Sofia de Sampaio Jalles is a partner at Armesto & Asociados, a firm of arbitrators founded by Juan Fernández-Armesto. She is a Portuguese national, qualified as a lawyer in France.
Sofia acts as arbitrator and secretary to arbitral tribunals in international and domestic arbitration proceedings, both ad hoc and administered, involving commercial and investment disputes. Most of the cases are administered by ICC, ICSID, PCA and local arbitral institutions. The list of arbitrations in which Sofia participated can be found below.
Sofia’s work has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal “Future Leaders” in international arbitration in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Professional Experience
Before joining Armesto & Asociados, Sofia gained experience in the international arbitration team of Dechert (Paris) LLP. In 2014 Sofia worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions team of PDGB Avocats in Paris, France. Prior to that she gained experience in the Competition and European Union Law team of the Portuguese law firm Vieira de Almeida & Associados, in Lisbon, Portugal.
Education
Sofia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Sciences from the prestigious university of Sciences Po Paris, obtained in 2011. Sofia participated in an exchange program during which she spent a year at King’s College London.
Sofia also holds a Master’s degree in Economic Law, with a specialisation in litigation and international arbitration, from Sciences Po Paris, which she obtained in 2014.
Finally, from 2014 to 2016, Sofia joined the Ecole de Formation des Barreaux de la Cour d’appel de Paris, completing her education as a lawyer and obtaining the Certificat d’Aptitude à la Profession d’Avocat.
Languages
• Portuguese (mother tongue);
• French (bilingual);
• English (bilingual);
• Spanish (bilingual).
Professional memberships and activities
Admitted to the Barreau de la Cour d’appel de Paris
Member of the SVAMC AI Task Force’s AI Guidelines Review Committee (2024-)
Member of the Award Scrutiny Commission of the Madrid International Arbitration Centre (2024-)
Member of the Revocation and Third Parties Authorisation Committee of the Court of Arbitration of Madrid (2024-)
Member of the Drafting Committee of the Glosario Arbitral ALARB (2023-2024)
Member of the Task Force for the revision of the IBA Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest in International Arbitration (2023)
Co-Chair of the Tribunal Secretary Network (2023-)
Co-Director of the Mentoring Program of the Club Español de Arbitraje (2022-)
Member of the International Commission of the Arbitration Centre of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce (2022-)
Member of the Counsel of Investment Arbitration of the Portuguese Arbitration Association (2022-)
Group Advisor of the Young ICCA Mentoring Programme (2022-2023)
Co-Chair of IASC (International Arbitration Seminars & Courses) (2022-)
Co-Founder of the Sports Arbitration Moot (2021-)
Secretary of the Commission for the definition of International Arbitration of the Madrid International Arbitration Center (2020-2021)
Member of the Steering Committee for the drafting of the Code of Best Practices in Sports Arbitration of the Spanish Club of Arbitration (2020-2023)
Co-Founder of MAD VYAP (Madrid Very Young Arbitration Practitioners) (2019-2021)
Member of ICC YAAF
Member of Young ICSID
Member of Young ICCA
Member of CEIA-40 (Club Español e Iberoamericano del Arbitraje)
Member of APA-40 (Associação Portuguesa de Arbitragem)
As Arbitrator
Brazilian Company vs. Brazilian Companies and individuals vs. Portuguese individuals, Co-Arbitrator, ICC, Brazilian Law, Portuguese language (2024).
Spanish Company vs. Portuguese Companies, President of the Tribunal, CCILE, Portuguese Law, Portuguese language, (2023).
Swiss Company vs. Panamanian Company, Co-Arbitrator, CIAM, Colombian Law, Spanish language, (2022).
Portuguese Company vs. Spanish Company, President of the Tribunal, ad hoc, aircraft management agreement, Portuguese law, English language, (2021).
Honduran Company vs. Spanish construction Company, Sole Arbitrator, Corte de Arbitraje de Madrid, construction agreement, Spanish law, Spanish language, (2020).
