Profile

Diana Constantinide is a barrister practicing international criminal law, international human rights law and general crime whilst maintaining a diverse common law practice on Civil and Family law. Diana has previously practiced law in the Republic of Cyprus. Diana regularly appears in the Magistrates Court, Crown Court and County Court. 

Diana's practice in the area of international criminal law includes cases before the International Criminal Court (ICC) and has invovled the representation of victims. Diana is currently appointed as legal assistant to the team of Common Legal Representatives of Victims (CLRV) in the Darfur situation and has been instructed as assistant to counsel for a group of victims participating before the ICC.

Crime

Diana has experience in a range of criminal work in the Magistrates’ Court, Youth Court and Crown Court for defence. She accepts instructions on a legal aid and private basis. She has appeared in the Magistrates’ Court for hundreds of trials. She has appeared in the Crown Court for the defence of sentences, POCA hearings, appeals against sentence and conviction. Diana has completed the vulnerable witness course with the Middle Temple.

Diana has also experience as an independent counsel and advice upon legal professional privilege in relation to seized material in the context of a search warrant. 

Violent crime

Diana has experience with offences in which there is an allegation of use or threat to use force upon a victim. This can include many forms of violence and Diana has experience with:

- Actually Bodiy Harm (ABH);

-Affray

-Aggravated Burglary;

- Assault against a Police Officer;

-Common assault;

- Domestic Violence.

Selected cases

R v SM (2019): Northampton Magistrates’ Court Represented the defendant for trial in a criminal damage, assault by beating and racially aggravated public order offence, achieving despite the odds conviction based on recklessness and achieving a result well below what was expected on the sentencing guidelines, imposing merely a fine that was a direct result of her advocacy skills. Client reported afterwards ‘she fought of me every step of the way’.   

R v S (2019) Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court: Hearing. Successfully argued that there was no case to answer, following robust cross examination of crown’s witnesses.

R v T (2018) Harrow Crown Court: Defendant have already entered a guilty plea to possession of a bladed article. Successfully argued for prohibited activity requirement under s. 203 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

International Crime

Diana's practice in the area of international criminal law includes cases before the International Criminal Court (ICC) and has involved the representation of victims. Diana is currently appointed as legal assistant to the team of Common Legal Representatives of Victims in the Darfur situation and has been instructed as assistant to counsel for a group of victims participating before the ICC. 

Darfur - Sudan situation 

The Prosecutor v Ali Muhammad Abd-Al Rahman ('Ali Kushayb): Diana has been appointed as Legal Assistant to the team of Common Legal Representatives of victims (CLRV) in the case of The Prosecutor v Ali Muhammad Abd-Al Rahman ('Ali Kushayb). Mr Abd-Al Rahman is suspected of 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed between August 2003 and at least April 2004 in Darfur, Sudan. The confirmation of charges hearing took place from 24 and 26 May 2021 and the Pre Trial-Chamber II confirmed all charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity brought by the Prosecutor against Abd-Al Rahman and committed him to trial. The trial commenced on the 5 April 2022 and in ongoing. Diana has been involved in the Darfur situation for over 4 years and had the opportunity to meet with many victims. Diana prepared and drafted victim applications and witness statements that were filed at the ICC. Diana is assisting a dynamic team of lawyers during the trial. 

Afghanistan situation

Diana is currently instructed as assistant to counsel for a group of Afghan victims participating before the ICC. This includes conducting interviews, drafting, and preparing witness statement, liaising with the Office of the Prosecutor to hold proceedings before the ICC included in Article 15 of the Rome Statute.  

Myanmar situation

Diana was previously instructed as co-counsel to advice on accountability and justice in relation to evidence of the displacement of the Rohingya people from Myanmar. This was to be in the form of an Inquiry and to consider whether there was prima facie evidence that international crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes have been committed.

Transitional justice - Cyprus dispute

Diana has also worked in the area of transitional justice assisting Cyprus post conflict legal education by bringing both legal communities (Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot) together, through her initiative of creating content in preparation for the Cyprus Bar Exams, that is available in both languages i.e., Greek and Turkish. 

