Pestalozzi appoints a new partner and three counsels as of 2022 

Pestalozzi has appointed Lara Dorigo to its partnership.  The firm also promoted Christophe Berclaz and Louis de Mestral to counsel. In addition, Kern Alexander is joining Pestalozzi as counsel. The appointments take effect on 1 January 2022. 

Lara Dorigo (pictured above) is joining Pestalozzi as partner and new Head of the IP & TMT group. She has extensive experience in the IP field and an affinity for technology-related issues. Over the last decade, Lara Dorigo has focused on patent disputes, particularly in the life sciences field. She also handles trademarks, copyrights and unfair competition litigation. In addition, she advises clients on branding strategies, parallel imports and grey market issues, licensing and all sorts of technology transfer agreements, life sciences regulatory matters and entertainment law.  

Christophe Berclaz is a member of Pestalozzi’s Litigation & Arbitration group in Geneva. He has developed a strong practice in complex litigation that involves an international component and multi-jurisdictional aspects. He specialises in white-collar matters, including asset-tracing, recovery and international mutual assistance in criminal matters. In addition, Christophe Berclaz has broad experience in private banking, internal investigation, civil liabilities and enforcement of foreign decisions. 

Louis de Mestral is a member of Pestalozzi’s Litigation & Arbitration group in Geneva. His main practice areas include commercial litigation, enforcement and bankruptcy law as well as employment and social security law. Louis de Mestral advises in non-contentious and contentious matters and regularly represents parties before Swiss courts. In doing so, he has acquired extensive knowledge of civil proceedings. 

Kern Alexander is Counsel and member of Pestalozzi’s Financial Services group. He is a Professor of International Financial Law and Banking Regulation at the University of Zurich and a lecturer at the University of Cambridge. He advises bank boards on regulation, ethics and strategy. He is also a founder of the Research Network of Sustainable Finance.