Strategy to Delivery: Forming Effective Contracts That Deliver in Major Projects

Monday, 24 November 2025 | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | OIC Arbitration Centre, TOBB Plaza, Istanbul

In multi-million dollar projects, a contract is more than a legal document—it’s the blueprint for successful delivery.

Large projects or portfolios of interlinked projects are multilayered and require absolute clarity to deliver strategic objectives at policy and project level.  Structuring intelligent project deliverables, apportionment and mitigation of risk using multilayered contract structuring, effective management of constraints and dependencies and transposing strategic objectives which protects project success.

Understand how to monitor strategic delivery at project and portfolio level, how to spot under performance and make tactical correction, align stakeholders, structure the contract chain to offset and mitigate risk whilst stimulating incentivisation and effective implementation of sanction.

Select the right contracts types to deliver seamless integrated project delivery to budget and on time.  How to structure commercial delivery teams to maintain project momentum and avoid project disruption arising from disputes.

Avoid the pitfalls of contracts that become ambiguous, adversarial, and misaligned with strategic goals, leading to cost overruns, delays, and disputes.  Set up effective dispute resolution processes throughout the contract chain to mitigate risk and maintain project momentum.

This intensive, full-day training program is designed for Senior Government Departmental Managers, Strategic Managers, Project Portfolio Managers and Senior Project Delivery Professionals who understand that project success is determined long before the first ground is broken or the first component is manufactured.

Trainer

Marcus Cato CEng, MICE, FCIArb, FRSA, NEC Reg

International Supervisory Board Member of the OIC Arbitration Centre, Founder Member at slim|mediation, Managing Director at McComb Partnership Ltd

Trainer

Prof. Dr. Karen Denise Akıncı

General Manager at Akıncı Law Firm

Facilitator

James MacPherson

International Mediator, ADR Specialist, Founding Member of Gulf Mediation. Co-founder and leader of major ADR Centres including Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration, Bahrain Chamber of Dispute Resolution, and Oman Arbitration Centre among others, former board member of International Mediation Institute

Module 1

 

Module 1: The Strategic Foundation

  • Contracts as vehicles for strategy and governance, not just legal tools.
  • From critical objectives to deliverables, contract structure, and delivery systems.
  • Forming and effective team.

Module 2

 

Module 2: Framing Objectives & Managing Risk

  • Defining measurable outcomes vs. outputs. Strategic risk management at the program level.
  • Layering objectives in the contract chain.

Module 3

 

Module 3: The Contract as a Delivery Model

  • Incentivisation, KPIs, payment mechanisms, and risk-sharing models that work.
  • Managing change without undermining strategic objectives.
  • Management of contract interfaces and the contract chain.

Module 4

 

Module 4: Ensuring Commercial Alignment & Protection

  • Practical governance: dashboards, steering boards, and strategic contract management plans.
  • Managing and structuring securities, guarantees, and insurance—securing performance without overpaying.

Module 5

 

Module 5: Drafting for Success & Avoiding Disputes

  • Hallmarks of a strong contract and red flags to avoid.
  • Principles of effective risk allocation and integrated dispute avoidance.
  • Structuring effective dispute management processes and escalation.

Module 6

 

Module 6: Mastering Complex Contract Layering

  • Mapping the contract suite: from main agreement to subcontracts.
  • Managing interfaces to prevent overlaps and contradictions that derail delivery.

Fees

Early Bird Rate (Ends 20 October 2025): US$500
Standard Rate: US$600

Team Package:

  • Early bird rate: US$1,350 for a team of 3 (US$450 per person)
  • Standard rate: US$1,500 for a team of 3 (US$500 per person)

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Register here

Mediation Accreditation Training

in association with CEDR & Gulf Mediation

Module 1: November 25-26, 2025 | Istanbul

Module 2: December 2-4, 2025 | Virtual-Istanbul

The OIC Arbitration Centre, in collaboration with CEDR, proudly presents an exclusive international training designed for professionals who aspire to stand out in the world of alternative dispute resolution.

By joining this program, you will not only gain CEDR Accreditation — the gold standard in mediation worldwide — but also become eligible to apply for inclusion in the OIC-AC Mediators List, amplifying your professional visibility across the OIC region and beyond.

This unique opportunity combines world-class training, regional impact, and a global network of ADR experts, making it the perfect gateway for your professional growth.

Module 1

 

Module 1 — Skills Training

(In person, Istanbul – during 1st Annual OIC-AC ADR Week where you will have opportunity to connect ADR professionals from all over the world)

At a glance: 

Pre-course preparation

  • Guidance to Early-phase Skills– Phase planning

– Phase planning
– Preparation
– Mediator opening
– Issue exploration
– Active listening
– Emotion management

  • Guidance to Later-phase Skills

– Bargaining and closing
– Offer management
– Negotiation
– Deadlock resolution
– Reality testing
– Ethical practice

Fee: GBP £1,155                      Register for Module 1 (Password: MediatorSkills)

Module 2

 

Module 2 — Assessment

(Virtual)

At a Glance:

Coaching & Practice Day – Hands-on coaching with one-to-one feedback to refine early- and later-phase techniques.

  • Assessment Day 1 – Practical evaluation of early-phase skills in a simulated mediation setting.
  • Assessment Day 2 – Practical evaluation of middle- and later-phase skills with structured feedback.

Fee: GBP £3,245                                 Register for Module 2 (Password: MediatorSkills)