With an established presence across the sectors of pharmaceuticals, energy, and telecoms, Lenz & Staehelin is well-versed at handling high-stakes and multi-jurisdictional arbitration work and is recommended for its ‘innovative strategic thinking’. Xavier Favre-Bulle and the ’impressive’ Harold Frey head up the firm’s offering, with Geneva-based Favre-Bulle holding more than 30 years of experience in managing disputes with elements of post M&A, licences, and luxury goods, among others, while Zurich-based Frey assists clients with all facets of construction and M&A disputes, alongside licensing and joint venture arbitration mandates. Martin Burkhardt excels in financial services, investments, and joint venture work, and Thierry Calame is well-positioned to advise a panoply of clients on IP arbitration, especially those surrounding patents. Daniel Tunik is highly knowledgeable in relation to insolvency law, white-collar crimes, and employment disputes, with Martin Aebi contributing his capabilities in IP, construction, and banking disputes.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team stands out for its convincing, well-thought out and innovative strategic thinking in complex arbitrations. It performs incredibly well even under pressure.’
  • ‘Harold Frey is a natural lead counsel and team leader. He's an accomplished orator and a strategist.'

  • 'Martin Aebi is a great drafter. He is convincing and clear, his writing skills and legal acumen are hardly matched in Switzerland.’
  • ‘Xavier Favre-Bulle is an outstanding practitioner.’

  • ‘Harold Frey is a very experienced lawyer with a good instinct for the right solution.’

  • ‘I have been very impressed by the technical strength of the team at all levels. The quality of the associates in the team supporting us day-to-day has been a standout.’

  • ‘The firm works with lean and efficient teams, tailored for the matter at hand. For us, their key capability is the provision of accurate and targeted Swiss law advice on short notice.’

  • ‘Harold Frey is an impressive lawyer with an ability to think strategically even when dealing with the details. He also knows everyone in Zurich's arbitration circuit. Martin Aebi has encyclopaedic knowledge of Swiss procedural law and is pragmatic and efficient.’

Key clients

  • Clorox Spain
  • International Olympic Committee
  • State of Palestine
  • thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions
  • thyssenkrupp Marine Systems
  • World Anti-Doping Agency
  • Czech Republic
  • BTG Pactual

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 associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Xavier Favre-Bulle, Harold Frey

Other key lawyers

Martin Burkhardt, Thierry Calame, Daniel Tunik, Martin Aebi