Dr. Valerie Bodevin
Biography
Valerie Bodevin is an associate in Baker McKenzie's Real Estate Practice Group. She was admitted to the bar in 2025. Before joining the Geneva office in 2023 as a legal intern, Valerie pursued an academic career at the University of Fribourg and the Swiss Institute for Swiss and International Construction Law. She holds a PhD from the University of Fribourg on hotel construction obtained in 2021 with highest honors. Thanks to her academic background and clerk position from 2021 to 2023 at the Canton of Valais, she gained in-depth knowledge of public policies, administrative law and institutional organization. She also teaches a course on urban planning and construction law at the SVIT School (Lausanne) and publishes regularly in the Revue du droit de la construction/Baurechtzeitung (BR/DC).
Practice Focus
She advises on complex real estate transactions, including acquisitions, transfers, property development, and conducts negotiations with a particular focus on administrative matters (e.g., zoning and building permits, environmental regulations, second home legislation, Lex Koller, construction regulations and bylaws, public procurement). Valerie is also active within the Litigation Practice Group, representing international and domestic clients before Swiss courts in real estate and construction related disputes.
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Geneva Bar Association - Member
- Geneva Bar Association, Administrative Law Commission - Member
- Alumni IUS Frilex - Member
Admissions
- Switzerland (2025)
Education
- University of Geneva (Certificate of Advanced Studies) (2023)
- University of Fribourg (Dr. iur. / PhD in Law, highest honors) (2021)
- University of Fribourg (Master of Law (bilingual), highest honors) (2016)
- University of Fribourg (Bachelor of Law (bilingual), high honors ) (2014)
Languages
- English
- French
- German