The Conflict Avoidance Coalition (CAC) has opened 2026 with a clear signal to the construction and infrastructure sector: conflict avoidance is no longer a fringe idea, but an operational strategy increasingly being adopted by clients, funders and delivery teams.
In his New Year message, Richard Bayfield, Chair of the CAC, reaffirmed the Coalition’s central purpose, by sharing knowledge, promoting best practice and supporting early resolution, the industry becomes more resilient, efficient and productive. That message sets the context for the CAC’s flagship event of the year.
The 2026 CAC Conference
📅 Wednesday 18 March 2026
📍Institution of Civil Engineers, Westminster
The conference theme — Why are Clients adopting Conflict Avoidance Methods? — reflects a real shift taking place across UK construction. While dispute resolution has long been reactive, many clients are now re-examining how disputes arise in the first place, and how earlier, structured intervention can protect programmes, budgets and relationships.
This is not theory-led discussion. The agenda is built around live client experience, commercial reality and contractual practice.
What the Programme Is Really Addressing
Client Perspective: Why Change Now?
Sessions led by representatives from the Houses of Parliament Restoration Project and the Environment Agency will explore why major public clients are moving away from adversarial norms and what has pushed them to do so. This goes beyond values. It speaks to delivery risk, public accountability and long-term asset stewardship.
Conflict Avoidance Before the Contract Exists
A key strand of the conference examines what happens before a contract is even signed:
- Establishing collaborative culture
- Building aligned teams
- Using the CAC Conflict Avoidance Toolkit effectively
This reframes conflict avoidance as a procurement and mobilisation issue, not just a legal one.
Standard Forms, Amendments and Reality
Why do we amend standard contracts and do those amendments create more problems than they solve?
Led by Thirdway, this session challenges the industry to reflect on how legal risk transfer often undermines the very certainty clients claim to seek.
International Lessons and Funder Influence
With insights from Fenwick Elliott LLP, the conference looks outward:
- Is conflict avoidance uniquely British?
- What can be learned from international infrastructure delivery?
- How do funders influence behaviour, intentionally or otherwise?
This positions conflict avoidance within a global delivery context, not just UK policy.
Accreditation, Evidence, and Cultural Change
The final sessions focus on CAC Gold and Silver accreditation:
- What accreditation actually means in practice
- Benefits and potential downsides
- How clients can actively support accredited behaviours
The closing interactive session asks a difficult but necessary question: how does the industry genuinely change its culture, beyond statements and pledges?
Industry Support and Sponsorship
The 2026 conference is supported by confirmed sponsors:
Further sponsorship is being sought to keep delegate costs accessible, itself a signal that the CAC views this event as an industry-wide capability exercise, not a closed forum.
Why This Matters in 2026
As projects grow more complex, margins tighten and regulatory scrutiny increases, dispute-heavy delivery models are becoming commercially unsustainable. The CAC conference does not promise a frictionless industry, but it does focus on reducing avoidable friction before it becomes formal conflict.
For clients, contractors, consultants and funders, the question is no longer whether conflict avoidance works, but whether they can afford not to adopt it.
Event details:
📍 ICE, Westminster, London
📅 Wednesday 18 March 2026
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Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus
Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
