Those new to Dispute Boards, particularly those serving as Dispute Board Members make the fundamental mistake of confusing a Dispute Board Decision with that of an Arbitration Award. The two are different. Whilst there is no set formula for writing a Decision in a Dispute Board setting those new to the process should remember that above all else what is needed is clarity of thought and clarity of writing. A noted Construction Practitioner (whose name will go unmentioned) who was new to Dispute Board work and who was acting as the Chair of a Dispute Board recently wrote the following:
