Michèle Burnier

She has years of experience in negotiating and drafting of complex IP agreements. Furthermore, she frequently acts as arbitral secretary under the ICC Rules or Swiss Rules. Michèle Burnier is a member of various national and international organizations, such as AIPPI, INTA, ASA, LIDC, AROPI and LES (member of the board of the Swiss national group) and she is Chairman of the first Chamber of the Swiss Commission for Fair Advertising (CSL). In addition, Michèle Burnier frequently lectures in seminars in the fields of intellectual property law and unfair competition, also in cooperation with the Swiss Intellectual Property Institute. Her expertise is recognized by the leading legal directories, including Chambers, The Legal 500, Leaders League, IP Stars, IAM and World Trademark Review (WTR).

Michèle Burnier graduated from the University of Lausanne and was admitted to the bar in 1995. Michèle Burnier began her professional career at the Fédération Romande des Consommateurs, the consumers organization based in Romandie. She subsequently worked for the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, where she was attached to the Trademark Department, before taking on specific tasks in connection with WIPO/WTO-TRIPS (negotiation of the revision of the TLT agreement) and representing Switzerland for several years in the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications.

Before joining Pestalozzi in 2015, Michèle Burnier worked several years for another major Geneva business law firm, predominantly in the fields of intellectual property, unfair competition and data protection law. She is regularly quoted by Chambers & Partners Europe.