Michela D'Avino

Michela D'Avino is a Partner in the International Arbitration practice of DeBerti Jacchia in Milan. She has twenty years of experience in international dispute resolution and complex commercial matters, having practised in Milan, Rome, New York and London, including as Senior Counsel in BonelliErede's International Arbitration group (2013-2026) and as a Foreign Associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. Her practice focuses on high-stakes commercial and investment-related disputes against private companies and state entities, conducted in ad hoc and administered proceedings under all major arbitral rules (including the ICC, LCIA, DIAC, CCIR and UNCITRAL Rules), together with related corporate, M&A, construction and infrastructure matters. Ms D'Avino has particular experience with intellectual property-related liability issues, including fashion disputes, and with regulatory matters affecting highly regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals. She has further developed this expertise through specialist training in dispute resolution in the fashion and design sector, offered by the Chamber of Arbitration of Milan (CAM), which examined the most frequent IP-related claims arising in the fashion industry. Over the course of her career, she has acted as counsel in a substantial number of international arbitrations under major institutional and ad hoc rules, across different sectors including energy, construction, shipping, aviation, real estate and commercial supply. She has also served as secretary to the arbitral tribunal in several arbitration proceedings, gaining first-hand insight into tribunal decision-making. In addition, she has advised on numerous international disputes settled before reaching the arbitration stage, including in the fields of fashion licences, post-M&A, construction and pharmaceuticals. In 2024-2025, she completed the ICC Advanced Arbitration Academy for the Middle East, one of the most prestigious training programmes for arbitrators. Since 2022, she has been included in the pool of individuals selected by the European Commission as eligible for appointment as arbitrators in bilateral disputes under EU trade agreements with third countries. She has been listed in Lexology Index's (formerly Who's Who Legal) "Arbitration Future Leaders" section since 2018 and in "Italy – Arbitration" with a "Recommended" ranking since 2022. She was also listed in the "Compendium of Unicorns: A Global Guide to Women Arbitrators" (Mute Off Thursdays/GAR-Burford, December 2022). Ms D'Avino has been a member of the Italian Steering Committee of The Pledge: Equal Representation in Arbitration since 2024, and has served as co-ambassador for Italy of the Arbitration Lunch Match initiative since 2022, which was runner-up for the Pledge Award at the 2022 GAR Awards. She is a frequent speaker and moderator at international arbitration conferences and events, including recent engagements at Dubai Arbitration Week, Bocconi University's Corporate Law Academy, and events organised by the Pledge and ArbitralWomen.