Construction Industry Arbitration Council (CIAC), Delhi, India

Adv. Saju Jakob serves as the Senior Legal Advisor on Arbitration with the Construction Industry Arbitration Council (CIAC), one of India’s leading institutions dedicated to the resolution of construction and infrastructure-related disputes through arbitration and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

In this role, he provides strategic legal guidance on complex domestic and international arbitration matters involving construction contracts, infrastructure projects, engineering disputes, project delays, contractual claims, cost overruns, variation disputes, and other high-value commercial conflicts. His advisory responsibilities extend to assisting stakeholders in interpreting arbitration agreements, developing dispute resolution strategies, and ensuring compliance with evolving arbitration laws and institutional rules.

With extensive experience in construction law and commercial arbitration, Adv. Saju Jakob contributes to the promotion of efficient, cost-effective, and legally sound dispute resolution practices. His work supports contractors, developers, consultants, public sector undertakings, multinational corporations, and infrastructure stakeholders seeking effective alternatives to conventional litigation.

His association with CIAC reflects a commitment to strengthening institutional arbitration in India and advancing internationally recognized standards in dispute management and conflict resolution within the construction and infrastructure sectors.

Key responsibilities and expertise

Strategic arbitration counsel: Advises CIAC and member parties on arbitration clause drafting, selection of arbitral tribunals, emergency relief (interim measures), jurisdictional challenges, and enforcement strategies under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and applicable international instruments.

Case management and tribunal support: Oversees appointment procedures, provides legal research and drafting for pleadings, interim applications, expert witness coordination, hearing management, and award-writing assistance to ensure procedurally robust and enforceable outcomes.

Construction law and contract interpretation: Applies deep sector knowledge to interpret EPC, FIDIC, PWD, municipal and state works contracts, sub-contract arrangements, and payment/security provisions (bank guarantees, performance bonds), focusing on risk allocation and remedy design.

Multi-jurisdictional disputes: Navigates conflicts of laws, parallel proceedings, and cross-border enforcement, integrating comparative arbitration practice and international commercial arbitration norms where projects involve foreign parties, lenders, or EPC contractors.

Capacity building and institutional development: Supports CIAC’s procedural rules, case-management tools, emergency arbitrator frameworks and training programs for tribunal secretaries, arbitrators, counsel, and construction professionals.

Policy advice and dispute prevention: Advises on dispute avoidance mechanisms such as early neutral evaluation, dispute review boards (DRBs), stepped dispute resolution clauses, and contract management best practices to reduce project disruption.

Why institutions rely on his advice

Proven track record in resolving high-stake construction disputes, combining technical contract insight with arbitration procedure mastery.

Practical, enforceable solutions that balance commercial realities, time sensitivity, and legal rigour.

Ability to translate complex technical and commercial facts into clear legal arguments for tribunals and enforcement courts.

Contact / Engagement
Organisations and parties engaging CIAC on construction arbitrations can request advisory services, tribunal support, or bespoke training modules. For enquiries, list typical scope (case stage, contract type, cross-border element) to facilitate a prompt engagement proposal.