Bio

Cecilia Carrara has significant experience in the field of national and international, commercial and investment arbitration proceedings, both institutional and ad hoc, acting as counsel and as arbitrator. She further represents international and Italian companies in arbitration-related proceedings in front of the national courts, such as recognition and enforcement proceedings of arbitral awards. Cecilia has been admitted to practice before the Italian Supreme Court. Cecilia also focuses on mergers & acquisitions, extraordinary corporate transactions and commercial contracts, mainly representing foreign clients investing in Italy. In particular, Cecilia is responsible for the Legance German desk, having a specific focus on German speaking countries and Eastern Europe. Cecilia coordinates the corporate social activities of the Firm. Cecilia is a member of the Steering Committee of the Pledge and a member of the board of directors of AIA (Associazione Italiana per l’Arbitrato). She has been a member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration from July 2015 until January 2020, of the Board Council of ICC Italy from January 2018 until May 2019, co-chair of the arbitration working group of ASLA (the Association of Italian Law Firms) from January 2014 to November 2019 and Vice Chair of the Host Committee of the IBA Annual Conference held in Rome in October 2018. She has also been a member of the ICC Task Force on Emergency Arbitrator Proceedings, of the ICC Task Force on Arbitration of Climate Change Related Disputes and of the IBA Task Force in charge of reviewing the 2010 IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence in International Arbitration. She is co-founder of ArbIt (the Italian Forum for Arbitration and ADR) and member of its Advisory Board. As from December 2021, Cecilia is a member of the Beirat of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS). As from April 2022, Cecilia is a member of the Executive Board of the UN Global Compact Network Italy. As of January 2023, Cecilia is a member of the International Advisory Board of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (“VIAC”). As of January 2023, Cecilia has been designated by the Italian government as a member of the ICSID Panel of Conciliators. Cecilia Carrara is mentioned in several international publications as follows: “Cecilia Carrara is an expert in international arbitration“, “Cecilia Carrara has a remarkable understanding and ability to analyse clients’ business, as well as a significant capability to perform the tasks assigned productively and constructively. She also has considerable logical thinking skills that allow her to prepare persuasive case arguments“, “she is diplomatic and very attentive to the balance of a case.” (Chambers and Partners 2023), “technically good in arbitration. She is estimated and appreciated“(Chambers and Partners 2022), “a very knowledgeable lawyer” and “a specialist in arbitration” (Chambers and Partners 2021), “an experienced international arbitration specialist” (Chambers and Partners 2020), “she is excellent” (Chambers and Partners 2019), “able to quickly grasp the issues and is a very intelligent lawyer who has in-depth knowledge of international arbitration” (Chambers and Partners 2018). In 2019 Cecilia has been ranked by Leaders League in Excellent Tier, for the area Litigation & Arbitration-Commercial Litigation – Italy Law Firm. Cecilia Carrara has been identified by Who’s Who Legal – Global Arbitration Review in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018 as one of the world’s leading experts on commercial arbitration, and she is mentioned as follows “an excellent professional” (2022), “Cecilia is very proactive and is able to provide sophisticated advice at short notice“, “an extremely able lawyer and arbitrator“, “she’s highly intelligent and good to work with, with a broad legal knowledge” (2021), “a practitioner to admire” and “a great lawyer“, “very diligent in arbitration proceedings, with deep experience in post-M&A disputes” (2020), “pleasure to work with”, “highly recommended both as counsel and arbitrator” (2018). Cecilia is also recommended in The Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner (2022, 2021) as follows: “Cecilia Carrara is an excellent professional in the field of Italian disputes, and certainly among the best when it comes to international arbitration. Competent, very helpful and dedicated to customers”, (2022).