Procedimiento de prueba innovador en el arbitraje internacional de la construcción

AutorDoug Jones
CargoMaster of Laws (1977), Bachelor of Arts (1974) and Bachelor of Laws (1972) from the University of Queensland. Professor Jones also holds professorial appointments at Queen Mary College, University of London and Melbourne University Law School
Páginas233-253
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Asociación Civil
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Revista Derecho & Sociedad, N° 55 / pp. 233 - 253
FECHA DE RECEPCIÓN: 11/07/2020
FECHA DE APROBACIÓN: 11/11/2020
Procedimiento de prueba innovador en el
arbitraje internacional de la construcción
Innovating evidence procedure in international construction
arbitration
Doug Jones*
Independent International Arbitrator
Resumen:
La complejidad de las disputas de construcción requiere una atención especial y una innovación
constante. Afortunadamente, el arbitraje está bien equipado para hacer frente a los desafíos de
tales disputas, debido a su exibilidad y adaptabilidad. En este documento se examinan tres
esferas de innovación en el procedimiento de pruebas exclusivas de las controversias sobre
construcción: institucional, tecnológica y procesal. También se presta la debida atención a la
audiencia virtual, una innovación que ha demostrado ser fundamental para la supervivencia
del arbitraje en medio de la pandemia de COVID-19. La tecnología, si bien es valiosa, no
mejorará la ecacia del arbitraje por sí sola: debe utilizarse junto con las innovaciones
procesales. La aplicación de los avances procesales, tecnológicos e institucionales por parte de
un tribunal proactivo con partes de mentalidad abierta puede crear una innovación sin límites
y proporcionar el máximo valor para todos los implicados.
Abstract:
The complexity of construction disputes commands special attention and constant innovation.
Fortunately, arbitration is well-equipped to meet the challenges of such disputes, due to its
exibility and adaptability. This paper discusses three areas of innovation in evidence procedure
unique to construction disputes: institutional, technological and procedural. Due consideration
is also given to the virtual hearing, an innovation which has proven critical to the survival of
arbitration amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology, while valuable, will not improve the
eciency of arbitration alone: it must be used in conjunction with procedural innovations. The
implementation of procedural, technological and institutional advancements by a proactive
tribunal and open-minded parties can create boundless innovation and provide maximum
value for all involved.
Palabras clave:
Procedimiento de pruebas - Construcción – Arbitraje – Innovación – Prueba – Evidencia –
Audiencias virtuales – Gestión de casos – Tecnología
Keywords:
Evidence procedure – Construction – Arbitration – Innovation – Evidence – Virtual hearings –
Case management – Technology
Summary:
1. Introducción – 2. Evidence and innovation in international construction
arbitration – 3. Virtual hearings: an emerging phenomenon - 4. Institution-driven innovation -
5. Technological innovation in the construction industry – 6. Procedural innovations
7. Concluding remarks - 8. Bibliography
* Master of Laws (1977), Bachelor of Arts (1974) and Bachelor of Laws (1972) from the University of Queensland. Professor Jones also
holds professorial appointments at Queen Mary College, University of London and Melbourne University Law School. Professor
Jones is a leading independent international commercial and investor-state arbitrator with over 40 years’ prior experience as an
international transactional and disputes projects lawyer. Contacto: dougjones@dougjones.info. ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5266-2709.
| Disputas en Construcción |
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Revista Derecho & Sociedad, N° 55, Noviembre 2020 / ISSN 2079-3634
1. Introduction
Innovation is a topic often discussed but seldom in relation to international construction arbitration.
However, as these disputes are renowned for their technical evidence and signicant complexity, it is
appropriate that arbitration practitioners and the construction industry alike explore potential avenues of
innovation that can be used to minimise cost and delay 1, and assist the tribunal’s understanding of the
case. Innovative new approaches within this space are very much within reach, even in the most complex
of construction disputes.
