Michel Halpérin (1948-2014) was a Swiss lawyer and politician.

Early life

Michel Halpérin was born in 1948. Halpérin was educated at the

International School of Geneva The International School of Geneva (in French: ''École internationale de Genève''), commonly known as Ecolint, is a private, non-profit international school based in Geneva, Switzerland. Background Founded in 1924 in the service of the Leagu ...

. He graduated from the

University of Geneva The University of Geneva (French: ''Université de Genève'') is a public university, public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded in 1559 by French theologian John Calvin as a Theology, theological seminary. It rema ...

Career

Halpérin became a lawyer in 1974. He joined the law firm Ming Halpérin Burger Inaudi two years later, in 1976. He was the chairman of the Geneva Bar Association between 1990 and 1992. Halpérin joined the

Liberal Party of Switzerland The Liberal Party of Switzerland () or Swiss Liberal Party (; ; ) was a political party in Switzerland with economically liberal policies. It was known as a party of the upper class. On 1 January 2009 it merged with the larger Free Democratic ...

. served as a member of the

Grand Council of Geneva The Grand Council of Geneva () is the legislature of the canton of Geneva, in Switzerland. Geneva, styled as a 'Republic and Canton', has a unicameral legislature. The Grand Council was established in its present form and with 100 seats in 1 ...

from 1984 to 1989, and from 1993 to 2009. He served as the president of the

from 2005 to 2006.

Philanthropy

Halpérin served as the president of the Swiss Friends of the

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) (, ''Universitat Ben-Guriyon baNegev'') is a public university, public research university in Beersheba, Israel. Named after Israeli List of national founders, national founder David Ben-Gurion, the unive ...

Personal life, death and legacy

Halpérin had two daughters and a son, politician Lionel Halpérin. He died on 11 August 2014, and he was buried in the Jewish cemetery in

Veyrier Veyrier () is a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality of the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland, on the France–Switzerland border, French border. Geography Veyrier has an area, , of . Of this area, or 33.4% is used for agricultural purposes ...

. On 7 June 2016 the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev organized the Keren Moshe Leadership Training Program's 20th Anniversary in his honor.

Michel Halpérin Bâtonnier Prize for Excellence

Established in 2017, the Prix Bâtonnier Michel Halpérin aims to recognize and reward excellence as embodied by a lawyer, in memory of Bâtonnier Michel Halpérin, who has brought to the highest level the virtues and qualities of courage, humanity, integrity, finesse, talent, humour and culture. The Bâtonnier Michel Halpérin Prize for Excellence is awarded in principle each year to a lawyer or a trainee lawyer appointed by the jury. The Prize may also be awarded to a former lawyer or posthumously. All members of th
Geneva Bar Association
as well as all members of the jury, may nominate a candidate for the award. The jury of the Prize is composed of lawyers and personalities appointed by the President of the Bar, in agreement with the family of the President of the Bar Michel Halpérin.https://www.odage.ch/medias/documents/Les%20Essentielles/Prix_Michel_Halpe%CC%81rin_2019.pdf In 2019, the jury, chaired by Marc JOORY, is composed of : Mrs Laura JACQUEMOUD-ROSSARI, Federal Judge, Mrs Martine BRUNSCHWIG-GRAF, former National Councillor and former President of the Geneva Council of State, Me Nathalie CHAIX, Me Yaël HAYAT, Me Anouchka HALPERIN, Me Marc BONNANT, former President of the Bar, Me Pascal MAURER, former President of the Bar, Me Vincent SPIRA, former President of the Bar, Me Elie ELKAÏM, former President of the Waldensian Bar, Me Pierre-Damien EGGLY, Me Jean-Marie CRETTAZ, winner of the first Prize, Me Grégoire MANGEAT, former President of the Bar and creator of the Prize. 2018 winner of the Michel Halpérin Prize for Excellence: Me Jean-Marie Crettaz 2019 winner of the Michel Halpérin Prize for Excellence: Me Alain Werner

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Halperin, Michel 2014 deaths Lawyers from Geneva Liberal Party of Switzerland politicians Members of the National Council (Switzerland) 20th-century Swiss Jews Ben-Gurion University of the Negev 1948 births International School of Geneva alumni Jewish Swiss politicians