Marcel Meinhardt
Partner, Head of Competition
Dr. iur., Attorney at Law, LL.M.
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Partner, Head of Competition Dr. iur., Attorney at Law, LL.M. +41 58 450 80 00 marcel.meinhardt@lenzstaehelin.com |
Zurich Brandschenkestrasse 24 CH-8027 Zurich www.lenzstaehelin.com |
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Expertise
Dr. Marcel Meinhardt is a partner and leading expert in competition law. Based at our firm’s Zurich office, he heads up the Competition and Regulated Market practice group and specialises in all areas of Swiss and European merger control work and competition law. His practice spans sectors including postal services, insurance, banking, automotive, green energy, media, retail, construction, pharma, ticketing and IT. He also advises on regulatory issues in the electricity, environmental and gas industries. Over the years, Marcel has acted in many high profile cases including numerous phase I and phase II merger notifications to the Swiss Competition Commission – most recently in the context of infrastructure joint ventures in the electric car industry. He has also co-ordinated multi-jurisdictional merger filings.
Marcel was awarded "European Competition & Antitrust Lawyer" of the Year 2025 by Lexology European Awards. In 2023, he was named "Lawyer of the Year – Competition & Antitrust" at the Legalcommunity Awards Switzerland. He was elected as one of Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers 2022, which lists independently rated lawyers. He was recognised again as Lawyer of the Year 2022 by Best Lawyers in the categories of Antitrust/Competition Law, Energy Law and Regulatory Practice. In both 2025 and 2020, he was awarded the Client Choice Award in the category of Competition & Antitrust Switzerland. He has also been recognised by Chambers and Partners as a leading lawyer in the field of Competition/Antitrust. Marcel is listed in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame as one of only four Swiss Competition lawyers to have received constant praise by clients for continued excellence and for reaching 'the pinnacle of the profession'. In Chambers 2021, he was listed as an outstanding practitioner with market-leading expertise.
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Practices
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Professional Experience and Education
and Education
2002 Partner, Lenz & Staehelin 1996 Joined Lenz & Staehelin 1996 University of Zurich (Dr. iur.) 1995 College of Europe (LL.M.) 1994 New York University School of Law (LL.M.) 1992 Swiss Bar Admission 1990 University of St.Gallen (lic. iur.) -
Specialist Areas
Competition, General Contract and Corporate, Energy and Regulated Markets, Litigation, Public Procurement, Telecoms & Media, Internal Investigations -
Languages
German, English, French -
Memberships
Swiss Association for Competition Law (ASAS), Zurich Bar Association (ZAV), Swiss Bar Association (SAV), Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht eV., International Bar Association (IBA), American Bar Association (ABA) -
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Meinhardt M., Berinde L., Main Developments in Competition Law and Policy 2024 – Switzerland, in: Kluwer Competition Law Blog, 28 February 2025
- Meinhardt M., Waser A., Merkt B., Weber U., Dominance and Monopolies 2024 - Switzerland, in: Lexology In-Depth, 12th edition, August 2024
- Meinhardt M., Merkt B., Waser A., Merger Control 2025 - Switzerland, in: Lexology Panoramic, May 2024
- Meinhardt M., Lenggenhager F., Bribery & Corruption 2023 - Switzerland, in: Global Legal Insights, 10th edition, December 2022, 230-240
- Meinhardt M., Walz C., New agreement boosts cooperation between Swiss and German competition authorities, in: Kluwer Competition Law Blog, 10 November 2022
- Meinhardt M., Swiss Foreign Investment Control on the Horizon - Federal Council Issues Preliminary Draft Legislation, in: Kluwer Competition Law Blog, 27 May 2022
- Meinhardt M., Waser A., Merkt B., Süslü S., Cartels 2022 - Switzerland, in: The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides, April 2022
- Merkt B., Meinhardt M., Competition Inspections in 21 Jurisdictions - A Practitioner's Guide - Switzerland, in: Jalabert-Doury (ed.), Concurrences, Antitrust Publications & Events, 267-282
- 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
- Meinhardt M., Waser A., Joho D., Telecoms & Media 2019 - Switzerland, in: Getting the Deal Through, June 2019, 200-206
- Meinhardt M., Merkt B., Waser A., The Cartels and Leniency Review 2019 - Switzerland, in: The Law Reviews, 7th edition, February 2019, 281-289
