Leo Grutters

Overview

Leo Grutters is a seasoned Professional with over 35 years of experience specialising in Dispute Avoidance, Collaborative Project Management, and the Human Factor in construction disputes. He holds a Civil Engineering degree, an MBA, a Diploma in Arbitration (Dip Arb), and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb). Throughout his extensive career, Leo has served as both a Dispute Board Specialist, and an Arbitrator.

Leo’s expertise spans a diverse array of international projects in sectors such as roads, airports, transportation, offshore & marine, infrastructure & reticulation, power generation, and renewable energy. His dedication to minimising disputes and fostering collaboration has made him a trusted figure in the field of dispute resolution. He is passionate about knowledge-sharing and frequently coaches and trains professionals on Dispute Avoidance as well as the inherent Human Factor therein. He is also an accomplished author of several industry books, notably on the FIDIC rainbow series.

As a regular speaker at international industry events, and as a former President of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) for Region 2, Leo has played a pivotal role in promoting best practices for dispute avoidance and collaborative project management strategies globally.

Country Experience

Netherlands. Germany, France, UK, Portugal, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Albania, Greece, Rumania, Moldova, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia, Spain, Cech Republic, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Libya, Liberia, Morrocco, Ethiopia, Gabon, Nigeria, Lesotho, Algeria, Cabo Verde, Brazil, USA, Canada, Iceland, India, Pakistan, China, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Nepal, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrein, Taiwan.

Languages Spoken – Dutch (native language) and fluent in English, German and Afrikaans

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Academic Qualifications

• Civil Engineering Degree (Ing. (NL))
• Master of Business Administration (Heriot Watt University, Edinburg) (MBA)
• CEM Diploma in Arbitration (Reading University) (DipArb)
• FIDIC Total Immersion Programme (DBF)

Professional Memberships

• Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) 
• Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) – R2 Past President
• International Construction Law Association (ICLA)
• Society of Construction Law (SCL)
• World Forum Off-Shore (WFO)

Professional Status

• Arbitrator
• FIDIC President’s List of Certified Dispute Adjudicators
• VBI (Germany) listed FIDIC Adjudicator
• Construction Dispute Adjudicator
• Dispute Board Member
• Dispute Review Expert
• DRBF Trainer, including webinars
• Guest Lecturer ICP&L MBE University Stuttgart
• Co-Chair WFO Dispute Resolution Training Committee

Publications

• Co-author with Brian Barr of the “FIDIC User’s Guide to the Red, Yellow, MDB and Subcontract Books, 3rd Edition” (Publication by Thomas Telford / ICE)
• Co-Author with Brian Barr of “FIDIC Quick Reference Guides” RED, YELLOW, SILVER, PINK Book (publication by Thomas Telford / ICE)
• Member FIDIC Task Group 6b – Update Yellow, Red & Silver Books 2017 edition
• Co-author with Brian Barr of the “FIDIC Red, Yellow and Silver Books, A Practical Guide to the 2017 Editions” (Publication by Sweet & Maxwell)
• Co-Author “International Construction Law – An Overview” as edited by Wolfgang Breyer. First published 2024 by Informa Law from Routledge

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Languages Spoken – Dutch (native language) and fluent in English, German and Afrikaans

Project Experience

Professional Experience

1999 – present

During this period, he was mainly involved in high profile international engineering projects. His involvement included positions as: Arbitrator, Adjudicator, Dispute Board Member, Counsel at Arbitration as well as Neutral Expert.

Representative projects include:

• Vlora Bypass Motorway – Albania
• Three Gorges HPP – China
• Muskrat Falls HPP – Canada
• Seastar Off-Shore Platform – USA
• Los Altos del Golf Villas – Spain
• Roads Projects – Romania
• Baltic 1 Off-Shore wind park – Germany
• Baltic 2 Off-Shore wind park – Germany
• Poznan E30 Motorway Bypass – Poland
• BTC Pipeline – Turkey
• Rødsand 2 Off-Shore wind park – Sweden
• Medupi & Kusili PP – South Africa
• Tirana-Podgorica OHPL – Albania
• Doha New Intern. Airport – Qatar
• Dubai T3 Baggage handling – UAE
• Casecnan HEPP – Philippines

1996 – 1999

Preparation of complex delay and disruption claims as well as the professional negotiations thereto.

• King Abdullah Canal – Jordan
• Morpeth Off-shore Oil platform – Texas, USA
• Narok-Nakuru Road – Kenya

1990 – 1996

Head Contract Administration MENA region for international Construction Group.

• Gubbrah III CCPP – Oman
• Benghazi CCPP – Libya
• Tripoli Süd CCPP – Libya
• Zuwetina CCPP – Libya
• Al Khoms CCPP – Libya
• Sabha Road Project – Libya

1986 – 1990

Responsible for the preparation and implementation of a professional contract administrative system, allowing for optimised project results whilst maintaining a reduction for conflict potential through systematic project documentation.

