Personal Information
Born 4 September 1960 in Interlaken (Canton of Berne).
Married to Vera Marantelli-Sonanini.
Education
1967-1976: Primary/Secondary School in Interlaken;
1976-1979: Gymnasium (College) in Interlaken;
1979-1987: Law School at the University of Berne;
1992-1993: Law School at the University of Chicago;
1994-1996: School for certified tax experts in Berne.
Qualifications
1987 Bar exam (University of Berne);
1991 Dr. iur. (University of Berne); doctoral thesis in the field of taxation;
1993 LL.M. (University of Chicago);
1996 Certified Tax Expert (Swiss school for certified tax experts in Berne).
Work experience
1987-1991: Research assistant at the University of Berne (Prof. Dr. P. Locher);
1991-1992: Practical training of 6 months with an international audit and advisory firm;
1992-1993: LL.M. program at the University of Chicago;
1993-2004: Tax consultant with an international audit and advisory firm (as of July 2002 as partner);
1998-2000: Head of the Swiss tax desk with an international audit and advisory firm in San Francisco/San Jose (California);
2004-2010: Partner with a business law firm in Zurich;
2010-2012: Partner with a medium-sized tax consulting firm in Muri near Bern;
Since 1 January 2013: Professor for Swiss, European and International Tax Law at the University of Berne (1.1.13: Extraordinarius; 1.8.16: Ordinarius).
Experience abroad
1992-1993: LL.M.-program in Chicago;
1998-2000: Head of the Swiss tax desk with an international audit and advisory firm in San Francisco/San Jose (California).
Area of expertise
Corporate Tax Law;
International Tax Law;
Bernese Tax Law;
Expatriate/Inpatriate Taxation.
Current part-time lecturing activities
Since 2012: Lecturer in tax law at the LL.M. program of the University of Hamburg (Germany).
Past lecturing activities
2003/2004: Lecturer in taxation at the Fribourg school of economics;
2007-2011: Lecturer in taxation at the ZHAW School of Management, Winterthur (former Zürcher Hochschule Winterthur);
2012-2014: Lecturer at the Swiss controller academy (Wirtschafts- und Kaderschule KV Bern; WKS) for International Tax Law;
2011-2016: Lecturer in International Tax Law at the University of Lucerne.
Other part-time activities
Bernese bar exam, Member of the board (tax law);
Member of the board of 'BEWEST' (association for continuing education for tax experts);
Former examination expert at the higher professional examination for Federally Certified Tax Experts.
