From 2019 to 2020 the average value of disputes increased significantly across the globe, while the average length of disputes continued to drop. Consensus was that the overall number of disputes remained relatively the same.
USA
Click on a country to discover its results.
USA
UK
UK
Middle East
Middle East
Continental Europe
Continental Europe
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
US$ millions
Global average
$54.26
$30.7
$33
$43.4
$32.5
13.4
15
17
14.8
13.9
Global average
Months
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
The global average value of disputes increased to
million (US)
$54.26
The global average length of disputes dropped to
months
13.4
$37.9
$18.8
$16.3
$19
$21
$25
$29.6
$34.3
Dispute value
US$ millions
50
40
30
10
0
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
14.2
17.6
15.2
17.7
15.6
13.5
16.2
13.7
Dispute length
Months
10
20
15
5
0
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
North America
United Kingdom
Continental Europe
Middle East
9.8
9.8
12.8
10
12
10.7
10
7.9
Dispute length
Months
9
15
12
3
0
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
$38.6
$17.8
$17.8
$34
$34
$25
$27
$27.9
Dispute value
US$ millions
50
40
30
10
0
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
North America
6
14
15.6
20
18.1
14.1
18.5
18
6.5
Dispute length
Months
20
15
10
5
0
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
$54.4
$24.5
$41
$29.5
$19
$25
$38.3
$27.5
Dispute value
US$ millions
50
40
30
10
0
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
20
60
United Kingdom
Continental Europe
15.5
17
20
13.5
13.7
15.2
15.1
13.9
Dispute length
Months
20
15
10
5
0
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
$86
$62
$56.7
$91
$56
$82
$76.6
$40.9
Dispute value
US$ millions
100
80
60
40
20
0
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Middle East
Owner/contractor/subcontractor failing to understand and/or comply with its contractual obligations has become the number one cause of construction disputes.
The highest value dispute handled by our team was worth
billion (US)
$4
Disputes are often unavoidable. However, there are time-tested techniques that can guide you toward early resolution.
Following our roadmap to early resolution can help prevent issues from becoming full-blown construction disputes.
The roadmap to early resolution
Average dispute length
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Global average dispute value
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Download the 2021 Global Construction Disputes Report to see our simplified roadmap for effective claims resolution, which outlines best practices from pre-design through post-construction.
Average dispute value
Average dispute length
Global average
Global average
Download the report
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