DR. RAPHAEL WIDMER-KAUFMANN
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
since 2026
Owner of Widmer-Kaufmann Law Firm & Notary Public, St. Gallen
since 2020
Self-employed Attorney-at-Law and Notary Public
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS IN AVIATION & SPACE
since 2026
Lecturer in Air Law at the University of Bern
Co-Director of the Swiss Hub for Air and Space Law and Economics (SHALE) more >
since 2025
Member of the Board of Directors of St. Stephan Airfield
since 2024
Flight Instructor at Swiss PSA/Kreutzer Aviation more >
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Center for Space and Aviation more >
President of the Eastern Switzerland Aviation Interest Group more >
since 2023
Freelance PC-12 Pilot
Subject Matter Expert Air Law at Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland
Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Aviation Competence more >
since 2022
Member of the Executive Board of Weibel Aviation AG
Fellow at the Center for Aviation and Space Competence, University of St. Gallen more >
since 2018
Air Law Instructor at Motorfluggruppe Thurgau
President of Aero-Club Eastern Switzerland more >
LEGAL EDUCATION
2025
International Board Certificate Program, Swiss Board Foundation
2022–2023
CAS in Aviation Management, University of St. Gallen
2018–2021
Doctorate in Law (Dr. iur.) in Aviation Law, University of St. Gallen
2015
Admission to the Bar and as Notary Public of the Canton of St. Gallen
2010–2013
Master in Law and Economics, University of St. Gallen
2010–2013
Supplementary Qualification in Business Education, University of St. Gallen
2010–2013
Bachelor in History and Sociology, University of Zurich
2006–2009
Bachelor in International Affairs, University of St. Gallen
FLIGHT TRAINING
2024
Flight Instructor Licence (SEP, SET, NIT, IRI)
2022
Pilatus PC-12 Class Rating
2017
Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) with ATPL theory
2017
Instrument Rating (IR)
2006
Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
AWARDS
2023
ASDA Award (Förderpreis) of the Swiss Association for Air and Space Law for the doctoral dissertation