rita m. zihlmann

IBM (Switzerland), IBM Global Services, 8010 Zurich, Switzerland

IBM is a major player in the field of Information Technology by providing Computer
Software, Computer Hardware and Computer Services. IBM has offices in more than 160
countries; with in-house specialists and by entering into alliances with other giants of
the IT industry as well as business partners, IBM is able to grow and provide its services
and products anywhere and any time. IBM is one of the most innovative employers.

January 2002 – present: Manager Contracts and Negotiations
• Leading a team of 15 people, of which 2 are based in IBM’s Geneva location and
  13 are based in IBM’s Zurich office. The team currently consists of 5 Swiss qualified
  lawyers, 1 Australian qualified lawyer, and 9 people with business, project manage-
  ment or sales background.
• Negotiating, drafting and closing large international and national Strategic Outsourcing
  contracts, Systems Integration contracts, International Frame Agreements for global customers,
  various contracts for services for assistance or services for performance, Confidentiality
  Agreements, Government contracts, which may be subject to the WTO terms and conditions
  in German and English.

Entrust Technologies (Switzerland) LLC, 8301 Wallisellen, Switzerland

Entrust Technologies is the global leader in securing the Internet by providing solutions
for business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer (B2C) and Intra-business (Intra-B)
markets. Entrust pioneered the Internet security marketplace, establishing its presence
in 1994, and has continued to help fuel the Internet's evolution with its enhanced security
solutions for high-value, highly sensitive transactions. Entrust invented the technology
that is embedded in much of basic Internet security worldwide, and our technology leadership
positions us as the partner of choice in the industry.

Entrust started with a high-value low-volume Enterprise focus, selling via a direct sales
channel to F1000 Lead Adopters. These organisations are in the process of converting their
businesses from physical to virtual. The challenge is in negotiating balanced high-quality
contracts with large and powerful Enterprise customers during a unique watershed
in the business environment.

October 1998 – December 2001: General Counsel EMEA
• Establish and manage Legal Department EMEA based in the UK (currently consisting
  of 3 people)
• Negotiating, drafting and closing large enterprise license contracts, TTP contracts, services
  contracts under Civil and Common Law Jurisdictions in different languages
• Negotiating channel relationships (reseller contracts and partner agreements, OEM agreements)
• Advising internal and external clients on Intellectual Property matters and closing large services
  agreement and contracts for the supply of customised software
• Set up of 5 European entities in a tax and legal efficient structure; keeping the corporate files
  of Entrust's European entities up to date
• Budgeting of Legal Department EMEA
• Provision of legal advise on HR related matters including recruiting and lay-offs
• Provision of legal support for Finance (tax, accounting, insurance)
• Provision of legal advise on crypto law matters, e-commerce related matters, m-commerce
  related matters, Public Key Infrastructure technology, digital signatures by writing corresponding
  memos or guidelines and giving internal and external presentations on these legal matters
• Provision of general legal advise to senior management on various issues: Competition Law,
  general EC Law, Data Protection, Companies Law

February 1998 – October 1998: Legal Consultant.
• Advising internal and external clients on Information Technology Law: PKI Regulations,
  Crypto Export and Import matters, Digital Signature Legislation, E-Commerce Legislation, Data
  Protection matters including research in the field
• Establish and maintain a contracts portfolio
• General in-house legal support

CAP Rechtsschutzversicherung, 6300 Zug, Switzerland
Department Underwriting: Legal Counsel

fairTeam (Fairs, Public Relations and Promotion), 4054 Basle, Switzerland
part-time employment

Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Business Law with specialisation in Information Law,
Intellectual Property Law and Computer Law at University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Thesis: Conflict areas of software licensing law and copyright law.

Law studies at the University of Basle, Switzerland (law degree, «Lizenziat»)

College at Gymnasium Oberwil, Switzerland

High School at Progymnasium Oberwil, Switzerland

Additional Education

Law / Negotiations
• Huthwaite Negotiation Skills Course, 4 days seminar in Warbrook, UK
• «Negotiating Contracts», 2 days seminar in Wolfsberg, Switzerland
• «International Technology Licensing Agreements», 2 days seminar in London, UK
• «Advanced Seminar on Licensing», 2 days PLI seminar in New York, USA

Management Skills
• Behaviour Based Structured Interview, 1 day course IBM Zurich, Switzerland
• Manager Development Course, ongoing course IBM Zurich, Switzerland
• «Leadership through Management and Coaching», 3 days seminar in Henley-on-Thames, UK
• «Effective Presentations», 2 days seminar in Rorschacherberg, Switzerland