Michela D’Avino joined the Firm as partner in 2026. She started her professional career in 2006 at BonelliErede, where she was seconded to Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP as a Foreign Lawyer in the New York and London offices in 2011–2012.

Michela’s practice has focused primarily on international arbitration, complemented by substantial experience in corporate, commercial, M&A, and transactional matters, both domestic and cross-border.

Michela regularly acts as counsel before international arbitration tribunals in high-stakes commercial and investment-related disputes. She represents clients against private companies and state entities under various jurisdictions, in proceedings governed by the rules of leading arbitral institutions, including the ICC, LCIA, DIAC, CCIR, LMAA and UNCITRAL Rules, and in ad hoc proceedings.

Her client support extends across the full dispute lifecycle – including risk assessment in the preliminary phase, interim measures, and negotiation and settlement strategies.

Michela’s dispute resolution practice encompasses disputes arising from M&A transactions and corporate matters; construction, engineering, and infrastructure projects; and a wide range of commercial contracts across different industry sectors (e.g., fashion and luxury, defence, shipping and aviation, pharmaceutical).

In recent years, Michela has been increasingly active in the Middle East arbitration market and has further consolidated her expertise through participation in the ICC Advanced Arbitration Academy for the Middle East (2024–2025), one of the most prestigious programmes for arbitrators.

Since 2022, Michela has been included in the pool of individuals selected by the European Commission as eligible for appointment as arbitrators in bilateral disputes under the European Union trade agreements with third countries.

She is a member of the Italian Steering Committee of The Pledge: Equal Representation in Arbitration since 2024, and Co-Ambassador for Italy of the Arbitration Lunch Match initiative since 2022.

Michela has been consistently listed in Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) as an “Arbitration Future Leader”, dedicated to the world leaders in international arbitration under 45, since 2018, and is ranked “Recommended” in the “Italy – Arbitration” section since 2022. She is also included in the Mute Off Thursday’ “Compendium of Unicorns: A Global Guide to Women Arbitrators” (GAR-Burford, December 2022).

Michela has written extensively on international arbitration and ADR matters, with publications in leading Italian and international journals, including Diritto del Commercio Internazionale, Rivista Trimestrale degli Appalti, The Oath Legal Magazine and The Global Legal Post.

She frequently speaks at conferences and events on international arbitration and ADR.