Her research focuses on the Civil Code (introductory article, personal law, family law, inheritance law and property law) as well as on issues regarding private international law. She is also interested in practical and scientific aspects of the rights of personality, foundation law, association law, child and adult guardianship law and inheritance law.

 

In brief

Born 1975 in Stuttgart, married, one daughter.

Studied (1994 – 1999) in St. Gallen (lic. iur.), in the USA (college semester) and Lausanne (exchange semester); doctoral promotion (1999 – 2001) and habilitation (2003 – 2007) at the University of St. Gallen; admitted to the St. Gallen Bar (2003); court clerk at the cantonal court of St. Gallen (2002 – 2003); practicing lawyer (2007); assistant professor at the University of Bern (2007 – 2010); since 2010 Chair for Private Law at the University of Bern (50%; since 2017: 75%).

Education

  • 1994: Washington College, Chestertown MD (USA)
  • 1994 –1999: University of Economics, Law and Social Sciences St. Gallen
  • 1996 – 1997: University of Lausanne
  • 1999 – 2001: Doctorate at the University of St. Gallen, title of the dissertation: «Special connecting criteria for foreign mandatory norms in debt contracts (Art. 19 CPIL and Art. 7 Rome Convention)» ["Sonderanknüpfung fremder zwingender Normen im Bereich von Schuldverträgen (Art. 19 IPRG und Art. 7 EVÜ)"]
  • 2000 – 2002: Business mediation training, Center for Business Mediation, Zurich / Institute of Law and Legal Practice, University of St. Gallen
  • 2003: Admitted to the St. Gallen Bar
  • 2004 – 2006: Certificate: Higher Education Teacher Training, Centre for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of St. Gallen
  • 2008: Habilitation at the University of St. Gallen; Venia legendi for Civil Law and Private International Law

Professional background

  • 1995 – 1997: Crossair, Zurich, Freelance Flight Attendant
  • 1996: SatellitenFernsehen GmbH, Mainz, Internship with the legal adviser’s department
  • 1997: Bühler AG, Uzwil, Internship with the legal department
  • 1997 – 2001: Institute of Law and Legal Practice, University of St. Gallen, Research Assistant for Prof. Ivo Schwander
  • 2001: Cantonal court of St. Gallen, auditor
  • 2001 – 2007: Lecturer for Private Law at the University of St. Gallen
  • 2002 – 2003: Department of Law, University of St. Gallen, assistant assessment-level
  • 2002 – 2003: Cantonal court of St. Gallen, court clerk of the 2nd civil chamber
  • 2003 – 2007: Department of Law, University of St. Gallen, senior assistant for Private Law
  • 2005 – 2007: Lecturer at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur
  • 2007: Lawyer at Buob Staub (now: Bratschi Wiederkehr & Buob) (St.Gallen)
  • 2007 – 2010: Assistant professor for Private Law at the University of Bern
  • 2008: Habilitation, University of St. Gallen; Venia legendi for Civil Law and Private International Law
  • since 2010: Full professor for Private Law at the University of Bern

Current academic and professional functions

  • since 2010: Full professor, chair for Private Law, University of Bern (50% resp. 75%)
  • since 2010: Co-director of the Institute for Civil Law, Department of Private Law
  • since 2016: Co-editor of the journal «Aktuelle Juristische Praxis (AJP)» (department: Civil Code)
  • since 2008: Private lecturer at the University of St. Gallen
  • 2018/2019: Visiting professor at the University of St. Gallen

Various reviewer-, expert- and speaker activities, i.a. in the areas of Inheritance Law, Personality Law, Foundation Law, Child and Adult Guardianship Law and Property Law.

University of Bern: Lectures «Mobiliarsachenrecht» (3 SWS) and «Einleitungstitel» (3 SWS), Tutorials in Civil Code/Code of Obligations, and seminars; supervision of case solutions, Master’s theses and dissertations.