Experience

Legal Employment

Independent Arbitrator, Mediator, negotiator & Business Development Consultant: since June 2020

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP – Deals Director- 2010-2021

Paul Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, Associate – 2008-2009

Fragomen, Delrey, Bernsen & Loewy (Global) LLP, Associate – 2007-2008

New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), Office of General Counsel – 2005-2007

Honorable Richard B. Lowe III, NYS Supreme Court – Commercial Division – 2004

NYS Attorney General – Consumer Fraud Division – 2004

Merrill Lynch – Global Regulation & Enforcement – 2003

Brooklyn Borough President’s Office – Office of General Counsel – 2003

NYC Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications – 2003

Education

LLM – Financial Services, New York Law School, New York, NY, 2011

Juris Doctor, New York Law School, New York, NY, 2005

ABD, Bioremediation/Geochemistry, CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY 1995-1997

BA Biology/Chemistry, Queens College, New York 1995

Recent Training and CLE

2024

•  AAA Disclosure Dynamics in Arbitration
•  Risk Management
• Probate and Administration of Estates
• Elevating Workplace Conflict Resolution: Strategies for Shifting the Well-Being Mindset• Updates on ICDR, the International Division of the American Arbitration Association

2023

•  What New York Healthcare Lawyers, Providers and Payors Need to Know About Health Equity Now
•  Cross Border Insolvency Practice
•  Cybersecurity

2022

•  Comprehensive Commercial Arbitration Training for Arbitrators and Counsel
•  DEI Here Now and For the Future
•  International Discovery: New Rules for a New World
•  AI—Compliance and Ethics Issues in a World Dominated by Artificial Intelligence—Legal, Ethical and Compliance Issues Created by the Revolution
•  Demystifying ESG: Understanding the Key Issues In-House Attorneys Should Know About ESG
•  Best Practices: Roundtable on Different Approaches to Arbitration
•  The Ethics of Freelance Legal Services: Hiring & Being Hired Including Contracts & Best Practices
•  Shareholder Litigation
•  International Arbitration Clauses

2021

•  ABA International Arbitration Skills Master Class
•  AAA: Consumers Cases Training
•  AAA: Expedited Process Training
•  AAA: The Preliminary Hearing
•  Arbitrator Technology and Case Management Practices
•  The Three Satisfactions of Mediation Workshop
• Global Spotlight: Best Practices in Arbitrator Selection in Africa
• A Day in the Life: Personal Perspectives from General Counsels and Partners
• How to Enter the US Market: New Framework, Old Tips
• Judicially Aided Discovery, Provisional Relief in International Arbitration: UK & US
• Forget What You’ve Heard About GDPR
• Untangling Fear in Lawyering (in Ourselves and Others)

2020

• Push for Parity: Practical Tools for Emerging Arbitrators
• Online Dispute Resolution: The New Frontier
• The Next Generation of Tech-Industry Disputes From The In-House Counsel Who Will File And The ADR
• Practitioners Who Will Serve
• Spotlight on Life Sciences Disputes Episode 2 Podcast: Deep Diving Into Types Of Agreements
• The Future of Dispute Resolution
• Dispute Appointment Service (DAS)
• Dispute Resolvers in Times of Crises: How To Be A Resource During Times Of Heightened Need
• Planning for Arbitration: The Arbitration Agreement
• Conversations in Conflict Resolution: Lainey Feingold
• Advocacy in International Arbitration
• Arbitrating Against States and State-Owned Entities
• Enforcing International Arbitration Awards Under The New York Convention
• NYS Court Part 137 Fee Dispute Arbitration & Mediation Training
• Advanced Commercial Mediation Training
• Mediation Symposium 2020: Mediation as a multidisciplinary practice
• International Arbitration and EU Law: What Next?
• Combinations and Permutations: Creating a Solution-Driven Dispute Resolution Process
• A Conversation on the Role of ADR In Resolving Issues of Gender-Based Violence
• The Future of Dispute Resolution
• Entrenchment Mediation Training
• The Future of International Arbitration
• Disclosure and The Appearance Of Bias In Arbitration
• Diversity & Inclusion in Brazilian Law Firms
• Managing cybersecurity threats in arbitration: what arbitrators, counsel, and clients should know
• The next generation of tech industry disputes from the in-house counsel who will file and the ADR practitioners who will serve
• Artificial Intelligence and data analytics in international arbitration
• Smart contracts and blockchain dispute resolution from international and institutional perspectives
• Cybersecurity Boot Camp Training – What Must You Know in Your Arbitration and Mediation Practice
• Basic Mediation Training
• Dispelling Myths: International Arbitration in the U.S. and New York. Episode 2, Clashes of Costs and Cultures
• International Perspectives on COVID-Related Disputes
• Dispelling Myths: International Arbitration in the U.S. and New York. Episode 1, The Judiciary
• Commercial Arbitration Training for Arbitrators and Counsel
• Comprehensive Training for the Conducting of  Commercial Arbitrations, Domestic and International
• Drafting ADR Clauses: Exploring Creative Solutions to Dispute Resolution
• Deal or No Deal: The Impact of Brexit on “In Progress” Transactions
• The Impact of International Corruption on Cross-Border Litigation and Arbitration