Civil

 Diana appears in the County Court in small claims and fast track matters for both Claimants and Defendants. Diana accepts instructions at all stages of a case, from initial advice on prospects and quantum, to drafting court documents and providing representation at hearings. Diana has also been instructed on interim applications. 

Diana’s civil practice is diverse. She has experience in a range of civil matters, including:

Landlord/tenant disputes;

Road traffic matters;

Hire purchase car agreement;

Set aside judgement.

Molestation & Occupation

Diana has experience acting in private family law matters. She advises and acts in matters connected to non-molestation and occupational order including interim remedies, prohibited steps order and emergency injunctions. She acted for both the respondent and the applicant. 

Regulatory

Diana has developed a regulatory practice in which she routinely represents Registrants from regulators such as NMC. Diana dealt with all manners of allegations including serious allegations of threats of violence, misconduct, alcohol abuse and sexual harassment.

Inquests and Inquires

Diana has regularly been instructed by the Government Legal Department (GLD) Inquests in relation to deaths in prisons.

Judicial Review 

Diana has also experience in drafting grounds for judicial review such as local housing authority in relation to housing (homelessness) applications. 

Notable Cases

The Prosecutor v Ali Muhammad Abd-Al Rahman ('Ali Kushayb): Diana has been appointed as Legal Assistant to the team of Common Legal Representatives of victims (CLRV) in the case of The Prosecutor v Ali Muhammad Abd-Al Rahman ('Ali Kushayb). Mr Abd-Al Rahman is suspected of 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed between August 2003 and at least April 2004 in Darfur, Sudan. The confirmation of charges hearing took place from 24 and 26 May 2021 and the Pre Trial-Chamber II confirmed all charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity brought by the Prosecutor against Abd-Al Rahman and committed him to trial. The trial commenced on the 5 April 2022 and in ongoing. Diana has been involved in the Darfur situation for over 4 years and had the opportunity to meet with many victims. Diana prepared and drafted victim applications and witness statements that were filed at the ICC. Diana is assisting a dynamic team of lawyers during the trial.

R v SM (2019): Northampton Magistrates’ Court Represented the defendant for trial in a criminal damage, assault by beating and racially aggravated public order offence, achieving despite the odds conviction based on recklessness and achieving a result well below what was expected on the sentencing guidelines, imposing merely a fine that was a direct result of her advocacy skills. Client reported afterwards ‘she fought of me every step of the way’.   

R v S (2019) Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court: Hearing. Successfully argued that there was no case to answer, following robust cross examination of crown’s witnesses.

R v T (2018) Harrow Crown Court: Defendant have already entered a guilty plea to possession of a bladed article. Successfully argued for prohibited activity requirement under s. 203 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Cypriot law

Diana has previously practiced law in the Republic of Cyprus. She advises on Cypriot law and cross boarder matters. She had an extensive litigation profile of over 350 cases and appeared before the District Courts, Criminal Courts, Family Court, Rent Tribunal, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court as a first instance court and the Her Majesty’s Court of the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus.  She worked on a wide range of cases including debt collection, banking, family, company law, conveyancing, and criminal law. 

Diana obtained numerous interim injunctions and drafted hundreds of pleadings including but not limited to bankruptcy petitions, applications relating to the registration and execution of foreign judgments in Cyprus, setting aside judgments, enforcement of judgment. 

Cypriot dispute 

Diana is active on the betterment of Cyprus’s post conflict legal education and maintains an active role liaising with both legal communities through her humanitarian activities on the island.

Teaching Experience

2018 - present 

Spires (online teaching platform for LLB and LLM students)

Subjects: crime, international law, human rights

2013 - 2015

University of Central Lancashire (Cyprus Branch) UCLan - Associate Lecturer 

Subjects: English for Law and Cyprus Civil Procedure Rules

Publications

• 'Edge of law: A regional approach to confronting key legal challenges', by Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales and the American Bar Association, 2022. Available here. 
• ‘Principles on the engagement of domestic courts with international law’ by International Lawyer’s Association (ILA) Study Group, 2016. Available here. 
• ‘The unification of the Registrars and its importance’ Vol. 3, pp. 29, 2015 by the Cyprus Bar Association.
• ‘State Intervention: An Odysseus travel or a day trip?’ University of Birmingham.

