Image of Sandrina Antohi

Sandrina Antohi

Senior Associate

Sandrina advises and represents companies, State-owned entities and sovereigns in high stakes, complex international disputes.

She has acted in international commercial as well as investment treaty arbitrations, under various arbitral rules (including ICSID, ICC, HKIAC, SCC and UNCITRAL), in sectors including energy and natural resources, infrastructure projects, joint ventures, financial services, telecommunications and private equity. Sandrina also advises in relation to contract and settlement negotiation, investment structuring, risk management, award set-aside and enforcement proceedings, as well as matters of public international law.

In particular, Sandrina has significant experience acting as counsel in connection with politically sensitive matters, including relationships of private entities with governments, the effects of armed conflict, sanctions, and unrecognized states. Sandrina is trained and experienced in common law as well as civil law, including mixed Islamic-civil law systems. Sandrina has also acted as arbitral tribunal secretary.

Sandrina is a member of the firm's Human Rights at Sea Arbitration team. A collaboration between the firm and UK-based charity Human Rights at Sea, this innovative project seeks to develop a system for the arbitration of complaints concerning human rights abuses at sea.

Experience

Representative matters

International arbitrations on which Sandrina Antohi has worked include the representation of:

An international joint venture in an ICC arbitration in Paris brought by a European contractor. The dispute concerns the construction of a gas processing facility in Africa. The law of the country of the project applies.

An international joint venture and its shareholders in an ICC arbitration in Paris brought by a Middle Eastern contractor. The dispute concerns the construction of living quarters for a gas processing facility in Africa, including claims of force majeure in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The law of the country of the project applies.

Ukraine, Respondent in an SCC arbitration in Stockholm brought by VEB.RF. The dispute relates to sanctions and other measures allegedly targeting Russian banks in Ukraine after 2014. The claims are brought under the 1998 Ukraine-Russia bilateral investment treaty.

A leading European energy group, Claimant in a UNCITRAL arbitration against the Kingdom of Spain under the Energy Charter Treaty. The dispute relates to measures taken by Spain in the renewable energy sector.

Alpiq AG in proceedings initiated by our client to request the partial annulment of the Award rendered on 9 November 2018 in an ICSID arbitration against Romania (ICSID Case No. ARB/14/28). The dispute concerns electricity generation and distribution operations and the claims in the underlying arbitration were brought under the Energy Charter Treaty as well as the Switzerland-Romania bilateral investment treaty.

An intergovernmental organization, Claimant and Respondent on Counterclaim in an ICC arbitration against a consortium of European contractors. The dispute arises from a FIDIC Red Book contract for the construction and upgrading of water and sewerage infrastructure. EU and Belgian laws applied.

A private equity fund and its founder in parallel ICC and HKIAC arbitrations initiated by the fund's general partner and an alleged investor in the fund. The arbitrations each concerned ownership of assets and various entities in the fund structure. Hong Kong and Cayman Islands law applied.

Sonatrach, Respondent in an ICC arbitration in Geneva brought by Saipem SpA and Saipem Contracting Algérie SpA. The dispute arose from an EPC contract for the construction of gas liquefaction facilities. Over EUR 2.6 billion was at stake. Algerian law applied.

Sonatrach, Respondent in an ICC arbitration in Paris initiated by Saipem SpA and Saipem Contracting Algérie SpA. The dispute arose from an agreement for the construction of a gas processing facility in Algeria. Algerian law applied. Over USD 1 billion was at stake.

A Southeastern European subsidiary of a Western European energy company as Claimant in an ICC arbitration in Paris against a State-owned Southeastern Europe holding company. The dispute concerned obligations flowing from an agreement for the privatization of a State-owned electricity company and from a previous arbitration between the parties, as well as the distribution of dividends. The law of the Southeastern European State applied.

Two European energy companies and their Southeastern European affiliate, Respondents in an ICC arbitration in Paris initiated by a State-owned Southeastern Europe energy company. The dispute arose from an agreement for the privatization of a State-owned electricity company. The law of the Claimant's State applied.

Published Work

  • "An Analysis of the New CIETAC Arbitration Rules 2012," 9(7) Transnational Dispute Management (2012)
  • "Fraternity and the Global Community," 56 Supreme Court Law Review (2d) (2012) reprinted in Responsibility, fraternity and sustainability in law: in memory of the honourable Charles Doherty Gonthier (M. Morin et al. eds., Markham, 2012)

Speaking Engagements

  • "Workshopping the IBA Arb40's Toolkit for Award Writing", IBA40 and Young Romanian Arbitration Practitioners conference, Bucharest, 17 February 2023
  • "Evolution of African Perspectives on Arbitration", 23 September 2021, Paris, Paris Arbitration Week
  • "Arbitration As a Means of Effective Remedy for Human Rights Abuses at Sea," African Academy of International Law Practise Colloquium, 19 March 2021

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Professional Affiliation:
  • Visiting Lecturer in Law (International Business Law - Droit du Commerce International), Université Paris-Nanterre, Master 2 diploma, France (since 2019)
  • Advisory Board Member, Young Canadian Arbitration Practitioners (YCAP) Policy & Advocacy Committee Member, ICC Young Arbitrators' Forum (ICC YAF)
  • Member, Young Romanian Arbitration Practitioners (YRAP)
  • Member, Arbitration Association of Central and Eastern Europe (ArbCEE)
  • Member, Young Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA)
  • Other:
  • Prior to joining our team, Sandrina Antohi was an NYU Law fellow at the United Nations International Law Commission in Geneva

Qualifications

Admissions

Attorney-at-Law, New York

Solicitor, Quebec

Academic

New York University School of Law LL.M., International Legal Studies

McGill University Faculty of Law LL.B./B.C.L.

Languages

English, French, Rumanian
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.