Antonia Birt

Dispute avoidance

Antonia focuses on dispute avoidance. As part of that, she advises clients on effective drafting of dispute resolution clauses. She also supports clients in proactive contract management and document management, helping them stay ahead of potential disputes.

When disputes do occur, Antonia focuses on achieving amicable resolutions, using a variety of settlement and alternative dispute resolution tools, including expert determination or mediation. Antonia's approach combines strategic foresight with a commitment to practical, client-centred solutions.

Arbitration practice

Antonia has represented state, national, and multinational clients in arbitrations in a variety of industry sectors including oil and gas, energy, water, construction and engineering, project development and real estate, distribution, corporate and M&A, as well as other financial and commercial disputes. 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 pursuant to numerous governing laws, including those of the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and England and Wales.

Since 2013, Antonia has sat as arbitrator in disputes under the ICC, LCIA, DIAC, and DIFC-LCIA rules. She is also listed on several institutional panels.

Litigation practice

Antonia represents clients facing commercial disputes before the DIFC and ADGM courts. She has full rights of audience before the offshore courts of the UAE, and acts as counsel and advocate.

Together with the team's onshore litigation professionals, Antonia advises clients on their most complex disputes in local UAE courts (collaborating with experienced local counsel).

Investigations and compliance practice

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 and compliance training, and advised clients on internal compliance procedures.

Thought leadership and rankings

Antonia regularly contributes to the arbitration community. She has been appointed as UAE delegate to the ICC Global Commission on Arbitration and ADR for the term 2024 - 2027. Since 2019, Antonia has taught the International Arbitration Practicum to LL.M. students at the Pantheon-Assas University Paris II, UAE. She co-chairs the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge Middle East Subcommittee. Antonia is a member of the IBA Commercial Arbitration Case Law Subcommittee responsible for the UAE, having co-authored the original and updated editions of the IBA Guide on Arbitration, UAE law chapter. Antonia is also an appointed UAE delegate to the ICC Global Commission on Arbitration and ADR.

Antonia was named Arbitration Lawyer of the Year at the Lexis Nexis Women in Law Awards 2024. She was also shortlisted for the Middle East Rising Star Award at the Chambers Middle East Awards 2024. Antonia is ranked in Lexology Index in Arbitration 2025 as Recommended for Arbitration – having previously been ranked as Most Highly Regarded of the Future Leaders – and in Chambers and Partners Global 2022 to 2024 Dispute Resolution as an Up and Coming Practitioner.