Dr. Diaconu is a Swiss-qualified attorney with more than 25 years’ experience, specializing in sports law, gambling regulation, sport arbitration and international dispute resolution. She is also an experienced criminal defense attorney.

As a Professor at the University of Neuchâtel, Dr. Diaconu brings deep academic expertise to her legal practice. With dual expertise in Swiss and European legal frameworks, she provides strategic counsel to sports federations, clubs, athletes, coaches, sponsors, and other stakeholders navigating the evolving landscape of international sports law.

A former athlete herself, Dr. Diaconu has previously worked for the International Olympic Committee, the European Court of Justice, the Swiss Lottery, and various Sports & Gambling organizations. Since 2020, she is also a member of the UEFA Disciplinary Body. Her knowledge of sports is truly rooted in practical experience, not just legal theory.

She has also lectured at Columbia Law School, the University of Fribourg, the University of Bucharest and the Swiss Business School HE-Arc.

Dr. Diaconu regularly contributes to international sports law discourse and participates in high-profile publications, sports law conferences and dispute resolution proceedings.

Her legal practice focuses on:

• Sports Dispute Resolution, including arbitration before the FIFA Tribunal, the Basketball Arbitration Tribunal (BAT), disciplinary bodies of national and international federations, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and the Swiss Federal Tribunal;
• Contract Negotiation and Drafting for athletes, coaches, clubs, sponsors, and other commercial partners;
• Regulatory Compliance and Sports Governance;
• Sports Integrity, including in Sports Betting and Gambling matters;
• Human Rights in Sports: protection of athletes’ rights and anti-exploitation measures;
• Gambling Law, including licensing, regulatory compliance, prize draws and promotional marketing;
• Criminal Defense and representation of injured parties.

Dr. Diaconu has worked with more than 200 clients from various countries and in different sports, such as football, handball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics, cycling, aquatics, surfing, chess, etc.

As a former magistrate and a criminal defence lawyer, she handled numerous cases involving aggravated crimes, property offences, sex crimes and juvenile offences.