Litigation and Arbitration

Lenz & Staehelin has been a market leader in litigation and international arbitration in Switzerland for decades. We represent clients in complex civil, administrative and criminal litigation, international arbitration and corporate investigations. Our clients cover a broad range of industries, including banking & finance, pharmaceuticals, high-tech and telecommunications, insurance, construction, energy and sports. Across these sectors, clients rely on our natural understanding of their business needs and our fine grasp of the technical and scientific disciplines at the core of their operations.

With a dedicated group of more than 50 dispute resolution lawyers, we approach each matter with thoroughness and creativity. Our firm’s distinctive features, including cost-effective and target-oriented case handling with teams tailored to the specific size and requirements of each individual dispute, make us a preferred choice as counsel. We also work closely with all other Lenz & Staehelin practice groups to develop dispute prevention and compliance strategies as well as other techniques to assist our clients in reducing litigation risk.

Determined to win our clients’ cases, we equally strive – whenever appropriate – to explore favorable amicable solutions to the issues at stake, with as little disruption to business as possible.

Traditionally, our litigation practice has been a principal player for commercial and corporate disputes in Switzerland. As one of the leading M&A, takeover and shareholders’ litigation firms in the country, we have a strong record of success in all of these areas, as well as in many others. The firm is also frequently retained to act in banking and finance litigation and we represent major corporations and individuals in regulatory enforcement matters and white-collar criminal investigations. We also have significant experience in advising private clients on disputes relating to their wealth management and inheritance matters.

As one of the largest of the few firms with sizeable offices in Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne, we are in an effective position to defend our clients’ interests before courts and authorities both in the German- and French-speaking Cantons of Switzerland. Moreover, we have a long and successful track record in litigation before the Swiss federal courts and administrative authorities, including appeals before the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. Our clients have the benefit of our in-house expertise in all areas of business law.

Historically, Switzerland has been a preferred center of international arbitration and Lenz & Staehelin has its solid part in that history. Over time, legal disputes and proceedings have become increasingly complex and require the highest level of expertise and sensitive handling. Our experience enables us to provide our clients with the support they need.

Lenz & Staehelin’s attorneys have been involved in several hundred international arbitrations, either as counsel for a party or sitting as arbitrators. Our arbitral practice is mainly focused on institutional arbitration and, in particular, arbitrations conducted under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, the Swiss Chambers’ Arbitration Institution, the London Court of International Arbitration and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The firm is also regularly involved in UNCITRAL and ad hoc arbitrations.

In every case, we establish a tailor-made team prepared to provide the highest quality of work, with the utmost commitment and focus at every level. Our multilingual team is able to communicate with clients and conduct cases in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. All our lawyers have qualifications from or practical experience in common law jurisdictions; moreover, our team includes attorneys qualified to practice in a number of foreign jurisdictions including the U.S. and Latin America.