Benoît Merkt
Managing Partner
Dr. iur., Attorney at Law, LL.M.
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Managing Partner Dr. iur., Attorney at Law, LL.M. +41 58 450 70 00 benoit.merkt@lenzstaehelin.com |
Geneva Route de Chêne 30 CH-1211 Geneva www.lenzstaehelin.com |
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Expertise
Dr. Benoît Merkt is our managing partner and a leading expert in competition law. Based at the firm’s Geneva office, he specialises in all areas of competition law, notably in banking and finance, energy, high-tech, infrastructures (electricity), consumer goods, chemicals, luxury goods, motor-car distribution, public broadcasting and retail.
Renowned for his first-rate practice, Benoît has been responsible for a large number of merger notifications to the Swiss Competition Commission and coordinated multi-jurisdictional merger filings. Benoît has been representing clients for over 20 years in high profile competition law investigations of the Swiss Competition Commission in the field of horizontal (cartel) and vertical (distribution) agreements. He also regularly advises and represents clients in abuse of dominance cases and in merger control procedures. Benoît has successfully represented clients in several appeal procedures before the Swiss Administrative Tribunal and the Swiss Supreme Court. His first rate practice encompasses also public procurement matters and procedures.
Also head of the firm's Foundations and Philanthropy practice group, Benoît is a recognised expert in the legal structuring of charitable foundations in Switzerland and has been one of the country's leading advisers in this area for the last 20 years. In this time, he is proud to have incorporated some of the most significant foundations for global philanthropists.
Alongside his work at Lenz & Staehelin, Benoît serves on the board and act as chairman of several major Swiss charitable foundations. He is the author of a recent reference book on Swiss foundation law, published by Stämpfli in 2021.
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Practices
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Professional Experience and Education
and Education
2006 Partner at Lenz & Staehelin 1999 Joined Lenz & Staehelin 1998 Secretariat of the Swiss Competition Commission 2001 University of Neuchâtel (Dr. iur., University Award, Professor Walther Hug Award) 1997 University of Bern, European and International Trade Law Institute 1996 University of Oxford (Master in European and Comparative Law) (Berrow Foundation Scholar) 1994 Admission to Bar 1992 University of Neuchâtel (lic. iur.) -
Specialist Areas
Competition, Tax-Exempt/Non-Profit Organizations, Regulated Markets, Public Procurement and Administrative Law, Internal Investigations, Litigation -
Languages
French, English, German -
Memberships
Swiss Association of Competition Law (ASAS), International League of Competition Law (LIDC), Swiss Bar Association, Competition Committee (SAV/FSA), International Bar Association (IBA), Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), Former President of the Competition Commission of the UIA (from 2006 to 2008), Secretary of the Swiss section (from 1997 to 2002), Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht Schweiz. -
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Waser Astrid, Merkt Benoît, The Government Procurement Review 2023 - Switzerland, in: The Law Reviews, 11th edition, June 2023
- Meinhardt Marcel, Merkt Benoît, Waser Astrid, Merger Control 2024 - Switzerland, in: Getting the Deal Through, May 2023
- Meinhardt Marcel, Waser Astrid, Merkt Benoît, Weber Ueli, The Dominance and Monopolies Review 2022 - Switzerland, in: The Law Reviews, 10th edition, June 2022, 387-405
- Meinhardt Marcel, Waser Astrid, Merkt Benoît, Süslü Sinem, Cartels 2022 - Switzerland, in: The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides, April 2022
- Merkt Benoît, Meinhardt Marcel, Competition Inspections in 21 Jurisdictions - A Practitioner's Guide - Switzerland, in: Jalabert-Doury (ed.), Concurrences, Antitrust Publications & Events, 267-282
- Meinhardt Marcel, Merkt Benoît, Waser Astrid, Cartels 2021 - Switzerland: Trends & Developments, in: Chambers Global Practice Guides, July 2021, 2-8
- Merkt Benoît, Droit des fondations d'utilité publique, Précis de droit Stämpfli PdS, 1st edition, Bern 2021
- Merkt Benoît, Charitable organisations in Switzerland: overview, in: Charity Global Guide Practical Law, March 2020
- Antreasyan Sevan, Merkt Benoît, Simon Jürg, The Intellectual Property and Antitrust Review 2019 - Switzerland, in: The Law Reviews, 4th edition, September 2019, 186-194
- Merkt Benoît, Peter H., Utilité publique et activité économique - Possibilités et limites de l'exonération fiscale, in: Expert Focus, edition 2019/3, 2019, 209-214
