Construction Dispute Resolution

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FAQ - Dispute Resolution

SOCOTEC supports clients by successfully resolving complex construction disputes, building disputes, commercial disputes, but also jurisdictional disputes in the manufacturing, energy, transportation and infrastructure industries.

Trusted Support for Conflict Resolution in Construction

Construction projects involve many moving parts—tight schedules, multiple stakeholders, evolving site conditions, and intricate contract obligations. When issues arise, they can quickly escalate into costly construction disputes, schedule delays, productivity impacts, or claims that require technical and legal support.

At SOCOTEC, we deliver construction dispute resolution services designed to protect your project’s integrity and safeguard your investment. Our clients include attorneys, public agencies, private developers, contractors, and insurers who need precise analysis and reliable guidance grounded in real-world construction and engineering expertise.

Our team blends forensic engineering, scheduling expertise, financial analysis, and construction law and dispute resolution knowledge. We uncover the root causes of problems, quantify damages, support dispute resolution strategies for construction contracts, and help you reach a fair, informed outcome—whether through discovery, mediation, depositions, trial, arbitration, litigation, appeals or an Initial Decision Maker process. Our clients can rely on our services to manage risks and to mitigate and equitably resolve disputes.

Talk to our experts

Elaine WHITE

Senior Principal

elaine.white@socotec.us +1 562 553 0055

Phil HELMES

Senior Principal

phil.helmes@socotec.us +1 617 901 3502

John BAILEY

Senior Principal

john.bailey@socotec.us +1 214 720 1995

Alan BIDDLE

Senior Principal

alan.biddle@socotec.us +1 678 834 7600

Our Services

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Commercial Disputes

CPM Schedule Delay Analysis

Delay Causation Analysis

Expert Witness Testimony

Labor Productivity Analysis

Litigation Support

11+

Offices

50+

Testifying Experts

10+

Economic Damages Advisors

Our Projects in Construction Claims and Disputes

Our iconic dispute resolution case studies.

Moynihan Train Hall Renovation, NY
Read +
Astaldi Canada vs. Muskrat Falls Corp
Read +
Texas Hospital Construction Project
Read +
Pennsylvania Petrochemical Complex Arbitration Dispute
Read +
Planning and Scheduling with SOCOTEC Mitigated USDA Project Delays
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SOCOTEC Provides Comprehensive Analysis & Expert Witness Testimony for Texas Industrial Production Facility Case
Read +
Pharmaceutical Patent Infringement
Read +
ICC Arbitration for an Industrial Client
Read +

Financial Damages Quantification

Economic Damages Analysis

When an engineering or construction claim arises, SOCOTEC provides end-to-end support to help clients understand entitlement and accurately quantify financial damages. Our experts review contract documents, project records, and the performance of all parties to determine the true causes of impact. By combining technical analysis with objective financial evaluation, our construction claims consultants deliver clear, defensible findings that help clients navigate disputes with confidence and make informed decisions throughout the resolution process.

Initial Decision Maker (IDM)

Initial Decision Making Services

SOCOTEC is uniquely equipped to serve as Initial Decision Maker (IDM), a role introduced in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Form A201 to provide an early, impartial decision on disputes between owners and contractors. Our team of design professionals, builders, and financial experts make us qualified to serve as an IDM on complex construction projects. We draw on deep project experience, industry-standard methodologies, and a clear understanding of contract obligations to assess facts consistently and deliver timely, well-supported decisions that help keep projects on track.

FAQ: SOCOTEC’s Dispute Resolution & Expert Support

We support all dispute resolution strategies for construction contracts including serving as Initial Decision Makers, providing neutral expert analysis for mediation in construction disputes, delivering expert opinions for arbitration proceedings (including American Arbitration Association/AAA forums), and providing expert witness testimony for construction litigation.

SOCOTEC has extensive experience across Building & Real Estate, Industrial & Manufacturing, Energy, Transportation, Infrastructure, Surety, Insurance, and more.

Project Types in Dispute Resolution

SOCOTEC’s dispute resolution experts work on issues across the full lifecycle of assets, including:

New construction projects (ground-up builds)
Major renovations and retrofits
Building envelope failures (water intrusion, cladding, roofing issues)
Structural failures and forensic investigations
MEP system performance issues (HVAC, electrical, plumbing)
Construction defects and workmanship disputes
Scheduling and delay claims
Cost overruns and productivity disputes
Contract compliance and technical due diligence
Property condition assessments and damage evaluations
Post-construction performance issues

SOCOTEC combines 120+ experts across 11 US offices, including 50+ testifying experts and 10+ economic damages advisors with deep construction, engineering, scheduling, and financial expertise. Our professionals provide comprehensive forensic analysis, damages quantification, and persuasive testimony backed by a proven track record in courtrooms nationwide.

SOCOTEC provides Dispute Resolution and Claims mitigation services across our United States operations. These services are designed to address disputes or contractual disagreements that may arise during project execution and close-out phases in the states of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Texas, Utah, Washington, and more.

Holistic expertise from technical analysis to financial quantification, ensuring every aspect of your claim is accurately assessed.
Proven experience across building, infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing, giving us unmatched industry insight.
Reliable courtroom, mediation, and arbitration support, backed by 50+ testifying experts and recognized construction mediators.
A unified, client-focused approach, grounded in precision, transparency, and trusted expertise—from the ground up.

Want to know more about our Dispute Resolution services?

Understanding Dispute Resolution in Construction Industry

Construction dispute resolution refers to the processes and techniques used to resolve disagreements related to construction contracts, performance, schedule, or costs. SOCOTEC provides both technical and financial expertise to support these processes.

Common types of construction disputes include payment disputes, schedule delays, cost overruns, change order conflicts, and contract interpretation disputes that frequently arise during project execution. Additional issues encompass design errors, differing site conditions, construction defect claims, labor productivity impacts, termination claims, and warranty issues that can emerge throughout the project lifecycle.

Construction disputes can emerge at any stage—from pre-construction during contract negotiation and design, through construction execution when field conditions arise, and post-completion during closeout, warranty periods, or when latent defects appear.

The optimal approach depends on your specific situation. Early evaluation, well-documented schedules, objective delay analysis, and neutral technical expertise often lead to the most efficient and cost-effective outcomes. Alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation and arbitration often provide faster, more cost-effective solutions while preserving business relationships. However, complex cases involving significant damages or legal precedent may require construction litigation for proper resolution.

Timelines vary significantly based on complexity, chosen resolution method, and cooperation between parties. Mediation in construction disputes may resolve matters in weeks or months, while arbitration typically takes 6-18 months, and construction litigation can extend 2-4 years or longer for complex cases.

dispute resolution in construction industry

Construction Dispute Resolution

SOCOTEC supports clients by successfully resolving complex construction disputes, building disputes, commercial disputes, but also jurisdictional disputes in the manufacturing, energy, transportation and infrastructure industries.