Bolz Arbitration

Anja is an independent arbitrator based in the United Arab Emirates with extensive experience of both civil and common law jurisdictions. 

Anja is a Cambridge University graduate holding both a BA and a MA in Languages as well as an MA in European Business from Cranfield University. Anja further holds postgraduate degrees in Law from the University of Law in London (CPE and LPC). She is a qualified solicitor admitted to the Law Society of England and Wales 

Anja trained and worked with City Magic Circle firm HoganLovells for a decade before spending the last 25 years in the UAE and GCC/MENA both at Al Tamimi where she worked to set up the Family Business Practice and in-house with a leading regional business family.

Anja has been an independent arbitrator since 2009 and founded Bolz Arbitration in 2021. 

Anja Bolz has extensive experience as Chair, Sole Arbitrator and Co-Arbitrator in complex commercial, construction and real estate disputes. Her appointments include ICC, LCIA, DIAC, OAC, arbitrateAD, ADCCAC and DIFC-LCIA arbitrations, as well as ad hoc proceedings.

Her experience encompasses:

• Construction and infrastructure: Disputes arising from major developments and infrastructure projects, including design and structural defects, performance and safety, delay, variations, payment, liquidated damages, retentions and performance guarantees.
• Real estate and commercial leasing: Disputes concerning development and handover obligations, commercial leases, escrow arrangements, force majeure, strata law and owners’ association rights.
• Corporate and commercial transactions: Share sale disputes, company valuations, earnouts, EBITDA-based consideration and insolvency-related issues, involving detailed financial and forensic accounting evidence.
• Energy, technology and supply contracts: Disputes in the oil and gas, utilities, IT and logistics sectors, together with commodities and goods supply disputes.
• Jurisdiction and procedure: Complex questions of jurisdiction, capacity and authority, joinder, competing forums, urgent applications, public policy and enforceability.

Her appointments have involved substantial claims and counterclaims, extensive documentary and witness evidence, and technical, delay, quantum and valuation experts.

Anja has acted in arbitrations seated in Dubai, including the DIFC, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, London and Brussels. Her experience includes disputes governed by the laws of the UAE, England and Wales, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Belgium, as well as ADGM law.

Anja is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators’ Presidential Panel. 

She is included on the arbitrator panels and lists of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), Abu Dhabi International Arbitration Centre (arbitrateAD), International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA), Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre, Asia Pacific International Arbitration Chamber and Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution. She is also included on the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre’s List of Arbitrators. 

She serves on the Steering Committee of the ICC UAE Commission on Arbitration and ADR and as a UAE delegate to the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR.

Anja holds a BA and an MA in Modern and Mediaeval Languages from the University of Cambridge and an MA in European business from Cranfield University. 

She completed the Common Professional Examination and Legal Practice Course at the University of Law in London before training with Hogan Lovells and qualifying as a solicitor of England and Wales. 

Anja is a Chartered Arbitrator and CIArb Accredited Mediator. She holds a Diploma in Financial Strategy from the Open University as well as the STEP Certificate in Foundations and has completed INSEAD’s Negotiation Dynamics programme.