The Vargas Foundation's First Dispute Board Competition was created to train and promote professionals skilled in this extrajudicial method of dispute prevention and resolution. The event attracted teams from universities and companies, including law, engineering, and architecture , reflecting the need for multidisciplinary approaches in large-scale construction contracts.
What are Dispute Boards?
Dispute boards are committees of experts established at the beginning of contracts to monitor performance, issue recommendations, and, when necessary, issue decisions on disputes. This model allows for quick resolution of disputes, reducing costs and downtime.
Institutions such as the World Bank require dispute boards for contracts exceeding US$50 million, and approximately 97% of these committees' recommendations are final, preventing only 3% of disputes from progressing to the courts or arbitration.
A world-first Dispute Board event
The competition, organized by the FGV Chamber of Mediation and Arbitration, is the first dedicated to dispute boards in Latin America. It promoted simulations of contractual disputes typical of large infrastructure projects and encouraged integration between law and engineering, areas essential for the committees to function effectively.
Highlight for the EXXATA team
The partnership between engineering consultancy EXXATA and the law firm Tavernard Advogados demonstrated that this integration is possible. The team, comprised of Izabella Carvalho, Luana Campos, Giovana Roma, Clara Batalha, Ricardo Antinarelli, and Fernanda Dutra , placed second overall in the competition. They also placed second in the written stage , beating out several teams from leading universities.
On the competition's official Instagram, the organizers announced that the award for best overall team went to UFES/UFPB, with the EXXATA/Tavernard team taking second place. Another post highlighted the teams that performed best in the written stage, where EXXATA/Tavernard also placed second. The firm's thank you note reinforced its pride in the achievement and noted that the team was led by partner Murilo Melo Vale, head of the Public Law practice.
Conclusion and call to action
The successful participation of the EXXATA/Tavernard Advogados in the 1st FGV Dispute Board Competition demonstrates that the union between law and engineering is essential to prevent conflicts and ensure the success of infrastructure contracts. If your company is looking for solutions for contract management , dispute prevention , or dispute board implementation , contact EXXATA and Tavernard Advogados and learn how this partnership can contribute to the legal security and efficiency of your projects.
