"Dr Dimitar Kondev's book on multi-party and multi-contract arbitration in the construction industry tackles a complex topic, which presents many hurdles in practice. Dr Kondev has successfully accomplished this difficult task. He leads the reader through the intricacies and pitfalls of this subject in an efficient and well-structured manner. He also takes a convincing stance on the most controversial issue and proposes pragmatic and workable solutions to the recurring problems that arise with respect to multi-party arbitration in construction disputes. This book might be of interest not only for practitioners specialised in construction arbitration but also for the arbitration community...

In view of the foregoing, there is no doubt that this book is a must read for arbitration practitioners. Let us hope that Dr Kondev's recommendations will be well received and implemented by the practitioners and drafters of international standard forms and arbitration rules. This would be a significant step-forward in enhancing dispute resolution in the construction industry."

Fabrice Robert-Tissot, International Business Law Journal (RDAI 2018/1, pp 121-124)



"This is the first book which deals with multi-party and multi-contract arbitration in the construction sector.... In his book, Dr Kondev makes an in-depth analysis of the legal regulation of this type of arbitration contained in the most popular institutional arbitration rules and the arbitration laws of different jurisdictions. The book also offers an up-to-date and thorough review of how multi-party and multi-contract arbitration is dealt with in the most widely used international standard forms of construction contract (such as the FIDIC books, NEC3, etc.) and some domestic standard forms (used mostly in Great Britain, the US and some Scandinavian countries)... The book also contains practical guidelines for drafting multi-party arbitration clauses... Because of the importance of the matters discussed in this treatise, it would be of great value to lawyers, arbitrators and academics in the field of international commercial arbitration."

Society and Law (5/2017, pp 111-112)

"Complex arbitration disputes involving multiple parties and multiple contracts are both an evergreen - as demonstrated by the extensive literature on the subject - and a hot topic - confirmed, eg, by numerous amendments to arbitration rules in recent years... Given this background, is it possible to add anything new or meaningful? KONDEV has demonstrated that it definitely is. On the one hand, his study is clearly structured, well written, and thoroughly researched; this alone makes it stand out and merit a strong recommendation. On the other hand, KONDEV adds a specialist perspective to the debate, namely that of the construction industry... The author 'attempted to bridge the gap between the theoretical proposals regarding multi-party arbitration and their practical application' (pp 326-327). It is submitted that he fully succeeded. Anyone dealing with multi-party, multicontract issues in the construction industry will benefit from this new book - drafters of contracts or rules as well as counsel, arbitrators, or judges in pending proceedings."

Johannes Landbrecht, 36 ASA Bulletin 1/2018 (March), p. 256

"Another publication on multi-party arbitration? Was that necessary, given that a lot has been written about this topic over the years already? It was. For at least two reasons. First, most of the existing contributions discuss the issue in a general context without regard to the peculiarities of disputes and specific contractual frameworks found in the construction industry. Second, many articles identify the numerous problems of multi-party arbitration without providing any self-contained practical solutions. Dimitar Kondev's 408-page book fills these two gaps...

For a number of reasons, Kondev's book is of great value. It provides a useful overview of different approaches in arbitration rules, arbitration legislation and standard form contracts. It explains the importance of tailoring arbitration agreements to reflect the peculiarities of each project, the peculiarities of the underlying contracts, the peculiarities of the applicable arbitration rules and relevant national laws. Finally, the author addresses concerns and provides thoughts and ideas that are absolutely essential for drafting multi-party arbitration clauses. Not only, but in particular, the last two chapters of the book are very inspiring, even for experienced practitioners, and the various committees and working groups involved in the development of standard form contracts and arbitration rules."

Hein-Jurgen Schramke, Construction Law International 13 (1) (March 2018)



"As surprising as it may sound, Multi-Party and Multi-Contract Arbitration in the Construction Industry appears to be the first published monograph dealing specifically with the topic of multi-party and multi-contract arbitration in the construction sector. [Dr Kondev's] dual background as practicing lawyer and scholar allows him to address with success the topic of this book from both theoretical and practical standpoints...

Dr Kondev's expertise and well researched approach makes this monograph a highly informative read. Dr Kondev's insightful book will be of use first and foremost to construction practitioners who are looking for a comprehensive study of the difficulties raised by the multi-party and multi-contract nature of construction disputes. That book, however, should also appeal to general arbitration practitioners and academics looking to deepen their understanding of multi-party and multi-contract arbitration, as much of the insights transpose well into areas of arbitration practice other than construction."

Dr. Remy Gerbay, ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin, Issue 2 (2018), pp. 83-84



"Dr Kondev's book provides a useful in-depth analysis of the three main legal sources of the regulation of multi-party arbitration: the arbitration agreement, applicable arbitration rules and arbitration laws... Dr Kondev's clear analysis leads him to conclude that the current legal framework has largely failed to provide workable solutions for the construction sector. He suggests two ways in which this framework could be improved: through the contractual regulation of multi-party disputes and by amendments to the arbitration institutional rules. Of particular practical use, recognising that the drafting of multi-party arbitration clauses can be a daunting complex exercise, Dr Kondev considers in detail the drafting of such clauses. He provides clear, and sensible guidelines, as a checklist for the drafter.

Overall Dr Kondev has achieved his aim: to contribute at the theoretical level and to produce a book with a clear practical approach to the problems discussed. His book is of interest to anyone involved or interested in international construction arbitration including in-house lawyers, arbitrators, private practitioners, academics and those involved in drafting international standard forms and arbitration rules. "

Marion Smith QC, 35 The International Construction Law Review, No. 3 (2018), pp. 359-360