PUBLISHED:January 05, 2012

Swiss Ambassador Sager '85 to address global economic crisis at alumni event

Manuel Sager ’85, the ambassador of Switzerland to the United States, will address Duke Law alumni, faculty and guests at the Third Annual Duke Law School International Alumni and Student Dinner in New York City on Jan. 26, 2012.

Sager will speak on the international financial crisis and its effect on Switzerland’s banking sector and the globalized economy.

Sager, who was appointed ambassador of Switzerland to the United States in October 2010, has an extensive background in global policy. He began his career with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in 1988 and has held multiple positions there, beginning as a diplomat in training in Bern and Athens and finally as head of the political affairs division from 2008 to 2010. He spent two years as executive director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, in charge of nine countries.

“Manuel has made excellent use of his Duke LLM,” says Judy Horowitz, associate dean for International Studies at Duke Law. “He has a wealth of experience in the Swiss foreign service and an intimate knowledge of the U.S. and Europe. He is an expert in banking law and he has served previously in the Embassy in Washington D.C.

“It is a great pleasure to have him back in this country. Manuel is always happy to meet our alumni, and we especially welcome him at our third International Alumni Dinner.”

The International Alumni and Student Dinner is an annual fund-raiser to support Duke Law School’s LLM Scholarship fund. The event also is an opportunity for students to meet and network with Duke Law alumni in advance of the annual International Student Interview program, to be held on Jan. 27 in New York City.

The dinner will be held at The Netherland Club. Tickets are $130 for alumni and their guests, and $80 for students. Seating is limited; visit the registration site to RSVP. Contact Oleg Kobelev in the International Studies Office for more information or to become a sponsor of the event.