drive the Institution’s priorities of raising the influence of the profession with lawmakers and regulators; ensuring that the initial and continuing development of skills in surveying remains fit for purpose; and that the value of being a Chartered Surveyor is fully appreciated by clients, the members and the general public. He has previously served as an elected member, then interim Chair, of the RICS Governing Council, and as an interim RICS Board Member and Chair of the RICS Membership Services Committee. Prior to taking up his previous position on Governing Council, he was a member, then Chair, of the RICS MENA Market Advisory Panel. Nick now lives and works in the United Kingdom, having previously served as Co-Chairman & Managing Director of the CBRE Middle East Region, which he established in 2004. He left the business at the end of 2024, after 37 years, to concentrate fully on the RICS Presidential role. He is a GlobalScot; the Scottish Government’s Trade & Investment Envoy to the United Arab Emirates; and received the First Minister’s Award for Services to Trade and Bilateral Relations in 2023. He was made OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List in 2024. Nick is also a member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and an Honours Member of the Institute of Revenue, Rating & Valuation. He is the former Chair of the Lillian Sutton (SoC) Endowment Charitable Trust. He holds the Reserve Decoration and has been named by Arabian Business as one of the 100 most influential people in the UAE and, in 2023, as one of the Top 100 Executives in the UAE.

Dr John Fletcher

Executive Director of DRS, RICS

Dr. John Fletcher is the Executive Director of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' (RICS) Dispute Resolution Service (DRS), where he leads the development and delivery of a wide range of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services, including arbitration, adjudication, dispute boards, mediation, expert witnesses, and conflict avoidance. Under his leadership, DRS has expanded its offerings both in the UK and internationally, providing training, accreditation, panel membership, administration, and dispute resolution consultancy services tailored to the needs of global industries. Born in South Africa, John earned his BCom LLB degree from Rhodes University before going on to complete his MPhil and PhD in Administrative Law at Cambridge University. After returning to South Africa, he practiced as a barrister at the Johannesburg Bar for ten years, focusing on civil and commercial law with a particular emphasis on constitutional matters. John's contributions to dispute resolution extend beyond his role at RICS. He was previously the Projects Director for the ADR Group, where he spearheaded international joint ventures in regions including South Africa, Europe, Brazil, the Caribbean, and other emerging markets. He also developed the ADR Group's UK workplace mediation service and led mediation training initiatives within UK universities. At RICS, John has been instrumental in the creation of the Conflict Avoidance Coalition, an initiative that is gaining rapid momentum in the infrastructure and construction industries. This coalition is dedicated to fostering collaborative solutions to disputes before they arise, providing proactive measures to reduce the risk of conflict in large-scale projects. Throughout his career, John has been a passionate advocate for the value of conflict avoidance and the transformative potential of effective dispute resolution and continues to make significant contributions to the field on both a national and international scale.

