Edelman Speaks at NAS Forum

October 6, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC – Dawson & Associates Senior Counsel Lester Edelman was a featured speaker at a recent National Academy of Sciences forum. The September 23 event was and entitled, Reducing Construction Costs: Uses of ‘Best Dispute Resolution Practices' By Project Owners. The forum was co-sponsored by the National Academy of Construction and the Federal Facilities Council.

Recognized as a leading expert in the field of dispute resolution, Edelman participated in an hour-long panel discussion with three other industry colleagues. The segment was named, "Exploring Ways to Encourage and Implement Greater Uses of Dispute Resolution Best Practices". In front of an audience of engineers, managers, and other key personnel, the speakers emphasized the benefits of utilizing best dispute resolution practices and debated ways to increase their usage. They argued that the complex issues surrounding construction projects can create disagreements that lead to disruptions and litigation. These costly delays are a critical problem facing the industry, and it is incumbent upon key decision-makers to insist on the empirically successful dispute resolution practices.

Edelman said of his role at the conference, “I emphasized that for dispute avoidance and resolution processes to work on a sustained basis, we need to go beyond process and confront the root causes of litigation and the litigious culture we see all around us. I noted the very successful and pioneering US Army Corps of Engineers mainstream training program which I led in the 1980's and 1990's designed to change the litigious mindset within the agency and the construction industry with whom they contracted. I was pleased to note how Dawson & Associates adheres to this philosophy at the national policy level.”

Edelman's career includes over 40 years of legal and legislative, including experience with US Army Corps of Engineers and the US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He served as Chief Counsel at the Corps of Engineers for 19 years, and is credited with shaping the Corps' Civil Work Program. Edelman helped break new ground in the use of both Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Partnering, or Dispute Avoidance. He has received numerous service awards, and been recognized by the construction industry for his significant contributions. President Bush presented him with the Presidential Ranking of Distinguished Executive in the Senior Executive Service.

Related Links

To read Lester Edelman's “Pride in Public Service” click here.

To learn more about the National Academy of Sciences, click here.

To view the forum program, click here.

Learn more about the forum sponsors: the National Construction Society and the Federal Facilities Council.