DPC™ · Dispute Prevention Framework
Find the weak points before a contract problem becomes a dispute.
DPC™ is UNIONE™’s prevention framework for eligible cross-border contracts. It identifies the weak points that lead to disputes, helps you fix them and sets up a clear escalation path during performance. It usually follows a Contract Intelligence™ review and runs for the life of the relationship, with a Standing Neutral where the parties agree.
What DPC™ looks at
The aim is earlier visibility, clearer escalation and a better contract record.
A coherent dispute clause
We review the seat, rules, interaction with governing law, multi-tier steps and obvious structural issues.
Rights and records
Notice, milestones, records, decision ownership and escalation.
Fixes before problems harden
We flag weaknesses and suggest changes to the contract or process where appropriate.
Ongoing neutral support
A Standing Neutral role applies only where separately agreed under the DPC™ terms and the contract, after a conflict check.
How DPC™ works
Intake
We confirm that your contract and the scope you want fit the DPC™ framework.
Review
We assess the defined checkpoints and identify assumptions or weaknesses.
Recommended fixes
You get a clear chance to correct or clarify issues where appropriate.
Recorded outcome
We record the DPC™ outcome under the applicable framework.
Ongoing prevention
Where separately agreed, escalation and Standing Neutral support continue during performance. They don’t decide who is later appointed as tribunal or expert.
Apply for DPC™
Better prepared for disputes
A DPC™ review improves your readiness for a dispute. The contract, the governing law, later facts and the competent tribunal or court still decide the legal consequences.
Three types of DPC™
The right type depends on the value, duration and complexity of the contract. Each is tied to a specific contract version, given a unique DPC™ number and entered in the public Registry, where lenders, investors and counterparties can check it.
Clause-Only DPC™
For shorter commercial agreements. You receive a compliance review of the dispute clause, enforcement research for it, the confirmed model clause variant and a registered DPC™ number.
Standard DPC™
For medium-term agreements, joint ventures and supply contracts. You receive a full contract dispute-risk review, ambiguity and gap analysis, a check of the change mechanism, a confirmed clause and a registered DPC™ number.
Comprehensive DPC™
For long-term, high-value contracts. Everything in the Standard DPC™, plus a Standing Neutral, a written early-warning system, periodic relationship reviews and renewal at contract review points.
Good to know
DPC™ is prevention and decision support. It does not certify that a contract is enforceable everywhere, and it cannot guarantee that disputes will be avoided.
Contract validity, mandatory domestic law, regulatory matters, court remedies, enforceability and other local questions need qualified local counsel where they apply.
UNIONE™ Rules & Procedures v4.0 were adopted by the Global Council in April 2026. Any arbitration follows the parties’ agreement, the applicable law and the Rules in force when it begins.
Why people use it
DPC™ (Dispute Prevention Certification) reviews a contract before signature or during performance, fixes what would cause a dispute, and registers a DPC™ number tied to that exact version of the contract. Lenders, investors and counterparties can check it in the public Registry.
- Most disputes are decided by the contract long before anyone files a claim.
- A registered DPC™ number shows lenders, insurers and the other side that the contract was checked by an independent institution.
- DPC™ Comprehensive adds a Standing Neutral and early-warning checkpoints for the life of the contract, so problems are solved while the project still runs.
When to order it
- Clause-Only: before signature of any cross-border commercial agreement, or when a template is standardised.
- Standard: before signing a medium-term supply, distribution, services or joint venture agreement, or at a scheduled review point.
- Comprehensive: at financial close of a long-term project or concession, when lenders and partners want prevention built into the life of the contract.
- Any tier: when a lender, insurer or counterparty asks for independent evidence that the contract was checked.
How it works
1. Your matter
You. You enter the matter online and upload the documents; your browser extracts the text and UNIONE™'s own servers run the analysis. Nothing is kept until you submit.
2. DPC™ checkpoints
UNIONE™ software. The dispute clause tested against the DPC™ checkpoints, the right tier and a draft model-clause variant.
3. Confirm and pay
You. You check the plan and pay by card on Stripe's secure page, at the end of the application.
4. Conflict and independence check
Secretariat · 2 working days. The Secretariat checks every party against UNIONE™, its Fellows and the Federation. Nobody reads the merits until it is clear.
5. Fellow appointed
Named Fellow. The Secretariat appoints a Fellow with the right jurisdictions; the Fellow declares independence online before opening the file.
