LKK Arbitration fields an ‘outstanding team of the highest calibre and commitment’. The firm enjoys a particularly strong reputation for its work in sports-related arbitration, overseen by Antonio Rigozzi, where it regularly represents prominent governing bodies, including the International Olympic Council and the UEFA. Name partners Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler and Laurent Lévy continue to play an active role within the team, with the former handling investment and sports matters, while the latter takes on oil and gas, aerospace and financial services proceedings. Silja Schaffstein was the newest addition to a deep partner bench, which also includes Sébastien Besson and Michele Potestà, following her promotion in January 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Sébastien Besson and Michele Potestà are outstanding lawyers and brilliant arbitrators: hard-working, pleasant to collaborate with and fair.’
- ‘An outstanding team of the highest calibre and commitment. Superb intellect and excellent leadership.’
- ‘The LKK team is absolutely outstanding and incredibly knowledgeable in the field of sports arbitration. They know both sports and arbitration extremely well. They also know inside out the arbitration community. In the sports industry, this is the very best team.’
- 'Antonio Rigozzi is the absolute most outstanding lawyer in the field of sports arbitration, without a doubt. He knows absolutely everything there is to know: the law, arbitration, the sports, the people. He is an incredible strategist as well as a gentleman.'
- 'Sébastien Besson a highly qualified lawyer with deep knowledge of the international market, business sense and perfect knowledge of very complex legal issues. He is exceptionally well prepared before any hearing for all issues that could occur.'
- ‘The team is unmatched in its all-round, in-depth dispute resolution expertise, with an exceptional track record in high-stakes disputes in international commercial, investment and sports arbitration and related litigation.’
Key clients
- International Olympic Committee
- Swiss Confederation
- Privinvest Group companies
- Confederation of African Football
- National Iranian Oil Company
- International Basketball Federation
- South American State
- UEFA
- Union Cycliste Internationale
Work highlights
Represented the International Olympic Committee in all the cases in which it appeared as a party or interested third party at the Paris Olympic Games.
Acted for UHNW individuals as the claimants in an SAC arbitration involving claims worth approximately CHF200m.
Represented parties, including a sovereign state, a US-based company and a sports-governing body, in proceedings for the annulment of international arbitral awards before the Swiss Supreme Court.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler; Laurent Lévy; Antonio Rigozzi; Sébastien Besson; Michele Potestà
Other key lawyers
Silja Schaffstein; Eolos Rigopoulos