ABSTRACT
This chapter describes in detail the professional disciplinary procedures for architects. The codes of conduct of both the Architects Registration Board and the RIBA impose subtly different obligations on architects in terms of their professional behaviour. The chapter provides an overview of the main dispute resolution options. From a consumer protection perspective, members of the public must be allowed, without risk of incurring legal costs, to raise issues of unacceptable professional conduct or serious professional incompetence in a public forum. The chapter reviews in detail the theory and practice of statutory adjudication, arbitration, litigation and mediation. Adjudication is a fast, relatively affordable, but adversarial dispute resolution procedure. The possibility of adjudication will help to concentrate the mind of a client who would otherwise not think twice before withholding fees. The parties to a commercial contract may choose to have disputes resolved by arbitration, as an alternative to litigation.
