Harold Frey Associé, Responsable du groupe Judiciaire et Arbitrage
Avocat, LL.M.

Harold Frey

Associé, Responsable du groupe Judiciaire et Arbitrage
Avocat, LL.M.
+41 58 450 80 00
harold.frey@lenzstaehelin.com
Zurich
Brandschenkestrasse 24
CH-8027 Zurich
www.lenzstaehelin.com
  • Expertise

    Harold Frey dirige notre groupe Contentieux et Arbitrage à Zurich. Au cours des dernières décennies, il a représenté des clients dans plusieurs centaines d’arbitrages internationaux et de procédures judiciaires.

    La pratique de Harold se concentre en particulier sur les litiges en droit des sociétés et en matière de fusions et acquisitions, ainsi que sur les différends liés aux secteurs de l’énergie et de la construction. Il intervient également dans des affaires impliquant des États et des entreprises publiques (plusieurs affaires sont en cours).

    Harold co-dirige par ailleurs notre équipe de gestion de crise. Il conseille régulièrement des conseils d’administration et des directions dans des situations de crise.

    Harold est classé comme Leading Individual (Chambers Band 1) en tant en arbitrage qu’en contentieux. Legal 500 l’inclut dans le Hall of Fame pour son excellence constante en matière de résolution des litiges au cours des dix dernières années. Il a été nommé “Litigator of the Year” en 2025 par Benchmark Litigation Europe. WWL 2023 le classe parmi les Global Elite Thought Leaders (l’un des quatre) en contentieux commercial en Suisse.

  • Domaines d’activité

  • Domaines de spécialisation

    Arbitrage international, Contentieux, Investigations, Entraide judiciaire internationale, Droit du sport
  • Expérience Professionnelle et Education

    et Education

    2009Associé, Lenz & Staehelin
    2005Département d'arbitrage de Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr, Londres
    2001Tribunal d'instance de Dielsdorf, Zurich
    2001Admission au barreau de New York
    2001New York University School of Law (LL.M)
    1997Admission au barreau de Suisse
    1996Université de Zurich (lic. iur.)
  • Langues

    Allemand, Anglais
  • Affiliations

    Membre du conseil d'administration de l'association Suisse d'arbitrage (ASA), Membre du Swiss Arbitration Centre, Cour d'arbitrage international de Londres (LCIA), Institut Allemand de l'arbitrage (DIS), Ordre du barreau de Zürich (ZAV), Ordre du barreau New York
  • Sélection de Publications

    • Müller D., M&A Litigation 2022 - Switzerland, in: Getting the Deal Through, April 2022, 48-54
    • Christen S., Chapter 27: Das erstinstanzliche Verfahren: Besonderheiten bei spezifischen Streitigkeiten, section II: Aktienrechtliche Anfechtungsklage, in: Haas/Marghitola (eds.), Fachhandbuch, Zivilprozessrecht, Expertenwissen für die Praxis
    • Rötheli A., Riz à Porta G., The Mergers and Acquisitions Litigation Review - Switzerland, in: The Law Reviews, 1st edition, December 2020, 120-128
    • Wehland H., Arbitration 2020 - ICSID, in: Getting The Deal Through, October 2020, 20-22
    • Securities Litigation 2020 - Switzerland, in: Getting the Deal Through, May 2020, 75-81
    • Wehland H., Arbitration 2019 - ICSID, in: Getting The Deal Through, February 2019, 22-24
    • Müller D., Arbitrating M&A Disputes, in: Manuel Arroyo (ed.), Arbitration in Switzerland, 2nd edition, The Netherlands 2018, Vol. I, 1113-1190
    • Wehland H., Arbitration 2018 - ICSID, in: Getting the Deal Through, March 2018, 22-24
    • Arbitration 2018 - Switzerland, in: Getting the Deal Through, February 2018, 317-323
    • Lenggenhager F., M&A Disputes in Switzerland, in: Legally India, February 2018, 108-112
    • Aebi M., Arbitration procedures and practice in Switzerland, in: Practical Law Multi-Jurisdictional Guide, Arbitration 2016/17
    • Christen S., Statutarische Schiedsklauseln, Besprechung des Urteils 4A_492/2015 des schweizerischen Bundesgerichts vom 26. Februar 2016, in: GesKR 2/2016, 238-241
    • Lenggenhager F., Anti-Corruption Survey 2014 - Switzerland, in: International Financial Law Review, 2014, 23-24
    • Tschäni R., Müller D., Streitigkeiten aus M&A-Transaktionen, Zurich 2013
    • Aebi M., Commentary to Art. 12-14 of the Swiss Rules of International Arbitration, in: Zuberbühler/Müller/Habegger (eds.), Swiss Rules of International Arbitration: Commentary, 2nd edition, Zurich 2013
    • Tschäni R., Streiterledigung in M&A-Transaktionen (Dispute Resolutions in M&A-transactions), in: Tschäni, R. (ed.), Mergers & Acquisitions XIII, Zurich 2010, 33-92
    • Müller D., Preisanpassungsstreitigkeiten bei Unternehmenskäufen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Schiedsgutachterverfahrens, in: Oertle/Wolf/Breitenstein/Diem (eds.), M&A - Recht und Wirtschaft in der Praxis, Liber Amicorum for Rudolf Tschäni, Zurich 2010, 191-228
    • Aebi M., Impact of Bankruptcy on International Arbitration Proceedings - A Special Case Does not Make a General Rule, in: ASA Bull. 1/2010, 113 (Case Note)
    • Patocchi ., The Provisional Timetable in International Arbitration, in: Aksen/Böckstiegel/Mustill/Whitesell/Patocchi (eds.), Global Reflections on International Law, Commerce and Dispute Resolution - Liber Amicorum in honour of Robert Briner, Paris 2005, 575-599
    • Commentary to Art. 13 and 14 of the Swiss Rules of International Arbitration, in: Zuberbühler/Müller/Habegger (eds.), Swiss Rules of International Arbitration: Commentary, Zurich 2005
  • Activités complémentaires

