Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd

Dispute Resolution / Internal Corporate Investigations / IT Security and Cybercrime / White-Collar Crime and Compliance / Sanctions / ESG / Workplace allegations / Blockchain-Technologies & Fintech / Financial Services / Manufacturing / Sports / Telecommunication

Simone Nadelhofer is a Partner at Schellenberg Wittmer in Zurich and a leading expert in internal investigations, compliance, governance, regulatory and crisis management, as well as economic and corporate criminal law. She has more than 26 years of experience advising globally active financial institutions and international companies on complex, highly regulated and cross-border matters. A particular focus of her practice lies in the design and execution of internal investigations, the support of enforcement, supervisory and criminal proceedings, and the development and implementation of robust governance, compliance and risk management frameworks. Simone Nadelhofer advises boards of directors, executive management, as well as audit and risk committees on regulatory risks, corporate governance, conduct and culture, and the management of acute crisis situations. She has extensive experience in dealing with Swiss and international supervisory and law enforcement authorities and regularly assists clients in sensitive regulatory examinations, enforcement and remediation proceedings. Her advice is characterised by strategic foresight, legal precision and a deep understanding of regulatory expectations. Clients value Simone Nadelhofer as a clear, independent and assertive adviser, particularly in time-critical and reputation-sensitive situations. Integrity, accountability and sustainable corporate governance form the foundation of her work.

Experience:

Regulatory & Enforcement Matters (FINMA and Cross-Border)

• Adviser to boards, audit committees and senior management of Swiss and international financial institutions, including insurers, in complex FINMA and cross-border regulatory and enforcement matters. Regularly developing defence, remediation and regulator-engagement strategies in situations with significant financial, reputational and governance risk. Focus areas include product governance, client suitability, disclosure, sanctions, AML, and internal control failures.

Group-Wide Compliance, Sanctions & ESG Investigations

• Led large-scale cross-border investigations for listed and private multinationals across Europe, North America, Russia, Africa and Asia. Focus on sanctions exposure, corruption risk, third-party governance, supply chain vulnerabilities and ESG compliance failures. Advises boards and executives on investigation findings, remediation, high-risk exits and compliance framework enhancements.

Crisis Management & Executive Misconduct

• Counsel to companies in high-stakes crises involving executive misconduct, governance breaches and cultural failings. Conducted and supervised investigations at C-suite and board level, supporting boards in taking decisive actions while preserving stability and reputation.

Cross-Border Investigations, Data Protection & Art. 271 SCC

• Strategic adviser in cross-border investigations involving data seizures, mutual legal assistance and conflicting regulatory regimes. Extensive experience with Swiss blocking statutes, data protection and international data transfers, balancing cooperation and legal risk.

Regulatory Remediation, Monitorships & Governance Reform

• Swiss counsel to a US-appointed monitor of a major financial institution, advising on Swiss law aspects of monitorships, data protection, employment law and regulatory authorisations. Experience in remediation programmes, governance reforms and sustainable improvements to compliance frameworks in regulated environments.

2024- Partner at Schellenberg Wittmer

2014- Partner at a major disputes law firm in Zurich

2009- Counsel at a dispute law firm in Zurich

2003- Associate at a leading Swiss law firm

2002- Foreign Attorney at an international law firm, Delhi, India

2001- Legal Counsel with a major Swiss bank

1999- Trainee Lawyer at a leading Swiss law firm

German, French, English, Italian

Vice Chair of the IBA Business Crime Committee Anti-Corruption Committee Liaison Officer of the IBA’s Business Crime Committee Member of the advisory board of the Master Economic Crime Investigations studies at the Lucerne University Elected to the pool of presidents of the arbitration court of the Swiss Bar Association Member of Advisory Board for the project of the Swiss National Scientific Fund “Assessing the nature and impact of transnational corruption through the lens of Swiss Businesses” Member of the ACi ISO Subcommittee for the new ISO standard on internal investigations Past chair of the Interpacific Bar Association’s Anti-Corruption Committee Co-editor of a leading Swiss commentary on internal investigations (Handbücher für die Anwaltspraxis, Interne Untersuchungen, Helbing & Lichtenhahn)

2008- PhD, University of Lucerne (summa cum laude), (Awarded Professor Walter Hug prize and the Universitätsverein Lucerne prize)

2007- Master of Advanced Studies in Economic Crime Investigation (summa cum laude)

2001- Bar Admission in Switzerland

1999- Bilingual Bachelor of Law (summa cum laude), University of Fribourg, Switzerland