• Khayalitsha (Roads Project) – South Africa
• KTC (Roads Project) – South Africa
• Lesotho Highlands (Hydro Project) (approach road Katze Dam) – Lesotho

Arbitration Experience

• Nuclear Power Station (3x) – Finland – Counsel.
• Poznan Bypass Roads Project – Poland – Arbitrator / Chair.
• Shopping Complex – Czech Rep. – Arbitrator.
• Combined Cycle Power Station – UAE – Counsel.
• 400kv Substations – Qatar – Arbitrator / Chair.
• Water Reticulation Project – Botswana – Arbitrator.
• Combined Cycle PS – Saudi Arabia – Counsel.
• 400kV/330kV Substation – Algeria – Counsel.
• New Doha International Airport – Qatar – Arbitrator.
• Roads Project (incl. Tunnels) – Romania – Arbitrator.
• Hydro Power Plant – Macedonia – Arbitrator.
• Roads Project (incl. Bridges) – Moldova – Arbitrator.
• Roads Project (Motorway) – Georgia – Arbitrator.
• Luxury Apartment Block – Germany – Counsel.

Adjudication / Dispute Board Experience

• Road Project – Poland – FIDIC Red 1987 – Sole Member.
• Apartment Block – Portugal – FIDIC Red 1999 – Sole Member.
• Road Project – Albania – FIDIC MDB 2010 – Chair.
• Road Project – Albania – FIDIC MDB 2010 – Party Nominated.
• Wastewater Treatment Plant – Qatar – FIDIC Gold 2008 – Party nominated.
• Nuclear Power Station – Finland – Bespoke Contract – Party nominated.
• Roads Projects (2x) – South Africa – Bespoke Contract – Sole Member.
• Waste to Energy Plant – Netherlands – Bespoke Contract – Party nominated.
• Gas Treatment Station – Australia – Bespoke Contract – Party nominated.
• Holiday Village – Portugal – Bespoke Contract – Party nominated.
• Desalination Plant – Oman – Bespoke Contract – Party nominated.
• Road Project (3x) – Romania – FIDIC Yellow 1999 – Sole Member.
• OHPL (2x) – Albania – FIDIC Silver 1999 – Chair.
• CCPP – Control Bldgs. – China – FIDIC Yellow 1999 – Chair.
• Sewage/Water Reticulation (x3) – Georgia – FIDIC MDB 2010 – Counsel.
• Nuclear Power Plant – Bulgaria – FIDIC Yellow 1999 – Sole Member.
• Off-Shore Wind Park (2x) – Germany – FIDIC Red/Y. 1999 – Sole Member.
• Roads Project – Nigeria – FIDIC Red 1987 – Sole Member.
• ITER – France – FIDIC Yellow 1999 – Chair.
• Concrete Arch Dam – Slovenia – FIDIC Silver 1999 – Chair.
• Earth / Rockfill Dam (Irrigation) – Kenya – FIDIC MDB 2010 – Chair.
• Roads Project – Uganda – FIDIC Red 1999 – Sole Member.
• Hydro Power Plant – Ethiopia – FIDIC Silver 1999 – Chair.
• Hydro Power Plant – Nepal – FIDIC Yellow 1999 – Chair.
• Dam / Spillway refurbishment – Zambia – FIDIC MDB 2010 – Party nominated.
• Roads Project (2x) – Georgia – FIDIC MDB 2010 – Sole Member.
• Off-Shore Tunnel Road/Rail-link – Denmark – Bespoke Contract – Party nominated.
• Cruise Vessel Quay/Jetty – Cabo Verde – FIDIC Silver 2017 – Party nominated.
• Roads, Bridges and Tunnel – Slovenia – FIDIC Red 2017 – Chair.
• Motorway Project – Kenya – FIDIC Red 2017 – Party Nominated.
• Thermal Power Plant – Slovenia – FIDIC Silver 1999 – Chair.
• MRT Railway Project – Philippines – FIDIC MDB 2010 – Party Nominated.

Neutral or Party Appointed Expert

• Dubai Airport T3 – Buildings – UAE – D&D and Quantum Analysis EoT Claim.
• Düsseldorf Arena Sports Centre – Germany – Delay and Disruption Analysis.
• Incheon Airport – South Korea – D&D and Quantum Analysis EoT Claim.
• ICE High-Speed Railway Link – Germany – D&D and Quantum Analysis EoT Claim.
• Røtsand Off-Shore Wind park – Sweden – Quantum Analysis D&D Claim.
• Cologne Interchange A3 – Germany – D&D and Quantum Analysis EoT Claim.
• A3 Re-alignment COL-FRA – Germany – D&D and Quantum Analysis EoT Claim.
• Medupi Power Plant – South Africa – Quantum Analysis D&D Claim.
• New Doha International Airport – Qatar – Delay and Disruption Analysis.
• Wastewater Treatment Plant – Georgia – D&D and Quantum Analysis EoT Claim.
• Rail Link Istanbul – Stations – Turkey – Quantum Analysis D&D Claim.
• Sewage Reticulation – Georgia – Delay and Disruption Analysis.
• Nuclear Power Plant – Finland – Strategic Dispute Resolution Team.