Diana Akikol
Partner
Dr. iur., Avvocato
Sede
Contatto
Telefono diretto: +41 58 658 30 61
diana.akikol@walderwyss.com
Curriculum vitae
"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
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
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).