Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (Schweiz) GmbH > Zurich, Switzerland > Firm Profile

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (Schweiz) GmbH
Hegibachstrasse 1
8032 Zurich
Switzerland

Switzerland > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 2

The team of ‘experienced and tough litigators’ housed at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (Schweiz) GmbH deploys its extensive experience in financial services, shareholders disputes, and energy-related issues to advise a multitude of domestic and international-scale clients. Operating at the forefront of the practice is the ‘outstanding’ Thomas Werlen, who enjoys a strong reputation in the financial services field, and the ‘excellent’ Simon Vorburger, an experienced practitioner on the insolvency side. Pierre-Yves Marro and Jonas Hertner are also key players within the team.

Practice head(s):

Thomas Werlen; Simon Vorburger

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The cooperation with the entire team has always been very efficient, straightforward and to our utmost satisfaction.’

‘Thomas Werlen is an outstanding and extremely well-known lawyer.’

‘Thomas Werlen and Simon Vorburger: cool analysis and good client management.’

‘Their work ethic is great. They are hardworking, leave no stone unturned and their deliverables are excellent and on time. They are experienced and tough litigators.’

‘Thomas Werlen is a highly experienced top-notch litigator with the required gravitas and insight. Simon Vorburger is an excellent lawyer with a practical approach to solving complex legal situations. Remo Decurtins is hard working and a perfectionist; he has the stamina required to prepare complex legal submissions with tight deadlines.’

‘Understanding of sophisticated legal issues, inventiveness and curiosity about specific legal features and good grasp of litigation procedure.’

‘Remo Decurtins and Simon Vorburger have admirably and comprehensively represented our interests in judicial proceedings.’

‘Thomas Werlen stands out for his strategic sense and ability to manage complex cases.’

Key clients

Salt

Safra Alberto

Lion Point Capital

Vitaly Malkin

Top Matrix Holdings

Mubadala Investment Company

EFG International

Viasat

Bucherer

Schenker-Winkler Holding

Ferrexpo

Renault

ABB

Accenture

ARYZTA

Asia League

Baloise

Beltracchi

Berenberg Bank

Burkard Urs

Comosa

FC Basel

Garmin

Gerald Metals

Highlight Communications

Highlight Event and Entertainment

Lonza

M.M. Warburg

McCormick

Merion Investment Management

Monaco Increase Management

MSI DK

Nidwaldner Kantonalbank

NMC Healthcare

Quintet Private Bank

Quirin Privatbank

Rantum Capital

Cedarlake

Rashidian Reza

Roivant Sciences

Romanello Financial

SIG Combibloc Group

Sphaira Innovation

STA Travel Holding

Stadler Rail Group

Swarovski

Swatch

TEAM Marketing

Vexavit

Windrose SPS Shipping and Trading

World Boxing Super Series

Work highlights

  • Representing a group of bondholders in the write-down of Credit Suisse AT1 bonds.
  • Representing Salt Mobile SA against Sunrise Communications AG and Liberty Global Plc in the context of a major take-over battle in the Swiss telecoms sector, following Sunrise Communications AG’s withdrawal from a joint venture with Salt Mobile SA aimed at transforming Switzerland’s fiber optic network into a global leader.
  • Represented Alberto Safra in family disputes against his mother and siblings.

Switzerland > Employment Tier 2

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (Schweiz) GmbH is known for its expertise as a dispute resolution firm for employment matters in the country. The employment litigation team often represents clients in cases involving white-collar crime and in the sports industry. It also regularly represents executives in employment disputes against large Swiss companies. Managing partner Thomas Werlen stands out for advising board members and management on high-stake employment matters. Remo Decurtins has a strong track record in employment-related litigation, often representing senior executives in the banking and pharma industries.

Practice head(s):

Thomas Werlen; Remo Decurtins

Testimonials

‘The lawyers of the QE team were highly efficient and committed as well as true experts in their relevant fields, including in the employment law field. The QE team working for us acted as one team across numerous jurisdictions and was highly effective in doing so.’

‘Thomas Werlen’s legal expertise, strategic mind, commitment, professionalism and responsiveness is second to none. In addition, we were very impressed by his sound understanding of our interests both from a business and a strategic point of view.’

‘Thomas Werlen is always on top of the matter, even if it is a complex matter with many workstreams, and tackles and proactively addresses potential issues. He is a great negotiator who is continuously bringing home favourable results for his clients.’

