Antonin Sobek

Antonin Sobek focuses on international commercial and investment arbitration. He has experience representing multinationals, States and State-owned entities in high-stakes disputes covering a range of industries, including construction, energy, oil & gas, and aviation.

Prior to joining Mayer Brown in 2023, Antonin was a Counsel at the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre, administering over 500 arbitration proceedings. He also practiced international arbitration at leading international law firms in London and Paris.

Antonin is often invited to give lectures about dispute resolution and arbitration, including at Sciences Po in Paris, Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi, İzmir University of Economics in Turkey, and in the context of the TAIEX programme of the European Commission.

Antonin speaks French, English, Spanish and Czech.

Acting for/advising:

• A major energy company in an ICC arbitration arising from one of the largest desalination plants in the Middle East.
• A joint venture contractor in ADCCAC arbitration proceedings in relation to a multibillion-dollar construction project in the UAE.
• A main contractor in US $60m ICC arbitration proceedings against a major developer in relation to a mixed-use development project in Kuwait.
• The main contractor in ICC arbitration proceedings seated in Muscat, Oman and arising out of a subcontract in respect of a power plant project.
• A main contractor in Abu Dhabi-seated arbitration initiated by a subcontractor in relation to a major construction project in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• A client on its claims arising from an oil field development project in Iraq.
• An offshore construction company in enforcement proceedings before the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts.
• A real estate developer in DIAC arbitration proceedings arising out of a mixed-used community project in Dubai, UAE.
• A Dubai-based developer in a commercial lease dispute before the DIFC Courts.

• "Antonin Sobek is a rising star in both international arbitration and construction." Legal 500 EMEA
• "Mayer Brown has huge strength in its international arbitration team in Dubai. Great local expertise and knowledge as well as access to Mayer Brown's international resources and construction team, particularly in Singapore, London and Paris. The combination of international reach and local knowledge/expertise is exceptional." Legal 500 EMEA

• Paris II Panthéon-Assas University, Diploma in International Construction Contracts
• London School of Economics (LSE), LLM in Corporate & Commercial Law
• Sciences Po Paris, BA
• Sciences Po Paris (in partnership with Columbia University & Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University), Master in Economic Law

• Paris

• Czech
• English
• French
• Spanish

•  Co-chair and co-founder of Dubai Very Young Arbitration Practitioners (Dubai VYAP)
• Assistant Editor for MENA, Kluwer Arbitration Blog
• Member of the MENA Sub-committee of the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations
• Mentor, GROW Mentoring
• Former Young ICCA Regional Representative for Western Asia
• Former Arbitrator Intelligence Ambassador