2019
• Mock International Arbitration & Advocacy Workshop
• Advocacy & Ethics in International Arbitration
• The A-Team: We Love It When Your Arbitration Comes Together
• Judicial/International Litigation Plenary
• Drafting Distribution Contracts Around the World: A Practical Guide
• Challenges in Cross-Border White Collar Criminal Investigations
• Freezing Orders and Other Extraordinary Injunctive Relief in North America, Asia, and Europe: What Cross- Border Litigators Need to Know
• Cross-border M&A and Protectionism
• Human Rights in Daily Life: Human Trafficking, Diversity and Inclusion, & LGBTQ/Marriage Equality
• Competition Enforcement of Digital Platforms in the US, Japan and Other Jurisdictions The Global Expansion of Shareholder Activism
• Cyber and Data Security: What to Do When Your Company or Your Client is Hacked
• Blazing a Trail: Removing Implicit Bias and Strategies for Dealing with It
• Changing the Law: Current State of Sexual Harassment Law and Dealing with Harassment in the Legal Workplace
• New Rules and New Rulers: Doing Business and Managing Legal Disputes in Mexico – Houston
• The General Data Protection Regulation: Emerging Trends, Issues and Global Developments
• Cybersecurity Ethics and Compliance Issues: U.S. Rules, Employee impact
• Disruption: Startups, New Technology and New Legal Challenges
• Deal protections vs defensive measures (like poison pills)
• In-House Counsel Panel: Exploring Legal-Tech’s Existing and Future Influence on the Practice of Law
• Challenges for Start-Ups: US & EU Economic Policies and Regulations
• Protection of Intellectual Property in Early Stage Ventures
• Starting a Start-Up: Should US Practitioners Always Choose US Law to Govern Transactional Agreements?
• Investing in a Start-Up in Sweden: Do’s and Don’ts
• Emerging Issues in E-commerce: Competition, Distribution, Data and Platform Power
• What to Do When It All Goes Wrong: New Challenges Facing Litigators in the Digital Era

2018
• Hot Topics in Mergers & Acquisitions
• Writing for Transactional Lawyers
• Hot Topics in Immigration Law
• Ethics of Practice
• Ethics in Todays Trans & Dispute Resolution Practice
• M & A and the Technology Revolution
• Cross-Border Transaction Opinion
• 2018 NYSBA Annual Meeting | International Section Meeting

2017
• Mock Arbitration
• Women in the Profession and Diversity as an Asset to Providing Innovative Client Service
• Cross-Border Attorney-Client Challenges: Privilege, Concurrent Representation, and Confidentiality
• Guide to Doing Business in Cuba Post-Castro and U.S. Embargo
• Corrupt Business Practices and their Impact on Human Rights in Guatemala
• Recent Trends in Commercial Law: Headwinds Ahead
• Ethics: Strengthening the Profession Against Illegality and Interference with Lawyer Independence
• M&A and Private Equity Trends in Cross-Border Transactions
• Recent Bribery Cases: How to Protect the Buyer of a Company Involved in a High-Risk Activity
• The Role of Local Bar Associations in the Promotion of Ethics and Compliance
• Anticorruption and Transparency Legislation in the Resource Extraction Industry
• Cross-Border and Local Financing Options for Latin American Companies
• Searching for a Common Language: A Comparison of Some Regulatory and Ethical Issues in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States
• “View from the Bench”: Perspectives on Judging
• Changes in privacy regulation and the potential
role of the Irish Privacy Office as the designated EU regulator for US companies
• Practice of law in Ireland and New York
and the merits of both as centers for dispute resolution
• International Human Rights: European and U.S. Perspectives on Current Challenges
• Anti-Corruption Law and Enforcement
• Discrimination: Different Perspectives on Hiring and Firing

