Europe
Practice Areas
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 Lucerne. 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 and 2019 Who's Who Legal recognized Michele Bernasconi with the Global Award "Sports Lawyer of the Year" as well as "Thought Leader" for the Sports Law. 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)
Harvard Law School: LL.M. (1996)
Associate at Bär & Karrer (1995)
Admitted to the Zurich Bar (1992)
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)
University of Zurich: lic. iur. (1989)
Professional Memberships
Arbitrator at the CAS - Court of Arbitration for Sport
Lecturer at the University of Lucerne, Faculty of Law
American Bar Association (ABA), Past-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)
Member of the Executive Board of Swiss Tennis
Co-Director of the UEFA Football Law Programme
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
Languages Spoken
English
French
German
Italian