Lindy Patterson KC

Arbitrator | Adjudicator, DRBF / 39 Essex Chambers

Lindy Patterson KC is a full time arbitrator and adjudicator specialising in international commercial arbitration and dispute boards across the world. She is recognised as a “go to" arbitrator for complex infrastructure, energy and construction disputes in both civil and common law systems. She also arbitrates on many commercial contract; shareholder and real estate disputes. Lindy is currently ranked: Band 1 Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2026 – International arbitrators; WWL: Thought Leaders – Arbitration 2026; Global Elite – Thought Leader Construction 2026. Lindy specialises in international commercial arbitration and dispute boards across the world. She is recognised as a “go to” arbitrator for complex infrastructure, energy and construction disputes in both civil and common law systems. She also arbitrates on many commercial contract and real estate disputes. She is a chartered arbitrator, a member of the London Court of International Arbitration: Abu Dhabi International Arbitration Centre Arbitrator List and the RICS India Panel. Since practicing full time as a third party neutral Lindy has been appointed arbitrator in international cases on 55 occasions. Of these she has been chair or sole arbitrator in 22 cases and emergency arbitrator on one case. The majority of these appointments have been ICC ; followed by LCIA; DIFC-LCIA ( as was) and DIAC. She has also undertaken arbitrations from SIAC and Netherland Arbitration Centre and has and is ongoing a number of ad hoc arbitration appointments both as sole arbitrator and as chair of a three person tribunal. Lindy is a UK adjudicator and has been for over 20 years. Lindy is also an international adjudicator. She is on the FIDIC President’s International List of Adjudicators (2012) sitting on one and three person dispute boards usually as chair. She is a member of ICC International Centre for ADR Standing Committee. She is a member of FIDIC Credentialling Limited, Certification Board (the body established by FIDIC to certify international adjudicators) and their Adjudication Programme Committee Chair. She is Past President of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF), a body formed to educate and promote the use of dispute boards as a means of dispute avoidance in the construction and related sectors. In the UK, she sits on the following panels: the Technology and Construction Solicitors’ Association (TecSA) and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). She has acted as adjudicator on all standard forms of contract but particularly NEC, FIDIC, JCT and ICC. She was counsel in one of the first cases involving enforcement of adjudicators’ decisions in Scotland Homer Burgess v Chirex (Annan) Limited.She is on the Conflict Avoidance Panel (CAP) constituted by RICS for Transport for London. Lindy is an experienced adjudicator, dispute board chair and member. Her experience covers both dispute adjudication boards (DABs) and dispute review boards (DRBs). Her background is as an experienced construction and engineering and energy lawyer for over 30 years. She was the first woman to be appointed to the FIDIC President’s International Adjudicator’s list in 2012. She operates internationally and within the UK. She is Vice President of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) Executive Board and past president of DRBF Region 2. In 2021, she was appointed to the Standing Committee of the International Centre for ADR of ICC, which assists the ICC in its work with expert and dispute board proceedings worldwide. She is Chair of the FCL Certification Board for FIDIC which deals with certifications of various disciplines and skills within the engineering industry including dispute board members for inclusion on the FIDIC President’s List. She is on the Conflict Avoidance Panel administered by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors for the infrastructure company, Transport for London and a Fellow of the International Academy of Construction Lawyers . She is a chartered arbitrator and a member of the London Court of International Arbitration. She is on the following UK lists of adjudicators: TecSA and RICS. She teaches regularly on adjudication and dispute boards. She is co-author of the chapter on dispute boards in GAR Guide to Construction Arbitration Fourth Edition(2021) and a lead reviewer of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation’s Dispute Board Manual: A Guide to Best Practices and Procedures (published 2019).

Karen Gough

Barrister | Attorney at Law | Chartered Arbitrator , 39 Essex Chambers

Karen Gough practises internationally as counsel, attorney-at-law, arbitrator, adjudicator and ADR neutral. For more than 35 years, she has specialised in complex construction, engineering, professional negligence and general commercial disputes. Karen is dual qualified as a practising attorney in the Caribbean, a Chartered Arbitrator, a Certified International ADR Practitioner (FAiADR). She is widely recognised as an expert in the resolution of disputes under the FIDIC and NEC forms of contract and acted as a friendly reviewer of the FIDIC 2017 SFCs and is a member of the working group to produce FIDIC Practice Note(s) as part of FIDIC’S Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Forum. Karen has a strong arbitration practice as counsel and as arbitrator in cases conducted under many different institutional rules including LCIA, ICC, SIAC, DIAC and the PCA. She also acts as adjudicator/dispute board/conflict avoidance panel member. Karen is a past global President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She is an expert advisor on construction, ADR and arbitration matters to the AIAC (Malaysia), IWHAAM (Bahamas), and JAIAC (Jamaica), a member of the International Statutory Adjudication Forum of Experts (“ISAF”), a member of the ICC UK Arbitration& ADR Committee, a Co-Chair of the ICPC of the IPBA, the immediate past Vice Chairman of the SCL UK, and a teaching fellow at the College of Law in Australia.

