Douglas Jones AO

Independent Arbitrator

Sydney www.dougjones.info

dougjones@dougjones.info Tel: +61 2 9137 6652

Biography

Doug Jones AO is a leading independent international commercial and investor-state arbitrator with over 40 years’ prior experience as an international transactional and disputes project lawyer. Doug is a door tenant at Atkin Chambers London and has chambers in Sydney and Toronto. He is also an International Judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court.

What inspired you to pursue construction arbitration?

Prior to my work as an arbitrator, my career in practice was as a transactional and disputes lawyer for national and international infrastructure projects. This work led me naturally into the field of dispute resolution which, in international construction, is almost always by arbitration. In my role as a full-time arbitrator only about 50% of my cases involve construction but my capacity to contribute to arbitration processes involving various areas of commercial activity is developed well through this experience with construction arbitration, the complexity of which is often unmatched in other areas of dispute resolution.

How does your membership in a wide range of committees and associations enhance your practice?

Being part of the professional community associated with dispute resolution, arbitration, and areas of specialisation such as construction provides a valuable opportunity to keep abreast of commercial and legal developments in dispute resolution, which enhances my practice.

As cross-border matters become more political, how do you navigate through such sensitivities?

In my view, cross-border issues have always had some politics associated with them, although in purely commercial matters it is only in the context of sanctions that cross-border issues become more clearly politicised. However, in commercial matters involving state parties there is also obviously a need to be aware of the capacity of state parties to be responsive to the process. Sensitivity to cultural issues is important.

What skills are needed to successfully collaborate with lawyers, experts and authorities in different jurisdictions?

Recognition of the differing approaches of legal cultures around the world is critical for successful collaboration. Devising appropriate procedures for an arbitration is a consultative process involving the parties, lawyers and experts which needs to be undertaken with care. I have always thought that every arbitration is a process involving arb-med, that is, the need to decide the issues but mediate the process.

Peers and clients say: “The best at managing expert advice” “Perhaps the best in the world” “A very impressive arbitrator” “He manages the process with exceptional efficiency” “Superstar status”