Dr Wolfgang Peter > Peter & Kim > Geneva, Switzerland > Lawyer Profile

Dr Wolfgang Peter

+41 58 317 70 70 wpeter@peterandkim.com

Position

Wolfgang Peter is recognized by clients and his peers as one of the most in-demand counsels and arbitrators in the world, having been engaged in over 270 arbitrations as counsel and arbitrator.

Dr. Peter is particularly active in cases involving complex issues of valuations, including post-M&A disputes, joint ventures and projects stemming from the heavy industry. He has decades of expertise in cases involving gas & oil contracts, including upstream and downstream projects, as well as price reviews under long-term gas supply agreements.

Dr. Peter regularly advises third-party funding companies in evaluating the merits of the Claimant(s)’ cases, especially with regard to the damages.

An active speaker and contributor to the arbitration community at large, he is a member of the LCIA Board of Directors and of the ASA Board.

Prior to starting his independent arbitration practice, he headed the arbitration group of Python & Peter, one of the largest Swiss firms, which he also co-founded. Before engaging in arbitration practice full time, Dr. Peter led a successful M&A and corporate practice for 14 years, completing over 40 transactions and IPOs, including such well-known brands and companies as Gucci, Chaumet, Breguet, Tag Heuer, Ebel and Leica.

While practicing M&A, he managed two luxury watch-making companies, for 12 years.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Arbitration / Litigation
• Corporate Law
• Distribution / Agency
• Joint Ventures / Consortia
• Investments & BITs
• Mergers & Acquisitions

INDUSTRY SECTORS

• Automotive & Heavy Industry
• Construction & Engineering
• Electricity Supply
• Fashion & Luxury Goods
• Oil & Gas
• Pharmaceutical & Biotech

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

• Lead counsel in an ad hoc arbitration between a state-owned enterprise and a sovereign state, involving aspects of public international law, with an amount in dispute of USD several billion.
• Lead counsel in a case involving two state-owned entities in a highly complex ad hoc arbitration involving aspects of public international law stemming from oil production and delivery agreements, securing an award of more than a billion USD for our clients.
• Co-counsel in two PCA arbitrations involving a state-owned entity and private companies in a dispute concerning gas deliveries, with more than 15 billion USD in dispute.
• Counsel to a major energy conglomerate in its price adjustment disputes against another European major relating to long-term gas supply agreements subject to ICC Rules.
• Co-counsel in in an arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules arising out of a dispute between a Canadian company and two mainland Chinese companies in relation to an unconventional gas project in China.
• Lead counsel in an ICC arbitration for a major mining and metallurgy consortium with more than USD 500 million in dispute, under Swiss law.
• Chairman of an Arbitral Tribunal in an ICC arbitration arising out of nuclear power plant construction (more than USD 1.5 billion in dispute).
• Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal in the Vivendi v Elektrim arbitration, an important decision on the interrelation between arbitral proceedings and bankruptcy, confirmed by two instances of the English courts.
• Co-counsel in an ICC arbitration concerning the break-up of Arthur Andersen, resulting in a seminal decision of the Swiss Supreme Court on the joinder of the arbitration agreements.

RANKING

• Who’s Who Legal (WWL): Thought Leaders 2019-2020; Arbitration Switzerland 2010-2020, National Leader
• Who’s Who Legal (WWL): Energy, Construction 2019-2020 Global Leader
• Chambers Global and Europe: Most in Demand Arbitrators and Counsel (2016-2020)

QUOTES

Wolfgang Peter is one of Europe’s key names when it comes to arbitration matters. His expertise lies in acting as counsel and arbitrator in post-M&A, joint venture and contractual disputes. WWL THOUGHT LEADERS, 2020

Wolfgang Peter comes recommended for his strength in arbitration related to the oil and gas sector and in post-M&A disputes. Based in Geneva, he is often selected to serve as arbitrator on both commercial and investment treaty cases. Sources praise his good understanding of the commercial and economic stakes in cases, with one praising his“ commercial mind – he can see what things mean economically, so I wouldn’t hesitate to appoint him for disputes with complex commercial damages issues.” Chambers Europe, 2020

Wolfgang Peter is one of the most experienced and smart lawyers in the area of international arbitration. He has over 30 years of experience and is capable of handling the most complex matters with an exceptional level of proficiency. Legal500, 2020

Career

• Founding Partner of Peter & Kim, Geneva (2020-present)
• Founding Partner of Peter & Partners, Geneva (2016-2019)
• Founding Partner of Python & Peter, Geneva (1981-2015)
• CEO of Breguet and Managing Director of Jaquet Droz (1987-2001)
• Adviser to the Federal Minister of Justice and Police (1980-1982)
• Secretary of the Federal Expert Commission on Swiss Company Law (1979-1980)

Languages

German, English, French

Memberships

• Member of the Board of Directors of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA)
• International Bar Association
• Geneva Arbitration Association
• Geneva Association of Business Law

Education

• University of Frankfurt (Doctorate in Law, 1986)
• Harvard Law School (Visiting Scholar, 1982-1983)
• University of Lausanne (Bachelor of Law, 1977)
• University of Lausanne (Doctorate in Economics, 1975)
• Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva (Degree in Political Science, 1974)
• University of Lausanne, Business School (M.B.A., 1972)