Bio:
Personals
1948 - Born in Aigle, Switzerland. Married, 3 children, 2 grandchildren

Professionals
1966-1970 - Studies of Law - Law Licence at the University of Lausanne

1974 -         Doctorate in law (same university)

1975 -         Lawyer admitted to the Bar of Lausanne

1976-2006 - Full time Professor at Lausanne University, Law School, first for company law (since 1976), then for law of contract (since 1987), intellectual property and Internet law (e-commerce) (since 2002).

1977-2006 - Permanent Invited Professor at Fribourg University, Law School, for intellectual property law

1980-1982 - Dean of the Law Faculty, Lausanne

1985 -         Promoter and president of the Centre for Business Law of the University of Lausanne (CEDIDAC). Editor of the CEDIDAC series (to date : 70 titles).

1986-1987 - Chairman of the Federal Expert Committee on the Revision of the Copyright Act

1999-2001 - Chairman of the International Association for the Advancement of Teaching and Research in Intellectual Property (ATRIP)

2000-2003 - Chairman of the Swiss Society of Jurists

2001 -         Co-Reporter for the American Law Institute (ALI) draft Principles on Transborder Intellectual Property Disputes

2002-3003 - Member of the Federal Expert Committee on Corporate Governance

2006 -         Reporter to the Working Group on UNIDROIT Principles for International Commercial Contracts regarding Termination of Long Term Contracts for Just Cause.

Professor Dessemontet has had experience as a consultant and expert with several United Nations agencies, including the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). He has been a member of the International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property, the Licensing Executives Society (International Delegate), the International League for Competition Law, the International Literary and Artistic Association, International Association for the Advancement of Teaching and Research in Intellectual Property (ATRIP). He is also a member of the Board of the Swiss Arbitration Association since 1994 and has served as Chairman of the Swiss Society of Jurists, the main professional association of Switzerland in the area of law.

He has written approx. 190 books and articles and edited 33 books.