TALEX INTERNATIONAL strengthens International Arbitration expertise with new partner Diamana Diawara

Diamana Diawara is a highly regarded arbitration practitioner, having gained outstanding experience at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), where she played a pivotal role in training both public and private sector stakeholders across Africa to strengthen their command of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

At the same time, Diamana has been actively involved in promoting the inclusion of African practitioners in arbitral proceedings and within the institutional framework of international arbitration. Her expertise spans both arbitrator and counsel roles, aligning seamlessly with the firm’s multicultural and multilingual approach (French, English, Spanish, Arabic, and Russian).

Pierre Daureu, Founding Partner of TALEX INTERNATIONAL, commented: “Diamana’s arrival is a key milestone for TALEX INTERNATIONAL. Her unmatched expertise, her experience within leading international institutions, and her deep understanding of African issues make her a major strategic asset for the firm. She fully shares our commitment to humanity, independence, and rigor—values that guide each of our engagements, particularly in matters involving significant political and economic stakes and the defense of sovereign or public interests.”

Diamana Diawara added: “I am delighted to join TALEX INTERNATIONAL at this new stage in my career and to work alongside Pierre in taking this young firm even further in its development, grounded in excellence and the pursuit of innovative, tailor-made solutions for its clients. Choosing TALEX INTERNATIONAL is above all a human choice: the opportunity to work with a high-quality team whose philosophy I share. I look forward to leveraging my experience, particularly in Africa, to support our clients in their most complex disputes, including in key sectors such as energy, construction, and natural resources.”

About Diamana Diawara

Diamana Diawara holds a Master’s degree (Master 2) in International Business Law from Paris Nanterre University and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. A member of the Paris Bar, she began her career in the international arbitration department of Dentons in Paris before joining the ICC International Court of Arbitration in 2012, where she spent fourteen years.

She served for over eight years as Counsel in charge of the France/Middle East/Africa team before being appointed in 2021 as the Court’s first Regional Director for Africa, a position she held until December 2025.

She is also a lecturer in the University Diploma in National and International Arbitration at the University of Montpellier. Diamana Diawara is co-chair of Paris Arbitration Week, a founding member of AfricArb, a member of the ICC Young Arbitrators Forum (YAAF) Africa chapter, and a member of the OHADA group of the French Arbitration Committee. She was listed in Who’s Who Legal: Future Leaders of International Arbitration (2021–2023) and was nominated in the Global Elite Thought Leaders category in arbitration by Lexology in 2024.

About TALEX INTERNATIONAL

Founded in 2023, TALEX INTERNATIONAL is a boutique law firm specializing in international commercial arbitration and investment arbitration. Drawing on the experience of its partners across Africa, Latin America, and Europe, the firm stands out for its unique expertise in matters involving states and public interests.