Job Description:
Role Title: Director - Commercial Disputes (5 years fixed-term)
Project: Commercial Disputes Resolution (Commercial Courts & Tribunals)
Location: Bengaluru (with significant project travel)
Reporting: Programme Director/Senior leadership
About DAKSH
DAKSH's work on commercial dispute resolution builds naturally on our core mission: strengthening public institutions to be responsive to citizens' needs. Our track record includes assisting the Delhi High Court with court management pilots, serving on Supreme Court committees, contributing to the State of Tribunals Report, and building coalitions like the Coalition for the GST Appellate Tribunal. This initiative extends our proven approach—data-driven diagnostics, systems thinking, institutional engagement, and multi-stakeholder convening—to address a critical economic bottleneck affecting India's ease of doing business and competitiveness.
This role is ideal for individuals who combine deep domain expertise in commercial law, strategic vision for institutional reform, and proven leadership in managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives. The ability to build trust with courts, tribunals, government, and industry while driving evidence-based policy influence will be critical to success.
Role Summary
DAKSH is seeking a senior legal or policy leader to head its Commercial Disputes initiative, a five-year programme focused on improving the efficiency, predictability, and accessibility of Indias commercial dispute resolution system. The role offers an opportunity to lead high-impact, system-level reform addressing key bottlenecks in contract enforcement, arbitration, and tribunal functioning.
India currently ranks 163rd globally on enforcing contracts, with commercial disputes taking an average of 1,445 days to resolve—significantly longer than peer economies. This initiative responds to these challenges through evidence-based research, institutional partnerships, and multi-stakeholder coalitions across commercial courts and tribunals. The Director will be responsible for shaping strategy, leading execution, and building scalable, replicable models that improve outcomes for businesses, citizens, and institutions.
Key Responsibilities
1. Institutional Engagement & Partnerships (25%)
- Actively lead in collaboratively setting the research agenda and strategic priorities for commercial courts and tribunals work
- Develop and refine theory of change and impact pathways
- Identify pilot jurisdictions and institutional partners
- Represent DAKSH at high-level policy forums and convenings
- Provide strategic advisory to institutions on pathways for reform Lead development of frameworks and tools for institutional adoption
- Create training content and deliver capacity building sessions
- Facilitate dialogue between institutions, bar, government, and industry stakeholders.
2. Research & Policy Development (50%)
- Oversee research on commercial courts, tribunals, arbitration ecosystem
- Guide development of policy papers and knowledge products
- Ensure research quality, methodological rigor, and actionable recommendations
- Synthesize comparative insights from global best practices
- Lead policy advocacy and influencing strategy
3. Team Management & Organizational Development (25%)
- Build and lead high-performing research team
- Mentor team members and support their professional development
- Foster collaborative culture aligned with DAKSH values
- Design and execute multi-stakeholder convenings
- Contribute to organizational strategy and fundraising
Operating Network
Key Internal | Research team (Senior RAs, RAs), Programme Director, Senior leadership, Communications team, DAKSH board and advisors |
Key External | Institutional and government stakeholders, State governments, bar associations, arbitration institutions, industry bodies, think tanks, funders.
Candidate Profile
Educational Qualification:
- Master's degree in Law, Economics, or Public Policy. A PhD would be an advantage.
Core Experience Required:
- At least 10-15 years of demonstrable experience in legal practice (commercial litigation, arbitration), policy research, or institutional reform
- Deep understanding of India's commercial dispute resolution landscape including commercial courts, arbitration law, tribunal functioning
- Proven track record of leading complex, multi-year initiatives with measurable outcomes
- Strong institutional relationships with judiciary, government, or legal ecosystem
- Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including policy writing and public speaking
- Experience managing teams and budgets
- Demonstrated ability to navigate complex institutional settings and build consensus
- Commitment to evidence-based reform and public interest
Preferable Experience
- Published work on commercial law, dispute resolution, or institutional reform
Compensation
Remuneration will be competitive with Indian social sector pay scales and with organizations working with a similar mandate.