Astrid Waser Partner
Dr. iur., Attorney at Law, LL.M.

Astrid Waser

Partner
Dr. iur., Attorney at Law, LL.M.
+41 58 450 80 00
astrid.waser@lenzstaehelin.com
Zurich
Brandschenkestrasse 24
CH-8027 Zurich
www.lenzstaehelin.com
  • Expertise

    Dr. Astrid Waser is a partner and leading practitioner in our Competition & Regulated Market and Investigations groups based in Zurich. She specialises in regulated markets, particularly competition (antitrust) law, public procurement law, media and telecoms law, and environmental law. She also advises on regulatory, administrative and internal investigations, and has long-standing experience in compliance matters. Astrid advises in non-contentious cases and also represents clients before Swiss authorities and courts – particularly in investigations and infringement procedures of the Swiss Competition Commission as well as in merger filings and public procurement procedures. Astrid is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars and recognised by Global Competition Review as one of the worldwide Leading Women in Antitrust.

  • Practices

  • Professional Experience and Education

    and Education

    2023Lecturer for competition law at University of Bern
    2012Partner, Lenz & Staehelin
    2004European Commission / DG Competition - Secondment in a leading Brussel's law firm
    2002Research Associate, the Europa Institut at the University of Zurich
    2002Joined Lenz & Staehelin
    2002University of Zurich (Dr. iur.)
    1999Swiss Bar Admission
    1997College of Europe (LL.M.)
    1996University of Lausanne (lic. iur.)
    1995University College Dublin
  • Specialist Areas

    Competition / Antitrust Law, Compliance, Investigations, Public Law, Public Procurement Law, Technology, Media & Telecoms, Energy Law and Environmental Law
  • Languages

    German, English, French, Italian, Spanish
  • Memberships

    Swiss Bar Association (SAV), Zurich Bar Association (ZAV), Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht eV, Swiss Association for Competition Law (ASAS is a member of the International League of Competition Law - LIDC)
  • SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

    • Waser A., Erni S., Foreign Investment Review 2023, Policies and practices, in: Lexology In Depth, November 2023
    • Waser A., Merkt B., The Government Procurement Review 2023 - Switzerland, in: The Law Reviews, 11th edition, June 2023
    • Meinhardt M., Merkt B., Waser A., Merger Control 2024 - Switzerland, in: Getting the Deal Through, May 2023
    • Waser A., Erni S., Foreign Investment Review 2023 - Switzerland, in: Getting the Deal Through, February 2023
    • Waser A., Haechler T., Einführung einer Schweizer Investitionskontrolle, in: GesKR (Gesellschafts- und Kapitalmarktrecht) 3/2022, 311-321
    • Meinhardt M., Waser A., Merkt B., Weber U., The Dominance and Monopolies Review 2022 - Switzerland, in: The Law Reviews, 10th edition, June 2022, 387-405
    • Meinhardt M., Waser A., Merkt B., Süslü S., Cartels 2022 - Switzerland, in: The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides, April 2022
    • Waser A., Ein "Swiss Finish" im Vertriebskartellrecht?, in: Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Kartellrecht (SZK), issue 1/2022, 5-9
    • Waser A., Travaglini S., Relativ neu - die Schweizer Regelung zur relativen Marktmacht, zum Geoblocking-Verbot und zum Vertriebskartellrecht, in: Neue Zeitschrift für Kartellrecht (NZKart), issue 2/2022, 42-48
    • Meinhardt M., Waser A., Travaglini S., Kommentierung von Art. 10 KG, in: Amstutz/Reinert (eds.), Basler Kommentar, Kartellgesetz, 2nd edition, Basel 2021
    • Meinhardt M., Merkt B., Waser A., Cartels 2021 - Switzerland: Trends & Developments, in: Chambers Global Practice Guides, July 2021, 2-8
    • Waser A., Travaglini S., Weinmann F., IP und Kartellrecht, in: Weinmann/Münch/Herren (eds.), Schweizer IP-Handbuch, 2nd edition, Basel 2021, 297-324
    • Meinhardt M., Waser A., Joho D., Telecoms & Media 2019 - Switzerland, in: Getting the Deal Through, June 2019, 200-206
    • Waser A., Einsichtsrechte von Vergabestellen bei Submissionsabsprachen, in: Jusletter 13 March 2017
    • Meinhardt M., Waser A., Cabalzar ., Global Antitrust Compliance Handbook - Switzerland, in: Multi-Jurisdictional Guide, Oxford University Press, 1st edition, Oxford 2014
    • Waser A., Verfahrensrechte der Parteien - neueste Entwicklungen, in: Hochreutener/Stoffel/Amstutz (eds.), Wettbewerbsrecht: Entwicklung, Verfahrensrecht, Öffnung des schweizerischen Marktes, 2014
    • Waser A., Verfahrensrechtliche Aspekte der Kooperation zwischen Wettbewerbsbehörden, Tagung vom 10. Mai 2005 in Zürich, Europa Institut an der Universität Zürich/Schweizerische Vereinigung für Wettbewerbsrecht
    • Meinhardt M., Waser A., The Revised Swiss Competition Law, Direct Fines, Leniency and Notification, in: European Competition Law Review 2005, 48
    • Waser A., Is it advisable to provide for a system of international administrative co-operation between the authorities and Courts applying competition rules, aiming in particular at the exchange of information and documents between them?, in: Swiss National Report 2004 for the International Ligue of Competition Law
    • Waser A., Grundrechte der Beteiligten im europäischen und schweizerischen Wettbewerbsverfahren, Doctoral Thesis, Zurich 2002, 341 et seqq.
  • Other Activities

    • Member of the Competition Law Committee of the Swiss Bar Association (SAV)

    • Co-founder and board member of Working Moms Switzerland

    • Board member of Women At Competition Switzerland.

    • Member of Women Lawyers Switzerland.

  • Contact Details

  • Assistant

  • Other Activities

    • Member of the Competition Law Committee of the Swiss Bar Association (SAV)

    • Co-founder and board member of Working Moms Switzerland

    • Board member of Women At Competition Switzerland.

    • Member of Women Lawyers Switzerland.

  • References

    Astrid Waser has built up an impressive foreign investment control practice thanks to her experience in competition and other areas of regulatory law.

    Who's Who Legal, 2023

    Astrid is very pragmatic and to the point, and clearly understands very complex facts and contexts.

    Who's Who Legal, 2023

    She is brilliant.

    Legal 500, 2020

    She has very deep knowledge of competition law.

    Chambers, 2020

    Very calm lawyer with a lot of empathy, who can manage complicated and emotionally charged situations very well

    Chambers, 2020

    Very active and excels in public procurement matters

    Who's Who Legal, 2020

    Open minded, business oriented and very international

    Chambers, 2019

    Very intelligent and bright

    Who's Who Legal, 2018

    She is an experienced competition lawyer with excellent analytic skills and very good business sense.

    Chambers, 2018

Astrid Waser has built up an impressive foreign investment control practice thanks to her experience in competition and other areas of regulatory law.

Who's Who Legal, 2023

Astrid is very pragmatic and to the point, and clearly understands very complex facts and contexts.

Who's Who Legal, 2023

She is brilliant.

Legal 500, 2020

She has very deep knowledge of competition law.

Chambers, 2020

Very calm lawyer with a lot of empathy, who can manage complicated and emotionally charged situations very well

Chambers, 2020

Very active and excels in public procurement matters

Who's Who Legal, 2020

Open minded, business oriented and very international

Chambers, 2019

Very intelligent and bright

Who's Who Legal, 2018

She is an experienced competition lawyer with excellent analytic skills and very good business sense.

Chambers, 2018

1/9

Insights

Insights 10.04.2024

Climate change landmark case – European Court of Human Rights condemns Switzerland for not doing enough against climate change

Climate change landmark case – European Court of Human Rights condemns…

In a historic ruling, the European Court of Human Rights ("Court") found that the European Convention on Human Rights ("Convention") encompasses a right to effective protection by the State authorities against the adverse effects of climate change. The Court found that Switzerland had failed to act in a timely and sufficient manner to adopt and implement relevant legislation and measures to mitigate climate change, violating Article 8 of the Convention. Although the judgment is final and binding, the Court did not order Switzerland to take specific measures to comply with the ruling. This new case law will undoubtedly have a significant symbolic and political impact. While the rights protected under the Convention are not directly applicable to private entities such as companies, the judgment may however add further momentum to so-called horizontal climate change lawsuits brought against private entities.

Insights 20.12.2023

Introduction of Foreign Investment Control – Swiss Federal Council publishes draft legislation and disptach for parliament

Introduction of Foreign Investment Control – Swiss Federal Council…

Switzerland does not yet have an overarching regime for the screening of foreign direct investments in place. The draft legislation published on 15 December 2023 seeks to introduce a targeted sector-specific foreign investment control regime in Switzerland and aims to regulate acquisitions of domestic companies operating in particularly critical sectors by foreign state-controlled investors. The "state-controlled" criterion is intended to include private investors, provided they are directly or indirectly controlled by a state. The legislation is not expected to enter into force before 2025/2026.

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