Born in 1948, Professor François Dessemontet holds a PH.D. in law (Lausanne 1974). He has been admitted to the Bar in 1975 (Lausanne). He had prepared his doctorate thesis on the protection of industrial Know-how in Canada (McGill and University of Montreal) and Germany (Max-Planck-Institute, Munich). Prof. Dessemontet served as full time professor at Lausanne Law Faculty starting 1976, and invited professor in Fribourg University since 1977, teaching law of corporations, law of contract, law of internet and intellectual property law for 30 years.

Prof. Dessemontet has served as Dean of the Faculty of Law of Lausanne University and has founded the Centre for Business Law (CEDIDAC) there. He has published 230 books and articles and presented approximately 300 conferences in 50 countries.

Now emeritus Prof. Dessemontet is active in international commercial arbitration, international business contracts and intellectual property, serving for example in the American Law Institute or the UNIDROIT, the Institute for the Unification of Law in Rome.

Prof. Dessemontet is past president of the International Association of the Advancement of Research and Teaching in Intellectual Property and of the Swiss Society of Jurists. He is member of the Committee of the Swiss Arbitration Association.

His experience in international arbitration is based on approximately 75 appointments to international arbitral tribunals. He has served in approx. 65 panels adjudicating domain names under the URDP.