Peter Burckhardt leads Schellenberg Wittmer's Dispute Resolution Group in Zurich, as well as the White-Collar Crime & Compliance and the Internal Corporate Investigations teams. Peter has developed a strong practice in complex criminal, regulatory and civil litigation matters, often involving multi-jurisdictional components. He is also frequently retained to conduct internal investigations for a broad range of topics.Experience: Defending a global Swiss bank in a money laundering investigation related to foreign corruption Representing a German car manufacturer against consumer mass claims in the context of the Diesel affair Lead counsel to a major Brazilian construction group for the Swiss aspects of the Petrobras matter, which settled in a trilateral deal (BR/US/CH) Swiss lead counsel to a global bank headquartered in Switzerland in the U.S. tax dispute Defending a major bank in a Ponzi scheme fraud investigation and related civil and regulatory action Defending a member of top management of a global bank in criminal and regulatory proceedings by Swiss and U.S. law enforcement Defending an ousted head of state in a corruption and money laundering investigation
Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd
Counting blue-chip corporations in its client roster, Schellenberg Wittmer Ltd is active across a diverse scope of fields, from energy and transport to pharmaceuticals and consumer goods. Peter Burckhardt, Louis Burrus and Clara Poglia jointly spearhead the group. Burckhardt is well-regarded for his work in complex financial, commercial and criminal litigation, with ‘pragmatic’ and ’precise’ Burrus principally focusing on cross-border commercial litigation. Poglia’s expansive experience incorporates white-collar crime, asset tracing and internal corporate investigations knowledge. Stefan Leimgruber frequently handles banking, post-M&A and corporate litigation, while Urs Hoffmann-Nowotny contributes his banking litigation capabilities to the practice. Katherine Bell is noted for her ability in handling disputes arising out of complex construction, engineering and infrastructure projects.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Very strong experience in criminal investigations.'
‘Their team remains strong, with a new generation that is very capable and dynamic.’
‘Louis Burrus is pragmatic, but sharp and precise.'
Key clients
- An International Trading Company
- Sunrise Communications AG
- Foreign Trading Company
- Credit Suisse AG
- UBS AG/UBS Switzerland AG
- Gunvor
- Doosan Heavy Industries
- Fondazione Enasarco
- Hetronic International Inc.
- Quark Pharmaceuticals
- Odebrecht & Braskem
Work highlights
- Acted as Swiss counsel in relation to a shareholder class action filed in New York, supporting a successful a forum non-convenience defense, and in defence of future potential claims elsewhere.
- Acting as lead counsel to Sunrise Communications AG in the first large civil cartel damages case in Switzerland which arises from an alleged abuse of a dominant market position by former monopolist Swisscom in the ADSL broadband internet market between 2002 and 2007.
- Representing a foreign trading company as a private claimant in criminal proceedings for fraud and misappropriation against a former trustee.
Lawyers
Leading individuals
Louis Burrus is a Partner and the co-head of the Dispute Resolution Group in Geneva. He is dual-qualified in Switzerland and in England & Wales (Solicitor of the Senior Courts). Louis specializes in domestic and international commercial litigation, in particular in banking and financial disputes. He advises clients in cross-border multi-jurisdictional disputes and has extensive experience in conducting corporate internal investigations, including white-collar matters.Experience: Lead counsel to a SIX-listed company in a post-transaction dispute further to the acquisition of a new subsidiary (price-adjustment mechanisms, enforcement of warranties, etc.) Acted for a European energy company in enforcing a several hundred million arbitration award (ICC, seat in NYC), including by way of an attachment order (worldwide enforcement case) Advising a major Swiss bank participating into the United States Department of Justice’s (DoJ) Program for Non-Prosecution Agreements or Non-Target Letters for Swiss banks (co-Project Manager role)
Urs Hoffmann-Nowotny is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Dispute Resolution Group in Zurich. His main areas of practice are domestic and international commercial litigation and arbitration as well as pre-litigation strategic advice. Urs Hoffmann-Nowotny acts as counsel before Swiss courts and arbitral tribunals in a wide range of commercial disputes. He has also been a secretary to arbitral tribunals in major disputes under the ICC and Swiss Rules. Urs Hoffmann-Nowotny has special expertise in banking litigation, having acted as counsel to financial services providers in numerous disputes with private and institutional clients, and in corporate law disputes (including liability of directors and officers and joint ventures) as well as the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, asset recovery and international legal assistance.
Next Generation Partners
Stefan Leimgruber is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer's Dispute Resolution Group in Zurich. His main areas of practice are domestic and international commercial litigation and arbitration. He acts as counsel and as arbitrator in international arbitrations, ad hoc and institutional, in particular in post-M&A and shareholder disputes as well as in disputes relating to joint ventures, license, purchase, and distribution agreements. Stefan represents parties before Swiss courts with a particular focus on banking and financial disputes, post-M&A and corporate litigation, interim measures and enforcement of foreign judgments. He also advises and represents sport federations, officials and athletes in sports law matters.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Peter Burckhardt, Louis Burrus, Clara Poglia