Profile: Sigrid Sulcebe

Position: Counsel, Legal Service

After taking my LL.M. Degree in London, I worked as a corporate lawyer in private practice before moving into the public sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg and then the UN in Geneva. I didn't know much about the BIS when I joined apart from its public service mission.

I think the BIS considered me because of my specialisation in public international law and despite my limited experience in banking law. In retrospect, it's not so surprising: this is a unique place, as it's both a bank and an international organisation.

The great thing about working here is that it combines the best of both private practice and the international civil service - I find it very intellectually challenging. I also find working with colleagues from different legal backgrounds very stimulating. There's plenty of variety, as I work on matters relating to the Bank's status as an international organisation, but also deal with procurement contracts for goods and services, personnel matters, and banking issues. What's more, we benefit from exceptionally good administrative support, which I think is true across the BIS, and we have access to an excellent legal library.

I like Basel which as a border town is open to other cultures and where you can hear German, French and English spoken every day. It's also a great place for families, with lots to see and do, and numerous cultural activities.