AS SECRETARY OR ASSISTANT TO THE ARBITRAL TRIBUNAL / SOLE ARBITRATOR
Asian Investor vs. European State, Administrative Secretary (chairman: J. Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: S. Jagusch KC and C. von Wobeser), ICC, investment arbitration, English language. Counsel to Claimant: Boies Schiller Flexner. Counsel to Respondent: State’s legal department (2024).
Eastern European public company vs. Eastern European public company, Administrative Secretary (chairman: J. Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: Y. Derains and K. P. Berger), ad hoc, gas supply agreement, Swedish law, English language. Counsel to Claimant: Castrén & Snellman Attorneys and Mannheimer Swartling Advokatbyrå. Counsel to Respondent: Mansors, (2022).
Encavis and others vs. Italian Republic, Assistant to the Tribunal (chairman: J. Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: W. Miles QC and A. Mourre), ICSID Case No. ARB/20/39, investment arbitration, English language. Counsel to Claimants: King & Spalding. Counsel to Respondent: Avvocatura dello Stato and Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, (2021).
Arab Company and National vs. Arab State, Administrative Secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal (chairman: J. Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: C. Poncet and N. G. Ziadé), OIC Investment Agreement (ICC), English language. Counsel to Claimants: DLA Piper and Dr. Ioannis Konstantinidis. Counsel to Respondent: Mr. Christopher Harris QC and Squire Patton Boggs, (2020).
Indian Company v. African State, Administrative Secretary to the Tribunal (chairman: J. Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: G. Santiago Tawil and H. Perezcano Díaz), UNCITRAL, English language. Counsel to Claimant: Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Miranda & Associados and Pimenta & Associados; Counsel to Respondent: Dorsey & Whitney LLP, (2020).
Mauritian Company vs. BVI and Mauritian Companies, Administrative Secretary (chairman: J. Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: P. Friedland and A. Soveral Martins), ICC, shareholders’ agreement, law of African Republic, English language. Counsel to Claimant: Sullivan & Cromwell; Counsel to Respondent: Mayer Brown, (2019).
LSG Building Solutions GmbH and others vs. Romania, Assistant to the Arbitral Tribunal, (chairman: J. Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: P.M. Dupuy and O. T. Johnson Jr.), ICSID Case No. ARB/18/19, investment arbitration under the Energy Charter Treaty, English language. Counsel to Claimants: King & Spalding; Counsel to Respondent: Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle, (2019).
Brazilian Company vs. Brazilian Companies, Administrative Secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal (chairman: J. Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: P. Mota Pinto), ICC, share purchase agreement, Brazilian law, Portuguese language. Counsel to Claimant: Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados; Ferro, Castro Neves, Daltro & Gomide Advogados; Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr; King & Spalding. Counsel to Respondent 1: E. Munhoz Advogados; Lefosse Advogados; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Counsel to Respondent 2: Bichara Advogados, White & Case, (2019).
Gramercy Funds Management LLC and Gramercy Peru Holdings LLC vs. Republic of Peru, Assistant to the Arbitral Tribunal (chairman: J.Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: S. Drymer and B. Stern), UNCITRAL administered by ICSID, investment arbitration under TPA USA-Peru; English and Spanish languages. Counsel to Claimant: Debevoise & Plimpton; Rodrigo, Elias & Medrano. Counsel to Respondent: Arnold & Porter Kaye Schole LLP, (2018).
Private Companies and Individuals vs. Brazilian Entity, Administrative Secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal (chairman: J. Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: S. K. Chermont de Britto and N. C. da Silva Flores), ICC, settlement agreement, Brazilian law, Portuguese language. Counsel to Claimant: Didier, Sodré & Rosa; Shearman & Sterling LLP; Herbert Smith Freehills LLP; In-house. Counsel to Respondent: Tozzini Freire Advogados; Siqueira, Bottrel, Almeida e Silva Advogados; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, (2018).
Luxembourg Holding Company vs. Luxembourg Holding Company, Administrative Secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal (chairman: J. Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: A. Hierro and D. Arias), ICC, share purchase agreement, Portuguese law, English language. Counsel to Claimant: PLMJ Advogados; Counsel to Respondent: Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados, (2018).
