Benedetta Audia

Principal, International Development LLC

Benedetta Audia, Principal of International Development LLC, a firm that advises private sector companies on international development and business strategy, while also providing counsel to multilateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, and government entities. Widely recognized as the foremost expert on United Nations and World Bank procurement and implementation arrangements, Professor Audia brings a holistic understanding of the complex legal, operational, and institutional architecture of the international development system. Her expertise includes due diligence, investigations, fund disbursement, project design, and dispute resolution.

Prior to founding International Development LLC, Professor Audia was a Partner at DLA Piper, where she led the firm’s international development practice. Before that, she spent nearly two decades at the United Nations, where she was instrumental in designing the legal frameworks for thousands of multimillion-dollar projects across developing countries. Her role frequently involved leading negotiations with senior government officials to operationalize large-scale, cross-sectoral initiatives.

Earlier in her career, Professor Audia worked in mergers and acquisitions at Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners, advising on a wide range of domestic and cross-border transactions. In December 2024, she was appointed Legal Advisor to the Permanent Representative of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the United Nations. Her authoritative command of procurement and grant disbursement mechanisms, including vendor sanctions, bid protests, contract awards, and regulatory frameworks, has positioned her as a trusted advisor in complex disputes and international arbitrations spanning sectors such as infrastructure, health, procurement, and the environment.

Professor Audia has trained thousands of United Nations/World Bank personnel, government officials, and non-state actors on procurement systems, implementation frameworks, and the operational dimensions of international development. A prolific speaker and writer, she regularly addresses themes at the intersection of law, technology, and development, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and public procurement. She currently serves as Professor of Procurement in International Development at George Washington University, Professor of Contracting in International Development at Fordham University, and Professor of Fashion Law and Art Law at LUISS Guido Carli University. She is also the co-author of three recent books on blockchain and the law, pandemic response, and fashion law. Professor Audia was recognized for her innovative leadership by Corporate Counsel through the Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards. In addition to her professional and academic roles, Professor Audia serves on the Board of Directors of both the New York City Opera and Global Citizen, where she contributes her strategic insight and commitment to advancing the arts, global equity, and sustainable development.