Diane Okoko Arbitrator, Counsel, Lawyer
Nationality(ies):
Nigerien

Legal System:

Common Law

Practice Areas:

Arbitration, Commercial Law, Corporate Law, Energy - Natural Resources, Joint Ventures - Consortia - Cooperation, Real Estate, Other

Jurisdiction:

Nigeria

Publications

  • The Implications of ESG-Based Contractual Provisions in International Arbitration
  • Transforming Nigeria's dispute resolution landscape - a review of the Arbitration and Mediation Act           2023
  • Building A Career in International Arbitration; Accreditation, Training and Specialization
  • Dispute Resolution Protocols in African Continental Free Trade Area: Reviewing Existing Protocols and Rules
  • Revisiting Electronic Contracts and Signatures: Perspectives On Digitization and The Law in Nigeria
  • Cyber Security and International Arbitration
  • Intra-African Arbitral Awards; Enforcement of Ohada Awards in Nigeria
  • An Overview of the Legal Framework Within the Nigerian Agricultural Landscape
  • Confidentiality and Transparency in International Arbitration

 



Speaking Engagement:

TOPIC:  The Race for Natural Resource and Arbitration 
EVENT: East Africa International Arbitration Conference

DATE :   26th September, 2025

 

TOPIC:  Faith, Finance & Fairness- navigating Islamic finance and Arbitration
EVENT: Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)) Nigeria, Branch- Specialist Arbitration Webinar

DATE:  15th August, 2025

 

TOPIC: Career Clarity; Finding your niche in legal practice
EVENT:  Professional Development scheme- Young Lawyer Forum (YLF) Abuja 

DATE: 17th July,2025

 

TOPIC: Unlocking Opportunities: New frontiers 
EVENT: NBA Abuja Branch( Unity Bar) Law week, 2025

DATE: 22 June,2025

 

TOPIC: Mastering the drafting of effective Arbitration clauses & handling        jurisdictional challenges
EVENT: ICC YAAF - Mastering your craft in  International Arbitration.

DATE: 18th June, 2025

 

TOPIC: From Associates to Leaders: Building young lawyers path to a successful legal career.
EVENT: NBA, Bwari Branch -Young Lawyers Forum (YLF) Summit 

DATE: 13th June, 2025

 

TOPIC: Fraud & Corruption in International Arbitration: Navigating State Disputes
EVENT: London International Disputes Week (LIDW)

DATE:  5th June 2025

 

TOPIC: Arbitration and the Courts: Between Principles and Practice
EVENT: NBA Section on Legal Practice (NBA-SLP), Jos

DATE: May 2025

 

TOPIC: Capacity Building through deliberate mentorship- Harnessing the prospect of Arbitration and ADR in emerging hubs
EVENT: 1st  ICC Nigeria Arbitration Days

DATE: July 2024

 

TOPIC: The Corruption Defence: Practical Consideration and International Trend 
EVENT: 8th ICC Kenya and ICC Africa Conference, Nairobi.

DATE: 29th – 31st May 2024 

 

TOPIC: Current Trends in International Arbitration: Opportunities and Pertinent Challenges
EVENT: 2nd Annual Energy and Mining Arbitration Conference

DATE: 5th April 2024

 

TOPIC: Inclusivity for performance in the workplace
 EVENT: International Women’s Day- Strength Africa, Monthly Business Series  

  DATE: 8th March 2024

 

TOPIC:The Role of Commercial Mediation in Africa’s Emerging Markets: Opportunities and Threats
 EVENT: ADR Conference of The Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC)

 DATE: 28th November 2023

 

TOPIC:GRITT (Getting Results in Tough Times): Stories of Triumph 
EVENT: Women in Management, Business &  Public Services (WIMBIZ) 22nd Annual Conference

DATE: 2nd – 3rd November 2023

 

TOPIC: Corporate Governance excellence;Building Trust and sustainability  
EVENT: Nigerian Bar Association -Section on Business Law(NBA-SBL)  Northern Zonal Conference

DATE: 12th October 2023

 

TOPIC:  Potential Review Mechanism in International/Domestic  Arbitration
EVENT: Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)Young Member Group Port Harcourt, Webinar 

DATE: 19th September 2023

 

TOPIC: Engineering Delays in Construction Contracts: Analysis, Damages, and Legal Remedies
EVENT: Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Nigeria Branch, Port Harcourt Chapter Webinar

DATE: 26th July 2023

 

TOPIC: A guide to Arbitrable  and non-Arbitrable Disputes under the various Applicable laws
EVENT: Nigerian ADR Society( NADRS) – Maiden Internship Program

 DATE: 1st July 2023

 

TOPIC: Promoting Efficiency in Arbitration
EVENT: 7th ICC Africa Conference, Lagos Nigeria

DATE: 2nd June 2023

 

TOPIC: Arbitration Sports Disputes- Matters Arising
 EVENT: Cameroun Arbitration Week, Doula  

 DATE: 3rd May 2023

 

TOPIC: De-escalating Strategies in African Energy Disputes
EVENT:  Paris Arbitration Week, Paris-France

 DATE:27th March, 2023

 

TOPIC: International Arbitration and Investor Protection in the African Energy and Mining Sectors 
 EVENT:  Nalule Energy & Mining International Arbitration Conference             

DATE: March 2023

 

TOPIC: Evolving areas in Dispute resolution 
EVENT: ICC Kenya 2nd Annual International Conference 

DATE:  23rd September, 2022

 

 TOPIC: Alternative Dispute Resolution: A solution or illusion 
 EVENT: Nigeria Bar Association-Section Legal Practice  Annual Conference , Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria

  DATE:  5th July 2022

 

TOPIC: ESG Disputes, Past, Present, and Future  
EVENT: 6th ICC Africa International Arbitration Conference , Lagos Nigeria

DATE: 2nd June 2022

 

TOPIC: Enhancing Efficiency in the Arbitral Process 
EVENT: Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Nigeria Annual Conference, Ibadan

DATE:19th November, 2021

 

TOPIC: Emerging Areas of Legal practice: focus - Sport and entertainment law
 EVENT: NBA Warri Branch, webinar.