DP World Limited vs. Kingdom of Belgium, Assistant to the Chairman (chairman: J. Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: B. Stern and S. Alexandrov), ICSID Case No. ARB/17/21, investment arbitration under BIT, English language, (2017).
Oil and Gas Company vs. African State-Owned Entity, Administrative Secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal (chairman: J. Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: E. Damião Gonçalves and J. E. Nunes Pinto), UNCITRAL (ICC), production sharing contract, Portuguese language, (2017).
French distillery vs. Spanish distillery, Administrative Secretary to the Sole Arbitrator, Corte de Arbitraje de Madrid, ex aequo et bono, Spanish language, (2016).
Spanish Fund manager vs. Spanish Venture Capital Fund, Administrative Secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal, Corte de Arbitraje de Madrid, Spanish law and language, (2016).
Spanish beverage producer vs. Distributor of beverage, Administrative Secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal, Corte Española de Arbitraje, distribution agreement, Spanish law and language, (2016).
Spanish construction company vs. Spanish construction company, Secretary to the Emergency Arbitrator, Corte Española de Arbitraje, consortium agreement, Spanish law and language, (2016).
Spanish and Chilean train construction companies vs. Canadian and Chilean train construction companies, Administrative Secretary to the Sole Arbitrator, ICC, consortium agreement, Spanish law, English language, (2016).
UAE Investor vs. Brazilian Investors, Administrative Secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal (chairman: J. Fernández-Armesto; co-arbitrators: P. Batista Martins and V. Galíndez), ICC, shareholders agreement relating to a major construction project, Brazilian law, English language, (2016).
PT Ventures, SGPS, S.A. vs. The Republic of Cabo Verde, Assistant to the Arbitral Tribunal, ICSID Case No. ARB/15/12, investment arbitration under BIT, Portuguese language, (2015).
Telecom Company vs. African State, Administrative Secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal, ICC, shareholders’ agreement, Portuguese language, (2015).
State-Owned Oil and Gas Company vs. Agency of a State, Administrative Secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal, ICC, concession agreement, Portuguese language, (2014).
European Republic vs. Private Companies, Administrative Secretary to the Arbitral Tribunal, ICC, privatization in the shipbuilding sector, English language, (2014).
April 2024
Interview featured in Young ICSID Profiles Part Eight – Focus on Europe, available at https://icsid.worldbank.org/about/young-icsid/profiles/part-eight.
Author of “A Sentença Arbitral (Perspetiva Portuguesa)” in C. Monteiro Pires et al. (ed.), Arbitragem 2 Mundos – Diálogos entre o Brasil e Portugal, Vol. I (2024).
Author of “Privilege and Confidentiality in Document Production: The Clash Of Civilizations?”, in C. González-Bueno (ed.), 40 under 40 in International Arbitration 2024.
“Strategic composition of the arbitral tribunal” – Speaker in ARBinBrief Season 3, Episode 8 (2024).
“National Security and International Arbitration” – Speaker at the 10th Harvard International Arbitration Conference (Boston, USA) (2024).
“Arbitraje en la Torre de Babel: ¿Arbitrar en inglés o español?” – Speaker at the joint event between ALARB and CEIA (2024).
Lecturer at the Curso Intensivo de Árbitros, organized by the Portuguese Arbitration Association and the Centro de Arbitragem Comercial (Lisbon, Portugal) (2023).
“Procedimientos paralelos en el arbitraje: tribunales internacionales, jueces y organismos de control” – Speaker at the Colombia Arbitration Week (2023).
“Árbitro de Emergencia y Arbitraje Abreviado” – Speaker at the Congreso del Comité Colombiano de Arbitraje (2023).
“Ideas to improve the document production phase of the international arbitration process” – Speaker at the 38th ICC SIA QML Annual Joint Symposium of Arbitrators (Paris, France) (2023).
“Arbitral experiences and trends in international and domestic arbitration in the energy sector” – Speaker at the seminar organized by Watson Farley & Williams (Madrid, Spain) (2023).
Lecturer at the Curso Breve de Direito da Arbitragem, organized by ELSA and Universidade de Lisboa (Lisbon, Portugal) (2023).