Dr Franco Mastrandrea

Partner | Accredited Mediator | Chartered Arbitrator, HKA

Dr. Franco Mastrandrea has over 40 years of experience in the construction industry, on all continents. He holds a law degree and is called to the English bar. He regularly acts as mediator, adjudicator, expert determiner, and arbitrator. He is a CEDR accredited mediator, appears on the panel of adjudicators and arbitrators maintained by a number of bodies including FIDIC, is a Chartered Arbitrator and appears on the panels of arbitrators maintained by CIArb, RICS (both in the UK and in India), DIAC, HKIAC, SIAC, IDRC, and SCCA. Franco has acted internationally as Expert on substantial construction disputes on matters of quantum, delay, and project management. He is recognised as a Global Elite Thought Leader by Who’s Who Legal. He is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, holds a Master’s degree in Project Management from the University of Reading graduating top of his class and, from the same University, a Doctorate in the quantification of construction contractors’ claims addressing the law, practice, and evaluation of claims for construction work on which he has written extensively, particularly in the International Construction Law Review, for which publication he is also on the Editorial Advisory Board.

Dr Stacy Sinclair

Partner | Head of Technology and Innovation, Fenwick Elliot

Dr Stacy Sinclair is Head of Technology and Innovation at Fenwick Elliott, where she leads the firm's technology and innovation initiatives, driving the development and implementation of cutting-edge legal technologies while overseeing IT operations across the firm. She focuses on enhancing existing technological frameworks and introducing innovative digital solutions that improve efficiency, streamline operations and support client needs. She also works closely with clients to facilitate the adoption of advanced digital technologies across the construction and legal sectors. A recognised thought leader in the field, Stacy is a regular speaker at international industry events, sharing insights on emerging trends at the intersection of technology, construction and law. Her particular areas of interest include the digital transformation of the infrastructure and construction industries, covering topics such as smart contracts, contract automation, digital twins, robotics, off-site manufacturing, the Internet of Things (IoT), Building Information Modelling (BIM), artificial intelligence and machine learning. Before leading Fenwick Elliott’s technology and internal operations functions, Stacy practised as a construction lawyer, specialising in all major forms of dispute resolution, including litigation, arbitration, adjudication and mediation. Prior to qualifying as a lawyer, she practised as an architect, designing large-scale projects including stadiums, hospitals and educational facilities in both the UK and the United States. This combination of architectural and legal expertise, together with her extensive experience in the construction sector, gives her a unique perspective on technical issues and the digital transformation of both the construction and legal industries.

Abdul-Lateef Jinadu

Barrister, Keating Chambers

Abdul Jinadu is a senior barrister and arbitrator at Keating Chambers, specialising in construction, engineering, energy and international arbitration disputes. Called to the bar in 1995, he has advised and represented clients across a wide range of major infrastructure and development projects worldwide, including disputes involving energy facilities, transport infrastructure, mining and marine construction. Abdul has extensive experience both as counsel and as an arbitrator, with appointments in ICC, DIFC-LCIA and ad hoc proceedings across multiple jurisdictions. He was featured in The Lawyer Hot 100 for 2025 and is currently shortlisted for Construction Junior of the Year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2026. His work frequently involves highly technical and fact-intensive disputes, and he is particularly noted for his ability to analyse complex evidence, test expert opinion and present clear, persuasive advocacy before tribunals and courts.

Matt Molloy

Adjudicator | Arbitrator | Mediator , MCMS

Matt Molloy is a highly experienced dispute resolver, appointed in over 1000 construction and engineering disputes either as adjudicator, arbitrator, mediator, expert determiner and Conflict or Dispute Avoidance Panel/Board member. His appointments have involved disputes worth up to £150 million both in the UK and internationally across sectors such as energy and process engineering, transport, infrastructure, hospitals, education, housing, and hotels and leisure. Before becoming a full-time dispute resolver, Matt began his career in quantity surveying, construction management, and expert witness work in arbitration and litigation proceedings. He subsequently undertook his legal training and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2001. Alongside his professional practice, Matt contributes to the development of dispute resolution through teaching and examining. He is also a part-time PhD student at Queen Mary University of London, undertaking research into international law and arbitration and, in 2024 he co-authored his first book, “Adjudicating Construction and Engineering Disputes”. Matt is the current Master of the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators for 2025-2026.

