Astrid Waser
Partner, Head of ESG
Dr. iur., Attorney at Law, LL.M.
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Partner, Head of ESG 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 |
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Expertise
Dr. Astrid Waser is a partner and leading practitioner in our Competition & Regulated Market and Investigations groups and heads the ESG practice 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.
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Practices
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Professional Experience and Education
and Education
2023-24 Lecturer for competition law at University of Bern 2012 Partner, Lenz & Staehelin 2004 European Commission / DG Competition - Secondment in a leading Brussel's law firm 2002 Joined Lenz & Staehelin 2000-01 Research Associate, the Europa Institut at the University of Zurich 2002 University of Zurich (Dr. iur.) 1999 Swiss Bar Admission 1997 College of Europe (LL.M.) 1996 University of Lausanne (lic. iur.) 1995 University 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
Board member of the Competition Law Commission of the Swiss Bar Association (SAV), Co-Chair of the Competition Law Section of the Zurich Bar Association (ZAV), Member of the Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht eV, Swiss Association for Competition Law (ASAS is a member of the International League of Competition Law - LIDC) -
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Meinhardt M., Merkt B., Waser A., Merger Control 2026 - Switzerland, in: Lexology Panoramic, June 2025
- Waser A., Erni S., Foreign Investment Review 2025 - Switzerland, in: Lexology Panoramic, February 2025
- Waser A., Verteidigungsrechte in Kartellverfahren, in: Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Finanzmarktrecht (SZW/RSDA), issue 4/2024
- Waser A., Travaglini S., Der Gleichordnungskonzern im Schweizer Wettbewerbsrecht, in: Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Kartellrecht (SZK/RSDC), issue 3/2024
- Meinhardt M., Waser A., Merkt B., Weber U., Dominance and Monopolies 2024 - Switzerland, in: Lexology In-Depth, 12th edition, August 2024
- Waser A., Merkt B., The Government Procurement Review 2024 - Switzerland, in: Lexology In-Depth, 12th edition, May 2024
- Waser A., Travaglini S., Keine ausufernden Per-se-Regeln, in: Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Kartellrecht (SZK/RSDC), issue 1/2024
- Waser A., Erni S., Foreign Investment Review 2023, Policies and practices, in: Lexology Panoramic, November 2023
- Waser A., Haechler T., Einführung einer Schweizer Investitionskontrolle, in: GesKR (Gesellschafts- und Kapitalmarktrecht) 3/2022, 311-321
- 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.
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Other Activities
Co-Head of the ZAV Competition Law Group
Member of the Competition Law Committee of the Swiss Bar Association (SAV)
Founding member of Working Moms Switzerland
Board member of Women At Competition Switzerland.
Member of Women Lawyers Switzerland.
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Contact Details
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Assistant
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Other Activities
Co-Head of the ZAV Competition Law Group
Member of the Competition Law Committee of the Swiss Bar Association (SAV)
Founding member of Working Moms Switzerland
Board member of Women At Competition Switzerland.
Member of Women Lawyers Switzerland.
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References
Astrid Waser is able to advise on short notice on highly complex matters.
Chambers & Partners, 2025She is great to work with, is very knowledgeable, quick and gives good advice.
Chambers & Partners, 2025Astrid 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, 2024Astrid Waser is a leading lawyer with deep expertise in internal investigations, compliance and regulatory matters.
Who's Who Legal, 2024Astrid is very pragmatic and to the point, and clearly understands very complex facts and contexts.
Who's Who Legal, 2024She is well known for her deep competition expertise
Who's Who Legal, 2022Astrid Waser is renowned for her excellent work handling complex large-scale merger filings, and is hailed by sources as very competent with a good standing in the market.
Who's Who Legal, 2021She is brilliant.
The Legal 500, 2020