Dominique Jakob

Prof. Dr. Dominique Jakob is a Professor of Private Law and Chair of Private Law at the University of Zurich's Faculty of Law. He directs the Center for Foundation Law and is a leading expert in national and international foundation law, estate planning, and asset structuring. His academic work focuses on Swiss, Liechtenstein, and German legal frameworks, with an emphasis on family and enterprise foundations. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Munich and a Master of International Law from Lund University.

Education: Studied law in Augsburg, Munich, and Lund (Sweden); Ph.D. from the University of Munich (2006); Habilitation thesis on "Protection of the Foundation – The Foundation and its Legal Relationships in the Conflict of Interests" (2007).

Research interests include foundation governance, legal challenges in estate planning, and cross-border philanthropy. His recent publications analyze Swiss foundation law reforms, enterprise foundations, and governance structures. He regularly speaks at international conferences, such as the Zurich Day of Foundation Law and the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law.

Awards include the Elite Report's 'Goldene Pyramide' and recognition in the Private Client Global Elite Directory. He advises governments, financial institutions, and families on wealth management and legal strategies.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Center for Foundation Law, leading interdisciplinary research and policy advocacy in foundation law.