Robert J. Smith

People

Bob Smith's practice is concentrated on the prevention and resolution of construction contract disputes, built on over 40 years of experience. He is widely sought after as an Arbitrator and Dispute Board Member because of his experience and civil engineering background. He is internationally known for his knowledge and application of structured contractual and construction risk identification and allocation to prevent disputes. In addition, he is an authority on the selection and integration of construction contracting best practices for major construction projects, another proactive process to prevent disputes.

Bob is a Past-President of the American College of Construction Lawyers. His experience and qualifications have been recognized by appointing authorities including FIDIC (President's List of Approved Adjudicators), the CPR International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (Member, Construction Panel), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution and the American Arbitration Association (Member, Construction Panel).

Bob has been recognized by numerous publications for his work, including The Legal 500, The Best Lawyers in America, and the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation.

Notable Work

Design-Build Tunnel Project:

Led multi-day risk identification and allocation workshop for project owners' staff and integrated best contracting practices into procurement documents.

Dispute Resolution Board and Arbitration Experience:

Served as Chairman or Member of 160 Dispute Boards and arbitration panels on over $21 billion worth of transit, bridge, tunnel, highway, canal and dam construction projects in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. Notable assignments have included the DAB for the Third Set of Locks at the Panama Canal and hydroelectric projects in Uganda and Pakistan as well as DRBs for rapid transit construction projects for ten major metro systems in North America.

Large Scale Environmental Remediation Project:

Advised a major corporation regarding contracting strategies, procurement procedures and contract drafting for a $200 million plus sediment remediation project, which included environmental dredging and construction and operation of landside processing and transportation facilities.

Registered Professional Engineer (inactive)
U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps Officer: Pensacola, Florida and McMurdo Station, Antarctica
University of Wisconsin: Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Adjunct Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

American Arbitration Association: National Construction Panel--Member; National Construction Dispute Resolution Committee--Past Member
American Bar Association: Section of Public Contract Law, Past State and Regional Chair; Forum Committee on the Construction Industry, Contract Documents Division, Member
American College of Construction Lawyers: Past-President
American Society of Civil Engineers: Fellow and Life Member
CPR International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution: Construction Advisory Committee; Construction Panel, Member
Dispute Resolution Board Foundation: Co-Founder; Board of Directors
International Chamber of Commerce: Commission on Arbitration Task Force on Dispute Boards, U.S. Delegate
International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC): Official Observer to United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, Working Group I - Procurement
International Tunneling Association: Working Group 3 - Contractual Practices, U.S. Delegate

Dispute Resolution Board Foundation: Al Mathews Award for "Dispute Board Excellence"
Who's Who Legal, 2019, 2021-2023, Recommended for Construction, 2023, Listed as a Thought Leader in Construction
The Best Lawyers in America, 2007-2018, 2021-2024, Listed in Wisconsin for Construction Law
The Best Lawyers in America, 2021, 2022, 2024, Named as "Lawyer of the Year" for Construction Law in Madison
The Legal 500, 2012-2014, Recommended for Real Estate & Construction – Construction
International Who's Who of Construction Lawyers 2007-2017
University of Wisconsin:
- Distinguished Alumni Award for "Service to Construction Worldwide"
- Lifetime Achievement Award for Construction Engineering and Management

D.C. Bar, Speaker, "Dispute Boards in Latin America and Beyond," May 17, 2018

Robert J. Smith

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