The need for international arbitration to adapt and remain receptive to emerging innovations is greater
than ever. The COVID-19 crisis has presented multi-faceted challenges for all of society. In the construction
industry, one challenge that has emerged in the resolution of international construction disputes is the
inability to hold in-person hearings, and the need to consider new ways of taking and presenting evidence.
Fortunately, international arbitration is, at its core, an innovative and changing process that is built upon the
creativity of parties, counsel, arbitrators and institutions. It is this exibility which enables it to be receptive
to new forms of evidence and to create new ways of tackling evidence.
With this in mind, I address the following in this paper. To begin with, in Part 2, I contextualise the
importance of innovative evidence in construction arbitration. The presentation of evidence plays a vital
role in any construction dispute. There exists a strong desire for arbitration to innovate to maintain its value
as a method of dispute resolution. Part 3 addresses the virtual hearing: a phenomenon distinct from and
more challenging than a traditional videoconference, with which many arbitrators are already familiar1. The
use of virtual hearings has signicantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and is an example of the
innovative and exible nature of international arbitration. Part 4 addresses institutional innovation, namely
the rules and guidelines that allow parties to engage in procedural and technological innovation. Part 5
considers technological innovation used specically in the construction industry, such as site visualisation
technologies and delay and disruption modelling. Part 6 considers developments in arbitral procedure
which are particularly innovative and ensure the eciency of the process. While technology plays an
important role in innovation, its use will prove ineective without proactive case management techniques
2, particularly in respect of lay and expert evidence. Accordingly, in this section, examples of procedural
innovations will be discussed, including case management conferences, and the management of fact and
expert witnesses. Finally, I reect on the value of these innovations and the accompanying challenges
which will have a signicant impact on the future evolution of international arbitration.
2. Evidence and innovation in international construction arbitration
2.1 The Role of Evidence in Construction Disputes
Evidence plays a vital role in all disputes, but especially so in construction disputes, due to the complexity
of modern projects and contracts. The nature of construction agreements has changed over time3. For
example, prior to the industrial revolution, there were generally two parties to a construction contract: the
owner commissioning the project, and the master builder, who undertook both the design and building
components of the work. The centuries that followed witnessed the birth of specialisation, as owners began
to rely on numerous specialists to carry out specic components of the project, in lieu of one master builder.
Today’s construction projects are a new breed, emerging from an intricate web of contracts and
subcontracts. In many cases, it is not possible for the contractor to undertake the entirety of the project.
Instead, subcontractors are employed to perform certain aspects of the works. In addition, construction
disputes are associated with high levels of risk due to unpredictable economic, political and climatic
forces that may impact delivery. These risks have prompted the involvement of insurers, as well as external
nanciers. It is therefore unsurprising that a typical construction project involves many participants,
including subcontractors, nanciers, insurers, suppliers, architects, engineers, and of course, the employer
and contractor. Indeed, according to the ICC, nearly 50% of new cases involved three or more parties while
over 20% involved more than ve parties4. The result of this is that construction disputes now arise from
interrelated contracts, making the resolution of construction disputes challenging for those involved.
1 Janet Walker, “Virtual Hearings: The New Normal”, Global Arbitration Review, 27 de marzo, 2020, https://globalarbitrationreview.com/
article/1222421/virtual-hearings-%E2%80%93-the-new-normal.
2 Doug Jones, “Innovation in International Infrastructure Arbitrations” (Conferencia, Melbourne University Law School, 2018).
3 Aisha Nadar, “The Contract: The Foundation of Construction Projects”, en Global Arbitration Review The Guide to Construction Arbitration,
ed. Stavros Brekoulakis y David Brynmor (Londres: Law Business Research, 2017) 7.
4 “Full 2016 ICC Dispute Resolution Statistics published in Court Bulletin”, International Chamber of Commerce, acceso el 3 de enero,
2019, https://iccwbo.org/media-wall/news-speeches/full-2016-icc-dispute-resolution-statistics-published-court-bulletin.

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