‘Remo Decurtins assisted Thomas Werlen in many ways with the employment-related aspects in this matter. He continued to impress us with his highly efficient and diligent work, and his pragmatic and creative approach to overcome the various legal issues and to find the best possible solution for us.’

Key clients

Credit Suisse executives

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

World Boxing Super Series AG

Vexavit SA

Monaco Increase Management Sàrl

Campos Racing S.L.

Pascal Wehrlein, Professional Race Car Driver

Asia League Limited (East Asia Super League)

Sphaira Innovation

Work highlights

  • Representing executives of Credit Suisse whose AT1 bonds were written down by FINMA on 19 March 2023 in the context of the takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS.
  • Successfully defending the race car driver and current Formula E champion Pascal Wehrlein in court against the alleged agent’s commission claims.
  • Advising a former executive of a Swiss bank in a high-stakes dispute in relation to her dismissal for fabricated reasons.

Switzerland > Sports law Tier 2

Counting a variety of international bodies, actors and state governments among its key roster of clients, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (Schweiz) GmbH fields a varied sports practice that spans the sectors of basketball, boxing, hockey and a range of others. The group is led by the ‘highly skilled’ Thomas Werlen, an experienced practitioner in relation to criminal investigations and a host of strategic sport-based mandates, and ‘great talent’ Remo Decurtins, who maintains a wide-ranging practice that encompasses media rights agreements, corporate governance and crisis management.

Practice head(s):

Thomas Werlen; Remo Decurtins

Testimonials

‘Remo Decurtins is a great lawyer; his actions are well thought out.’

‘I have always found the collaboration with the team to be very professional, collegial, efficient and pleasant. The team has always impressed me and my team with their delivery of top-notch work (both from a legal and strategic standpoint), their great commitment and responsiveness and their deep knowledge of sports matters and the peculiarities of this sector.’

‘QE lawyers think “outside the box” and consistently come up with creative and goal-oriented solutions to obtain the best possible results for their clients, even in “difficult” times.

‘Thomas Werlen is a highly skilled and experienced practitioner who works very efficiently and is pragmatic, and always goes the extra mile to achieve the best possible result for his clients. He consistently delivers high quality work, and he is second to none in terms of responsiveness and a strategic view.’

‘Remo Decurtins is a great talent in sports matters, as he is both an excellent attorney with broad knowledge of various fields of law and a sports fanatic who knows the ins and outs of the sports industry. Remo is consistently delivering efficient and high-quality work results, even under great pressure.’

‘Quinn Emanuel is a very proactive, responsive and knowledgeable group of people. They had a distinct understanding of the specificity of the problem.’

‘Remo Decurtins stands out for his sports law knowledge. He has a creative approach to difficult legal issues, also he is very professional, responsive and pleasant to work with.’

‘Remo Decurtins impressed us with his highly efficient and diligent work, his strategic view and his pragmatic and creative approach to overcome the various legal issues and to find the best possible solution. Remo was always available and helpful.’

Key clients

Phil Mickelson and other pro golfers (LIV Golf)

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL)

Team Football Marketing AG

East Asia Super League

Dallas Cowboys Football Club

Fédération Internationale de Hockey

World Boxing Super Series AG

Major League Soccer

Vexavit SA

Hertha BSC

Monaco Increase Management

Seattle Seahawks

Los Angeles Rams

Washington Nationals

National Football League

Pascal Wehrlein

Nike

Highlight Communications AG

FC Basel Holding AG

Baltimore Ravens

U.S. Soccer Foundation

ESPN

Green Bay Packers

Campos Racing S.L.

Work highlights

  • Advised Hong Kong-based Asia League Ltd. in relation to the “East Asia Super League” project, the first integrated international basketball “Champions League” across South East Asia.
  • Obtained a settlement for World Boxing Super Series, the organiser of a “Champions League” for boxing, a complex dispute with a former joint venture partner.
  • Advised professional race car drivers and their management in relation to transfers within Formula 1, Formula E and Indy Car.

Switzerland > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 3

‘Renowned for its skilled lawyers’, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (Schweiz) GmbH is well-versed in an array of arbitration matters, notably within the energy, sports, and manufacturing industries. Three key players lead the practice: in Geneva, Philippe Pinsolle maintains a varied arbitration practice that spans power, oil and gas, and construction, and in Zurich, Simon Vorburger is well-positioned to advise on international commercial arbitration and investment treaty claims, while Thomas Werlen is highly experienced in the banking and finance arbitration realm.

