Lawyers Diana Akikol
Diana Akikol

Diana Akikol

Partner
Dr. iur., Attorney at Law

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Location

Geneva

Contact

Direct phone: +41 58 658 30 61
diana.akikol@walderwyss.com

Curriculum Vitae

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Areas of activity: Commercial Contracts Arbitration

"Diana Akikol is excellent by all means. She masters complex issues. A great asset for her clients." - The Legal 500

"Diana Akikol is very professional and fair as an arbitrator. She pays attention to details and I would appoint her whenever possible." - Chambers and Partners

"She is one of the best practitioners in Geneva." - Lexology

Diana Akikol is the Co-Head of the Walder Wyss International Arbitration practice.

"Diana Akikol is excellent by all means. She masters complex issues. A great asset for her clients." - The Legal 500

"Diana Akikol is very professional and fair as an arbitrator. She pays attention to details and I would appoint her whenever possible." - Chambers and Partners

"She is one of the best practitioners in Geneva." - Lexology

With nearly 20 years of experience as a dedicated arbitration specialist, Diana Akikol represents clients in complex international arbitration proceedings and frequently sits as an arbitrator. She has handled arbitrations seated in Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia under the rules of major institutions and in ad hoc cases. She also advises and represents clients in Swiss award enforcement or annulment proceedings.

Diana Akikol centers her practice on commercial arbitration, with a particular focus on mergers & acquisitions, shareholders' agreements and joint ventures, as well as large infrastructure and construction projects. She has equally broad experience in dealing with disputes concerning sales of goods, commodities and energy trading, telecommunications, agency and consultancy services, as well as licensing and distribution (particularly in the pharmaceutical sector).

Diana Akikol served on the Arbitration Court of the Swiss Arbitration Centre for six years (2020-2025) and is the current ICC Court Member for Switzerland (appointed in July 2021). She is also a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, the ICC Task Force on Corruption, the Arbitration Commission of ICC Switzerland, the Board of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA), and the Board of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC). She is the Co-Chair of the ASA Commodities and Mining sector group, and a member of the ASA Task Force on Investor-States Dispute Settlement.

Ranked as a thought leader in her field, Diana Akikol is recommended as "simply one of the best", "having acquired unparalleled experience as both an advocate and arbitrator" (Lexology 2024, formerly Who's Who Legal). She “impresses peers with her mastery of complex technical facts and very profound legal knowledge” (Who's Who Legal Arbitration 2019) and is described as "very quick in understanding and very dedicated" (Chambers Global 2020), as well as "a very strong practitioner" (Who's Who Legal 2020 Switzerland Arbitration).

Diana Akikol is a frequent speaker at conferences and regularly publishes in her field. She co-authored a commentary on the Swiss International Arbitration Act and wrote several articles on award annulment proceedings before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. She also contributed to a commentary on the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and published a doctoral thesis on liability for defects under Swiss law and the CISG.

Diana Akikol earned her law degree from the University of Fribourg in 2000 and her doctorate from the University of Lucerne in 2008, both with summa cum laude distinction. She was admitted to the bar in 2002, ranking first in her class.

Diana Akikol is fluent in English, French and German (native).

Award Annulment Proceedings Before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court

| Speaker Diana Akikol | ASA Fall Conference | Berne

Cultural aspects and key expectations of clients and stakeholders in Türkiye and Switzerland

| Speaker Diana Akikol | ICC Switzerland's Arbitration Reception with ICC Türkiye | Zurich

How to become an arbitrator

| Speaker Diana Akikol | Swiss Arbitration Academy | Zurich

How to become an arbitrator

| Speaker Diana Akikol | Swiss Arbitration Academy | Zurich

The role of the arbitral tribunal in the examination of witnesses and experts

| Speaker Diana Akikol | Conference organized by the Arbitration Section of the Zurich Bar Association | Zurich

The power of agreed rules: how arbitration promotes peace and prosperity

| Speaker Diana Akikol | 13th World Chambers Congress | Geneva

The power of arbitral tribunals to order interim measures

| Speaker Diana Akikol | International Arbitration Symposium | Salzburg

Commentary on Article 180a and 180b of the PILS

| by Diana Akikol and Francesca Borio | in: Simon Gabriel/ Marco Stacher (Editor[s]) | "Berner Kommentar, Internationale Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit, Art. 176-194 IPRG sowie Art. 7 und 196 IPRG" | Bern

Commentary on Articles 179-180 of the Swiss Federal Private International Law Act

| by Diana Akikol | in: Simon Gabriel/Marco Stacher (Editor[s]) | "Berner Kommentar, Internationale Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit, Art. 176-194 IPRG sowie Art. 7 und 196 IPRG" | Bern

Commentary on Articles 180a-180b of the Swiss Federal Private International Law Act

| by Diana Akikol and Francesca Borio [co-author] | in: Simon Gabriel/Marco Stacher (Editor[s]) | "Berner Kommentar, Internationale Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit, Art. 176-194 IPRG sowie Art. 7 und 196 IPRG"

The Interplay between Arbitration and Insolvency

| Speaker Diana Akikol | ASA Annual Conference

The new powers of arbitral tribunals under the 2021 ICC Rules

| Speaker Diana Akikol | Webinar in French language organized by ICC France, ICC Switzerland, ICC Belgium on the 2021 ICC Rules

Hearing, Award; Annulment Proceedings

| Speaker Diana Akikol | LL.M. Program on International Trade Law, ILO International Training Centre | Turin

Annulment of Arbitral Awards in International Commercial Arbitration

| Speaker Diana Akikol | LL.M. program on International Trade Law | International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization, Turin

Disclosure, Objection, Challenges – the View from the Swiss Courts

| Speaker Diana Akikol | ASA Annual Conference “Clear Path or Jungle in Commercial Arbitrators' Conflicts of Interest?” | Zurich

Clear Path or Jungle in Commercial Arbitrators' Conflicts of Interest? The view from the Swiss state courts

| Speaker Diana Akikol | ASA Annual Conference 2020

Fast and Furious: Urgent and Expedited Relief, Lessons Learnt – Challenges Lying Ahead

| Speaker Diana Akikol | SCAI Innovation Conference | Zurich
More Publications

Recognitions


Chambers Europe 2026 Akikol
Chambers Global 2026 Akikol
Legal EMEA 2026 - Leading Partner
Lexology Index - Arbitration 2026 GAR - Thought Leaders
Lexology Index - Arbitration 2026 GAR - Highly Recommended
Best Lawyers 2026

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