Practice Expertise
Areas of Practice
- Arbitration
- Commercial Contracts
- Corporate & Commercial
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Industry & Commerce
- Information Technology & Telecommunications
- Mergers & Acquisitions View More
Profile
Diana Akikol leads the Geneva International Arbitration Group.
Drawing on over 20 years of experience as an advocate, Ms. Akikol represents multinational corporations, national companies, states and state-owned entities in international arbitration proceedings under the major institutional rules and ad-hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules. Additionally, she acts for clients in arbitration-related proceedings before the Geneva courts.
Ms. Akikol is also an accomplished arbitrator, having sat as tribunal member (often as president) in more than 60 arbitrations seated in various jurisdictions (Geneva, Zurich, London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Istanbul, Hong Kong, etc.) and conducted under a variety of rules (including ICC, Swiss, LCIA, HKIAC, VIAC and DIS).
Ms. Akikol’s practice spans a wide range of matters, with a particular focus on sales of goods, commodities and energy trading, mergers & acquisitions, shareholder agreements, joint ventures, construction and engineering, agency, licence and distribution agreements, as well as services and consultancy agreements.
Ranked as a leader in her field, both in Europe and globally, 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 “one of the best Swiss arbitration lawyers” (Who's Who Legal Global Leader 2023), “a very strong practitioner” (Who's Who Legal 2020 Switzerland Arbitration) and “a highly intelligent and accurate arbitrator” (Who's Who Legal Arbitration Future Leaders Partners 2018).
Ms. Akikol serves as ICC Court member for Switzerland. She is also a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, the Arbitration Commission of ICC Switzerland, the Board of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA), a Court member of the Swiss Arbitration Centre, and a member of the Board of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC).
Ms. Akikol has published a doctoral thesis on the warranty regime under Swiss law and the UN Sales Convention (CISG) and co-authored a commentary on the CISG. She regularly speaks and publishes in the arbitration field. Several of her contributions deal with award set aside proceedings before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. She recently co-authored a commentary on the Swiss International Arbitration Act.
Ms. Akikol holds a law degree from the University of Fribourg and a doctorate degree from the University of Lucerne, both summa cum laude. She was admitted to the bar in 2002, ranked first of her class. Ms. Akikol started her professional career as law clerk on the Superior Court of Berne, Switzerland (2002-2005) and completed her PhD as a visiting scholar at the University of Michigan Law School (2005-2006), before specializing in international arbitration with another Swiss national law firm (2007-2014). She successfully continued her arbitration practice as a co-founder of a Geneva-based business law boutique (2014-2020) before joining Walder Wyss in 2020.
Diana Akikol is fluent in English, French and German (native).
Drawing on over 20 years of experience as an advocate, Ms. Akikol represents multinational corporations, national companies, states and state-owned entities in international arbitration proceedings under the major institutional rules and ad-hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules. Additionally, she acts for clients in arbitration-related proceedings before the Geneva courts.
Ms. Akikol is also an accomplished arbitrator, having sat as tribunal member (often as president) in more than 60 arbitrations seated in various jurisdictions (Geneva, Zurich, London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Istanbul, Hong Kong, etc.) and conducted under a variety of rules (including ICC, Swiss, LCIA, HKIAC, VIAC and DIS).
Ms. Akikol’s practice spans a wide range of matters, with a particular focus on sales of goods, commodities and energy trading, mergers & acquisitions, shareholder agreements, joint ventures, construction and engineering, agency, licence and distribution agreements, as well as services and consultancy agreements.
Ranked as a leader in her field, both in Europe and globally, 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 “one of the best Swiss arbitration lawyers” (Who's Who Legal Global Leader 2023), “a very strong practitioner” (Who's Who Legal 2020 Switzerland Arbitration) and “a highly intelligent and accurate arbitrator” (Who's Who Legal Arbitration Future Leaders Partners 2018).
Ms. Akikol serves as ICC Court member for Switzerland. She is also a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, the Arbitration Commission of ICC Switzerland, the Board of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA), a Court member of the Swiss Arbitration Centre, and a member of the Board of the Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC).
Ms. Akikol has published a doctoral thesis on the warranty regime under Swiss law and the UN Sales Convention (CISG) and co-authored a commentary on the CISG. She regularly speaks and publishes in the arbitration field. Several of her contributions deal with award set aside proceedings before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. She recently co-authored a commentary on the Swiss International Arbitration Act.
Ms. Akikol holds a law degree from the University of Fribourg and a doctorate degree from the University of Lucerne, both summa cum laude. She was admitted to the bar in 2002, ranked first of her class. Ms. Akikol started her professional career as law clerk on the Superior Court of Berne, Switzerland (2002-2005) and completed her PhD as a visiting scholar at the University of Michigan Law School (2005-2006), before specializing in international arbitration with another Swiss national law firm (2007-2014). She successfully continued her arbitration practice as a co-founder of a Geneva-based business law boutique (2014-2020) before joining Walder Wyss in 2020.
