Team

After several years practicing as a corporate lawyer in Bern, Switzerland, Michel moved to the USA in 2015 to study U.S. law, get his California bar admission and work with Silicon Valley startups.

When he returned 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.

In her former position as a legal advisor for the Swiss environmental protection agency, Barbara has drafted laws, negotiated international treaties, and much more. She also held the position of deputy data protection officer for several years.

This, as well as her extensive work with startups on data protection and related issues at EMBARK.LAW, has given her both deep expertise and a pragmatic approach to applying the law effectively.

Barbara used to be a semi-professional dancer and still loves dancing to this day.

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.

Before joining EMBARK.LAW, Tarik worked at one of the most renowned German law firms in Stuttgart and then at a major law firm in Zurich. During this time, he gained experience in various areas of business law, in particular corporate law, mergers & acquisitions, antitrust and dispute resolution.

At EMBARK.LAW, Tarik now focuses entirely on startups, with a special affinity for the legal aspects of startup financing.

Tarik unwinds from his job by riding his bike (the kind with a motor) or training Muay Thai.

Céline is a Swiss attorney who brings broad experience to EMBARK.LAW. Before joining the firm, she worked at a traditional law firm and for several public authorities. She understands both legal practice and how authorities make decisions, which helps her navigate regulatory matters efficiently.

Outside of work, Céline plays classical music and runs long distances.

Armin is a Swiss corporate and M&A lawyer specializing in private transactions, restructurings and financings. Drawing on years of experience at a top-tier Zurich law firm, he advises on complex domestic and cross-border deals. He oversees the entire transaction lifecycle from due diligence and deal structuring to execution and post-closing integration.

His expertise includes financing rounds, shareholder agreements and management incentive schemes under Swiss law.

Before his legal career, Armin played professional ice hockey in Germany after an elite junior stint in Canada.

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 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.

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 of all areas of intellectual property rights and particularly of 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.

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, etc.

In his spare time, Jan is an accomplished equestrian.