Antonia BIRT

Antonia is a partner in the firm’s Global Commercial Disputes Group with over 12 years of experience in the MENA region. She advises on the full cycle of complex, high-value commercial and construction disputes, from settlement negotiations, mediations, and other alternative dispute resolution methods, to formal dispute resolution proceedings and enforcement.

Antonia has represented state, national and multinational clients in over 30 arbitrations and several DIFC court litigations in a variety of industry sectors including oil and gas, energy and water, construction and engineering, project development, distribution, and M&A. She has experience acting under the rules of the ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC, ADCCAC, ICDR, and UNCITRAL, with seats in the major arbitral centres as well as various GCC jurisdictions, and subject to numerous governing laws, including those of the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as the laws of England and Wales.

Antonia has advised clients under investigation by the World Bank, the UK Serious Fraud Office, and various EU competition authorities. She has represented clients before regulatory bodies, led internal investigations, led compliance training and advised clients with respect to internal compliance procedures.

Since 2013, Antonia has sat as an arbitrator in disputes under the ICC, DIAC, and DIFC-LCIA rules. She also sits on several institutional panels.
Antonia regularly contributes to the arbitration community. She is the co-chair of the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge Middle East Sub-Committee and the co-chair of the Greener Arbitrations Middle East Sub-Committee. She regularly speaks at major conferences including GAR Live: Dubai, GAR Live: Abu Dhabi, and the ICC Africa Conference on International Arbitration. She co-authored the original and updated editions of the IBA Guide on Arbitration, UAE law chapter. She also teaches the International Arbitration Practicum to LL.M. students at the Pantheon Assas University Paris II, UAE.

Antonia is ranked in Chambers and Partners Global 2022: Dispute Resolution as an Up and Coming Practitioner, and in Who’s Who Legal 2022 as a Future Leader in Arbitration.