    • Maître de conférence, arbitrage et la défense des litiges liés aux fusions et acquisitions à l'Université de Zurich

  • Coordonnées

  • Assistante

  • Activités complémentaires

    • Maître de conférence, arbitrage et la défense des litiges liés aux fusions et acquisitions à l'Université de Zurich

  • Références

    Harold Frey is a great advocate and a strategic genius. He is very nice with clients and provides really strong advocacy.

    Chambers & Partners, 2026

    Harold Frey does an amazing job. I consider him to be one of the top arbitration practitioners in Europe.

    Chambers & Partners, 2026

    Harold Frey is truly on the highest level; a true strategist, quick to think on his feet, excellent oral skills and a true leader.

    The Legal 500, 2026

    Harold Frey is a shrewd lead counsel, with unparalleled strategic and advocacy skills.

    The Legal 500, 2026

    Harold Frey is a superb lawyer and one of the best in Switzerland. He is a great team leader and a very clever strategist. The way he could anticipate a point was impressive.

    Chambers & Partners, 2025

    Harold Frey is my first choice of litigator.

    Chambers & Partners, 2025

    Harold Frey is a visionary.

    Chambers & Partners, 2025

    He is brilliant, creative, strategic, and experienced. A true stand-out – not afraid to proceed outside the box when circumstances warrant.

    The Legal 500, 2022

Harold Frey is a great advocate and a strategic genius. He is very nice with clients and provides really strong advocacy.

Chambers & Partners, 2026

Harold Frey does an amazing job. I consider him to be one of the top arbitration practitioners in Europe.

Chambers & Partners, 2026

Harold Frey is truly on the highest level; a true strategist, quick to think on his feet, excellent oral skills and a true leader.

The Legal 500, 2026

Harold Frey is a shrewd lead counsel, with unparalleled strategic and advocacy skills.

The Legal 500, 2026

Harold Frey is a superb lawyer and one of the best in Switzerland. He is a great team leader and a very clever strategist. The way he could anticipate a point was impressive.

Chambers & Partners, 2025

Harold Frey is my first choice of litigator.

Chambers & Partners, 2025

Harold Frey is a visionary.

Chambers & Partners, 2025

He is brilliant, creative, strategic, and experienced. A true stand-out – not afraid to proceed outside the box when circumstances warrant.

The Legal 500, 2022

1/8

Analyses

Analyses 23.04.2026

Swiss Federal Supreme Court holds Swiss Russia sanctions are overriding mandatory law and can bar enforcement of arbitral awards

Swiss Federal Supreme Court holds Swiss Russia sanctions are overriding…

<p>In decision 4A_305/2025 of 13 March 2026, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court held that Swiss sanctions against Russia are overriding mandatory law and apply irrespective of the otherwise applicable law. The Court reasoned that the Swiss Ukraine Ordinance serves Switzerland’s core foreign-policy objectives and therefore applies as overriding mandatory law. In this case, the Court held that the sanctions barred enforcement of the award in Switzerland and treated the claim as unenforceable while the sanctions remain in force.</p>

Analyses 01.07.2025

New bespoke rules for private clients arbitration: the 2025 Supplemental Swiss Rules for Trust, Estate and Foundation Disputes

New bespoke rules for private clients arbitration: the 2025 Supplemental…

As of 1 July 2025, the Swiss Arbitration Centre offers a new framework for increased efficiency in private client arbitration proceedings, with the entry into force of the Supplemental Swiss Rules for Trust, Estate and Foundation Disputes ("TEF Rules"). The TEF Rules are a tailor-made supplement to the existing Swiss Rules of International Arbitration ("Swiss Rules"), which aim to cater to the specific requirements of inheritance disputes, as well as internal disputes arising in connection with trusts and foundations.

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