2016
• Outside the Law: Uber, AirBnB and the Rise if the Collaborative Economy
• Commercial Divorce in Europe and Around the World
• Challenging IP: Fashion Design Protection and Appropriation Art in the US and EU
• Conversation with Max Schrems
• Advising Multinationals on Trade Compliance
• Enforcement of Antitrust Laws: Global Challenges
• Mergers & Acquisitions – Developments on the Market and in the Regulatory Environment
• That’s Just the Standard Language!
• Costs and efficiency of arbitral proceedings – Polish comparative perspective
• Cross Border Transacting
• Cross Border Personal Data Transfer in Light of the Landmark Judgment in the Schrems case
• A Private Practitioner’s Introduction to FATCA & Private Practice Considerations
• Essential Aspects of Property RestitutionTo Victims of Communism in Bulgaria

2015
• Securities Offerings: A Public Offering: How it is Done
• Broker-Dealer Advisory Services: Current legal and Compliance Issues Facing Dual Registration

2014
• How to Read Financial Statements
• Select Concepts in Drafting Contracts, Analyzing Ambiguities and Contracts Boilerplate

2013
• Fourteenth Annual Private Equity Forum
• This Really Happened: A Review of Real World Ethical Issues
• Troubleshooting Mortgage Servicing Problems: Regulatory Responses and Advocacy
• Banking Law Institute
• Writing For Transactional Lawyers
• M&A Litigation
• Avoiding Common Contracting Mistakes from a Litigator’s Perspective
• Drafting New York Choice of Law and Choice of Court Clauses in International Commercial Transactions
• Venture Capital
• Residential Foreclosure Actions
• Private Equity Forum

2012
• Fraud, Regulatory Focus and the “Dark Side” of Performance Management
• Fundamental Concepts in Drafting Contracts: What most Attorneys fail to consider
• Guide to Financial Institutions
• The Sovereign Debt Crises in Europe: Where Is it Headed?
• International Commercial Mediation: Shaping the Future of Commercial Dispute Resolution?
• Cross-border Finance: A Brave New World?
• Trade Compliance Issues Affecting Multinationals and Counsel
• View from the Inside: Key Issues in Globalizing Your In-House Law Department
• Political Activities of Corporations and Shareholders
• Stolen Masters: The Sale of Stolen and Plundered Art
• Anti-Corruption Legislation: Developments in the International Anti-Corruption Regime
• Mergers and Acquisitions: Trends in Buyer’s Protection
• International Capital Markets and Securities Regulations: Cur- rent Cross-Border Legal Issues and Legislation
• Alternative Law Firm Structures: Around the World

2011
• Doing Deals in Emerging Markets: BRIC and Beyond – PLI
• Minimizing FCPA Risks in Emerging Markets
• Registration Under the Advisers Act
• Advanced Licensing Agreements
• Writing for Transactional Lawyers – PLI
• Pocket MBA: Finance for Lawyers
• International Dispute Resolution

2009
International Law & Practice Seminary FCPA

Speaking Engagements

Diane O’Connell frequently speaks on different aspects of international in-house counsel practice, corporate law, M&A, commercial contracting, and diversity & inclusion at seminars and conferences worldwide.  

2024

• Advanced Mediation Skills Institute (Virtual)

• Dispute Advocacy Institute for Mediators & Advocates (ABA Virtual)

• Bridging the Gap: Navigating Stressors in the Legal Field (NYSBA Webinar)

• Reinventing Workplace Wellness Benefits to Negotiate a Culture of Wellbeing (Chief Webinar)

• Elevating Workplace Conflict Resolution: Strategies for Shifting the Well-being (NYSBA)

• Cultivating an Inclusive & Productive Workplace: Navigating Mental Wellbeing & Psychological Safety (Webinar)

• Mindfulness in Law

• Legal Association for Women Symposium

• Shifting the Workplace Well-being Mindset: Strategies for a Healthier and Happier Work Environment

• Creating A Workplace Culture of Inclusion

2023

• ESG: Ethical Approaches to Improving Social Policies in the Workplace (NYSBA London)

• The Future of Work (New York)

• Maintaining wellbeing while negotiating conflicting interests (IMLA Webinar)

• Embracing Inclusion: The Power of Diversity in Supporting Employees with Mental Disabilities (IBA Paris)• Does Your Workplace Culture of Wellbeing Have Titanic Syndrome? How to Your Crew From Sinking (Webinar)

2022

• “S” is the Essence of ESG (Goodenough College London)

• CyberSecurity and your Firm (New York)

• A Diverse Approach for Dispute Resolution Neutrals: The impact of implicit bias in reaching a resolution (Webinar)

2021

• Demystifying eDiscovery for Arbitrators

• ABA Career Empowerment Luncheon

• Irish Legal Structures Frequently Used in International Financial or Investment Transactions

• Navigating the ADR world: Speed bumps in starting a practice

• Diversity & Inclusion in Brazilian Companies: Importance and Opportunities

2020

• Ireland for Law: Financial Services In Ireland Post-Brexit Part 2: New Innovations/Transactions (Webinar)

