Robert Sliwinski
Robert Sliwinski is a Barrister, Chartered Arbitrator, Accredited Adjudicator and Mediator, Quantity Surveyor and Dispute Board Member.
Robert has over 35 years’ experience of the construction industry with particular emphasis on all forms of alternative dispute resolution. After 12 years as a quantity surveyor Robert entered the Bar dealing with civil, landlord & tenant, property and construction law issues whilst also undertaking arbitration and adjudication disputes as the neutral. After six years as a solicitor, Robert returned to the full- time Bar in 2011 where he practices from SWL Chambers and as a Neutral from ArbDB Chambers in London. Robert additionally practices in the GGC Region as Counsel with Al Suwaidi & Company in Dubai specialising in all aspects of the property and construction industry representing parties as well as undertaking appointments as arbitrator, adjudicator, expert determiner, mediator, and dispute board member.
As an arbitrator Robert has been involved in cases in both the UK and internationally concerning professional negligence, property, landlord & tenant, delay analysis, costs, variations, defects, interpretation of contracts, repudiation, and many other aspects of contract in the areas of building, civil engineering, mechanical & electrical, waste water treatment and process engineering. He has most recently been joint arbitrator on a multi-million dollar case between a joint venture contractor and national government in a dispute involving the construction of an airport runway and as a member of an ICC panel arbitration also between a joint venture and a national government involving the construction of a major road project.
In the field of UK adjudication Robert has received over 400 appointments from the CIArb, CIC, AICA, CEDR, RICS and by private appointment. The disputes referred have covered all aspects of construction including professional negligence, delay analysis, costs, defects, interpretation of contracts, repudiation, and all other aspects of contract in the areas of building, civil engineering, mechanical & electrical, wastewater and process engineering.
Robert’s work as an expert determiner has included final account, cost and variation disputes for projects including hospitals, office developments as well as mechanical & electrical services, civil engineering, development agreements and partnership agreements.
In mediation, Robert has acted as party representative as well as Mediator in a wide range of issues including construction, professional negligence, contract, development agreements and landlord & tenant.
Robert is also qualified and trained as a dispute board member and has a thorough knowledge of the FIDIC and ICC provisions. He is a professional member of the Dispute Board Federation. Robert has been appointed by FIDIC and is able to undertake dispute board appointments throughout the world in the areas of construction, engineering, wastewater, and process engineering.
Robert has decided disputes covering large numbers of complex issues and works closely with the parties and/or their experts so that a suitable process can be utilised in the dispute before him.
Robert’s work as a neutral dispute resolver has taken him across the world including the Middle East (Dubai & Kuwait), the USA and Caribbean, Europe, and Cyprus. He also has knowledge and experience of the contracting and dispute processes within the United Arab Emirates, Africa, and the Far East (Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia).
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND PANEL MEMBERSHIPS
The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators - Fellow, elected 2001
• Chartered Arbitrator, 2008
• Panel of Adjudicators
• Panel of Arbitrators
• Accredited Mediator
• Panel of Property Dispute Service
The Council of Legal Education – The Inns of Court School of Law
• Vocational Training for the Bar, gained July 1990
The Honourable Society of Middle Temple - Called to the Bar 1990
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (1987 to 2018) - Fellow
• Panel of Adjudicators
• Accredited Mediator
• Panel of Mediators
• Dispute Board Register
• Member of the Conflict’s Avoidance Panel for Transport for London
• Accredited ACRE Mediator
New York State Board of Bar Examiners - Bar Examinations, gained July 1997
New York State Bar (USA) - Attorney, admitted to the Bar 1998
The Construction Industry Council - Panel of Adjudicators
The Law Society (2004 to 2010) - Solicitor, admitted 2004
Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture & Commerce - Fellow, elected 2005
Asian International Arbitration Centre - Panel of Arbitrators
Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution - Fellow, elected 2018
• Accredited International Arbitrator
• Panel of Arbitrators
Dispute Resolution Board Foundation - Professional Member, admitted 2005
Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)
• Accredited Mediator
• Panel of Adjudicators
London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) - List of Arbitrators
International Chamber of Commerce (UAE) – Member, Arbitrator and
Mediator Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) - List of Arbitrators
DIFC – LCIA - List of Arbitrators
Dubai International Arbitration Centre - Panel of Arbitrators
Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre - Arbitrator
Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration - Rosters of Arbitrators & Mediators
Technology and Construction Solicitors Association - Panel of Adjudicator
Federation Internationale des Ingenieurs Conseils International (FIDIC)
President’s List of Approved Dispute Adjudicators
Technology and Construction Bar Association - Member
UK Adjudicators - Panels of Dispute Board Members and Adjudicators
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2020 to date AL SUWAIDI & COMPANY,
Dubai, UAE – Counsel 2019 to date ArbDB
CHAMBERS, IDRC, 70 Fleet Street, London
A set of leading arbitrators, mediators, and adjudicators, both domestic
and International, encompassing different professional backgrounds and
jurisdictions.
2011 to date SWL CHAMBERS, 25 Southampton Buildings,
London – Barrister 2018 to 2020 KOCHHAR & CO INC,
Dubai, UAE - Senior Partner
2006 - 2011 SWL DISPUTE RESOLUTION, Loudwater, Buckinghamshire -
Principle
2004 - 2006 WRIGHT HASSALL SOLICITORS, Leamington Spa,
Warwickshire - Partner and Joint Head of Construction Department
2001 - 2004 ALWAY ASSOCIATES, Banbury, Oxfordshire - Director – Legal
Services
1993 - 2000 CHAMBERS OF GEOFFREY HAWKER, 46/48
Essex Street, London
1991 - 1993 CHAMBERS OF DONALD GORDON, 3
Temple Gardens,London 1990 - 1991 KEATING
CHAMBERS, 10 Essex Street, London
1988 - 1990 JAMES R KNOWLES, London - Senior Consultant
1986 - 1988 WEBB & TAPLEY Chartered Quantity
Surveyors, London 1984 - 1986 SILK & FRAZIER
Chartered Quantity Surveyors, London 1978 - 1981
McBAINS Quantity Surveyors, London
POSITIONS HELD (* denotes current)
• Member of the Board of Management, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators*
• Chairman Panels Management Group, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators*
• Chairman Thames Valley Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
• Member of the Inns of Court Disciplinary Panel
• Committee Member, Construction ARBRIX
• Chairman of Membership Committee, Worshipful Company of Arbitrators
• Freeman, Liveryman & Court Assistant, Worshipful Company of
Arbitrators*
• Member, Society of Construction Law (Middle East)*
• Member, Adjudication Society
CONTRACTS EXPERIENCE
• JCT, ICE, NEC, GC Works, PPC 2000, ACA, ACE, IET (MF), NSPE, AIA &FIDIC
• Bespoke contracts for main contract works, sub-contract works and
consultants
• Framework & Development Agreements
• Partnering Contracts
OTHER INFORMATION
Robert provides training, seminars and undertakes assessments on international and
domestic arbitration, mediation as well as adjudication on behalf of the Chartered
Institute of Arbitrators and other bodies both in the UK and overseas.
December 2021
Please contact Clerk to Chambers, Martin Poulter, on 020 3514 9020 or martin.poulter@arbdb.com to enquire about Robert's availability for appointment.