- Meinhardt Marcel, Merkt Benoît, Waser Astrid, The Cartels and Leniency Review 2019 - Switzerland, in: The Law Reviews, 7th edition, February 2019, 281-289
- Waser Astrid, Merkt Benoît, Public Procurement 2019 - Switzerland, in: The International Comparative Legal Guide, January 2019, 229-235
- Bovet Ch., Ducrey P., Merkt Benoît, Droit de la concurrence - Competition Law, Editions Weblaw, 2017
- Merkt Benoît, Chappuis B., Profession d'avocat et loi sur le marché intérieur, in: Revue de l'avocat, 6/7/2017, 292-297
- Meinhardt Marcel, Merkt Benoît, Waser Astrid, Cartel Regulation 2017 - Switzerland, in: Getting the Deal Through, November 2016, 265-272
- Merkt Benoît, Charity Law in Switzerland : overview, in: Global Practical Law, London, 2016
- Merkt Benoît, Responsabilité au sein des groupes de sociétés et destinataires des décisions en droit de la concurrence, in: Hochreutener/Stoffel/Amstutz (eds.), Droit de la concurrence: Les destinataires de décisions dans les groupes de sociétés, 6ème Journée fribourgeoise de droit de la concurrence, Bern 2015, 67-94
- Merkt Benoît, Abus de position dominante: développements récents de la pratique, in: Hochreutener/Stoffel/Amstutz (eds.), Pratique du droit de la concurrence: Abus de position dominante, procédure, révision, 4ème colloque fribourgeois du droit des cartels, Zurich 2013, 57-76
- Merkt Benoît, Commentaire des art. 58-59 LCart (Entraide internationale en droit de la concurrence), in: Martenet/Bovet/Tercier, 2nd edition, Basel, 2013
- Merkt Benoît, Raedler D., Commentaire des art. 42a LCart (Enquêtes lors de procédures engagées au titre de l’accord sur le transport aérien entre la Suisse et la CE), in: Martenet/Bovet/Tercier, 2nd edition, Basel, 2013
- Merkt Benoît, Commentaire des art. 40 LCart (Obligation de renseigner) et 43 LCart (Participation de tiers à l’enquête), in: Martenet/Bovet/Tercier, 2nd edition, Basel, 2013
- Merkt Benoît, Bovet C., Commentaire des art. 32-38 LCart (Examen des concentrations d’entreprises), in: Martenet/Bovet/Tercier, 2nd edition, Basel, 2013
- Merkt Benoît, Brunschwig S., Switzerland, in: European Lawyer Reference Series: Charity Law, London, 2012
- Merkt Benoît, Charitable Foundations - Charity begins at home, in: Private Client Practitioner - Switzerland, May 2009, 16-18
- Merkt Benoît, Swiss Anti-Cartel Enforcement, in: Dabbah/Hawk (eds.), Anti-Cartel Enforcement Worldwide, Cambridge University Press, Volume III, 1132-1163
- Merkt Benoît, Swiss Merger Control, Second supplement to first Edition, in: Merger Control Worldwide, General Editors: Maher Dabbah and Paul Lasok, Cambridge University Press, 2008, 137-140
- Merkt Benoît, Distribution sélective et ventes sur Internet, in: AJP/PJA, 3/2007, 317-328
- Merkt Benoît, Ordre public et droit de la concurrence: "utopie" ou réalité?, in: Concurrences, n° 3 2006
- Merkt Benoît, Swiss Merger Control, in: Merger Control Worldwide, General Editors: Maher Dabbah and Paul Lasok, Cambridge University Press, 2005, 1181-1211
- Merkt Benoît, Harmonisation internationale et entraide administrative internationale en droit de la concurrence: droit du GATT/OMC, droit européen, accords bilatéraux et perspectives pour le droit suisse, Ph.D. Thesis, Studies in Global Economic Law, Vol. 3, Lang, Berne/Frankfurt/Oxford/New York, 2001 (Prof. Walther Hug Price, 2001)
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Contact Details
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Assistant
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Other Activities
- Member of the Legal Council of SwissFoundations.
- Member of the Board of directors of several public utility foundations of international scope.
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References
Mr Merkt has impressive technical expertise combined with practical application and understanding of the commercial context
Who's Who Legal, 2022He consistently delivers clear and practical advice
Who's Who Legal, 2022He is friendly, efficient and hugely reliable in very complex matters
Chambers, 2022He is fully responsive, meets deadlines, is diplomatic and has a practical approach
Chambers, 2021Benoît Merkt has a big network and takes a global approach to issues, not only legal.
Legal 500, 2021The “well-respected” Benoît Merkt is considered “the most famous competition lawyer in Geneva.
Who’s Who Legal, 2021One of the big names and leading figures in the French-speaking market.
Who's Who Legal, 2021Very well connected, knowledgeable and dedicated
Chambers, 2020Top-notch! Excellent combination of thoughtful analysis and practical approach
IFLR1000, 2020A highly recognized professional, very well known for cartels, abuses of dominant position and complex merger cases
Legal 500, 2020An accomplished name whose practice encompasses all areas of competition law.
Who's Who Legal, 2020