This article discusses the place of amicable settlement in construction disputes and the room for amicable settlements in multi-tiered dispute resolution clauses, in particular in the FIDIC and NEC contracts. The author stresses that the key to achieving amicable settlements is adequate involvement of the parties and that all laudable efforts by their advisors, lawyers or third parties (participation of an impartial engineer, mediator, dispute board, expert or arbitration tribunal) will be fruitless if the parties are not engaged.