In a corporate legal landscape bogged by bureaucracy and conformity, Diane is an exceptional Commercial Lawyer, Arbitrator, and Notary Public; pushing the frontiers of the legal space. She is a highly knowledgeable and skilled legal practitioner with a deep understanding of international laws and regulations garnered over several years of experience. She serves as the Principal Partner of Marcus-Okoko & Co, an Abuja-based international corporate law firm. She possesses vast experience in the fields of arbitration and dispute resolution, corporate commercial law, capital markets and the emerging areas of (Technology, Entertainment and Agriculture Law), having garnered extensive knowledge and experience in these areas over the years, from her participation in several transactions across these fields. With a proven track record in resolving complex disputes, she is known for her impartiality, integrity, and ability to navigate diverse cultural and legal landscapes.
She is a Fellow and an approved Faculty member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) (UK) Nigeria Branch, a Fellow of the Institute of Construction Industry Arbitration (ICIArb) and a member of the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD). She is a Corporate Governance Practitioner and facilitator, with expertise in board performance management and audit.
Diane currently serves as the Lead for the Arbitration Thematic Area for National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER). She is listed as a neutral on several Panels inclusive of the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA) Small Claims Panel, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Dispute Resolution Centre of the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce Dispute Resolution Centre (NCC DRC), the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), the Federal High Court Dispute Resolution Centre (FHC DRC), the Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse (RSMDC) as well as the Abuja Multi-Door Courthouse (AMDC).
Diane’s arbitration practice is tilted towards commercial and construction dispute resolution. She has had extensive training and experience in these areas, inclusive of being trained specifically on FIDIC contracts and is severally appointed as Sole Arbitrator and Co-Arbitrator in ad-hoc arbitrations under the rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).