The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie successfully represented Estée Lauder before the Swiss Federal Administrative Court to challenge a CHF25m fine in a landmark case relating to information exchange, and is now representing the client in the subsequent appeal before the Swiss Competition Commission (SCC). The firm is also representing Panalpina before the SCC in its investigation of alleged participation in the freight forwarding cartel. Philippe Reich led advice in both cases and is highly recommended.

Bär & Karrer AG has an impressive track record for competition work and recently acted for Apax Partners in its filing to notify the SCC of its acquisition of telecoms operator Orange. The firm also assisted Fluxys with its filing following its purchase of a stake in Swissgas and Eni GTI. Mani Reinert is ‘a leading name in the market’.

Homburger’s ‘service-oriented team knows the antitrust authorities inside out’, and its lawyers give ‘valuable strategic and business-driven advice’. Franz Hoffet gives ‘sound legal counsel together with tactical guidance’, and ‘innovative and seasoned tactician’ Marcel Dietrich is ‘one of the top competition lawyers in Switzerland’. The firm represented IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) Switzerland in an SCC investigation relating to allegations about various infringements, including restraints of parallel imports.

Lenz & Staehelin provides ‘fast and efficient state-of-the-art advice’ that is ‘always practical, focused and spot on’. The firm advised SAP in Price Supervisory Authority proceedings regarding abusive pricing. Other clients include Bank Julius Baer and Swiss Post. Zurich team head Marcel Meinhardt is ‘one of the best specialists in competition law in Switzerland’, due to his ‘great analytical skills, pragmatism and excellent contacts’, and Benoît Merkt in Geneva is also recommended.

Schellenberg Wittmer’s Jürg Borer and David Mamane are leading the firm’s advice to SIX Multipay in an SCC investigation into an alleged abuse of a dominant position. The firm also successfully represented Orange in a formal investigation by the SCC into the Swiss mobile telecoms market.

Sidley Austin LLP excels in cross-border litigation and has established a leading name in the market for major WTO cases. Nicolas Lockhart and Todd Friedbacher recently worked alongside colleagues in Washington DC to represent the Japanese government in the implementation phases of several WTO disputes relating to the US government’s continued use of the ‘zeroing’ policy in anti-dumping proceedings.

Patrick Sommer’s three-partner team at CMS is ‘responsive, effective and efficient’, and ‘actively uses its international network’. It advised Bayer in the SCC’s investigation into the pharmaceuticals market. Alain Raemy is ‘analytical and business-minded’.

Froriep Renggli’s lawyers have ‘practical knowledge and excellent negotiation skills’, and Boris Wenger is singled out as ‘an effective lawyer that provides timely and accurate advice’. The firm is representing Nikon in its appeal against a CHF12.5m fine imposed by the SCC.

Stephen Orava heads King & Spalding LLP’s practice, which has an excellent track record in WTO work and handles a wide range of trade negotiations and big-ticket disputes for clients such as Bridgestone and the Dow Chemical Company. Daniel Crosby is also recommended.

Niederer Kraft & Frey AG is representing several clients in competition investigations and also advised France Telecom on the competition aspects of its sale of Orange Communications to Matterhorn Mobile. Nicolas Birkhäuser has ‘vast knowledge in antitrust and competition law’, and Thomas Frick and András Gurovits are also ‘strong lawyers’.

Christoph Lang heads Pestalozzi’s team, which handles a mix of competition litigation and corporate support. It recently acted for Sony Music during the SCC’s investigation into music distribution, and advised Glencore on the Swiss competition aspects of its $6.2bn acquisition of Viterra.

Tavernier Tschanz’s work ranges from M&A-related competition advice to representation before the competition authorities. The firm has particular experience in the pharmaceuticals, aviation, telecoms, and manufacturing areas. Silvio Venturi is the main contact.

Klaus Neff’s team at Vischer is particularly strong in TMT and financial services matters. In 2012, it represented Universal Music Group in proceedings before the SCC relating to import restrictions. Other clients include Media Control and Cinetrade.

Walder Wyss Ltd is recommended for its ‘good industry knowledge, strong advice and reasonable rates’. Reto Jacobs heads this two-partner team, which recently advised Swiss retailer Migros on merger clearance issues pertaining to its acquisition of Digitec, and also represented two large construction companies in an SCC investigation into price fixing. Hans Rudolf Trüeb is the other key contact.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP specialises in competition-related WTO matters, and leverages the firm’s strong dispute resolution practice.

BCCC Attorneys-at-law LLC is representing a Swiss private bank in unfair competition litigation brought by a competitor and two of its former asset managers. Manuel Bianchi della Porta is recommended.

Bratschi Wiederkehr & Buob represents domestic and foreign clients in the full spread of merger clearance proceedings, investigations and in civil cartel cases. Rolf Dähler is the key figure.

Kellerhals Attorneys at Law has strong experience in civil antitrust litigation, corporate support, and advice on administrative issues before the SCC.

Meyerlustenberger Lachenal’s ‘quick, knowledgeable and cost-conscious’ practice is representing Ethical Coffee Company in an international IP dispute with Nespresso, which involves antitrust aspects.

Prager Dreifuss AG has a good track record in advising on SCC antitrust and merger control issues. Philipp Zurkinden is ‘a genuine specialist’.

Python & Peter regularly represents clients before the SCC in infringement litigation, and also has strong experience in competition-related arbitration.

Staiger, Schwald & Partner has a niche in advising clients from the energy, construction and paper products sectors in proceedings before the SCC. The firm also acts in related civil litigation and provides corporate support.

Two-fifths of Umbricht Rechtsanwälte’s total workload involves EU issues. Administrative and European law expert Tobias Jaag is recommended.

Wenger Plattner successfully represented a client in an investigation conducted against companies in the perfume industry. Roland Mathys heads the practice.

Wenger & Vieli represented a cosmetics company during an antitrust investigation into alleged price fixing. Urs Weber-Stecher and Frank Scherrer are the main contacts.

Brendan McGivern heads White & Case LLP’s WTO and international trade practice in Geneva. His team acted alongside colleagues in Brussels and Washington DC in the successful representation of Saudi Aramco and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in an EU anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation.