Institute for International Business Law

26/03/2025

The Best Opportunities Are Not Always Posted: What Every Student Should Know About Executive Search

Today we had the pleasure of welcoming back Dr. Alexander Zinser Dr. from Roy C. Hitchman Executive Search, recently recognized for their excellence in the field.

Alexander delivered a compelling and generous session, offering our students rare insight into how executive search really works—how firms identify top talent, what they look for beyond the CV, and how candidates can engage meaningfully with the process.

With more than 30 students joining online and in person, the session was highly interactive and filled with smart, honest questions. It was clear that Alexander’s openness and practical advice left a strong impression.

While most students begin their job search with online platforms and networking, many senior and specialized roles are filled quietly through executive search.

Understanding how this part of the industry works—and how to position oneself confidently within it—can make a real difference.

Thank you once again, Alexander, for your continued support and for investing your time in the next generation.

A special thank you to Michelle Reed, our Academic Director, for recognizing the importance of these powerful networking opportunities.

# Alexander Zinser

12/02/2025

🌟 Welcome to a New Semester at IBL! 🌟

To our returning students—welcome back! It’s great to see you again! To our new students—get ready for an exciting journey ahead! 🚀📚

🎓 This Saturday, we proudly celebrate our graduating students at the Aula Magna at Misericorde—an important milestone marking their dedication and success.

📖 Lectures begin on the 19th with an insightful session on secure transactions, setting the tone for a semester filled with
learning, debate, and real-world legal challenges.

🤝 Join us on the 20th for our introduction session! This is your first opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and start building your professional network.

We’re honored to welcome Aditi Wanchoo, Director of Human Rights at Novartis, who will share her inspiring work and insights on global legal challenges.

Let’s make this semester unforgettable—full of growth, discovery, and new opportunities! ✨⚖️

06/12/2024

📚 A heartfelt thank you to Krista and Nathalie … 🌍

…for making this visit unforgettable.

This week, we had the pleasure of visiting the Institute for Comparative Law and exploring its world-class library. Guided by the insightful Krista Nadakavukaren Schefer, Vice-Director and Co-Head of the Legal Division, and the welcoming Nathalie Matthey, Head of the Library, we uncovered one of the most comprehensive legal resource centers in the world.

What makes this library a legal treasure trove?
✨ Open to all: Welcoming anyone passionate about foreign and international law.
✨ Extensive collections: Over 520,000 monographs and legal reviews from across the globe.
✨ Cutting-edge resources: Access to 89 databases and swisscovery with 40+ million references.
✨ Workspaces & expertise: Reserved desks and a supportive team of specialized librarians.

For our IBL students, this library is an invaluable resource for your thesis research. From refining your ideas to finding global legal insights, it offers everything you need to excel academically.

We can’t wait to return to this inspiring hub of discovery!

23/02/2024

If you seek a practical and impactful approach to evaluate boards and enhance board effectiveness, attend this webinar.

The Fribourg University, Institute for International Business Law, is highlighting Dr. Sabine Dembkowski who will discuss the art and science of effective board assessments, unveiling strategies derived from her extensive research. Her findings challenge the notion that the traditional approach to board assessment remains effective.

This webinar holds particular relevance for you, if …

✖️ you are unaware of the latest research results on effective boards …
✖️ you find it difficult to engage directors in the board evaluation process …
✖️ you find yourself in the situation of exposing, assessing and judging board members …
✖️ you are investing a lot of time in setting up a board evaluation and analysing data …
✖️ you would like to meet a practitioner who is part of the LLM and CAS programs at the IBL

Today, Dr. Dembkowski's internationally peer-reviewed research on board effectiveness is delivering tangible benefits to leading listed organizations, global entities, Private Equity firms, and Professional Service firms. Results include fostering high-performing boards, overcoming common inefficiencies, and cultivating stronger, more collaborative governance structures.

By joining this webinar delivered by UNIFR, IBL & Dr. Sabine Dembkowski you will

🎁 Gain insights into the latest developments in board evaluations
🎁 Explore key traits of successful boards and how to be more effective in the boardroom
🎁 Learn why it is better to build on existing strengths versus highlighting performance gaps
🎁 Examine the advantages of digital platforms for enhanced board performance
🎁 Learn more about our LLM and CAS programs in International Business Law and Compliance.

Ready to revolutionize board effectiveness?

✅Tap here to get instant access:
https://unifr.businessacceleratorhub.com/

The Institute for International Business Law of the Fribourg Law School
This webinar showcases content from our LLM and CAS in Compliance and International Business Law curriculum. It's our standard practice to invite practitioners to cover such topics within our Corporate Governance program. For further details, explore our LLM and CAS in International Business Law and Compliance
www.unifr.ch/ius/llm/en/

Better Boards
Dr Sabine Dembkowski is the Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. She is a trusted board advisor and evaluator who delivered evaluations and board development programmes for leading listed organisations (NASDAQ, FTSE 100/250, DAX, and AEX), global organisations, IFIs, Private Equity firms and their portfolio organisations, and Professional Service firms. Her research into board effectiveness has been peer-reviewed and published internationally. She is credited for having identified the 7-hallmarks of effective boards and for having created an innovative board evaluation platform clients can use for their internal evaluations or as part of a fully facilitated external evaluation. Sabine is the host of the Better Boards podcast series, a global Top 10 Governance podcast.
www.better-boards.com
Bookmark our webinar page for easy access when we go live - and be sure to show up 5-10 minutes early so you don't miss a thing!

APRIL 8 - 05:00 PM CET