Practice head(s):

Philippe Pinsolle; Simon Vorburger; Thomas Werlen

Other key lawyers:

Pierre-Yves Marro

Testimonials

‘Very professional team. Good diversity in the team with complementary skills.’

‘Quinn Emanuel Zurich’s arbitration team is renowned for its skilled lawyers, that deliver outstanding results in complex international disputes.’

‘Their focus on strategic, assertive advocacy and thorough preparation makes them the most formidable arbitration practice in Switzerland. The team knows all major arbitration rules and excels in both representing clients and serving as arbitrators.’

‘Pierre-Yves Marro is known for his technical expertise and precision, especially in matters related to contractual disputes. His ability to manage intricate legal issues and his strong drafting skills have earned him a reputation as a top-tier arbitration lawyer.’

‘I have worked with various members of the QE Zurich arbitration team. They are spot on, very responsive, and know their cases by heart.’

They really have an overview of the entire case and the strategy. They can always pull resources from their global offices and thereby quickly obtain legal advice from other legal systems.’

‘Their aggressive advocacy, combined with deep industry knowledge, consistently delivers results.’

‘Simon Vorburger and Philip Pinsolle are phenomenal.’

Key clients

Uniper Global Commodities

Bondholders of Credit Suisse Additional Tier 1 bonds

Mercuria Energy Trading

United Media Network AG

Lonza

Naturgy

Viasat

World Boxing Super Series

Bucherer

McCormick

Swatch

Sonatrach

ABB

Renault

Accenture

Dr. Maya Dangelas and companies

Asia League

Lion Point

NMC Healthcare

Oro Negro

Oschadbank

Partners Group

Privatbank

Schenker-Winkler Holding

SIG Combibloc Group

STA Travel Holding

Stadler Rail Group

Work highlights

  • Represented Uniper Global Commodities in a $14bn dispute against Gazprom Export LLC based on long-term gas delivery contracts between the two parties.
  • Represented Dr. Maya Dangelas and companies controlled by her in two arbitrations under the US-Vietnam Trade Agreement pursuant to the 1976 UNCITRAL Rules.
  • Represented Swiss-based Mercuria Energy Trading SA and Mercuria Capital Partners Limited in an arbitration against World Natural Resources Limited and World Natural Resources Congo S.A.U. and also involving Energy Complex DMCC under a sale and purchase and cooperation agreement.

Switzerland > Regulatory, compliance and investigations Tier 4

The investigations, government enforcement and white-collar criminal defence practice at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (Schweiz) GmbH offers ‘deep expertise and exceptional client service’ in important and high-profile white-collar criminal matters. Led by managing partner Thomas Werlen and Jonas Hertner, the team regularly acts for banks, family offices, and corporates on financial crime, asset recovery, and sanctions mandates, demonstrating comfort across domestic and international investigations and proceedings.

Practice head(s):

Thomas Werlen; Jonas Hertner

Testimonials

‘This law firm excels due to its expert team, which stands out for its deep expertise and exceptional client service.’

‘Quinn Emanuel’s practice is unique based on their knowledge of Swiss law. They are quick in investigating the legal basis for any investigation and procedure and are extremely diligent, always acting with a sense of urgency.’

‘Thomas Werlen is extremely well prepared. He is always assisted by Jonas Hertner and they together form a great team. They both speak several languages and are familiar with other cultures, which helps when dealing with international matters.’

Key clients

Lion Point Capital

Vitaly Malkin / Top Matrix Holdings

Mubadala Investment Company

EFG International

Ferrexpo

Renault

ABB

Accenture

ARYZTA

Wolfgang Beltracchi

Berenberg Bank

Highlight Communications

Highlight Event and Entertainment

McCormick & Company

MSI DK

NMC Healthcare

Romanello Financial Corp.

Sphaira Innovation

Stadler Rail Group

Work highlights

  • Assisting Swiss entrepreneur Alexander Studhalter in disputing OFAC sanctions for his links to Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov.
  • Advising Swiss commodities trading group Trafigura as co-counsel in the first ever case brought by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General before the Federal Criminal Court against a Swiss company for allegations of bribing foreign public officials.
  • Advising the main shareholder of one of Switzerland’s leading digital banks, FlowBank, in connection with enforcement proceedings conducted by the Swiss financial market supervisory authority (FINMA).