Joanne Prior

Managing Director, Kroll

Joanne Prior is a Managing Director at Kroll and a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with over 37 years of experience in the construction and engineering industry. She is a quantum expert who has been appointed on more than 100 occasions and has provided oral and concurrent expert evidence in the Technology and Construction Court and in numerous international arbitration proceedings worldwide. Joanne has extensive experience across major infrastructure, energy, and building projects and is noted in Lexology for her analytical approach and effectiveness under cross-examination.

Samuel Townend KC

Barrister, Keating Chambers

Sam Townend KC is one of the UK’s leading construction and international arbitration silks, with a practice spanning complex disputes across construction, infrastructure, energy, professional negligence and offshore engineering. A past Chair of the Bar of England and Wales (2024), he is widely recognised for his expertise in high-value domestic and international disputes and is ranked as a Leading Silk across multiple practice areas in the legal directories. He regularly appears in court, arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution, acting for clients across the UK and internationally. Sam has a particular interest in the role of expert evidence and recently presented The Master’s Address 2026 to The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators on the topic of "The role of experts in modern dispute resolution". Known for his strategic advocacy and analytical approach, he brings extensive experience of evaluating complex technical evidence and expert testimony in major disputes.

Lisa Li-Sha Li

Board Member, Secretary-General and Chief Adjudicator, B & R Construction Dispute Resolution Centre

Attorney Li is the board member and secretary-general of the B & R Construction Dispute Resolution Centre, the secretary-general of the B&R JT Research, and the chief of staff of the International Regulation Research Committee of Construction Industry Sub-Council, CCPIT. Partner of City Development Law Firm, Director of the Criminal Law Department of City Development Law Firm’s Head Office, Deputy Director and secretary-general of City Development Law Firm’s National Criminal Law Professional Committee, Secretary-General of the Criminal Law and Criminal Defense Professional Committee of the Shanghai Bar Association, Member of the External Publicity and Liaison Committee of the Shanghai Bar Association, Member of the Legal Aid Pool for Death Penalty Review of the Ministry of Justice, Group Leader of the research team for the “T/GHLM 001-2026 Operational Guidelines for Preventing Collusive Bidding in Contractor Project Bidding” group standard, and the main speaker of CCTV's “Legal Lecture Hall”. She used to be the director of Kindal Law Firm. She has been awarded the championship of the 2024 National Young Lawyers' Speech Contest, which was guided by the Ministry of Justice and hosted by the All China Lawyers Association. She has also received honors such as “Young Talent” and “Outstanding Female Lawyer” in Putuo District, Shanghai. With more than ten years of legal practice, Attorney Li has focused on criminal law practice and has accumulated extensive experience in criminal defense, criminal complaints, and criminal risk prevention and control, particularly in construction and real estate-related crimes, crimes involving public office, economic crimes, intellectual property crimes, and financial and cyber crimes. She has handled nearly 100 criminal cases, including a number of nationally or provincially significant cases, cases involving senior government officials, and complex and difficult cases, demonstrating substantial practical expertise and a strong professional reputation in criminal law. As the head of City Development Law Firm's “Criminal Law & Construction and Real Estate” practice, Attorney Li has led research projects including Research on Criminal Offenses in Construction Project Tendering and Bidding and Their Prevention, and Operational Guidelines for Preventing Corporate Criminal Risks of Bid Collusion in Project Bidding. She has authored articles including Analysis of the Identification of Subjects of the Crime of Bid Collusion and the Latest Prevention and Control Mechanisms and Five Key Issues That Must Be Clarified in the Conviction and Sentencing of Taobao Store Operation Agency Cases, which have been published in professional legal books and journals. Attorney Li has also developed and delivered specialized training courses, including Criminal Risks and Prevention for Entrepreneurs, Defense and Criminal Complaints in Construction Project Embezzlement Cases, Ten Key Issues and Five Prevention Measures for Construction Enterprises to Prevent Criminal Risks of Bid Collusion, Key Issues in Handling Criminal Legal Aid Cases, and Eight Defense Skills in Rape Cases. She has lectured at specialized training programs for legal aid lawyers in Shanghai, on the Yingcai Yuanfu Education Platform, and at legal education programs organized by chambers of commerce. She has been interviewed on multiple occasions by major legal media outlets, including Lixin She and the Shanghai Legal News, and has published legal analyses and commentary on criminal law issues.

