At the recent DRBF Latin America Annual Regional Conference, I had the privilege of reflecting on the rapid growth and adoption of dispute boards in our region. Latin America has embraced dispute boards as a practical solution to keep infrastructure projects moving forward, even when disagreements arise. The results are compelling and undeniable: projects are being completed, communities are benefiting, and societies are advancing.
But if there is one message that I hope all professionals in this field take with them, it is this: the client is the project.
More Than a Slogan
Too often, we treat guiding phrases as inspirational mottos. But in the world of dispute boards, “the client is the project” is not aspirational. It is the central principle that determines whether the model works.
Dispute boards do not exist to serve contractors, owners, engineers, or lawyers. They exist to serve the project itself: the highway, the water system, the power plant, the hospital, the school. In other words, they exist to serve society.
Why This Matters
When disputes delay or derail projects, it is not just companies that suffer. It is communities. Every abandoned project represents lost investment, wasted resources, and opportunities denied to future generations.
This is why dispute boards are so important. When they are well constituted, well managed, and respected, they:
Keep projects moving forward even when disagreements arise. Avoid costly litigation and arbitration. Preserve commercial relationships. Deliver completed infrastructure that communities can use and rely on.
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Keep projects moving forward even when disagreements arise.
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Avoid costly litigation and arbitration.
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Preserve commercial relationships.
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Deliver completed infrastructure that communities can use and rely on.
The true client is not one of the parties at the table. It is the finished project that society depends on and benefits from.
A Shared Responsibility
If we accept that the client is the project, then each of us — whether we are board members, counsel, experts, or project representatives — has an obligation.
We must:
Apply best practices consistently. Act with ethics, humility, and professionalism. Share knowledge with those entering the field. Hold ourselves and others accountable for doing things right.
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Apply best practices consistently.
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Act with ethics, humility, and professionalism.
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Share knowledge with those entering the field.
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Hold ourselves and others accountable for doing things right.
Dispute boards will only succeed if everyone involved respects these principles and treats them as a professional duty, not a choice.
Looking Ahead
Latin America has made remarkable progress in adopting dispute boards, but the mission is not yet complete. The challenge ahead is for users to continue applying this model in projects, for public entities to adopt, implement, and require their use, and most importantly, to ensure that all of this is done according to best practices and the highest standards.
If we all commit to the idea that the client is the project, then dispute boards will not only prevent disputes but will also ensure that infrastructure continues to serve societies for generations to come.