About Me
I am Solène Guggisberg, an international lawyer with more than fifteen years of experience in research, policy and practice.
Originally from Geneva (Switzerland) and now based in The Hague (Netherlands), I work in English and French and can also support clients with materials in several other languages.
Background
My professional experience has taken me across different sides of international legal and policy questions, from courts and governments to international organisations, NGOs and academia.
I have worked as an Associate Legal Officer at the International Court of Justice, as Legal Counsel in proceedings before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and within the European Commission on fisheries policy and the implementation of the EU IUU Regulation. My work with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has focused on fisheries governance and the performance of regional fishery bodies, while academic research has taken me from the law of the sea and fisheries governance to Antarctica and Antarctic tourism. Alongside legal and research work, I have developed extensive experience in academic publishing, including editing books and special issues and supporting authors with the development and presentation of their work.
This experience has given me an understanding not only of international law as a body of rules, but also of the institutional, policy and practical contexts in which those rules are developed, applied and challenged. It is this combination of perspectives that I bring to both my legal and publishing work.
My knowledge of international law informs my work in academic publishing, where I can engage closely with the substance of a publication as well as its structure, argument and presentation. At the same time, years of research and editorial work have strengthened the way I approach legal analysis: with close attention to structure, clarity, consistency and the way an argument will be understood by its intended audience.
How I work
International law and academic publishing are distinct areas of work, but they share a common thread in the way I like to proceed: understanding complex material, helping ideas take shape and presenting them clearly.
Establish the purpose: Before deciding how to approach a project, I want to understand what it is meant to achieve and who the intended audience is.
Question and refine: I don’t see my role as simply providing answers or implementing instructions. I ask questions, test assumptions and flag issues that may need further thought.
Keep the whole in view: I proceed with close attention to detail while keeping sight of the larger argument, objective and context. The aim is work that is rigorous, coherent and fit for purpose.
Value the working relationship: I appreciate open, constructive collaboration and enjoy working with people who are invested in what they do and the purpose it serves.