Experience

A career
dedicated to
dispute
resolution

Over two decades of experience in international arbitration, representing clients and serving as arbitrator in complex commercial and investment disputes.

Mihaela Maravela
Arbitrator

Commercial Disputes

Acts as arbitrator in domestic and international commercial arbitrations, in the fields of energy & natural resources, infrastructure & construction, commercial agreements, IP and M&A. The proceedings she handled as arbitrator in commercial disputes involved parties from Romania, Spain, United Kingdom, Kazakhstan or Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  • Co-Arbitrator in a high-stake international commercial contractual dispute between a Romanian buyer and a Bosnian seller of military ammunition, value over EUR 7.5 million (CICA-CCIR arbitration).
  • Sole Arbitrator in a dispute between two Romanian companies over penalties due under a sales contract in the automotive sector (CICA-CCIR arbitration).
  • Sole Arbitrator in a dispute between the operator of the electric energy and natural gas market and a private entity over administrative fees for the green certificates market (CICA-CCIR arbitration).
  • Sole Arbitrator in an international dispute between a Kazakh IT company and a Romanian beneficiary over payments under an information security services contract of almost USD 1 million (CICA-CCIR arbitration).
  • Chair in a dispute over the VAT for amounts awarded in a previous arbitration to the beneficiary in a road construction contract with the Romanian national infrastructure state-owned company (CICA-CCIR arbitration).
  • Chair in a contractual dispute between a UK company and a Romanian company over payments from a contract for manufacturing and export of clothing products (CICA-CCIR arbitration).
  • Sole Arbitrator in a contractual dispute between managers and a Romanian state-owned company over the non-compete indemnity in management contracts (VIAC arbitration).
  • Chair in a contractual dispute between a Romanian state-owned company and a Romanian private entity over payments from a road construction contract (CICA-CCIR arbitration).
  • Co-Arbitrator in a contractual dispute between two Romanian companies over lease payments in a high-end corporate building in Bucharest (CICA-CCIR arbitration).
  • Co-Arbitrator in a contractual dispute between two Romanian companies over fees payable under an agency agreement (CICA-CCIR arbitration).
  • Co-Arbitrator in a large infrastructure arbitration between a Spanish constructor and a Romanian state-owned infrastructure company over road construction FIDIC-based claims of over half a million euros (CICA-CCIR arbitration).
  • Co-Arbitrator in a contractual dispute between two Romanian companies over payments from a service agreement concerning supply and fitting of materials (CICA-CCIR arbitration).
  • Co-Arbitrator in a contractual dispute between two Romanian companies over payments from a renting contract for an electric power generator (CICA-CCIR arbitration).
Counsel

Commercial Cases

ICC Arbitration - Gas Concession

Represented a Romanian state authority in an ICC arbitration initiated by the concessionaire of offshore gas fields over amounts due under the concession agreement.

Oil & Gas Production Enhancement

Represented a Romanian project company (subsidiary of a large Canadian company) in a dispute concerning amounts owed under a production enhancement services agreement of nine mature oil fields.

Steel Production Consultancy Dispute

Represented Italian company defendants in a dispute regarding consultancy fees requested by the claimant, involving 25% of the share capital in a large steel production company.

Real Estate Project - EUR 50M+

Assisted and represented an important Romanian company against a Dutch investor in an arbitration concerning the early fault termination of a share assignment agreement.

Czech Retailer - WIPO Expedited Arbitration

Assisted and represented a large Czech retailer of furniture and home appliances in a WIPO expedited arbitration with the seat in Vienna.

Investment

Counsel in Investment Cases

  • Represented the Romanian State in complex investment cases under ICSID Rules: termination of a privatisation agreement (ARB/10/13), investments in the alcohol market (ARB/14/29), a mining concession (ARB/15/31).
  • Represented the Romanian state in a complex UNCITRAL investment arbitration concerning claims arising from concession contracts.
  • Acted as counsel for the investor in an UNCITRAL investment case involving the expropriation of a film business in Romania.

* Some of the experiences listed above as counsel concern missions as a member of a team of lawyers of the law firm I worked at before 2020.

Domain Name Disputes

370+
Disputes
Resolved

Serving as counsel and panelist in domain name disputes since 2008, under WIPO and ADNDRC Rules.

Career

Professional Journey

2026-present
Independent Arbitrator & Counsel
Domain Name Panelist
Sitting as arbitrator and domain name panelist; advising and representing clients in international commercial and investment arbitration and domain name disputes. Advising and representing clients in intellectual property matters.
2020-2026
Partner Lawyer
Mihaela Maravela Law Office / Maravela Codescu Buliga Attorneys
Advising and representing clients in international arbitrations; advising clients on corporate and M&A and financing transactions; advising and representing clients in intellectual property or environmental law related disputes, including climate change.
2006-2020
Partner
Leaua, Damcali, Deaconu, Paunescu & Asociații (LDDP)
Practice focused on international commercial and investment arbitration. Coordinated the IP practice of the firm.
2004-2006
Associate
Badea, Asociatii in association with Clifford Chance
Finance & banking and capital markets practice area.