From Conflict to Clarity: The Power of Dispute Resolution Clauses in Construction Contracts

​Every construction project begins with excitement—the vision of a new home, a refurbished office, or a large-scale development. But behind that excitement lies a reality I’ve seen many times over nearly two decades in this industry: projects succeed not just because of good design and strong teams, but because of solid contracts.

In my work as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and dispute resolution practitioner, I’ve come across contracts that were little more than handshakes on paper. Inevitably, those projects ran into trouble. On the other hand, where the contract was carefully drafted—with clear scope, timelines, payment terms, and especially a dispute resolution clause—the project was far more likely to stay on track, even when challenges arose.

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