Career Biography

Diana Peñaloza is a highly accomplished legal professional with extensive experience in corporate law, intellectual property, and litigation. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in European Intellectual Property Law from Stockholm University and a law degree from Universidad de los Andes, Colombia. Her native Spanish and fluency in English enable her to operate effectively in international legal contexts.

Diana began her legal career at Buriticá Abogados, where she specialised in intellectual property, competition, and consumer law. She later joined Raisbeck & Castro as an Associate Attorney, focusing on intellectual property and litigation. These early roles laid the foundation for her expertise in managing complex legal portfolios and navigating high-stakes legal disputes.

In July 2018, Diana joined Organización Terpel, one of Colombia’s leading energy companies, as a Corporate Legal Manager. For over five years in such role, she led the civil and commercial litigation strategy, successfully settling several material disputes that had significant implications for the company. Her leadership and strategic thinking were instrumental in safeguarding Terpel’s legal interests and enhancing its risk management framework.

Since January 2024, Diana has served as Terpel’s Corporate Legal Director. In this role, she leads a highly qualified team responsible for litigation, intellectual property, regulatory affairs, and corporate governance across Terpel and its subsidiaries. Her role involves close coordination with authorities, oversight of legal compliance, and strategic legal advisory to senior management. Her leadership has strengthened the legal department’s operational efficiency and contributed to the company’s resilience in a dynamic regulatory environment.

In addition to her corporate achievements, Diana has made significant contributions to legal education. She served as a professor at Universidad de los Andes, teaching Trade Secrets and assisting in Patent Law courses within the Master’s program in Intellectual Property. Her academic involvement extended to coaching the university’s team for the Intellectual Property Law Moot Court Competition, where under her guidance, the team won the award for Best Team on two occasions. These accomplishments reflect her commitment to mentoring future legal professionals and advancing the field of intellectual property law.

Diana’s career is marked by a blend of academic excellence, strategic legal leadership, and a deep commitment to professional development. Her ability to manage complex legal issues, lead high-performing teams, and contribute to future and young professionals positions her as a distinguished figure in the Colombian legal landscape.