Ms Clara Poglia > Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd > Geneva, Switzerland > Lawyer Profile

Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd
5bis, rue des Alpes
P.O. Box 2088
1211 Geneva 1
Switzerland

Work Department

Dispute Resolution / Internal Corporate Investigations / White-Collar Crime and Compliance

Position

Clara Poglia is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer’s Geneva office, where she co-heads the Dispute Resolution Group. Her practice areas include white collar crime, international mutual assistance proceedings, internal investigations, asset tracing and recovery, and compliance. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Criminology.

Experience:

  • Representation of a company in a major Swiss investigation involving potential wrongdoing (allegations of corruption);
  • Representation of a corporation in criminal proceedings targeting a large Ponzi scheme and in related bankruptcy proceedings and assets recovery;
  • Representation of multiple individuals and corporations in large scale requests for mutual legal assistance in tax matters addressed to Switzerland by France, Spain and Netherland notably;
  • Representation of Brazilian individuals and companies in Swiss criminal proceedings related to the lava jato Brazilian scandal;
  • Representation and assistance to a former high ranking executive in proceedings conducted by a sports authority and authorities in Switzerland;
  • Representation of European corporations targeted by a request of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters addressed by the U.S. Department of Justice to Switzerland and representation of the same entities in the related Swiss domestic criminal proceedings

Career

2019 – Partner at Schellenberg Wittmer
2016 – Senior Associate at Schellenberg Wittmer
2014 – Associate at Schellenberg Wittmer
2011 – Law Clerk at the Swiss Federal Criminal Tribunal
2010 – Associate in a law firm in Geneva
2007 – Trainee Lawyer in a law firm in Geneva

Languages

  • French
  • Italian
  • English
  • German

Memberships

Education

2010 – Bar Admission in Switzerland
2006 – Post-graduate diploma in criminology, University of Lausanne
2004 – lic. iur., University of Geneva

Lawyer Rankings

Switzerland > Regulatory, compliance and investigations

Demonstrating ‘broad expertise, deep content knowledge, and exceptional flexibility’, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd stands out for its extensive presence on white-collar crime mandates. Heading the team, Benjamin Borsodi is a key contact among major corporates, leading executives, and public entities and officials on complex cross-border business and financial crime mandates. Counting major multinational banks and corporates among his clients, team co-head Peter Burckhardt brings a wealth of experience in cross-border financial crime investigations and proceedings, regulatory compliance and enforcement, and asset recovery. Dispute resolution group co-head Clara Poglia regularly represents leading executives and UHNWIs in high-value and significant financial crime proceedings. Bolstering the team’s strength, white-collar crime investigations and proceedings specialists Matthias Gstoehl and Simone Nadelhofer joined in September 2024 from LALIVE.

Switzerland > Dispute resolution: litigation

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.