Personal bio
Expert in legal advice, negotiation, public policy, & government relations well-versed in business w/ 19+ years of international experience in the private & public sectors. Certified Chief of Staff currently serving as Chief of Staff WTO Affairs & Switzerland’s Regional Director @ The Chief of Staff Association. Frontline negotiator on 6 intergovernmental agreements, including the Trade Facilitation Agreement, with an accrued global value of over US$1 trillion a year by reducing costs by 16.5% for low-income countries; the revised Government Procurement Agreement, with market access coverage of US$100 billion per year; & the expansion of the Information Technology Agreement, with $1.3 trillion in added global trade p/ year. Associate Professor of Law on International Economic Law and a regular speaker on IP, policy, trade & dispute settlement. Top 10% SSRN author with 43 articles & 16K downloads. Creator, producer, and host of The Rodolfo Rivas Project podcast ranked in the top 10% worldwide and is currently in the 5th season with over 356K downloads. Arbitrator (MCIArb) & Domain Name Panelist with 69 Panel Decisions adjudicating 224 domain names across FORUM, CAC, CIIDRC, ADNDRC, HKIAC, WIPO, and URS Examiner at MFSD. I've worn many hats in my career—litigator, arbitrator, negotiator, translator, manager, author, podcaster, strategist, and policy professional. As a result, I have a unique ability to manage multi-disciplinary projects and navigate complex challenges with strategic nous and creativity. In my spare time, I write and occasionally direct films. Contact me to discuss law, technology, trade, business, policy, start-ups, culture, storytelling, or films. Specialties: International Trade, International Business, Policy & Negotiation, Management, Intellectual Property, Copyright, Trademarks, Domain Names, Compliance, Arbitration, Mediation (ADR), Advocacy, Diplomacy, Corporate & Government Affairs.