Michele Bernasconi > Bär & Karrer Ltd. > Zurich, Switzerland > Lawyer Profile
Bär & Karrer Ltd. Offices
BRANDSCHENKESTRASSE 90
8027 ZÜRICH
Switzerland
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Michele Bernasconi
Position
Michele Bernasconi advises on a broad range of sports, media, energy, telecom and IT matters, acting for both domestic and international clients. He has particular expertise in international litigation and arbitration as well as in commercial and transactional work relating to such industries.
His recent experience includes advice on outsourcing and joint venture projects, broadcasting and sponsorship agreements, ambush marketing, regulatory and antitrust work in both the telecom and sport sector, software licensing, electricity transmission and distribution, doping matters as well as international transfers of football players.
Michele Bernasconi lectures on international sports law at the University of Zurich. He regularly speaks and publishes articles on topics within his practice areas. He is Co-director of the UEFA Football Law Programme.
Michele Bernasconi is recognized as a leading lawyer in Chambers and Legal 500 further lists him in the Hall of Fame for his excellent work. Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal have listed him among the leading lawyers in Switzerland in the sports as well as in the technology, media and telecommunications sector for years. In 2018 Who’s Who Legal recognized Michele Bernasconi with the global award “Sports Lawyer of the Year” as well as “Thought Leader” for the sports and data protection sector. In 2016 Who’s Who Legal ranks him among the nine “Most Highly Regarded Individuals” for Sports & Entertainment worldwide. In its 2013 edition, the International Who’s Who of regulatory communication lawyers described Michele Bernasconi as one of the “10 Most Highly Regarded Individuals Worldwide”.
Career
Partner of Bär & Karrer (since 2001); Associate at Bär & Karrer (1995); Teaching Assistant at the University of Zurich (1991-1994); Trainee in a Swiss law firm (1990-1991); Clerk and Secretary to the Zurich District Court (1989-1990)
Languages
English, French, German, Italian
Memberships
- Arbitrator at the CAS – Court of Arbitration for Sport; American Bar Association (ABA), Chair of the Sports Law Committee of the Business Law Section; International Bar Association (IBA), Former Chair of the Committee Cm Telecommunications; Chairman of the Sports Law Committee of the Swiss Bar Association (SAV/FSA); President of the Association Suisse de Droit du Sport (ASDS); Panelist at the WIPO for Domain Name disputes; Member of the ASA, Swiss Arbitration Association; Member of the Zurich Bar Association (ZAV); Co-delegate for the Organisation of and Lecturer at the Master in International Sports Law, Zurich University; Member of the Executive Board of Swiss Tennis; Member of the Disciplinary Chamber of Swiss Basketball; Vice President of the Council of “Fondazione Patrimonio Culturale” (the foundation of the Swiss Italian Radio and TV for the protection and the valorization of the cultural treasures); Member of the Board of SV Group; Co-Director of the UEFA Football Law Programme; Member of the Scientific Committee of the Executive Master in Sports Law of the University of Neuchâtel; Member of the Saudi Arabian Sport Arbitration Center; Member of SGOA, the Association for the Settlement of Automation Disputes / SGOA – Verein für ICT Konflikt Management; Member of the SCIA, Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, as well as of the SCIA High Technology and Intellectual Property Arbitration Centre; Lecturer and Member of the Advisory Committee of the Executive Master in Sports Law Program of Qatar Olympic Academy
Education
- Harvard Law School: LL.M. (1996); Admitted to the Zurich Bar (1992); University of Zurich: lic. iur. (1989)
Lawyer Rankings
Switzerland > Sports law
(Hall of Fame)Fielding a wide-ranging practice that encompasses litigation, arbitration and mediation, the ‘absolutely stellar’ Bär & Karrer Ltd.
is noted for its contentious and non-contentious work for a diverse multitude of football, tennis, and other sports organisations. ‘One of the top experts’, Michele Bernasconi
spearheads the practice with his substantial experience in handling commercial and transactional work for a range of domestic and international clients, and the team is further bolstered by arbitration expert Saverio Lembo. Other names to note include the ‘highly knowledgeable’ Emanuel Cortada, who possesses a strong grounding in disciplinary sanctions and disputes, and the ‘very talented’ Jonáš Gürtler, who excels in sports, media and entertainment matters.
Switzerland > TMT
(Hall of Fame)Bär & Karrer Ltd. advises high-profile domestic and international clients on a comprehensive scope of TMT matters, whether it be regulatory advice, tech-related M&A projects or large-scale outsourcing and digitalisation projects. Christian Kunz leads the team on data protection, cybersecurity, and technology law. Kunz and his team regularly advise on the implementation of data strategies, the outsourcing of data and international data transfers whilst also having experience in advising on and implementing advanced technology projects such as AI and blockchain. Michele Bernasconi specialises in sports and media matters and has specific expertise in international litigation and arbitration processes within these industries. Markus Wang focuses his practice on intellectual property-related matters.
Switzerland > Dispute resolution: arbitration
An arbitration tour-de-force, the ‘impressive’ team at Bär & Karrer Ltd. demonstrates excellence across cases surrounding joint ventures, technology transfers, and financing mandates. The practice is jointly led by Nadja Jaisli Kull and Pascal Hachem; the former is particularly well-versed in the sectors of banking and finance, pharmaceuticals, and construction, and the latter is an expert in commercial arbitration, with particular regard to insurance. Cesare Jermini maintains a varied practice that spans company law, transport and inheritance law, while Aurélie Conrad Hari deploys her considerable experience in shareholder and employment disputes to strengthen the firm’s offering. Other names to note include Michele Bernasconi, who retains a broad client roster that extends across media, sports and energy fields, and Cinzia Catelli, who possesses a strong grounding in international commercial arbitration. Matthew Reiter specialises in criminal investigations and white-collar crimes.
Switzerland > Intellectual property
Characterised by its outstanding ‘economic and transactional mindset’, Bär & Karrer Ltd. maintains a comprehensive IP offering that extends across the industries of software, consumer goods and sports, among others, including providing its clients with considerable experience before the Federal Patent Court and the Federal Supreme Court. Markus Wang helms the group and is equipped to handle a vast array of pharma, trade mark and licensing disputes. Other names to note in the practice include Michele Bernasconi, who frequently handles matters pertaining to sports, media, energy and data protection, and Jonas Bornhauser, who is highly skilled on the advisory, transactional and other non-contentious side of the IP sphere.
Lawyer Rankings
- Dispute resolution: arbitration Switzerland
- Hall of Fame Switzerland > TMT
- Sports law Switzerland
- TMT Switzerland
- Intellectual property Switzerland
- Hall of Fame Switzerland > Sports law
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Banking and finance: Zurich
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution: arbitration
- Dispute resolution: litigation
- Employment
- Fintech
- Healthcare and life sciences
- Insurance
- Private client
- Public law
- Real estate
- Regulatory, compliance and investigations
- Sports law
- Tax
- TMT