- Meinhardt M., Merkt B., Waser A., Cartel Regulation 2017 - Switzerland, in: Getting the Deal Through, November 2016, 265-272
- Meinhardt M., Waser A., Cabalzar ., Global Antitrust Compliance Handbook - Switzerland, in: Multi-Jurisdictional Guide, Oxford University Press, 1st edition, Oxford 2014
- Waser A., Meinhardt M., Kern ., The Government Procurement Review 2014 - Switzerland, in: The Law Reviews, 2nd edition, London 2014
- Meinhardt M., Bremer ., The Swiss ComCo closes proceedings without further action against a Swiss individual with a formerly controlling stake in companies investigated for a possible abuse of a dominant position, in: e-Competitions Bulletin November 2013, art. no. 64052
- Waser A., Meinhardt M., Konzerne und Wettbewerbsrecht, in: Entwicklungen im Gesellschaftsrecht VIII, Bern 2013
- Meinhardt M., Bischof ., Zusammenschlussverbot Orange/Sunrise - Fehl- oder Leitentscheid der schweizerischen Wettbewerbskommission?, in: Wirtschaft und Wettbewerb WuW, issue 11, 4 November 2011, 1089
- Meinhardt M., Schwibs ., Standardisierte Verträge im Stromhandel - der EFET-Rahmenvertrag, in: Stromhandel, Zurich 2007, 103-119
- Meinhardt M., Ahrens ., Wettbewerbsrecht und Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit in der Schweiz - Eine Würdigung des Entscheids des Bundesgerichts vom 8. März 2006, in: SchiedsVZ Zeitschrift für Schiedsverfahren, 4/2006
- Meinhardt M., Nachfragemacht nach revidiertem Kartellrecht, in: Jusletter 17 October 2005
- Meinhardt M., Organisation des Einkaufs, in: Geiser/Krauskopf/Münch (eds.), Schweizerisches und Europäisches Wettbewerbsrecht - Handbuch für die Anwaltspraxis, Basel 2005
- Meinhardt M., Waser A., The Revised Swiss Competition Law, Direct Fines, Leniency and Notification, in: European Competition Law Review 2005, 48
- Meinhardt M., Kommentierung von Art. 5, 6, 22 FusG (Commentary on Certain Articles of the Merger Act), in: Watter/Vogt/Tschäni/Daeniker (eds.), Basler Kommentar zum Fusionsgesetz, Basel 2004
- Meinhardt M., Die Beschränkung nationaler Immaterialgüterrechte durch Artikel 86 EG - Vertrag unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der essential facilities doctrine, Doctoral Thesis Zurich, Bern 1998
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Other Activities
Board member of the Swiss Association for Competition Law (Swiss member of the International League of Competition Law)
Regular speaker at Swiss and international competition law conferences
Non-Governmental Advisor for the Swiss Competition Commission within the International Competition Network (ICN)
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Contact Details
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Assistant
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Other Activities
Board member of the Swiss Association for Competition Law (Swiss member of the International League of Competition Law)
Regular speaker at Swiss and international competition law conferences
Non-Governmental Advisor for the Swiss Competition Commission within the International Competition Network (ICN)
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References
He is one of the most capable competition lawyers I have met in my career. He is outstanding for knowledge and pragmatism.
Chambers, 2025Marcel Meinhardt is an exceptional lawyer; he has a very strong commercial understanding and provides outstanding advice.
Chambers, 2025Marcel Meinhardt is a star, always helpful on every topic we put to him.
The Legal 500, 2025Working with him means getting top quality - and very good value for money.
Lexology Client Choice Awards, 2025The level of service and commitment of Marcel is of truly outstanding excellence in every respect.
Lexology Client Choice Awards, 2025Marcel is excellent both professionally and personally.
Lexology Client Choice Awards, 2025He is the most experienced antitrust lawyer in Switzerland. He has rapid comprehension skills and brings a solution to every problem. He puts the client and their needs at the centre of the advice.
Chambers, 2024His advice is to the point and he can explain complex legal issues to business people
Who's Who Legal, 2024He is a very quick and smart thinker with great analytical skills; he is pragmatic as well as thorough.
Who's Who Legal, 2024Marcel Meinhardt is just brilliant. Collaboration with him is a pleasure.
Legal 500, 2020
Publications
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Main Developments in Competition Law and Policy 2024 – Switzerland
in: Kluwer Competition Law Blog, 28 February 2025