Bernasconi Michele
Partner

Michele Bernasconi

Immaculate reputation as a leading arbitrator

Who's Who Legal 2019

He is among the very best sports lawyers in the world.

WWL Thought Leaders Global Elite - Sports 2024

He is extremely skilled and charismatic.

WWL Thought Leaders Global Elite - Sports 2024

Michele knows everyone in the industry.

WWL Thought Leaders Global Elite - Sports 2024

Michele Bernasconi is one of the most experienced sports law arbitrators.

Legal 500, 2022

Experienced, clever, easy-going and practical.

Source in Chambers Europe 2021

Michele Bernasconi is the leading CAS arbitrator.

Legal 500 2021

One of the leading lawyers in the TMT field worldwide and a reference for us: smart, practical and extremely easy-going.

Legal 500 2021

Michele Bernasconi is probably the most relevant and influential arbitrator at the CAS in the past 10 years.

Legal 500 2021

Fantastic

Source in WWL 2021

He is a very pragmatic practitioner and has a great sense of what a good deal outcome should be.

Interviewee in Chambers Europe 2021

Top football judge

Source in WWL 2021

Very important

Source in WWL 2021

Excellent

Source in WWL 2021

One of the brightest minds in the sports law universe

Source in WWL 2021

Always impresses

Source in WWL 2021

Empathy, business orientation, smart in strategy and anticipation. I couldn’t be more satisfied in my professional relationship with him.

Source in Legal 500 2020

The best legal skills and all the other qualities a top lawyer needs to have.

Source in Legal 500 2020

One of the leading lawyers in TMT, sports and arbitration throughout the world.

Source in Legal 500 2020

Michele Bernasconi has always maintained stellar market reputation as he shows in-depth both telecom and technology and IT Expertise.

Source in Legal 500 2020

Michele Bernasconi is the key partner in the TMT sector, he is a very experienced and pragmatic lawyer who I would recommend to anyone.

Source in Legal 500 2020

Great attitude and problem-solving approach

Source in Legal 500 2020

Reliability, punctuality and knowledge of the environment. I have to point out Michele Bernasconi as an outstanding lawyer.

Source in Legal 500 2020

Michele Bernasconi is a star. He is the go-to lawyer when the stakes are highest. He is also extremely friendly and a joy to work with.

Source in Legal 500 2020

Trusting him with a case means that you will get the best possible outcome.

Client in Chambers Europe 2020

Absolutely one of the top people in the world on sports law.

Source in Chambers Europe 2020

Solution-driven and business-minded.

Client in Chambers Europe 2020

His greatest strengh is his ability to find the right outcome and help parties settle their differences.

Client in Who's Who Legal 2019

Gets to the key issues immediately and delivers expert judgements every time.

Client in Who's Who Legal 2019

The number-one lawyer for regulatory, commercial and arbitration matters.

Who's Who Legal 2019

One of the best in the world.

Source in Who's Who Legal 2019

Is really the godfather of sports law in Switzerland.

Source in Who's Who Legal 2019

His experience can bring the added value that is sometimes needed to solve a very complicated matter.

Who's Who Legal 2019

The best of the best.

Who's Who Legal 2019

One of the most important arbitrators at the CAS.

Interviewee in Who's Who Legal 2019

Number one for sports law in Switzerland.

Interviewee in Chambers Europe 2019

Top of the arbitrators in sports law.

Chambers Europe 2019

He is an experienced guy who knows his stuff.

Client in Chambers Europe 2019

Collaborative, supportive and a great part of our team.

Client in Chambers Europe 2019

Michele Bernasconi impresses market sources with his top-notch handling of media-related matters pertaining to the sports industry.

Who's Who Legal 2019

Highlighted for his extensive experience advising on regulatory and antitrust matters in the telecoms and sports sectors.

Who's Who Legal 2018

Top-class arbitrator.

Who's Who Legal 2018

One of the best CAS arbitrators ever.

Who's Who Legal 2018

An expert in international soccer.

Who's Who Legal 2018

A very important name in sports law.

Who's Who Legal 2018

He has a formidable reputation in the TMT field.

Who's Who Legal 2018

Always anticipates problems.

Legal 500 2018

Has a unique background in media issues.

Legal 500 2018

Clever, pragmatic and technically impeccable.

Legal 500 2018

A real problem solver with excellent settlement and mediation skills.

Legal 500 2018

Rare talent Michele Bernasconi is one of the best CAS arbitrators.

Legal 500 2018

He is very straightforward in the research of solutions.

Chambers Europe 2018

He is technically impeccable, proactive and brilliant in terms of strategy.

Chambers Europe 2018

Noted for his high profile and track record in sports arbitration.

Chambers Europe 2018

Stands out in the IT space.

Who's Who Legal 2018

A leader at the CAS and in the sports law field.

Client in Chambers Europe 2017

He is a leader at the CAS and in the sports law field, which is something that gives you a lot of comfort.

Client in Chambers Europe 2017

His "brilliant practice" encompasses doping matters and international player transfers, as well as sponsorship deals and broadcasting agreements.

Who's Who Legal 2016

Immaculate reputation as a leading arbitrator

Who's Who Legal 2019

He is among the very best sports lawyers in the world.

WWL Thought Leaders Global Elite - Sports 2024

About

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".

LanguagesEnglish, French, German, Italian
Curriculum
  • 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)
Memberships and Public Offices
  • 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
AdmissionAll Swiss Courts

Michele Bernasconi's Deals, Cases & News

Ranked as 'leading'

by Leaders League 2023

Recognized as a "leading lawyer" in the Legal 500 "Hall of Fame"

by Legal 500 2023

Honoured as "Thought Leader"

by WWL Global Guide 2023

Ranked Band 1 in Sports Law

by Chambers Europe 2023

Ranked as 'leading'

by Leaders League 2023

Recognized as a "leading lawyer" in the Legal 500 "Hall of Fame"

by Legal 500 2023

Contact

Michele Bernasconi
P: +41 58 261 50 00
M: +41 78 745 80 06
michele.bernasconi@baerkarrer.ch

Bär & Karrer Ltd.
Brandschenkestrasse 90
CH-8002 Zurich
Switzerland

Assistant

Michele Bernasconi's latest Publications

Michele Bernasconi's latest Speaking Engagements