 DATE: 13th April 2021

 

TOPIC: Networking in the New Normal: Staying engaged
 EVENT: Arbitral women, webinar

 DATE: 1st December 2020

 

TOPIC:  Dispute Resolution Protocols in African Continental Free Trade Area  AFCFTA: Reviewing Existing Protocols 
EVENT: 9th Plenary Session Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), Webinar  

DATE: 27th November 2020

 

TOPIC: Alternative Dispute Resolution And The New Era: The Role of An ADR Registrar in an online Dispute Resolution- A Webinar 
EVENT: 1st ADR Confrence- Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dispute Resolution Centre- Dispute Resolution Centre, ACCI

DATE: 25th November, 2020  

 

TOPIC: Practical ways for Increased Efficiency in Arbitration 
EVENT:7th ICC Africa Conference on International Arbitration, lagos Nigeria 

DATE: 2nd June, 2023 

 

TOPIC: Arbitrating Sport Duties… Matters Arising
EVENT: Cameroun Arbitration Week, GIGAM, Duaola Cameroun

DATE:  11 March, 2020

 

TOPIC: Enforcing Intra-African Arbitration Awards
EVENT: 6th SOAS Arbitration Conference, Doula Cameroun

DATE: 11th, March 2020

 

TOPIC:  Corporate Governance and Organizational Structures
 EVENT: Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI),  Abidjan

 DATE: 2020 

 

TOPIC: Corporate Governance, Development Bank of South Africa
EVENT:(AIAFD) Johannesburg 

DATE:  December 2020

 

TOPIC: Economic Benefits and Career Opportunities in Arbitration
EVENT: Kaduna Arbitration Community One Day Workshop on Arbitration

DATE: November 2019 

 

TOPIC: Confidentiality and Transparency in Arbitration- Striking a Balance  
EVENT: Bitesize Seminar series, Young Member Group (YMG)  Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Chartered Institute of Arbitrator (CIArb) Abuja chapter 

DATE: May 2019

 

TOPIC: The Africanization of international disputes: Rethinking our Approach to international Dispute Practitioners 
EVENT: 1st Annual  Africa Arbitration Association (AFAA), Kigali, Rwanda 

DATE: April  2019

 

TOPIC: Diversity in International Arbitration  
EVENT: Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Nigeria Branch, Annual Conference, Abuja

 DATE: 26th October  2018

 

TOPIC: Understanding the essentials of Cross-border Mergers & Acquisition 
EVENT: IBA/NBA-SBL Annual Conference

DATE: 26th June, 2018

 

TOPIC: Arbitrability in Africa: New Hopes or Lost Opportunities
EVENT: 3rd ICC Africa Conference Lagos, Nigeria.

DATE: 19th June, 2018


Teaching

Accredited Faculty Member - CIArb 

Tutor for Introductory (Entry) Course in Nigeria and London
Assessor for Accelerated Route to Membership Course in Nigeria and London
Assessor for Fellowship Course in Nigeria



Education

LLM - University of South Wales, United Kingdom
MALD - University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
BL - Nigerian Law School, Bwari, FCT, NIgeria
LLB - Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria


Other Information

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

●      Nominated, Arbitrator of the Year by African Arbitration Association (AfAA) (2024)

●      50 Most Influential Women Leaders in Governance, Risk Compliance and Financial Crime by GRC and Morgans (2023)

●      50 Nigerian Inspiring Women by BusinessDay Women’s Hub (2023)

●      Nominated, Arbitrator of the Year by African Arbitration Association (AfAA) (2023)

●      Nominated, Young Arbitrator of the Year by African Arbitration Association (AfAA) (2022)

●      Recognised amongst Africa's 30 Most Promising Arbitration Practitioners (2022)

●      Nominated, Young Arbitrator of the Year by African Arbitration Association (AfAA), (2021)

●      Northern Nigerian Students Association Award of Excellence (2022)

●      Recognized by Global Group Media, CNBC/NBC sponsored feature on Africa Women Rising    2020 Series, “31 Women Creating a Positive Impact in Africa” (2020)                                               

●      Young Professional of the Year by the Woman on Fire Foundation (2018)

●      Award of Excellence, Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN),

University of Abuja (2018)

●      Award of Excellence for contributions to development of the Youth by

Government Secondary School, Karshi, Abuja, Old Students Association (2018)

Firm/Organisation
Marcus-Okoko & Co.
External Profile: Visit Website
Bar Admission:Nigeria
Selected Languages:
Languages
English
Speaking Proficiency Proficient
Professional Proficiency Conduct DR proceedings, Represent clients as an advocate in DR proceedings, Testify orally, Draft opinions, reports, agreements, decisions, orders or awards, Understand written documents
Marcus-Okoko & Co.

Professional Address

SUMMIT PLACE, PLOT 696 UBIAJA CRESCENT , GARKI 2
ABUJA - FEDERAL CAPITAL TERR - Nigeria
Postal Code: 900247
Professional Phone: +2348035879996 Mobile Phone: +234 +2348035879996