Martin Burns

Head of ADR & Research, RICS

Martin Burns is Head of ADR Research & Development at RICS and a leading advocate for conflict avoidance and early dispute intervention in the built environment. With more than three decades' experience, he has helped to shape DRS into the leading ADR services and training provider in the UK and internationally. A qualified barrister, trained mediator and member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Martin works closely with government, industry and professional bodies to develop practical solutions that reduce the cost, time and disruption caused by disputes. Throughout his career at RICS, Martin has contributed to the design of industry-leading dispute resolution frameworks, training programmes and professional standards. He is particularly passionate about promoting earlier intervention, collaborative problem-solving, and more effective ways of managing conflict across the construction and property sectors.

Stephen Blakey

Strategic Commercial Director, Network Rail

Stephen is a Strategic Commercial Director for Network Rail with accountabilities to strengthening commercial stewardship and supply chain & cross industry collaboration. With 27 years of rail experience and £12bn of major infrastructure works delivered under his auspices, he has a keen understanding of delivery & operating models, business transformation and corporate governance. He is highly regarded across the sector for his collaborative approach to driving industry change through innovation and the promulgation of best practice. Examples include the award-winning Commercial Directors’ Forum, supply chain adoption of Fair Payment, the abolition of retentions, the deployment of the Rail Method of Measurement and the establishment of Dispute Avoidance Panels. Stephen is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors and the Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW), receiving their Collaborative Leadership Award in 2015. In 2017 he led Network Rail’s successful transition from BS11000 to become the first UK client to secure ISO44001, the international accreditation for Collaboration. In July of 2022, Stephen received the BSI Pathfinder Award in recognition of his long-term leadership and professionalising of collaborative working and in June 2024 the ICW Collaborative Pioneer Award for his unstinting contribution to ICW and the rail sector. He is an active ICW Ambassador and chaired the Collaborative Leadership Special Interest Group which published their Insight paper to industry in 2023. A founding member of the Conflict Avoidance Coalition Steering Group, he is a regular contributor to industry publications and forums.

Kate Kennedy

Head of Legal - Bids and Contract Transformation, Laing O'Rourke

Kate Kennedy is Head of Legal, Bids and Contract Transformation at Laing O'Rourke. Alongside providing support on major bids, she leads on the strategy to improve collaboration, trust, and productivity across the construction industry through better contracting practices (both within the business as well as externally). Kate is particularly passionate about making contracts more accessible and effective in practice, improving engagement with both supply chain contracts and client agreements, and helping all stakeholders better understand and comply with their contractual obligations. She is particularly interested in the role legal teams can play in enabling business performance, supporting growth, and creating more productive industry partnerships.

Karl Molineux

Mediator | Special Master | Discovery Referee, Karl Molineux Professional Corp

Karl Molineux is a full-time mediator, Special Master and Discovery Referee based in California, specializing in the resolution of complex real property, construction, and commercial disputes. Drawing on more than three decades as a civil litigator, he is regularly appointed to assist parties in resolving technically and procedurally complex disputes involving multiple stakeholders, insurers, and expert witnesses. His practice is recognized for its practical, structured approach to resolving complex disputes and helping parties achieve durable solutions. In addition to his mediation practice, Karl serves as a Faculty Member of RICS Dispute Resolution Service (RICS DRS) and is a member of its President's Panel of Mediators. He is also a Faculty Member of the London School of Mediation and Lead Tutor for its online programme, delivering mediation training to delegates from jurisdictions around the world. He serves on the Executive Committee of the California Lawyers Association Real Property Law Section, where he chairs the International Practice Action Committee and the ADR Committee. Karl is a regular speaker and educator on mediation, international dispute resolution, and real property law, presenting for professional organisations and conferences in both North America and the United Kingdom. His work focuses on promoting the effective use of mediation, sharing practical approaches to resolving complex disputes, and strengthening international collaboration across the dispute resolution profession.

