31 March 2020 –

We are pleased to announce that we are strengthening our dispute resolution team in Zurich and Geneva with two internationally recognised arbitration experts.

Andrea Meier, Partner, Zurich, Dr. iur., LL.M. (Harvard), Attorney at law

Andrea Meier represents companies in commercial disputes. A particular focus of her work is the construction sector. For many years, she has represented parties before arbitral tribunals in disputes relating to large industrial and infrastructure projects, most recently regarding the development of an offshore gas field and a large production plant. Recent cases also include post-M&A and joint venture disputes, and disputes in the pharmaceutical and mobility sectors. Furthermore, Andrea Meier regularly represents clients from the financial industry before state courts and arbitral tribunals and advises them on cross-border matters.

International rankings recognise Andrea Meier as a leader in her field (Who's Who Legal Arbitration 2020: a "tough counsel"; Chambers Global 2020: a "commercially minded lawyer who is always willing to listen to the client's viewpoint first"). The 2018 Who's Who Legal Future Leaders edition ranked her as the most highly regarded arbitration practitioner in Europe aged 45 or under. In the litigation field, she was recently named a "Thought Leader Litigation" (Who's Who Legal Litigation 2020).

Andrea Meier is a member of the board of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA) and of ASA's Executive Committee, a former ASA below 40 co-chair, a member of the Arbitration Court of the Swiss Chambers' Arbitration Institution (SCAI) and an arbitrator of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Andrea Meier holds a law degree and a doctorate degree from the University of Zurich and a post-graduate degree (LL.M.) from Harvard Law School. Before joining Walder Wyss, she was a partner in a renowned boutique law firm for dispute resolution.

Diana Akikol, Partner, Geneva, Dr. iur., Attorney at law

Diana Akikol represents clients before arbitral tribunals in commercial matters and disputes involving corporate aspects. She has a particular focus on sales of goods and commodities, energy trading, M&A, shareholder agreements, joint ventures, licence and distribution agreements, as well as services and consultancy agreements, in particular in the industrial and telecommunications sectors. Moreover, she has many years of experience in construction arbitration. In recent years her emphasis has been on post M&A disputes and warranty claims relating to large infrastructure projects.

Acknowledged as a leader in her field, Diana Akikol “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). She is recommended as “a very strong practitioner” (Who's Who Legal 2020 Switzerland Arbitration) and “a highly intelligent and accurate arbitrator” (Who's Who Legal Future Leaders 2018). In 2018, Who’s Who Legal’s Future Leaders edition ranked her among the most highly regarded arbitration partners in Europe.

Diana Akikol is a member of the board of the Swiss Arbitration Association, the Arbitration Court of the Swiss Chambers’ Arbitration Institution, the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, and the International Advisory Body of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre.

Diana Akikol holds a law degree from the University of Fribourg and a doctorate degree from the University of Lucerne, both summa cum laude. Before joining Walder Wyss, she was a partner in a Geneva-based business law boutique.