Dispute Boards and FIDIC Certified Adjudicator

Introduction of the Dispute Boards (DBs) into the contract and dispute-management process are one of the most recent and successful developments in the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) space. As the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) reports, “the cost of a DB will deliver a positive return on investment as a result of faster project-delivery times, the minimization of cost overruns, the prevention of most disputes and a much lower cost of resolution for unavoidable disputes” (see Dispute Board Manual: A Guide to Best Practices and Procedures, Dispute Resolution Board Foundation, 2019).

Recently, FIDIC Credentialing Limited (FCL), a subsidiary of FIDIC, has started its adjudicator certification program for those who would like to be recognized as dispute resolution professionals at the international level.

A FIDIC Certified Adjudicator is someone with expert knowledge of the FIDIC Standard Forms of Contract with experience, knowledge and ability to act impartially and independently as an Adjudicator on Dispute Boards under these forms and/or any contracts based on them.

Once certified, the holder of the FCL certification would have the possibility of being listed on the FIDIC’s President list of adjudicators which in turn, comes with an international recognition, including within the context of FIDIC’s more than 100 member associations and the fact that FIDIC has signed agreements with more than eight MDBs and IFIs.

Following the relevant protocols, a listed FIDIC Certified Adjudicator could be selected as an adjudicator for a dispute resolution case, or to participate as a member of the Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Board. In addition, a Certified Adjudicator could also ask to be listed on their relevant country’s national lists.

Head of Legal of Intelligent Solution, Nina Tsaturova, has successfully completed the certification program and is now the first FIDIC Certified Adjudicator from Georgia, awaiting to be listed on the FIDIC’s President list of adjudicators and ready to serve on the dispute boards worldwide.

For more information about FIDIC Adjudicators, please visit: https://fcl.fidic.org/who-is-a-fidic-adjudicator/.