Team
Fast, easy-going, highly motivated. The team of EMBARK.LAW is fun to work with. We appreciate their speed and simplicity in communication and processes.
Daniel Koss, Founder and CEO creable AG (MarTech)Hi, we’re team EMBARK.LAW.
Michel Kertai
VC & Startup Lawyer
Attorney-at-law, admitted to practice in Switzerland and California
Co-founder and managing director of EMBARK.LAW
Education
LL.M, UC Berkeley School of Law, California, USA
MLaw, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland
Languages
German, English, French, Hungarian
Michel is a registered attorney in Switzerland and the USA (California). He started his career as a corporate lawyer in Bern, Switzerland.
In 2015, he moved to California to study U.S. law and work with Silicon Valley startups. After returning to Switzerland in 2016, he founded EMBARK.LAW to focus on helping startups master their legal challenges.
Before becoming a lawyer, Michel was a professional athlete, playing volleyball and beach volleyball at a national level. His background in elite sports is one of the reasons he feels at home in the startup community with its adventurous, challenge-driven spirit.
Michel is actively involved in the startup communities in Switzerland, California and New York. For example, he is an advisor to and an active angel investor in the Swiss ICT Investor Club SICTIC, and he sits on the advisory board of the organization Global Corporate Law at Berkeley.
Barbara Nägeli
Legal Advisor, Data Protection Specialist
Co-founder of EMBARK.LAW and member of the management
Education
MLaw summa cum laude (with highest distinction), University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Languages
German, English, French
Barbara started her career in 2008 as a legal advisor for the Swiss environmental protection agency FOEN. While working there, she drafted laws, negotiated international treaties, managed projects to improve the implementation of environmental policies, led public procurement procedures, and much more.
She also held the position of deputy data protection officer at the FOEN for several years, gaining a deep understanding of the intricacies and challenges of data protection.
In 2017, Barbara joined EMBARK.LAW as co-founder. She consults our clients on data protection and related issues. In addition, as our Head of Operations, she ensures that our company stays well-coordinated and productive in helping our clients overcome their legal challenges.
Barbara used to be a semi-professional dancer. In her daily life as a lawyer, her creative side helps her think out of the box and come up with unconventional solutions to complicated problems.
Audrey Benzow
VC & Startup Lawyer
Attorney-at-law, admitted to practice in Switzerland
Member of the EMBARK.LAW management
Education
LL.M, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois, USA
MLaw, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Languages
German, English
Audrey is a licensed attorney in Switzerland. Before joining EMBARK.LAW, she was a corporate lawyer for a renowned law firm in Zurich. She advised national and international clients in the areas of general commercial and corporate law, capital markets law, M&A and employment law.
Being a passionate surfer, Audrey enjoys the challenges and fast-changing environments of the ocean. During her LL.M in Chicago, she worked at the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic of the Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she provided startups with free legal advice on matters revolving around incorporations, share transfers, capital increases and mergers. She believes that – as in surfing – staying focused and trusting each other in extreme situations is key to a successful collaboration between startups and lawyers.
Matthias Steinlin
Of Counsel, IP Specialist
Attorney-at-law, admitted to practice in Switzerland
Education
PhD in Law summa cum laude (with highest distinction), University of Bern, Switzerland
MLaw, Universities of Bern, Switzerland and Paris-Descartes, France
Languages
German, French, English
Matthias is a Swiss attorney with a particular interest in the protection and commercialization of innovation. He used to work as a trademark attorney at the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) and as an in-house lawyer for a large Swiss company. At the IPI, he gained in-depth knowledge in all areas of intellectual property rights and particularly in trademark law. Matthias also has a PhD in IP law – he wrote his doctoral thesis on the patent protection of medicine.
In addition to advising startups, Matthias is working on his own startup in the MedTech sector. In his spare time, he enjoys climbing snowy peaks and surfing ocean waves.
Tarik Salkim
Legal Advisor Startups & VC
Education
Dipl.-Jur., First State Exam (“erstes Staatsexamen”) with great distinction, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Germany
Languages
German, English, Turkish
After completing his law studies in Bavaria with the “Staatsexamen”, Tarik gained his first work experience in one of the most renowned German law firms in Stuttgart. In 2021, he moved to Switzerland, where he interned as a trainee lawyer at a major law firm in Zurich, and then joined EMBARK.LAW. Before focusing entirely on startups with EMBARK.LAW, Tarik worked in various areas of business law, in particular corporate law, mergers & acquisitions, antitrust and dispute resolution.
Tarik unwinds from his job by riding his bike (the kind with a motor) or training Muay Thai. Martial arts have taught him that hectic and rash behavior can easily lead to painful consequences. This experience makes it easy for him to keep cool in difficult situations, focus on what’s important and deal with challenges rationally and unflinchingly.
Dario Kvasnicka
Legal Advisor, Lead Growth & Business Innovation
Education
MLaw, Universities of Fribourg and Bern, Switzerland
Languages
German, English, French, Indonesian
During his law studies, Dario didn’t just study legal theories, he also founded his own digital entertainment and hospitality company (take a look: Erupt Gaming Lounge). He ran Erupt for or more than five years – his firsthand experience running a business allows him to truly understand the ups and downs that come with a founder’s life. He’s dealt with the realities of managing running costs and has personally experienced how valuable bespoke legal advice can be.
In 2023, Dario joined EMBARK.LAW to focus more closely on the legal aspects of the startup world. Alongside this, he keeps a strategic role in his company.
Outside of work, Dario enjoys organizing social events, hiking, and digital and analog gaming. These activities keep him connected with the latest technological trends and help him further refine his skills in clear communication and efficient process management.
Jan Ritter
Legal Advisor Startups & VC
Education
PhD in Law summa cum laude (with highest distinction), University of Fribourg, Switzerland
MLaw, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Languages
German, English, French
After graduating from the University of Fribourg, Jan continued his academic journey by researching how corporate law and governance can enable successful business transformation. At the same time, he co-founded an ICT company, where he gained first-hand experience of the challenges of creating efficient organizational structures for startups and a deep understanding of disruptive technologies.
Jan is committed to social entrepreneurship and has had the opportunity to advise a number of cooperatives and associations in the areas of youth & sports, nature conservation and reintegration into the labor market. In his spare time, Jan is an accomplished equestrian. This sport has taught him that dedication and empathy are key to building trustful relationships that can overcome even the toughest obstacles.
Tamara Roos
Legal Advisor Startups & VC
Education
CAS Financial Markets Regulation
MLaw, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Languages
German, English
Tamara brings broad experience in financial markets law to EMBARK.LAW. In her previous position at one of the Big Four auditing firms, she advised on banking and financial market law and was responsible for conducting regulatory audits of global and national banks. She then deepened her expertise in the area of investment funds at a renowned Zurich law firm. There she advised clients on financial market law issues and assisted foreign funds with their regulatory compliance and applications to FINMA and SIX.
On her days off, Tamara can often be found in the mountains, accompanied by her dog, running, swimming or on her racing bike. Through working with dogs, she has learned that effective communication is the basis for successful collaboration. Endurance sports, especially trail running, have shown her that tough uphill climbs are usually rewarded with a spectacular view and additional strength for future challenges.
