Ms Katherine Bell > Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd > Geneva, Switzerland > Lawyer Profile

Capitalising on its strong presence across both Zurich and Geneva, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd frequently handles complex and multi-faceted matters pertaining to international sales and the purchase of commercial real estate. Steered by Yves Jeanrenaud and Josef Caleff, the team is also particularly noted for its knowledge of hotels, offices and industrial premises, and is a suitable choice for an array of international companies and investors. Geneva-based Jeanrenaud’s arsenal of skills is comprised of real estate financing, structuring and commercial lease work, while Zurich-based Caleff’s core workload encompasses commercial leases, contractor agreements and development projects. Amanda Burnand Sulmoni and Katherine Bell are other names to note; the former’s wide-ranging expertise covers a stable of projects, agreements and disputes, and the latter is well-versed in disputes arising from commercial tenancy and lease agreements.

The ‘versatile’ and ‘very knowledgeable’ Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd‘s core stream of work encompasses commercial, residential and development sites, providing its clients with particular knowledge in regard to the hotel industry. The team is able to excel on both the contentious and non-contentious sides of the sphere. Three key players steer the group: Geneva’s Yves Jeanrenaud, who deploys his trilingual capabilities to advise on contractual and contentious issues, Zurich’s Josef Caleff, and Katherine Bell, who is equipped to handle a host of complex construction, engineering and infrastructure projects. Other key players in the practice include Elliott Geisinger, Philippe Bärtsch and Christopher Boog, who strengthen the firm’s offering with their extensive disputes expertise.

Counting a plethora of international banks and notable companies within its client roster, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd is esteemed for its capabilities in managing post-M&A disputes, the enforcement of foreign judgments, and regulatory enforcement proceedings. Jointly leading the practice is Peter Burckhardt, who is well-positioned to advise on criminal investigations and shareholder disputes, Louis Burrus, whose capabilities include cross-border banking and finance disputes, and Clara Poglia, who is noted for her knowledge regarding white-collar crime, alongside a host of regulatory and compliance issues. Stefan Leimgruber primarily focuses on banking, post-M&A and corporate litigation, while Urs Hoffmann-Nowotny is well-versed in insurance and post-M&A disputes. Another name to note is Katherine Bell, who frequently handles matters pertaining to construction, engineering, and infrastructure issues. Endri Gega and Magdalena Heyder joined the team at the beginning of 2025, the former with previous expertise as a judge and a prosecutor, and the latter boasting significant experience in corporate investigations. Simone Nadelhofer was a new arrival in 2024.