Diana has over 14 years post qualification experience. Her areas of practice include insolvency-related disputes, defamation, commercial and tax litigation, arbitration, employment and labour related disputes and disputes arising from real estate development projects.
Diana represents top media houses, leading banks, Non- Governmental Organizations, and leading retailers in the Kenyan market in various disputes before the Courts and Administrative Tribunals. Prior to joining the Firm, she worked at the Commission on Administrative Justice as a Senior Legal Officer and Head of Station and the Ethics & Anti-Corruption Commission as a Legal Officer.
Experience has included advising:
- Represented a bank in a claim made against the Bank for alleged false and fraudulent banking practices, related to the alleged freezing and denial of a customer’s access to USD 6,015,152.72. The customer of the Bank alleged that the unlawful freezing of the funds caused them loss of a leasing agreement, leading to a significant loss of business amounting to USD 80,090,432.94 which it sought to be paid.
- Currently representing a leading brewery company in a claim for unauthorised and unlawful use of its trademark on their beverage bottles by a competitor. The competitor was found to be packaging their products in bottles belonging to leading brewery company and bearing the client’s protected marks.
- Successfully represented leading regional and international financial institutions in proceedings to set aside warrants of attachment and sale issued against the assets of a borrower company. Successfully argued that the proclaimed properties constituted secured assets under credit facilities exceeding USD 73 million, and that the clients’ rights as secured creditors took precedence over those of an unsecured decree holder.
- Successfully defended a Judicial Review application seeking to quash the results of an investigation and to stop criminal proceedings from continuing before the Magistrates court.
- Representing a major beverage manufacturer in a Constitutional Petition challenging a decision by the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) arising from investigations into alleged restrictive trade practices following complaints by ten distributors.
- Advised a leading Telecommunications and Mobile Financial Services provider in East Africa in a high-profile cross-border investigation arising from a whistleblower report alleging bribery, corruption, and unethical conduct by employees in Ethiopia in relation to securing commercial contracts. The matter required discreet handling of sensitive allegations, cross-jurisdictional coordination, and strategic guidance on investigative processes and remedial measures.
- Acted for a leading multinational agricultural company in a land fraud investigation involving approximately 467 hectares of land belonging to the client which had been illegally acquired through fraudulent means by third parties. The engagement involved representing the client before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and filing a complaint with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) following reports of illegal logging on the land. She further provided cross-agency coordination and strategic oversight of the investigative process.
- Advised a leading multinational and several local clients on antitrust investigations conducted by the COMESA Competition Commission and the Competition Authority of Kenya, particularly in matters involving restrictive trade practices and abuse of dominance. This includes preparing comprehensive legal and economic responses to statements of concern or proposed decisions, negotiating settlements and commitments, and engaging with regulators throughout the investigative process.
- Obtained injunctive orders prohibiting the transfer, alienation and/or dealing with a prime parcel of public land located along Waiyaki Way, Nairobi which had been illegally alienated.
- Assisting Counsel in a matter before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board and later the High Court challenging a tender for the supply and delivery of syringes to the Ministry of Health
- Acting for a leading beverage manufacturer and its affiliate in a claim seeking recovery of approximately KES 22 million arising from a distributor’s breach of distribution agreements and outstanding payments. The distributor has also filed a counterclaim alleging unlawful termination of the agreements, loss of income, and improper account debits, seeking KES 751 million in damages. The matter involves complex issues of contractual performance, termination, and reconciliation of distributor accounts.
Professional Qualifications
- Advocate admitted to the High Court of Kenya (2006)
Education
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Master of Law LL.M. (Taxation)
- Kenya School of Law, Diploma in Law (2016)
- University of Nairobi, Bachelor of Laws LL.B.
Prior Experience
- 2022 to date, Partner, DLA Piper Africa, Kenya (IKM Advocates)
- 2020 to 2021, Legal Director, DLA Piper Africa, Kenya (IKM Advocates)
- 2016 to 2020, Senior Associate, DLA Piper Africa, Kenya (IKM Advocates)
- 2015 to 2016, Senior Legal Officer & Head of Station, government-based agency
- 2012 to 2015, Legal Officer, government-based agency
- 2008 to 2012, Associate, Nairobi-based law firm
Memberships
- Law Society of Kenya
- International Bar Association