• Bridging the Gap: Addressing Wellbeing, Mental Health and Substance Use in the Legal Profession (Webinar)

• Diversity & Inclusion: Harnessing Tomorrow’s Opportunities (Webinar)

• Ireland and International Arbitration

• Ireland for Law – Using Irish Law and Courts for Corporate Restructuring, Intellectual Property, Data Protection, and Derivatives (Webinar)

• Diversity & Inclusion in Brazilian Law Firms (Webinar)

• Commercial Arbitration Training for Arbitrators and Counsel: Comprehensive Training for the Conducting of  Commercial Arbitrations, Domestic and International – Best Practices in Selecting Arbitrators (Webinar)

• Breathing Together – Racism, an International perspective (Webinar)

• Coronavirus vs. Legislation Internationally, Tracking legislative updates globally (Webinar)

• Act of God (Force Majeure) and Other Business Disruption Clauses for Commercial Transactions – How are they Being Interpreted on an International Level? (Webinar)

• Golly What a Day: Managing your career and mental health in times of disruption (Webinar)

• Updates on US v. South Africa experience of COVID-19 (Webinar)

• Coronavirus: International Legal and Practical Issues (Webinar)

2019

• General Counsel Roundtable Plenary – NYSBA International Section Global Conference – Tokyo

• Ethical Issues for Lawyers and Law Firms Concerning Cybersecurity – NYSBA International Section Global Conference – Tokyo

• Women on the Move: Women in Leadership Changing Paths | Leadership Development, Overcoming Barriers and Honing Your Skills; Albany, New York

• What is Discrimination & Diversity in a global market and how does it impact your practice? – NYSBA Annual Meeting ­ International Section; New York, NY

• Establishing a Business in the US: Do’s and Don’ts of Structure, Tax, IP, Employment and Immigration, Compliance and Other Legal Matters – NYSBA International Section Regional Conference – NYSBA International Section Regional Conference – Stockholm

2018

• Cybersecurity Ethics/Comp Issues – NYSBA International Section Global Conference –Montreal

2017

• Access to advisory reports in deals: the risk of reliance – Internal presentation distributed nationally

• The Real Deal – It’s more than just scope of services: Mastering the Art of Contracts – Internal presentation distributed nationally

• Management of Law Firms: Expansion and Growth of Law Firms – NYSBA International Section Global Conference –Guatemala

• Cyber Security, Ethics and Compliance for International Law Firms and Corporate Counsel – NYSBA International Section Global Conference –Guatemala

• Cybersecurity for Lawyers – NYSBA Annual Meeting – NYSBA Annual Meeting ­ International Section; New York, NY

2016

• Cross Border Data Security – NYSBA International Section Global Conference –Paris

• Women in the Law Internationally – NYSBA International Section Global Conference –Paris

• Addressing Delivery Risks in Statements of Work Contracts – Internal presentation distributed nationally

• I can do that? Understanding Challenges in the Deals timeline – Internal presentation distributed nationally

2015

• From the Magna Carta to Dodd-Frank: the Rule of Law and International Financial Regulation – – NYSBA Annual Meeting ­ International Section; New York, NY

• Deals Risk Management: Confidentiality & Clean Team Agreements – Internal presentation distributed nationally

2014

• Deals Contracting: Key Contract Considerations – Internal presentation distributed nationally

• New Developments in International Transactions and Dispute Resolution – Internal presentation distributed nationally

2013

• Hot Topics for Deals: Risk Quality and Independence for accounting professionals – Internal presentation distributed nationally

2011

• Procurement & Sourcing: Legal perspectives on preparing and responding to RFXs – Internal presentation distributed nationally

• Negotiating Sourcing Contracts: Adjusting terms to suit the subject matter – Institute for Supply Management, New York

• Contract terms and what they mean in procurement contracts – Institute for Supply Management, New York

• What is Ordinary Course of Business in procurement? – Internal presentation distributed nationally

2010

• US Export Licenses and International Human Capital in Technology – International Law Firm Training, London, Costa Rica, New York

2008

• Trading Institutions, Federal Law and Policy, & Credit Management: Regulations, Policies, and Enforcement of Energies – Columbia University

Publications

How is the Global Pandemic Affecting the Legal Community Worldwide?, New York State Bar Association Global e-Newsletter,( Apr 2020)

Diversity, An International Perspective: Cultural Competence is How We Bridge the Chasm Created by Diversity, New York State Bar Association, Global e-Newsletter (Dec 2019)

Anxiety, a Slippery Slope, New York State Bar Association Journal (upcoming Nov 2019)

A Big Firm Shouldn’t Be Your Only Career Plan, New York State Bar Association Journal (Sept 2019)