Dr iur Michael Daphinoff > Kellerhals Carrard > Berne, Switzerland > Lawyer Profile

Combining ‘legal excellence, client focus and ethical conduct’, Kellerhals Carrard maintains a strong presence in the banking and life sciences sectors, and is consistently instructed by a varied client roster to advise on white-collar crime, internal investigations and crisis management and compliance. Its comprehensive ESG desk adds further depth to the team’s diverse capabilities in this arena. Daniel Lengauer, Michael Daphinoff and François Micheli jointly steer the team. Lengauer is regularly entrusted by clients to advise on the implementation of compliance management systems, while Daphinoff specialises in white-collar crime, internal investigations and administrative investigations. Micheli is vastly experienced in managing international cases of criminal economic law. In April 2023, Claudia Götz Staehelin and Oliver Brupbacher departed the firm.

Applauded for putting ‘the needs and goals of their clients first’, Kellerhals Carrard frequently assists clients with litigation arising from healthcare, insurance, sports and real estate sectors, among others. Notably, the team is adept at advising on cross-border litigation and is increasingly involved in ESG disputes. Basel-based Lukas Bopp, Lausanne-based Nicolas Gillard and Bern-based Michael Daphinoff jointly lead the practice, alongside Ivan Paparelli, Peter Schatz and Andrea Fioravanti who steer the group from the firm’s Lugano, Zurich and Geneva offices respectively.