Memberships

Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales

The Bar Human Rights Committee is an independent, international human rights arm of the Bar of England and Wales. It is dedicated to promoting justice and respect for human rights through the rule of law.

-Executive Committee (EC) 2022-2023

-Member 2019 – present

International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA)

Elected member of the Counsel Support Staff Committee (CSSC) for the year 2022-2023

Elected member of the Counsel Support Staff Committee (CSSC) for the year 2021-2022

Diana is an elected member of the Counsel Support Staff Committee of the ICCBA that takes into consideration the interests of support staff and, through a commentary, provide proposals to the Executive Council and report to the General Assembly on all matters affecting the support staff. 

International Law Association 

Its objectives, under ILA's constitution, are 'the study, clarification and development of international law, both public and private, and the furtherance of international understanding and respect for international law'. The ILA has consultative status, as an international non-government organisation, with a number of the United Nations specialised agencies. 

-Member (2016)

- Member (2017)

Cyprus Bar Association & Famagusta Bar Association

- Member (September 2013 - 2015)

- Member (September 2013 - 2015)

Royal Commonwealth Society 

- Fellow Member (October 2016 - present)

Professional Admissions

Bar of the Republic of Cyprus (2012)

Bar of England and Wales (2017)

International Criminal Court, List of Assistant to Counsel (2020), the list is available here

Awards & Prizes

Diana obtained the following scholarships, awards, appointments and achievements:

• Elected member of the Human Rights Committee of England and Wales 2022-2023;
• Elected member of the International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA) 2022-2023;
• Appointed Vice Chair of the Cyprus Youth Business Network (2019 term completed);
• One Young World Summit in Canada that was partially funded by the Youth Board of Cyprus;
• Attended the Global Thinkers Forum under the auspice of Queen of Jordan Rania;
• Ministry of Education in the Republic of Cyprus - scholarship for LLB;
• Ministry of Education in the Republic of Cyprus - scholarship for LLM.

Testimonials

‘Diana takes pride in her work. I am impressed with her knowledge on law and case law. She passionately fought for her clients’ interest and achieved a result well below what was expected on the sentencing guidelines’

Instructing solicitor

Languages

Diana speaks fluently English, Greek, and Swedish. 

Conversational Portuguese and French. 

Media

• Diana regularly appears in TV such as GBN News and Bloomberg Radio to discuss matters that arise from human rights law. GBN appearances are available here. Diana has addressed the European Parliament and House of Commons on human rights issues. Her intervention at the European Parliament is available here. The HuffPost published an article naming Diana a successful lawyer. 
• Diana is regularly featured in a Law Forum magazine and Cypriot newspapers. She has been mentioned in numerous occasions at local newspapers of Cyprus for her work and representations of the island to global summits.
• Diana also maintains a YouTube Channel about international law that has over 3,000 subscribers; her channel is available here.

Direct Access

Diana is accredited to accept work under Direct Access, also known as Public Access, in suitable cases under the Bar's Direct Access Scheme, Transparency Standards Guidance and Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients. In order to instruct Diana on a Direct Access basis, contact the clerks on +44 (0)20 7242 6476 or at clerks@33bedfordrow.co.uk. 

The areas of practice in which Diana most commonly provides legal services are matters relating to:

(1) International Human Rights Law;

(2) International Criminal Law; 

(3) Public International Law; and 

(4) General crime. 

Her most commonly provided legal services are:

(1) Representation in international and domestic courts and tribunals; 

(2) Drafting written submissions and/or correspondence to international courts and tribunals; and

(3) Advising in conference. 

Diana's most commonly used pricing models, are:

(1) A fixed fee - for specific hearings, drafting of specific submissions or for phases of cases. 

(2) Hourly rate - for other work. 

Contractual Terms

Diana accepts instructions under the 33 Bedford Row Standard Contractual Terms. 

Transparency Information

Diana Constantinide's entry on the Barrister Register can be viewed here.

The Legal Ombudsman's decision data website can be found here.

Diana Constantinide is regulated by the Bar Standards Board. 

Diana has professional indemnity insurance cover for all types of legal services she supplies to the public and businesses. 

Diana is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): A8266138