6. Fellow's review
Named Fellow · 7 working days. The Fellow reviews the clause and the enforcement position and writes the fixes.
7. You adopt the fixes
You. You see the fixes on your page, adopt them in the contract and confirm (the clock pauses while you do).
8. Second-Fellow check
Second Fellow · 2 working days. A second Fellow checks the adopted version.
9. Certificate and Registry entry
UNIONE™ software · 1 working day. The DPC™ certificate is issued with its number and fingerprint, and the Registry entry goes live.
How we deliver
- Clause-Only: 10 working days after the conflict check. Standard: 20 working days. Comprehensive: as quoted.
- DPC™ report with the fixes, the confirmed clause and the certificate (PDF).
- Registry entry at the level you choose: full, limited or private.
- Comprehensive: Standing Neutral and periodic reviews for the life of the contract.
Pricing and what it buys
- Clause-Only and Standard: published fixed fees. Comprehensive: quoted from the published "from" figure, fixed before work starts.
- Refunded in full if the conflict check cannot be cleared.
| Service | USD | EUR | GBP | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPC™ Clause-Only | 950 | 890 | 790 | DPC™ Clause-Only fee |
| DPC™ Standard | 3,500 | 3,250 | 2,850 | DPC™ Standard fee |
| DPC™ Comprehensive | 9,500 | 8,900 | 7,700 | From; fixed in the quote |
The software and AI in this service
Before you pay: DPC™ checkpoints. The dispute clause tested against the DPC™ checkpoints, the right tier and a draft model-clause variant. It runs on UNIONE™'s own servers and sends nothing to an AI provider.
On submission, UNIONE™'s pre-check, run on our own servers, tells you what is missing before a Fellow starts (an unsigned schedule, no governing law, a counterparty without its legal name).
- Once the conflict check clears, the Fellow receives an AI brief: structure, key dates, the clauses that drive the DPC™ checkpoints. The Fellow decides every finding.
- Choose "no AI" on the form for a human-only review.
- AI provider: OpenAI, under business API terms that do not allow training on your data.
Practical guide: what to have ready
- The contract and its schedules, and any side letters.
- Legal names of all parties, for the conflict check.
- A decision on how public the Registry entry should be.
- For Comprehensive: whether the other party agrees to a Standing Neutral.
See a sample
A specimen DPC™ certificate for an illustrative EPC contract: DPC™ number, outcome, reviewing Fellow, fingerprint and Registry entry. Illustrative parties and facts.
Frequently asked questions
Does DPC™ mean the contract is enforceable?
No. DPC™ certifies that the contract was reviewed under the DPC™ framework and records the outcome. It does not certify validity or enforceability in any country.
What happens if we amend the contract?
The certificate is tied to the version reviewed by its fingerprint. An amendment needs a new review; Comprehensive renews the certificate at each review point.
Can the other party see our DPC™?
The Registry shows what you choose. Anyone can verify a number you give them.
Do both parties have to apply?
No. Either party can apply. A Standing Neutral needs both parties' agreement.
Which tier do we need?
Clause-Only checks the dispute clause and its enforcement; Standard reviews the whole contract's dispute risk; Comprehensive adds a Standing Neutral and reviews for the life of the contract.
What exactly is on the certificate?
The DPC™ number, the tier, the contract title and version fingerprint (SHA-256 of the file reviewed), the outcome, the reviewing Fellow, the issue date and the Registry level you chose. A verifier types the number into the Registry and sees the same record.
Ready to start?
DPC™ (Dispute Prevention Certification) reviews a contract before signature or during performance, fixes what would cause a dispute, and registers a DPC™ number tied to that exact version of the contract. Lenders, investors and counterparties can check it in the public Registry.
Where to go next
The UNIONE™ System
How Before You Sign, Before You Arbitrate, arbitration and Before You Enforce fit together.
UNIONE™ Solutions
All UNIONE™ services in one place, from contract review to recovery.
Before You Sign
Fix it in the contract and the clause before it escalates.
Before You Arbitrate
Test the evidence, the exposure and the alternatives before you commit to a formal process.
Before You Enforce
Follow the decision through to the court, the security, the assets and the recovery.
About UNIONE™
UNIONE™ is a cross-border dispute prevention and resolution institution, from contract review and assessment to mediation, arbitration and enforcement planning.
How to use UNIONE™
A short guide to finding the right UNIONE™ service, whether you are drafting a contract, facing a live dispute, going to arbitration or recovering an award.
Contact UNIONE™
Talk to the Secretariat in confidence.