KAUFMANN‐KOHLER, Gabrielle
Founding Partner of Lévy Kaufmann - Kohler, Geneva
Nationality/Swiss
Current Position
Founding Partner of Lévy Kaufmann‐Kohler, Geneva; Professor, University of Geneva Law School; Director, LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS) and Co‐Director of the Center in International Dispute Settlement (CIDS), President of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA).
Educational
Doctorate, University of Basle (1979); Law degrees, University of Basle (1977) and University of Geneva (1974); Member of the Bar, New York and Geneva.
Professional Experience
Professor of international arbitration at Geneva University Law School (since 1997). Previously, assistant professor at Geneva University Law School teaching private international law (1993‐1997). Practicing attorney, partner with Schellenberg Wittmer, Geneva (1996‐2007); Partner (1985‐1995) and associate (1981‐1985) with Baker & McKenzie, Geneva and New York.
Arbitration Experience
Regularly ranked among top ten arbitrators worldwide. Focuses primarily on international commercial and investment arbitration. Has handled over 220 international arbitrations, as presiding, sole or party appointed arbitrator, or as counsel. Among other positions, Honorary President of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA) and President from 2001 to 2005; former member of the ICC Court, LCIA Court, and AAA Board; Senior Advisory Board of HKIAC’s Tribunal Secretary Accreditation Programme, from 2015;
Member of the International Advisory Board of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC);
member of the Swiss delegation to the UNCITRAL Working Group II on transparency in investment arbitration (2010–2013) and to UNCITRAL Working Group III on reform of investor‐state arbitration (from 2017).
Publications
Has authored and edited many books and articles in the field of international dispute settlement. Among
recent publications: Gabrielle Kaufmann‐Kohler/Antonio Rigozzi, International Arbitration: Law and
Practice in Switzerland, Oxford University Press, 2015; Gabrielle Kaufmann‐Kohler/Michele Potestá, CIDS
Report for UNCITRAL on reform of investor‐State arbitration, 2016, available
http://www.uncitral.org/pdf/english/CIDS_Research_Paper_Mauritius.pdf; CIDS Supplemental Report for
UNCITRAL on composition of a multilateral investment court and of an appeal mechanism for investment
awards, 2017, available at http://www.uncitral.org/pdf/english/workinggroups/wg_3/CIDS
Supplemental_ Report.pdf
Languages
French, English, German, Spanish, reading knowledge of Italian