Online Legal Updates for Geneva-based international NGOs

Dr. Stéphanie Chuffart-Finsterwald ⋮ Attorney-at-law ⋮ Partner at sigma legal

Stéphanie is specialized in intellectual property and data protection law. She has extensive experience advising clients in these fields, notably IOs and NGOs. Stéphanie wrote a Ph.D. on the international transfer of environmental technologies and has a strong background in public international law. She is the President of the Commission for innovation and modernization of the Geneva Bar Association.

Dr. Alain Alberini ⋮ Attorney-at-law ⋮ Partner at sigma legal

Alain is a lawyer specialized in intellectual property and entertainment law. As a litigator and as counsel, he assists and represents clients regarding their intellectual property rights, and assists companies regarding data protection matters (compliance with GDPR). Alain also wrote a Ph.D. in trademark law and unfair competition law. He was appointed as representative of the Swiss Bar Association in the Justitia 4.0 project (digitization of the Swiss justice system).

Tuesday 10 November (12:15 - 13:00)

Webinar #3 - Labour Law

Summary:

Ms. Olivia Guyot Unger proposes to address practical labour law issues that are particularly relevant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Key points to keep in mind when it comes to work from home policy will be highlighted. She will also address the outcome and implications of the minimum wage law that was approved by Geneva voters on September 27. 

Ms. Olivia Guyot Unger ⋮ Director of the Service d’assistance Juridique et Conseils (SAJEC) at Fédération des Entreprises romandes (FER Genève)

Ms. Olivia Guyot Unger heads the Service d’assistance Juridique et Conseils (SAJEC) at Fédération des Entreprises romandes (FER Genève) since 2007. She represents FER Genève in numerous entities such as the Conseil de surveillance du marché de l’emploi (CSME) and has been Secretary General of the Groupement des Entreprises Multinationales (GEM) from 2007 to 2015. Since 2018, Ms. Guyot Unger is a judge (juge conciliateur assesseur) at the Geneva Labour Court. She graduated in Law from the University of Neuchatel in 1994 and was admitted to the Geneva Bar in 1999.

Tuesday 3 November (12:15 - 13:00)

Webinar #2 - Banking & Regulatory 

Summary:

Me Philipp Fisher proposes to address the key points to keep in mind when opening and operating an account with a Swiss bank such as the "Know-your-customer" (KYC) requirements as well as in regard to the granting of signature authority to non-Swiss residents. He will address the key features of Swiss anti-money laundering rules to be complied with when receiving funds / donations, making grants and financing projects.

Me Philipp Fischer ⋮ Attorney-at-Law ⋮ LL.M. (Harvard) ⋮ Partner in the Banking & Finance department of OBERSON ABELS ⋮ Geneva Centre for Philanthropy Academic Fellow (UNIGE)

Philipp Fischer graduated from the University of Geneva in 2004. He was admitted to the Geneva Bar in 2007. In 2009, he earned a LL.M. at Harvard Law School. After having worked in major law firms in New York, Zurich and Geneva (2010 – 2016), he co-founded the law firm OBERSON ABELS Ltd in 2016. Philipp has been advising financial institutions (in particular banks, securities dealers, insurance companies, collective investment schemes and independent asset managers) on Swiss banking, financial and data protection regulations for over 12 years. Philipp is a member of the Continued Legal Education Commission of the Geneva Bar Association and of the Geneva Bar Exam Commission. He also serves on the board of the Harvard Law School Association of Europe.

Tuesday 27 October (12:15 - 13:00)

Webinar #1 -  Governance & Board

Summary:

Ms. Gill and Mr. Pfammatter will address governance issues such as the running of virtual meetings and electronic voting as well as the representation and delegation of powers within an organization. Board structure and the issue of diversity amongst board members will be addressed, highlighting the research being carried out by the University of Geneva. The continuity and renewal of board members, their liability as well as remuneration may be covered.

Ms Laetitia Gill ⋮ Executive Director, Geneva Centre for Philanthropy

With a Master's degree in Management, Laetitia Gill is a recognized expert in the field of social innovation, CSR and philanthropy. She has fifteen years of experience in the development, implementation and evaluation of business strategies as well as in the creation and facilitation of training modules on the theme of partnerships. For 10 years, she served as the Secretary General for a group of 20 philanthropists, in charge of selecting projects, developing effective local community engagement programmes and impact measurement.

Me Vincent Pfammatter ⋮ Attorney-at-Law ⋮ LL.M. (UC Berkeley) ⋮ Partner at sigma legal ⋮ Geneva Centre for Philanthropy Academic Fellow (UNIGE)

Vincent Pfammatter is Swiss lawyer specialized in advising international non-profit organizations and IOs, as well as corporate clients. Vincent also focuses on tech law. He has been practicing in these fields for over ten years. Vincent is also an Academic Fellow with the Geneva Center for Philanthropy, where he focuses his research on benefit corporations. In addition, Vincent is a Board member of proFonds, Switzerland’s Umbrella Organisation of Foundations and Associations. In the past, Vincent has worked for the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, and also as in-house Counsel of an International NGO and an International Federation. He regularly publishes and speaks at public events about non-profit entities and applicable laws.