Dr. Thomas Cottier, Managing Director of the World Trade Institute is Professor of European and International Economics Law at the University of Bern and Director of the Institute of European and International Economic Law. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees, IPGRI (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome) Professor Cottier was Legal Officer and Head of legal services of the GATT Division, Department of Foreign Economic Relations, Bern (1986-89), Deputy Director-General, the Swiss Federal Intellectual Property Office, Bern.

He has been a member of various dispute settlement panels in WTO/GATT. From 1986-1993 he was member of the Swiss negotiating team at the GATT Uruguay Round and, from 1989-1992, on EEA negotiations. Professor Cottier has written and published on a wide range of trade and international law issues.