Diana Akikol is fluent in English, French and German (native).
Areas of Practice
- Arbitration
- Commercial Contracts
- Corporate & Commercial
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Industry & Commerce
- Information Technology & Telecommunications
- Mergers & Acquisitions
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
WWL ranking - Arbitration Switzerland 2023
The Best Lawyers Awards 2024
Chambers and Partners has moved Walder Wyss’s Arbitration Team up to Band 2 in its 2023 Global Ranking
Who’s Who Legal has again recognized a record number of Walder Wyss arbitration practitioners as leaders in their field
Diana Akikol and Andrea Meier have been recognised amongst Switzerland’s twelve "most highly regarded” arbitration specialists
Diana Akikol in den Internationalen Schiedsgerichtshof der ICC gewählt
Record number of arbitration practitioners of Walder Wyss featured in Who’s Who Legal 2020
Kompetenz hoch zwei: doppelte Verstärkung für unser Prozessführungsteam
WWL ranking - Arbitration Switzerland 2023
The Best Lawyers Awards 2024
Chambers and Partners has moved Walder Wyss’s Arbitration Team up to Band 2 in its 2023 Global Ranking
Who’s Who Legal has again recognized a record number of Walder Wyss arbitration practitioners as leaders in their field
Diana Akikol and Andrea Meier have been recognised amongst Switzerland’s twelve "most highly regarded” arbitration specialists
Diana Akikol in den Internationalen Schiedsgerichtshof der ICC gewählt
Record number of arbitration practitioners of Walder Wyss featured in Who’s Who Legal 2020
Kompetenz hoch zwei: doppelte Verstärkung für unser Prozessführungsteam
Articles
Kommentierung zu Art. 180a und 180b IPRG
Liquidated Damages and Penalties in International Construction Agreements
Risiken bei der Übernahme der Maklerprovision durch die Käuferin / Konkurs des Mieters von Geschäftsräumen / Pauschalierter Schadenersatz und Konventionalstrafen in internationalen Bauverträgen
International Arbitration 2021: Switzerland - Trends and Developments
Anhörung, Schiedsspruch; Verfahren zur Nichtigerklärung
Offenlegung, Einspruch, Anfechtungen – die Sichtweise der Schweizer Gerichte
Aufhebung von Schiedssprüchen – aus Schweizer Sicht
Anhörung, Schiedsspruch; Verfahren zur Nichtigerklärung
Notrechtsschlichtungsverfahren
Kommentar zu Art. 45 bis 48 CISG (UN-Kaufrecht)
Revision des Schiedsrechts in der Schweiz
Lügen, Betrug und Täuschung – welche anwaltlichen Pflichten bestehen bei der Verteidigung in einem Schiedsverfahren?
Öffentliche Ordnung und gerichtliche Überprüfung – Schweiz
Vorsorgliche Massnahmen; Nichtigerklärung und Vollstreckung von Schiedssprüchen
Das GAR Live-Symposium
Schlichtung künftiger Ansprüche
Aktuelle Schweizer Entscheide über Anträge auf Nichtigerklärung eines Schiedsspruchs
Die neuen Regeln für beschleunigte Schiedsverfahren der Internationalen Handelskammer (ICC)
Vorläufiger Rechtsschutz und Notrechtsbegehren; Vollstreckung internationaler Schiedssprüche
Die geplante Revision von Kapitel 12 des IPRG
Anfechtung von Schiedssprüchen vor Bundesgericht
Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit in der Schweiz
Aktuelle Schweizer Rechtsprechung zur Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit
Das New Yorker Übereinkommen auf einen Blick
Die Grundlagen der Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit und des Schiedsverfahrens
Die Verfahren vor dem Schiedsgericht
Vorläufiger Rechtsschutz in internationalen Schiedsverfahren
Wichtige Bundesgerichtsentscheide zur Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit der letzten Jahre
Durchführung kleiner und mittelgrosser Schiedsverfahren
Kommentar zu Art. 45 bis 48 CISG
Nachzügler und Drückeberger: Mittel, um nicht anwesende Antragsgegner zu überzeugen, sich am Schiedsverfahren zu beteiligen, und Umgang mit Antragsgegnern, die einen Rückzieher machen
Aktuelle Schweizer Rechtsprechung zur Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit
Prüfung der aktuellen Rechtsprechung des Schweizer Bundesgerichts
Die bundesgerichtliche Rechtsprechung zur Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit im Jahr 2010
Die bundesgerichtliche Rechtsprechung zur Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit im Jahr 2009
The Swiss Case Law in the period from 1 September to 31 December 2008
Aktuelle Schweizer Rechtsprechung zur Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit
Die Voraussetzungen der Sachmängelhaftung beim Warenkauf – Obligationenrecht und UNKaufrecht (CISG)
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