Theresa Mohammed

Partner, Watson Farley & Williams

Theresa Mohammed is an award-winning construction and infrastructure lawyer and partner at Watson Farley & Williams. She specialises in contentious construction and has significant experience of acting for developers, employers and main contractors, making High Court applications and the Enforcement of Adjudicators’ decisions in the Technology and Construction Court. Theresa also has experience of running High Court trials, instructing experts on technical engineering matters, resolving construction disputes through mediation, and drafting settlement agreements, claims, defences and adjudication submissions. She is also a RICS Accredited Evaluative Mediator and can help parties resolve disputes through mediation. She is a regular speaker at London Build and for the RICS CPD training programme and is a frequent contributor to Building Magazine, Construction Law and Construction Manager. Theresa is the former Chair of the RICS Dispute Resolution Appointments Board, the former Chair of the National Association of Women in Construction, is a member of the Adjudication Society London Committee and was awarded ‘Best Woman in Construction Law’ at the European Women in Construction & Engineering Awards 2017. Theresa was a finalist for the ‘Litigator of the Year’ and ‘Woman of the Year’ in the Women in Law Awards 2020 and for the ‘DE&I Champion of the Year’ at the Women & Diversity in Law Awards 2024. In November 2025, Theresa was appointed to the Construction Industry Council Building Safety and Building Liability Panel, a multidisciplinary panel addressing risk management in infrastructure and building safety. At the same time, she was appointed to be part of the Diversitas Committee which is tasked with improving diversity and inclusion in the built environment.

Carly Thorpe

Partner, Walker Morris

Carly Thorpe is a Solicitor, an Adjudicator, and a Partner in the Construction & Engineering team at commercial law firm Walker Morris LLP based in Leeds. With a reputation for focusing on pragmatic commercial solutions and extensive knowledge of construction case law, Carly was named as a Next Generation Partner by Legal 500, who refer to her “exceptional ability to analyse the options available and find a way through difficult negotiations”. As a leading expert in construction and engineering law, Carly focuses on managing risks before, during, and after construction projects. She has extensive experience advising contractors, subcontractors, developers, and consultants across various sectors, particularly on infrastructure and energy projects and projects in the healthcare and retirement living sector. Carly’s expertise spans high-value, complex claims working with high-profile clients, and she is renowned for her ability to distil complex issues into clear, actionable advice. Carly won the European Women in Construction & Engineering Award (Construction Law) 2025 for her work in improving diversity in the legal profession.

Michael Tomlinson

Partner, Clyde & Co

Michael is a partner specialising in construction and engineering disputes. He chairs the adjudication group at Clyde & Co. Michael is regarded as one of the leading adjudication practitioners in the UK and advises clients on adjudication internationally. Michael works primarily with contractors and subcontractors in the UK and internationally resolving disputes on live projects.

Gary Kitt

Senior Managing Director, JS Held

Gary is a highly experienced Chartered Quantity Surveyor, Chartered Builder, and Chartered Arbitrator with almost over 42 years of experience in building and engineering projects worldwide. Gary is also a highly experienced adjudicator and DAB member being on both the RICS and FIDIC President’s panels of adjudicators and he has been appointed as Adjudicator in over 200 matters since his first appointment in 2000. Over the last 27 years, Gary has also regularly been instructed as an expert witness on quantum issues (valuation of disputed variations, prolongation, disruption, loss of profits) on major disputes across all sectors of industry including infrastructure, building projects (aviation, healthcare, residential), oil and gas, process engineering and shipbuilding. Gary has a deep understanding of contractor claims (both preparation and defence) having held senior commercial roles for large civil engineering and building contractors for the first 15 years of his career. This, combined with his legal training and a further 25 years providing consultancy services in connection with contentious and non-contentious matters, enables Gary to provide a reasoned and sound opinion based on personal experience.