“When investment and commercial arbitration collide” – Speaker at the IBA Arb40 Symposium (Lisbon, Portugal) (2023).
“In the future of arbitration… what to change and what to maintain” – Speaker at the event organized by the Comissão Futuro of the Centro de Arbitragem Comercial (Lisbon, Portugal) (2023).
“La cultura jurídica y la lengua como punto de encuentro del arbitraje” – speaker at the Jornada sobre Arbitraje Internacional en Iberoamérica (Madrid, Spain) (2022).
“Arbitral Parents” – Moderator of the panel organized by the Under 40 section of the Club Español del Arbitraje (CEA-40), Equal Representation in Arbitration and Women Way in Arbitration (2022).
“Public policy and foreign obstacles to the arbitral proceeding” – Speaker at the 5th edition of the Seminario Alpestre of the Swiss Chapter of the Club Español del Arbitraje (2022).
“Cultural elements in the organization of the arbitral procedure” – Speaker at the XIII Conferencia Latinoamericana de Arbitraje (Montevideo, Uruguay) (2022).
“Legitimate Expectations in Domestic Legal Systems and Public International Law” – Moderator of a webinar organized by the American Society of International Law (2022).
“Arbitration: A return to normality” – Speaker in an event organized by ICC YAF (Lisbon, Portugal) (2021).
“The Arbitration Agreement and its impact on the proceedings” – Speaker at the 5thAdvanced Seminary on Arbitration of ICC Portugal (Lisbon, Portugal) (2021).
Co-Author of “Conflicts of Interest in the Code of Best Practices in Arbitration Published by the Spanish Arbitration Club”, BCDR International Arbitration Review 6, no. 1 (2019), pp. 67-92.
“ICC YAF: Administrative Secretaries: Role, duties, and challenges” – Speaker in a webinar organized by ICC YAF and YCAP – Young Czech Arbitration Professionals, ICC Prague Arbitration Day (2021).
Lecturer at the Curso de Formação Avançada em Arbitragem Internacional Lusófona, organized by Almedina (2021).
“Surviving and succeeding as a junior arbitration lawyer: Tales from the frontline” – Speaker in a webinar organized by ICC YAF and London VYAP (2020).
“Joint Treaty Interpretations by States before or during the Dispute” – Speaker in the 3rdEdition of the Encontro de Arbitralistas Lusófonos, Paris Arbitration Week (2020).
Co-Author of “The Armesto Schedule: a Step Further to a More Efficient Document Production”, Kluwer Arbitration Blog, (April 4, 2020).
“Arbitraje en Tiempos de Pandemia: Best Practices” – Speaker in a webinar organized by the Under 40 section of the Club Español del Arbitraje (CEA-40) (2020).
“Arbitral Awards: The Brazilian Tool Kit” – Speaker at the 2nd Brazilian Arbitration Forum (Paris, France) (2019).
“The French Supreme Court – the Cour de cassation” – Guest lecturer in the Litigation I class of the LLB of IE University (2019).
“Revisiting the Redfern Schedule” – Workshop at the 7th ICC YAF Global Conference (Organized by ICC YAF) (London, United Kingdom) (2019).
“Financiación de terceros y asignación de costas” – Speaker at an event organized by the Under 40 section of the Club Español del Arbitraje (CEA-40), (Spain) (2019).
“Construir o futuro da Arbitragem Internacional: mais ou menos…” – Speaker at the Under 40 Meeting at the VIII Encontro Internacional de Arbitragem de Coimbra (Portugal) (2018).
“Overview of the tribunal secretary’s tasks and role in the organization of the proceedings” – Speaker at the ICC Institute Training for Tribunal Secretaries (Organized by the ICC Institute of World Business Law) (Brazil) (2018).
“Hot topics” – Speaker at the II Encontro do CEA-40 in Portugal (Organized by the Club Español de Arbitraje, Under 40) (Portugal) (2018).
“Due Process Paranoia” – Speaker in the panel “O devido processo legal e o controle judicial das sentenças arbitrais (reconhecimento e anulação)” at the XVI Congresso Internacional de Arbitragem (Organized by the Brazilian Arbitration Committee) (Brazil) (2017).
