Dr. Volker Hesse, IEMBA

Founder and General Manager of VIVA Sports Law – Consulting, Volker Hesse, graduated as a lawyer from the University of Vienna in 2002. After persuing additional studies at the Universities of Geneva and Vienna, he was awarded a doctorate in law in 2006. In 2014, he completed an International Executive Master in Business Administration (MBA) at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. Moreover, Volker is active as a mediator.

After having worked for the University of Geneva and various local courts as legal assistant, Volker started his career in sports in the UEFA Disciplinary Services department and joined the Legal Affairs division at FIFA in 2006. During his five years at FIFA, Volker worked in several departments and assisted as Deputy Head of the Disciplinary Department the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, the FIFA Appeal Committee and the FIFA Ethics Committee. Moreover, he represented FIFA as legal counsel in various cases at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). He was a delegate at numerous FIFA competitions and was promoted to the Head of the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit which he succesfully operated during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He also worked as Senior Counsel, Results Management at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

In addition to German, his mother language, Volker is fluent in English, French and Spanish. He also has basic knowledge in Arabic and Italian.

Memberships:

  • Swiss Association of Sports Law (ASDS)
  • UCI Arbitral Board & Disciplinary Commission
  • Mediation International
  • St. Galler Schiedsordnung
  • Head of the Swiss Group of the Austrian Association for Mediation