Bär & Karrer Ltd.

Bär & Karrer Ltd.

Lawyer & team qualitySector knowledge

Switzerland

Sports Law

Michele Bernasconi

Michele Bernasconi

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".
Saverio Lembo

Saverio Lembo

Saverio Lembo heads Bär & Karrer's White Collar Crime practice group. He has extensive experience in white collar crime, commercial and financial litigation, international judicial assistance (civil and criminal), arbitration and insolvency. During recent years, he has been involved in a number of complex commercial litigation proceedings, has served as a party representative or arbitrator in various domestic and international commercial arbitrations and has assisted clients in Swiss and foreign criminal proceedings. He regularly represents clients before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Saverio Lembo's practice also extends to pharmaceutical litigation, inheritance law, employment matters and enforcement of foreign judgments and awards. Saverio Lembo is ranked in tier 1 of the leading lawyers in White-Collar Crime Switzerland by Chambers & Partners. He was awarded "Lawyer of the Year for Switzerland" in the categories "Business Crime Defence" and "Investigations" at the Who's Who Legal Awards in 2020 as well as "Lawyer of the Year 2016" in the categories Criminal Defence and Litigation in the Geneva area by Best Lawyers. Since 2012, the International Who's Who lists him among the world's leading practitioners in the areas of Business Crime Defence, Asset Recovery Lawyers and Commercial Litigation. In The Legal 500, Saverio Lembo has been listed among the leading individuals in Switzerland in Dispute Resolution since 2010.

Team Services

In today's culture and on a global scale, sport and sport-related businesses are becoming a significant commercial reality with high financial and reputational stakes involved. Negotiating sports contracts and complying with new regulatory and disciplinary challenges create a need to have access to professional sports law advice from experienced specialists.

Our experts have an unmatched depth of knowledge in the sports industry, with a comprehensive practice that offers a wide range of services throughout Switzerland and abroad. With one of the leading sports law departments in Europe, our specialists provide comprehensive tailored advice and legal services matched to the specific needs of our clients in the sports industry.
Advice and legal services to a wide range of clients in the sports industry
Our sports lawyers represent many of the leading international sport organisations, sports clubs, sporting event organizers, broadcasters as well as individual athletes in litigation, sports arbitration and other proceedings as well as in transactions in the sports industry.
Our experience covers the full spectrum of sports industry legal matters:

  • Regulatory and disciplinary disputes
  • Sponsorship, venue partnerships, event contracts, broadcast rights, media and TV rights as well as naming rights
  • Litigation and arbitration in sports-related disputes, often before international sports federations and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
  • Marketing, promotions, privacy, social media, merchandising and other intellectual property matters
  • Advice and representation of broadcasters, operators of satellite and cable television service providers on regulatory and contractual issues
  • Tax and estate planning for athletes, coaches, sporting event organisers, etc.
  • Brand protection for athletes, including in respect of charitable endeavours, endorsements, domain names and social media