Lara Hammoud is a globally sought-after arbitrator, recognised for her extensive expertise in international arbitration. She is a qualified French lawyer with over twenty years of experience in international arbitration. Prior to becoming a full-time arbitrator with Arbitra in July 2024, Lara spent a decade as in-house counsel, heading the Disputes Team at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Prior to ADNOC, Lara started her career in Paris at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) before moving to private practice with a Magic Circle law firm in Paris and Abu Dhabi.

Lara has acted as tribunal chair, sole and party-appointed arbitrator in both common and civil law jurisdictions under UNCITRAL, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, SIAC, BCDR, ADCCAC, LCIA, ArbitrateAD and ICC arbitration rules seated in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Lara co-founded the highly successful Civil Law Conference in Abu Dhabi. She is the writer and editor of numerous articles and books on international arbitration and regularly appears as a speaker at international conferences and arbitration workshops.

Lara is regularly recognised in the directories, including most recently as a Global Elite Thought Leader in the Lexology Arbitration Index 2026, and Chambers & Partners, Most In Demand Arbitrators, UAE 2025.

Lara speaks fluent Arabic, English and French and is proficient in Italian. She was an ICC Court member until June 2024 and is currently a member of the ArbitrateAD Court of Arbitration, the Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration Council as well as the Singapore International Arbitration Centre.