Kim Franklin KC

International Arbitrator | Construction Adjudicator, Crown Office Chamber

Kim Franklin KC is a recognised independent international arbitrator specializing in the construction, engineering and infrastructure sectors, focussing on major projects and the resolution of high value, technically complex disputes involving project delay, PFI and FIDIC contracts. Since taking silk in 2016, she acts predominantly as arbitrator, dispute board member and adjudicator, resolving disputes arising from complex projects in international arbitration, dispute boards and as UK construction adjudicator. A Chartered Arbitrator since 2000, Kim acts as party appointed, sole arbitrator and Tribunal Chair for arbitrations under institutional rules, including ICC, ADCCAC and DIAC in the UAE and GCC with experience of the ICC Expedited Procedure and as Emergency Arbitrator. An accredited adjudicator with the CIArb, TeCSA, TECBAR, RIBA, and IChemE, Kim has a reputation for clarity, strong case management and sound strategic judgment.

Brett Dixon

President, Law Society

A highly influential figure in the legal sector, Brett Dixon is a solicitor with higher rights of audience for civil proceedings and a qualified mediator and a member of the panel of Trust Mediation. His specialism lies in civil procedure with a particular specialism in digital change and technology. Drawing on 25 years of professional experience, he has twice served as President of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL). During his time with APIL, he supported a coherent diversity strategy and opened the board to lay members. He became President of the Law Society of in October 2026

Patrick Waterhouse

Director | Construction adjudicator, mediator, expert determiner, expert witness, Bowden Consulting Ltd

Patrick Waterhouse is a construction adjudicator, accredited mediator, expert witness and expert determiner. He is a chartered civil engineer, chartered surveyor and chairs the Institution of Civil Engineers’ Dispute Resolution Committee. He was a member of the team that produced the NEC4 contracts and has had numerous books published on dispute resolution, NEC contracts and professional development.

Emma Schaafsma

Partner, CMS

Emma Schaafsma (Kratochvilova) is a partner and Co-Head of the Construction & Engineering Disputes group. Emma has over 25 years’ experience representing clients in high-value and complex disputes arising on international construction projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Projects include power and process plants, LNG tank and terminal, wind (onshore and offshore), road and rail; in South East Asia, China, the Middle East, Canada, USA, Mexico, South America and New Zealand. Emma has particular expertise in multi-party disputes involving engineering and materials failures, most notably on projects involving cutting edge technology and pressured interfaces between stakeholders. Emma represents clients in international arbitration (including LCIA, ICC, SIAC, JCAA and ad-hoc), litigation, adjudication and mediations. She is a CEDR qualified mediator. During her career she spent 13 years in Japan, including two years in-house at an international heavy industries contractor. Emma has been consistently ranked Band 1 and Leading Individual for construction work by the directories, with clients and peers describing her as "unbelievably insightful” and a "highly strategic professional".

Ben Giaretta

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Ben Giaretta is an independent chartered arbitrator and mediator, and the current Chair of the Board of Trustees of Ciarb. With more than 27 years' experience in international dispute resolution, he has acted as counsel and arbitrator in commercial and investment treaty disputes across a wide range of sectors, including energy, construction, technology, shipping and international trade. Ben has been appointed as arbitrator in more than 35 cases and is a Fellow of Ciarb. Prior to becoming a full-time neutral, he was a partner at leading international law firms including Ashurst, Mishcon de Reya and Fox Williams, spending seven years in Singapore and ten years in London. A graduate of the University of Oxford and holder of a Postgraduate Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration from Queen Mary University of London, Ben is co-author of The Arbitration Act 1996: A Commentary (6th Edition, 2025).

Sponsorship

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please see the document below for further information. Completed forms should be submitted to Kiran Haider at khaider@rics.org.

The Future of ADR Conference: Sponsorship Package (PDF 3.27MB)

Published date: 01 July 2026

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Price summary

RICS Member

GBP £295 + VAT

Non-RICS Member

GBP £350 + VAT

Group Discounts

Book five or more places and receive a 10% discount. Please note that only one discount can be applied per booking, and group discounts cannot be combined with the Early Bird rate (if applicable).

Contact Us

To take advantage of group discounts, contact our dedicated support team:

Email: drstraining@rics.org

Call: +44 (0) 2476868584

From £295

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