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WHO'S WHO
Ifriqya Online Directory
An added value Directory of North African International Arbitrators & ADR practioners verified and qualified by IAF.
Sabrina Aïnouz
Counsel & Arbitrator
Nationality: Algerian/French
Sabrina Aïnouz is a partner in the International Dispute Resolution Practice Group of Squire Patton Boggs, based in the Paris office. She advises and represents states, state-owned entities, and private sector companies in investor-state and commercial arbitrations across diverse sectors, including oil and gas, mining, construction, telecommunications, and general commercial disputes. Her extensive experience includes arbitrations conducted under all major institutional rules, such as ICC, ICSID, SCC, and UNCITRAL. Additionally, she serves as counsel in proceedings before French courts, focusing on the enforcement and annulment of international arbitral awards.
- Partner, Squire Patton Boggs, (Paris, France) | Oct 2020 – present
- Partner, DWF, (Paris, France) | Jan 2018 – Oct 2020
- Partner, Curtis, Maller-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, (Paris, France) | Jan 2016 – Dec 2017
- Counsel, Curtis, Maller-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, (Paris, France) | Jan 2014 – Dec 2015
- Associate, Curtis, Maller-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, (Paris, France) | Jan 2006 – Dec 2013
- Paris X, Master II in International Dispute Resolution, with honours, 2004
- Paris X, Master I in Political Science, with honours, 2003
- Paris X, Master I in Business Law, with honours, 2002
- Representative Arbitration Cases
- Counsel for Algeria in a US$3.6 billion ICSID arbitration initiated by a Danish oil company, under the Algeria-Denmark BIT, in connection with the alleged expropriation of its rights under a production sharing agreement.
- Counsel for Sonatrach, the Algerian national oil company, in a US$12 billion UNCITRAL arbitration initiated by US and Danish oil companies in connection with the alleged breach of tax provisions in a production sharing agreement (arbitration in French and English; Algerian law applicable).
- Counsel for the Republic of Benin in a US$35 million ICSID arbitration initiated by seven companies under Benin’s foreign investment laws, in connection with the construction of a hotel complex.
- Counsel for the Russian Federation in a US$1 billion UNCITRAL arbitration initiated by a US oil major in connection with the alleged breach of profit tax provisions in a production sharing agreement.
- Counsel for the Republic of Kazakhstan in a multibillion UNCITRAL arbitration arising out of a consortium of oil majors’ alleged failure to develop an oil field, recovery of costs in breach of their obligations under a production sharing agreement and multiple breaches of their environmental obligations.
- Counsel for the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh NOC in a parallel US$7 billion UNCITRAL arbitration and expert determination proceedings against a consortium of oil majors in connection with the alleged breach by the consortium of a production sharing agreement.
- Counsel for the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh NOC in a US$4 billion UNCITRAL arbitration against a consortium of oil majors in connection with the alleged breach by the consortium of the profit sharing provisions in a production sharing agreement.
- Counsel for the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh NOC in an UNCITRAL arbitration against a consortium of oil majors in connection with the alleged breach by the consortium of the cost recovery provisions in a production sharing agreement.
- Counsel for Turkmenistan in a US$2 billion ICSID arbitration initiated by a Russian telecommunication company under the Russia-Turkmenistan BIT, in connection with the termination of various contracts.
- Counsel for Turkmenistan in a US$275 million ICSID arbitration initiated by a Turkish company, under the Turkey-Turkmenistan BIT, in connection with the alleged expropriation of its rights under major construction contracts.
- Counsel for Turkmenistan in a US$65 million ICSID arbitration initiated by a UK company, under the UK-Turkmenistan BIT, in connection with the alleged expropriation of its rights under major construction contracts.
- Counsel for Turkmenistan in a US$60 million ICSID arbitration initiated by a German national under the Germany-Turkmenistan BIT, in connection with the alleged expropriation of a poultry business, as well as in proceedings for the annulment of the award before ICSID.
- Counsel for Turkmenistan in ICSID arbitration initiated by a Turkish company under the Turkey-Turkmenistan BIT, in connection with the alleged expropriation of its rights under major construction contracts.
- Sabrina has been admitted to the Paris bar since 2006.
- Sabrina is currently the vice-chair of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR (2014-2027).
- Sabrina served as a member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration from 2018-2024, representing Algeria.
- Sabrina is an ambassador of the ICC Africa Commission.
- Since December 2021, Sabrina has been vice president of the Paris Arbitration Week.
association.
- Speaker, “State Representation”, African Arbitration Academy, London, June 2023.
- Speaker, “Behind the Scenes of the ICC Court – A Mock Scrutiny”, ICC 7th Africa Conference, Lagos, June 2023.
- Co-author, “Energy Transition and Renewables in MENA: Key Drivers and Future Prospects for the Dispute Resolution Landscape”, The Oath Legal Magazine, May 2023.
- Speaker, “Proper law and Seat of Arbitration for Disputes in the MENA region”, Cyprus Arbitration Day, May 2023.
- Speaker, “Energy transition-related Disputes in the MENA Region”, ICC 11th MENA Conference, Abu Dhabi, February 2023.
- Lecturer, “Multiparty Arbitration and Consolidation”, ICC Institute Training on Complex Arbitrations, Abu Dhabi, February 2023.
- Speaker, “Behind the Scenes of the ICC Court – A Mock Scrutiny”, ICC-IFRIQYA North African Arbitration Days, Tunis, December 2022.
- Lecturer, “How to Draft Enforceable Damage Awards”, ICC Institute Advanced Level Training on Drafting Enforceable Awards, Abu Dabi, October 2022.
- Speaker, “Investor-State Arbitration in Africa – Latest Developments”, Baltic Arbitration Days, Riga, June 2022
- French (fluent)
- English (fluent)
