Irina is a leading practitioner in international investment and commercial arbitration, with a strong track record in high-value disputes under the ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, NAI and PCA rules, as well as in proceedings before Dutch courts.

Before joining De Brauw in 2015, Irina held the position of Doctoral Fellow at Utrecht University. She has also worked as an Assistant Legal Officer at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, and as part of the arbitration practice of a major international law firm in Paris.

Irina is the author of numerous articles on international law and dispute settlement, as well as a book on international law published by Oxford University Press in 2018. She has received various awards, including the Clifford Chance Prize for Best Performance in the MJur Programme and the Winter Williams Prize in International Economic Law at Oxford, as well as awards from the Royal Netherlands Society of International Law, the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy, and various other organisations. Irina was named among the European Legal Industry's Top 25 Female Rising Stars in 2025.

The European Union recently appointed Irina - alongside five other individuals - to the roster of arbitrators for the settlement of future disputes under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Irina has also been appointed to the pool of arbitrators and trade and sustainable development experts under the EU's trade agreements with third countries.

Irina's recent work includes representing:

• the Kingdom of the Netherlands in an investment arbitration brought by a purported Lebanese investor under the Lebanon-Netherlands BIT.

• Ahold Delhaize in its ICSID investment arbitration against Serbia under the Netherlands-Serbia BIT.

• the government of Malaysia in a USD 15 billion action to enforce an arbitral award obtained by Filipino Citizens in Spain/France.

• the former Yukos majority shareholders in setting-aside proceedings in respect of three UNCITRAL arbitral awards worth USD 50 billion issued against the Russian Federation under the Energy Charter Treaty.

• Dutch insurance group NN in its investment treaty arbitration against the Republic of Argentina in connection with the expropriation of NN's pension business.

• an international energy company in an ICC arbitration under French law against another international energy company arising out of a long-term gas transportation agreement.

• a global insurance company against a private bank regarding coverage for liability for the sale of investment products in several European countries.

• KazmunaiGaz of Kazakhstan in a EUR 250 million post-M&A dispute against DP Holding regarding the acquisition of the Rompetrol Group.