About the Society

The Building Dispute Practitioners' Society Incorporated was formed in 1979. Its members include Building Consultants, Architects, Engineers, Solicitors, Barristers, Arbitrators, Builders, Quantity Surveyors and others having a direct or indirect interest in the resolution of disputes within the building, construction and engineering industries.

The Objects of the Society are to:

• Provide a forum for the discussion and consideration of problems affecting the resolution of disputes arising out of building and engineering works.
• Advance the knowledge and expertise of persons concerned with such disputes.
• Advance reform in the law relating to such disputes and to promote justice in the administration of such law.
• Promote justice in the administration of building, construction and engineering law.

Each year, as a means of furthering these objects, the Society regularly holds seminars and meetings featuring eminent speakers on topics of interest to Society members. It also publishes the Building Dispute Practitioners' Society Newsletter featuring articles, notes on legal decisions, and other items relevant to change in the building, construction and engineering industries.

The Newsletter is distributed to all members and is published at least three times each year. Up to date notes on recent legal cases, often unreported elsewhere, are of invaluable assistance to members.

Membership of the Society is open to any person who has an interest in building, construction and engineering disputes.

The Society normally holds four or five major discussion nights or seminars each year. Speakers have included lawyers specialising in building and construction law, arbitrators dealing with building arbitration and building consultants and other experts specialising in various facets of building and construction administration and practice.

Topics have included such diverse and non-legal subjects as Tortious Liability of Professionals, Indemnity Insurance, Time Extension Costs and Delays, the Commercial Arbitration Act 1984, Latents Defects, Practical Aspects of Conducting Arbitrations, Alternative Dispute Resolution, as well as seminars updating the law and practice affecting resolution of disputes generally.