SONYA HYMER'S CV   





PERSONAL INFORMATION



Nationality    US citizen

Law license    California State Bar #226167





WORK EXPERIENCE



Staff Researcher -- September 2012 – present

Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Center for Law & Economics in Zurich, Switzerland

Conducting qualitative and quantitative research in various areas of law, economics, psychology, and history.  Editing articles for submission to peer-reviewed journals.  Negotiating data license agreements with public and private copyright owners.  Advising seminar students and grading papers.  Supervising student assistants.



Managing Attorney -- July 2007 – August 2012

Staff Attorney -- January 2004 – June 2005

Claims Resolution Tribunal in Zurich, Switzerland

Drafted and edited decisions and reports for US district court (EDNY).  Managed more than 20 attorneys and support staff processing claims to Swiss bank accounts and insurance policies owned by Holocaust victims.  Interpreted financial records, including research of historic securities markets.  In preparation for dissolution of Tribunal, drafted final report on insurance claims, including data collection and analysis of claim success rate.

 

Legislative Aide to Representative Gabrielle LeDoux -- January 2007 – June 2007

Alaska House of Representatives in Juneau, Alaska, US

Drafted and analyzed proposed laws, prepared budget proposals, testified before legislative committees, corresponded with constituents and various government agencies.



Law Clerk to Justice Walter L. Carpeneti -- August 2005 – September 2006

Alaska Supreme Court in Juneau, Alaska, US

Contributed to judicial decision-making process by reviewing lower court records and appellate briefs, researching and drafting memoranda and opinions.



Legal Assistant -- September 2002 – December 2003

Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, The Netherlands

Designed evidentiary database for claims commission on human rights violations in Eritrea-Ethiopia War.  Drafted speeches and arbitral decisions, organized conferences, edited articles for publication.



Commercial Fisherman -- 1994 – 1999

Self-employed in Kodiak, Alaska, US

Worked as deckhand on Kodiak-based fishing boats.  Licenses: 100-Ton Master, Able Seaman.



Editor -- 1992 – 1994

Pacific Media Group in Seattle, Washington, US

Assigned and edited news articles, oversaw production of "Police Beat," a monthly chronicle of local crime.





EDUCATION



Juris Doctor -- 1999 – 2002

University of California at Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall) in Berkeley, California, US

Served as research assistant to Professor Richard Buxbaum, focusing on public international and comparative law.  Studies included domestic and international corporate and maritime law, microeconomics, European Union law, government regulation of business.  Received honors for course in civil procedure.



Bachelor of Arts -- 1987 – 1991

St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, US

Completed liberal arts program, including study of mathematics, science, philosophy, French, Ancient Greek, music, art, literature, religion.  Received honors for senior oral examination.



High School Diploma -- 1984 – 1987

Freedom High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, US

Graduated one year early at top of class, offered full scholarship to state university.





ADDITIONAL INFORMATION



Languages: English (native), German (B1, Goethe Institute), French (intermediate)



Interests: literature, travel, swimming, boating, jogging, German language study, theater



Memberships: Quartierverein Zürich 1 rechts der Limmat, Museumsgesellschaft, Gewerkschaft Unia, Theaterclub Neumarkt, American Bar Association, California Bar Association, Berkeley Law International Alumni Association, Democrats Abroad, Internations, American Women’s Club of Zurich