Benedetta Audia

Benedetta Audia is the Principal of International Development LLC, a firm advising private sector companies in international development and business matters and providing counsel to multilateral organizations, non-governmental organizations and government entities on a wide array of issues including United Nations privileges and immunities, due diligence, investigations, funds receipt and disbursement, project design and dispute settlement. Prior to establishing International Development LLC, Ms. Audia was a Partner at DLA Piper, where she chaired the international development practice. Before joining DLA Piper, she spent almost two decades working for multilateral organizations and conceptualizing the legal architecture of thousands of multimillion-dollar projects implemented in developing countries, where she traveled extensively to lead negotiations with high-level government officials. Prior to joining multilateral organizations, Ms. Audia worked on mergers and acquisitions and was involved in numerous domestic and international transactions.

A seasoned negotiator with extensive experience in multiple jurisdictions, she routinely advises clients on innovative ways to structure project agreements while mitigating risks and ensuring taxpayers’ funds are used for their intended purpose. Ms. Audia advises senior officials on complex strategic and legal matters where a solution-oriented approach must be coupled with the ability to protect organizational interests. Noteworthy is her knowledge and experience in procurement and grant disbursement modalities, including vendor sanctions, bid protests, contract awards and general terms and conditions.

Ms. Audia has settled major disputes and has been involved in complex arbitrations across a wide variety of sectors including infrastructure, procurement, health and environment. She drafted a number of policy documents and successfully negotiated global partnership and funding agreements with major donor governments covering voluntary contributions as well as multi-partner trust funds.

Ms. Audia has provided training to thousands of United Nations personnel, foreign government officials and representatives of non-state entities relating to the structure and the legal status of the United Nations and the privileges and immunities enjoyed by the United Nations and its officials. She speaks and writes regularly on topics related to public international law, procurement and blockchain. Ms. Audia is also an Adjunct Professor of Contracting in International Development at Fordham University and a Law Professor at LUISS Guido Carli University. She recently co-authored two books, one on the legal aspects of blockchain and one on global lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.